2006 Vue gas mileage

Hi all:

Had our new Vue about a month now, 6cyl FWD.

I know it will take a while to break it in before we start to get
accurate mileage readings (1,000miles?) but so far it is very low.
Mostly city like driving and short trips.

At around 440 miles we got 13.8 MPG

At around 600 mile improved to 16.9 MPG

Hoping it gets MUCH BETTER soon. I was expecting around
23 MPG combined ....

Thanks, Phil

On 31 Jul 2006 14:47:53 GMT, (Phil Marshall) wrote:

>Hi all:
>
>Had our new Vue about a month now, 6cyl FWD.
>
>I know it will take a while to break it in before we start to get
>accurate mileage readings (1,000miles?) but so far it is very low.
>Mostly city like driving and short trips.
>
>At around 440 miles we got 13.8 MPG
>
>At around 600 mile improved to 16.9 MPG
>
>Hoping it gets MUCH BETTER soon. I was expecting around
>23 MPG combined ....
>
>Thanks, Phil


True 89 or better fuel too on hot days as it can help. I would not
hold my breath for 22 MPG in town/urban driving though.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com

SnoMan wrote:
> On 31 Jul 2006 14:47:53 GMT, (Phil Marshall) wrote:
>
> >Hi all:
> >
> >Had our new Vue about a month now, 6cyl FWD.
> >
> >I know it will take a while to break it in before we start to get
> >accurate mileage readings (1,000miles?) but so far it is very low.
> >Mostly city like driving and short trips.
> >
> >At around 440 miles we got 13.8 MPG
> >
> >At around 600 mile improved to 16.9 MPG
> >
> >Hoping it gets MUCH BETTER soon. I was expecting around
> >23 MPG combined ....
> >
> >Thanks, Phil
>
>
> True 89 or better fuel too on hot days as it can help. I would not
> hold my breath for 22 MPG in town/urban driving though.
> -----------------
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com


Well, it's sad to hear your results.
I just purchased a 2003 manual drive Vue with 24,000 miles. Drove it
290 miles back home and put exactly 10 gallons in the tank (i.e. 29.0
mpg highway). As advertised, and it's 3 years old. Maybe it's that
nasty V6 (j/j) from Honda knocking you to 20 mpg or below. Though we
haven't as much 'umph' as a V6 (honestly, I don't notice enough of a
difference to worry about) your post is making me glad I didn't go V6
when searching a Vue.
Better luck in the future.
SC

I have had customers report various results, especially in hot weather on V6
engines. The hotter the worse mileage, this is pretty much true on any car
though when ingesting hot air. You cant lose with the ecotec engine though,
4 bangers seem to get better mileage hot or cold temps.

marx404

On Tue, 1 Aug 2006 06:16:20 -0400, "marx404" > wrote:

>I have had customers report various results, especially in hot weather on V6
>engines. The hotter the worse mileage, this is pretty much true on any car
>though when ingesting hot air. You cant lose with the ecotec engine though,
>4 bangers seem to get better mileage hot or cold temps.


Not if you do not use 87 octane fuel that people are just in love
with. THis is the real reason MPG takes a big dump in some cars
because the ECM is have to badly retard spark with 87 on a hot day. y
duaghter bought a clean used 97 SC2 this winter and if she uses 87 in
summer with A/C it is a slug withA/C on and struggles to make even 20
MPG in town but fill it with 93 and it runs much nbetter an it will
due upper 20's in town and close to 40 on road with A/C on. THe GM
kncon control is soo smooth that you do not even know you need better
fuel knock wise but you do in pooer MPG and performance when hot.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com

SnoMan wrote:
> On Tue, 1 Aug 2006 06:16:20 -0400, "marx404" > wrote:
>
> >I have had customers report various results, especially in hot weather on V6
> >engines. The hotter the worse mileage, this is pretty much true on any car
> >though when ingesting hot air. You cant lose with the ecotec engine though,
> >4 bangers seem to get better mileage hot or cold temps.
>
>
> Not if you do not use 87 octane fuel that people are just in love
> with. THis is the real reason MPG takes a big dump in some cars
> because the ECM is have to badly retard spark with 87 on a hot day. y
> duaghter bought a clean used 97 SC2 this winter and if she uses 87 in
> summer with A/C it is a slug withA/C on and struggles to make even 20
> MPG in town but fill it with 93 and it runs much nbetter an it will
> due upper 20's in town and close to 40 on road with A/C on. THe GM
> kncon control is soo smooth that you do not even know you need better
> fuel knock wise but you do in pooer MPG and performance when hot.
> -----------------
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com


