Poor Gas Mileage

Jiffy_Pop · 11-24-2008, 12:50 PM

Hey, I was looking through some old posts on what people are getting for gas mileage on their 1st gen boxes, on average it was 25-30mpg. My last tank of gas I drove 217miles on approx 10.1 Gallons. Does anyone know what would cause such poor mileage? The previous owner put a K&N CAI on do different brands make a difference? I don't have a heavy foot and drive pretty conservative. It has been alot colder and been snowing would that make a difference? This will be my first winter with an xB. Any guidance would be appreciated

grizzly_choppers · 11-24-2008, 07:34 PM

Fuel mileage is greatly affected by all kinds of things. The weather is a big factor because fuel has to be changed in colder climates like yours or mine.

I would make sure your K&N filter is clean (they sell a kit with instructions for that) and check your sparkplugs (factory xB plugs are rated for 30K miles, replace them with ND or NGK, nothing else). Check your tires for proper inflation too.

Those few items can change your fuel economy upwards of 5 mpg if they are dirty or damaged etc.

Also the cold makes your engine less efficient. I'm sure you've had a vehicle with a block heater before up there. They make them for our cars too and it would be a good idea to go with one if you have the means to plug it in.

Good luck!

-Alex

PCH · 11-24-2008, 08:57 PM

For how long have you been monitoring your gas mileage? Did it just drop recently? One of the the most important things is wheel/tire combo- what are you rolling on?

Jiffy_Pop · 11-24-2008, 09:20 PM

Hey guys thanks for your replies. I just recently cleaned the air filter out a few months ago, and recoated with oil. I just put some snow tires on there are 185 60 r15's i believe, and the pressure is around 31 psi. I have been monitoring my gas mileage for 3 months now I have been getting around 26-27 mpg, but just recently I had this dramatic drop to about 21-22mpg. I was thinking about changing the spark plugs, so maybe I should act on that. Grizzly choppers, I was wondering about the block heater, I've never actually used one on a vehicle before, do they make a big difference?

PCH · 11-24-2008, 11:22 PM

Probably just due to the ambient temp drop. All the block heater is going to do for you is cut down on your warm up time. I dont think its going to improve overall gas mileage.

sdsnybny · 11-24-2008, 11:26 PM

Since you already cleaned the filter recently you might want to take out the MAF sensor and clean it they make an aresol that works great. You should be able to get it at an auto parts store.
Dont use anything thats not specifically for a Maf sensor!!
Sometime after I clean My CAI/SRI filter I will notice a drop in mileage due to an slight over oiling of the filter media which gets deposited on the Maf sensor.
Also if the lug pattern is very aggressive on the snow tires you might see a little drop from that.
G/L

Jiffy_Pop · 11-25-2008, 07:10 AM

Ok I will see if I can find some cleaner for the MAF and try that. I might have been a little to genorous on the oiling. PCH, i guess less warm up time means less fuel. Might have to look into one. The guy I bought the xB off lived in PA though and I think PA get winter just as bad as Canada don't they?

PCH · 11-25-2008, 10:44 AM

The best thing you can do in the cold climate for the gas mileage is to allow warmer air into the engine. I am making about 33mpg in SoCal. I have the Scangauge in front of my eyes all the time and it shows intake air temp around 85F with stock air box and snorkel removed. So if you have cold air intake, the temp has to be much lower. That has to affect your MPG.

Stupidav · 12-12-2008, 07:07 PM

Maybe this is a stupid responce, but doesn't yours, like mine have an 11 gallon tank / 210 mpg = 19.09mpg which still sucks. I found that Heating the gas also helps with the mileage..... park in a heated garage.

RSV05xB · 12-14-2008, 07:24 PM

i have averaged 25-27 also and am very easy when it comes to the pedal. My plugs are good, check'd them out and they were clean as a whistle. My air filter is brand new, as of 1 month ago. and i have always ran Mobil 1 synthetic. My tires are inflated 2psi over whats recommended. Any other suggestions. I want to scare 31mpg. Is this possible?

rdwngs444 · 12-16-2008, 11:08 PM

also... check your tire pressure

RSV05xB · 12-17-2008, 10:49 AM

yes. they are already 2psi over recommended. everything seems to be good. i just cant figure out why im only getting 25-27, friends i have get over 33.

Lifex · 12-17-2008, 11:02 AM

Yea - its the weather. In buffalo with winter already here its really not enough to let the car warm until the blue temp icon turns off, i feel at least, but also I have been trying not to use my heater or defrosters at all so I can specifically target what exactly is decreasing the fuel economy.

RSV05xB · 12-18-2008, 11:07 AM

geez. i dont think i can do that. with snow on the ground out here in utah and even LAS Vegas! its fairly cold. i also dont wait for that temp icon to go off just because of time. i got places to be things to do

Lifex · 12-18-2008, 11:30 AM

well it take 5 minutes for that light to go off if you just wait for it to warm up. I didn't even know it could snow in las Vegas???? But im still having fun with the snow - check my other posts

RSV05xB · 12-18-2008, 12:01 PM

LifeX- looked at your other post. way sweet. same thing here. 3-4 inches of perfect snow. my car does not do well at all in snow though. with my wheels, low profile street tires0- snow doesnt go with them// i slip around, but have so much fun with it. i will try letting it warm up before driving, cant hurt to try.

Lifex · 12-18-2008, 11:32 PM

it is suppose to snow again tonight - i was hoping i would catch it before I went to sleep
maybe I'll have a morning parking lot shred before work xD

RSV05xB · 12-19-2008, 05:09 PM

there ya go. be careful. these bastards are not drifters lol. catch a dry patch and youll be on your head. my mileage is showing now that im really driving it hard in this weather. (cant help but peel out, and do donut)

x2 da b · 12-19-2008, 06:01 PM

im getting about 19 to 20 mpg also. i ahve so many mods it can be any thing. wheel alignment, my headers, intake, camber, oversize wheels .... but hey pimpin aint easy

Lifex · 12-19-2008, 06:43 PM

yea I found out about the dry patch thing - but luckily they have been plowing so much they have turned most of the ground into a type of ice rink (hard packed snow) and its really easy to drift around corners!

But this doesn't help with fuel economy at all and I wouldn't recommend driving this way to savor gas - at least with the snow Im not doing a lot of damage to the tires

and as previously stated - trying to not use the defrosters, heater is kind of impossible in this weather so maybe scangauge will help to better determine my fuel econ.

X2 da B: the headers and intake are really helping your fuel economy via better air flow through the car. The wheel alignment and camber doesn't really effect fuel economy that much - so unless you are driving like a bat out of hell then there is something wrong with your engine