GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I have an '03 and it is averaging 24-28 mpg. Is this normal? My mechanic said I should be getting close to 32 mpg with it. Two days a week I make a two drive (one hour there and back) to school and the other three days I just drive to work which is only about 7 miles one way. My computer is not showing any codes. It has about 130,000 miles on it...I think. In the winter everybody told me it's the cold. Well it's been warm out and I'm still not getting close to the 32 mpg.

Are your tires filled properly? I know when my tires were low it cut 2-3mpg off my averages (I have an '09 but I think this is basically a rule for all cars).

Ya checked them. They are right where they should be. I did just check my mileaged and my car had 160,000 on it instead of the 130,000 I thought it had. I even did the whole injector cleaner the last oil change and no change.

With an auto a decent average MPG is around 29MPG. Cold will reduce mileage, and the short drives to work won't have very good mileage (bringing down the average). When was the last time the oil was changed?

2500 miles ago. I change my oil every 3000. I am actually changing it this week again. I am going to change the plugs, wires, and fuel filter this week as well. I am also going to try running a few tanks of better gas thru to see if that helps. I don't mind the 29 mpg but when it goes down to 24mpg that really doesn't make me happy.

you won't see great mpg with really short trips. also, when you're on the two hour trips, try keeping the rpms down below 3000, and use your cruise control... when i'm doing a regular week of mixed driving, its normal to see 29-30mpg, sometimes less when its all short trips in the city.

Quote, originally posted by aussiemom »I have an '02 and it is averaging 24-28 mpg. I'm guessing that you have an '03 instead of an '02. I think that 28 is a little low. I do a lot of stop and go driving and usually get 32-34.

It is an '03! I forgot to make that change. For giggles on one tank of gas I set the cruise at 65 to and from school both trips and limited my short trips and only got one mpg better. I just find it really strange that I can't control the gas mileage. I still owe on this car and really can't afford to get another one till this one is paid off. So I am trying to make the best of it and do what I can to improve the gas mileage.

AWD or FWD?

FWD

you can try cleaning the maf sensor. takes maybe 15 minutes, tops, to me, it definitely helps, and as groucho marx would say 'it couldn't hoit.'the spray cleaner costs about $8. you can get it at any auto parts store...its only 2 philips screws to remove the maf from the air filter unit.will post the the DIY when i find it

ok try thishttp://forums.genvibe.com/zero...49076

Would be nice to get 24 mpg!

I changed the plugs and cleaned the MAF sensor so will see if that helps. The plugs and coils are Denso that are in my car so I'm assuming they were origional equipment? The auto parts store didn't have them so I got NGKs instead.

I average 30 MPG in my '04 AWD (doing 90% - 95% highway mind you) so you should have no problems getting more than that in a '03 FWD.

I can still pull 28 mpg's if i stay off the throttle..before I started modding I was getting 32 though...

Quote, originally posted by aussiemom »I changed the plugs and cleaned the MAF sensor so will see if that helps. The plugs and coils are Denso that are in my car so I'm assuming they were origional equipment? The auto parts store didn't have them so I got NGKs instead. Hows the mileage going?even on my 05 base I get 26-27mpg with a majority of short 10-15min city trips

I'm anywhere from 20-30mpgs one thing that could be the issue is your catalytic converter, some other guys could probably chime in about this one b/c mine was too new for the recall.

I have a 2008. Automatic. 1.8L base engine. ~45k miles.In the past 18K miles (since I bought the car) I've been tracking every single drop of gas that's entered it. I'm currently at 29.3 MPG overall.

That seems about right for around town type driving. It really depends on you driving style...I average 27-29 around town when I keep my foot of the loud pedal. Get 20-22 when driving a bit more spirited... What are you averaging on the highway?

...MPG is the final result of MANY singular things:* you don't get 100% mpg until engine is 100% warmed up, which typically takes about one-half hour.* you don't get 100% mpg unless you're in highest manual gear or automatic is in "lockup," which is >40mph until warmed up and then >35mph thereafter.* you don't get ANY mpg stopped at a light, where you're eating gas, but getting NO miles.* going UP hills eats gas; going DOWN hills doesn't (only idle consumption).* you loose mpg everytime a truck (or car) drives along side you; but you gain mpg when you "draft" a truck (or car).* constant, slower, speeds are much more fuel efficient that faster, "rubber-banding" traffic flows (fast-slow-fast-slow, etc.).* it takes MORE gasoline to accelerate than it does to maintain the same speed.* A/C cuts your mpg, use it sparingly....on the freeway at 65mph, I get almost 37mpg in my '09 Vibe base without A/C; but, only about 35 with the A/C on...EPA ratings are 25-31mpg, so I'm obviously doing much better than their tests.

Im getting about 28MPG city/highway. AC is almost ALWAYS on. South Florida is not very forgiving. I run my tire pressure @ 38 PSI all around & run a K&N drop in filter. I use cruise whenever possible....even down a 45 MPH stretch lol. To me your MPG sounds about right. I was a little disapointed in the Vibes milage initially, but my previous car was a Honda Civic & I got close to 40 MPG....but the Vibe is a a little heavier than the Civic, so I justified it that way lol.

I'm not getting amazing gas mileage either. Lower than 300 miles to a tank. But my check engine light is on for a "Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold" code.Could my gas mileage be improved with a new converter?

...here's what we're getting:2004 (wife's) Vibe 1.8L, auto: ~ 31 mpg, mostly city, a/c always on.2009 (mine) Vibe 1.8L, auto: ~ 35 mpg, mostly highway, a/c only in afternoon.

My 07 1.8 auto with ac gives me a constant 28 MPG in combined driving, rarely it is 26. On a trip I can count on 32 and have gotten as good as 36.Dave

I'm averaging 21.6 MPG in my 03 AWD (and pretty much 100% city)New NGK Iridium plugs, Cosmo SRI, Cleaned the MAF, and the Catalytic Converter is fine.