Actaully, you have inspired me to search out an answer to the qeustion
I've wondered about: Does the higher-priced higher-octane fuel actaully
pay off in the long run? You say it does, and there must be other
evidcence to support this. I've always wondered. If it be true that
teh cost is 'worth it', then the 'love affair' is probably more due to
the fact that the petroleum/auto industries haven't done anyting to
promote the use of higher octane fuels, and leaves the consumer staring
at gas pumps that have options costing $0.30 difference -- what the
hell option to you EXCPECT the uninformed consumer to choose? So if I
find any good studies on the Web, I'll post the links here. Or if YOU
know of any good reports, please do the same, as I would appreciate it.


Hey, maybe WE can start the promotion of using higher octane fuels
right here :-)

Sir Creep

On 1 Aug 2006 05:59:48 -0700, "Sir Creep" >
wrote:

>
>Actaully, you have inspired me to search out an answer to the qeustion
>I've wondered about: Does the higher-priced higher-octane fuel actaully
>pay off in the long run? You say it does, and there must be other
>evidcence to support this. I've always wondered. If it be true that
>teh cost is 'worth it', then the 'love affair' is probably more due to
>the fact that the petroleum/auto industries haven't done anyting to
>promote the use of higher octane fuels, and leaves the consumer staring
>at gas pumps that have options costing $0.30 difference -- what the
>hell option to you EXCPECT the uninformed consumer to choose? So if I
>find any good studies on the Web, I'll post the links here. Or if YOU
>know of any good reports, please do the same, as I would appreciate it.


When gas was a buck 50 a gallon, a 30 cent increas meant 20% more fuel
cost and if you did not get a 20% improvement in MPG, you "lost"
money. (here is is 15 to 20 cents more for 93). Today with gas around
3 bucks a gallon (and it will go higher with time) a 20 cent increase
is only 7.5% and 30 cents around 10% or less. I have been using 89 or
better in all my vehcles for over 15 years now and I can tell when my
wife trys to get by with 87 in hot weather, her car is sluggish and
uses a lot more fuel. When my daughter got here 97 SC2 I told here to
use atleast 89 in it and one day a month ago when I was driving it in
hot weather it was a real slug with A/C on (we always use A/C here)
and she admitted to me that she had filled it with 87. I filled it up
with 93 and it runs like a champ even when it is very hot out. I also
have a 89 4x4 burb that I bought new and for first year or two I had
it I used recommended 87 and it was a big slug at times and prone to
ping with A/C on and on hills. I started using 93 in it year round (I
do not drive in much in dead of winter here for a few months when salt
is on roads) and it was a different animal. Eager to go at any temp
and never wanting to ping (I even advanced base timing to gain even
more with it). Even on the hottest days with A/C cranked it is very
crisp in throttle responce that amazes anyone riding in it for first
time and it get great MPG for its size and age. I has 180K on it and
will do 16 to 17 in urban setting where I live and around 19 on long
trips. (It has a 40 gallon tank and it will go 600 mile with ease
between fillups on trips with running on vapors to do it) I usually
have 6 to 8 gallons left at refill after about 600 miles. Whn I ran 87
I was lucky to get 15 MPG on higway and unless 14 or less on a hot
day. I have a 2000 K3500 SRW and it averages about 1 MPG more in
urban driving with 89 or 93 and is a lot more responcesive (I use 89
in cooler months) and it really shines when towing heavy loads on hot
days with A/C on and never feels weak or unwilling doing it. Never
taken it on a really long trip to see what it does there MPG wise
because I like to average MPG over a "tank" and not just a top off.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com

