My mpg average (according to Fuelly) has been dropping steadily since the beginning of June. It's around 90+ degrees hear in east Los Angeles County and over the past month I've had to run the A/C more (though not constant). At least I can get some gratification a couple times a week from my morning commute which hits 70mpg on the MID for the first hour, which is on level surface streets with timed signals.
Use of the ac seems to significantly affect MPG with this car. I loose up to 10mpg in city driving; depending on driving conditions and how much the ac is cranked up. To minimize the MPG impact, keep the temp set between 72-74 and use ECON mode.
Weird...running the A/C constant on lowest temp - to put things in perspective, it was 90 this afternoon, and it felt "cool" compared to last week - and over the course of a full tank it only affected me by around 2-3mpg compared to ~6 weeks ago
I keep my AC at 72-74 and that feels cool when it's 100 outside. I think probably 2-3 mpg loss also.
I think the biggest effect is tire pressure. I just bumped the tire pressure back to 40. This last tank I had put it back down to 33 and my mpg dropped to about 40 on the MID, sometimes upper 30's. Now with 40psi I'm back to the upper 40's.
A couple of you mentioned keeping the a/c temp on 70-72. I haven't used the auto-climate function at all since I've had the car, mainly because my old VW Beetle didn't have one. So in my I2 I just set the temp randomly, e.g., turning it to 62 or up to 75, depending on conditions.
Maybe I should be setting the auto-climate control now that I'm using the a/c more? Or should I just set it to 70-72 and try to leave it? How does setting/changing the temp control affect mpg, particularly when it's just the vent on and no a/c?
When you pick auto it uses ac to remove moisture from the air and mixes heat as needed. It is basically the better setting for year round. When you do it your way you are mixing heat in with the ac and the ac cycles til it develops too much pressure on the high side.
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Enginer 4 kilowatt PHEV, 3000k 35 watt fogs, Eco bulb highs, 4300k 35 watt low all w/relay kits, DRLs/Rear Wiper removed&rear interior gutted, Sony HU W/front speakers, Tanabe nf springs, 35% tint all around, all LED lamp replacement, 09 fit progress rear sway bar, OEM block heater, full gril block, KN Filter, Honda vent visiors, group 51 battery, home made balancer/grid charger Best/Worse MPG 96/36
cheesie, just hit the center auto button, then rotate the knob for yourtemp setting. Myself and passengers seem to like 73 while traveling. In stop n go I may start out on lo, then as the car cools down move it up.
Interestingly on lo it seems to have a much higer blower setting than you can get through the manual fan control.
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Enginer 4 kilowatt PHEV, 3000k 35 watt fogs, Eco bulb highs, 4300k 35 watt low all w/relay kits, DRLs/Rear Wiper removed&rear interior gutted, Sony HU W/front speakers, Tanabe nf springs, 35% tint all around, all LED lamp replacement, 09 fit progress rear sway bar, OEM block heater, full gril block, KN Filter, Honda vent visiors, group 51 battery, home made balancer/grid charger Best/Worse MPG 96/36
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Hot weather killing my mpg
Now with 40psi I'm back to the upper 40's.