"SnoMan" > wrote in message
...
> On 1 Aug 2006 05:59:48 -0700, "Sir Creep" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>Actaully, you have inspired me to search out an answer to the qeustion
>>I've wondered about: Does the higher-priced higher-octane fuel actaully
>>pay off in the long run? You say it does, and there must be other
>>evidcence to support this.
<snip>
>> leaves the consumer staring
>>at gas pumps that have options costing $0.30 difference -- what the
>>hell option to you EXCPECT the uninformed consumer to choose? So if I
>>find any good studies on the Web, I'll post the links here. Or if YOU
>>know of any good reports, please do the same, as I would appreciate it.
>
>
> <snip> I have been using 89 or
> better in all my vehcles for over 15 years now and I can tell when my
> wife trys to get by with 87 in hot weather, her car is sluggish and
> uses a lot more fuel.
> <snip>> -----------------
> The SnoMan
> www.thesnoman.com

Interesting!
My experience just doesn't jibe with yours, at all. I have a '99 SL (1.9
L SOHC 4 cyl) manual no air. In cold weather (generally no lower than 10 F
around here), my gas mileage falls to the mid- to high-30s (per US gal). In
warm weather (generally no higher than high 90s F), I get over 40 MPG. I
have never used anything but 87 octane gasoline.

On Tue, 1 Aug 2006 13:37:33 -0400, "Steve"
m> wrote:

> My experience just doesn't jibe with yours, at all. I have a '99 SL (1.9
>L SOHC 4 cyl) manual no air. In cold weather (generally no lower than 10 F
>around here), my gas mileage falls to the mid- to high-30s (per US gal). In
>warm weather (generally no higher than high 90s F), I get over 40 MPG. I
>have never used anything but 87 octane gasoline.


MPG does drop in winter regardless of fuel type so this is nothing
new. THis is because the engine runs a richer warm up mixture longer
and oil in thicker from cold even after it warms up some alone with
grease in wheel bearings and tires are a bit stiffer too. Without AC
and a manual you may squeak by a bit better in hot weather with 87 but
it would run better on hottest days still with 89. With a automatic
and A/C the underhood temps soar and so does octane requirement that
ECM spark control masks while stealing your power and MPG. 87 octane
was designed with car had 8 to 1 compression and the ONLY reason your
car has a knock sensor at all it to limit complaints about motor fuel
knock and no other reason because it would be a sales nightmare to
have cars knock on 87 all the time because people want to buy cheapest
gas possible. (if they could buy 84 octane for 5 cents less they would
and even if their car ran baldy on it they would not blame the fuel,
it would be the cars fault.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com

Phil,

Depending on your driving style and the type of trips you are taking,
this could be fairly normal mileage for the V6 engine. I've been
monitoring the mileage of my Vue (2004 V6, AWD) since I bought it, and
I've been amazed by how variable the fuel efficiency in this vehicle
is. I've gone from a low of 11.9 MPG (moving to a new apartment 1.4
miles away, so lots of short trips with moderately heavy loads) to a
near high of 26.3 MPG on the very next tank in almost all highway
driving.

This vehicle doesn't get much above 20-21 MPG unless you're doing a lot
of driving in 5th gear on the highway. Driving with a heavy foot also
makes a big difference in this vehicle, easy starts can really improve
city driving mileage quite a bit.

I currently live in New Hampshire, so I drive in 15-25 degree weather
for 3-4 months a year and in summers like this I drive in 85-90 degree
weather for several months. Temperature does not make nearly as much
mileage difference as driving style. Simply, it's not something to
really worry about unless you're looking for very small improvements in
efficiency.

And as to fuel type, this engine is set up for 87 octane fuel, so if
you want the best performance/efficiency, that's what you should stick
with. Higher octane fuel is less flammable, so unless your car is
designed to operate at higher compression, using 89 octane fuel will
result in poorer fuel economy as less of the fuel is actually being
burnt by the engine.

Once you get more used to driving the car you should start seeing 20-22
MPG. The only way you're really going to get as high as 23 MPG
combined is if you drive extremely carefully, with very slow
acceleration, and avoid the short trips.

hope this is helpful,
-jason

Phil Marshall wrote:
> Hi all:
>
> Had our new Vue about a month now, 6cyl FWD.
>
> I know it will take a while to break it in before we start to get
> accurate mileage readings (1,000miles?) but so far it is very low.
> Mostly city like driving and short trips.
>
> At around 440 miles we got 13.8 MPG
>
> At around 600 mile improved to 16.9 MPG
>
> Hoping it gets MUCH BETTER soon. I was expecting around
> 23 MPG combined ....
>
> Thanks, Phil