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Post Your Van Gas Mileage Here

1887 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2013 at 10:55 PM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda MPV, Nissan Quest, Kia Sedona, Chrysler Town and Country, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Van

Messages Page 140 of 190

#1386 of 1887 Re: Chrysler Town and Country Limited (2001) Fuel [willem] by artur_chicago

Dec 12, 2005 (11:58 pm)

Replying to: willem (Dec 11, 2005 8:05 am)
Tomorrow i will try to check the spark plug condition and gap.
 
My Tire pressure is fine, also i like to check the torque converter lock - maybe here is my problem...? I see some info label under the hood - on this label is: that Transmission has firmware upgrade on 2002 maybe Chrysler does some torque converter lock adjustment that is still not corect...?
 
All oils is changed to fresh on the day when I buy this car ~ 4 weeks ago...
 
Willem - Thank You for great suggestions...!

#1387 of 1887 Re: - Accurate Trip Computer [dudleyr] by hansienna

Dec 13, 2005 (6:28 am)

Replying to: dudleyr (Dec 12, 2005 7:54 am)
2006 Sienna LE trip computer is very accurate according to my friend who bought one.
     The trip computer on my 2002 T&C LX is also very accurate. However, the DaimlerChrysler trip computer calculates DTE based on mileage since the trip computer average mileage was last reset...unlike the Sienna trip computer DTE which is lifetime/long term mileage.
 
     I think each method has advantages.

#1388 of 1887 Re: Gas mileage for a 2002 Chevy Express Conversion Van? [chainsaw5vent] by fljoslin

Dec 13, 2005 (10:49 am)

Replying to: chainsaw5vent (Dec 12, 2005 12:01 am)
I just sold a 1995 GMC Suburban SLT 4x4 with the TBI 350. I owned it for over four years and 53K miles. On a highway trip I would always get 15 +/- 0.1 mpg with the cruise control from 70-80 mph and AC on or off. With the 42 gallon tank this gave a cruise range of 630 miles. In town I would get 12-13 mpg. This vehicle weighed in at 6000 lbs full of gas. I would have expected your van to get equivalent or better mileage than a Suburban with the less fuel efficient TBI engine, or do you have a really big engine?

#1389 of 1887 COLD winter weather KILLS gas mileage by hansienna

Dec 21, 2005 (5:45 pm)

2002 T&C LX long time overall average 22.4 MPG.
     Previous refill with NO road driving, 10 to 15 minute warm up each morning, etc. 10.8 MPG. Refill today with half of the driving on the Interstate was 23.6 MPG.

#1390 of 1887 Re: COLD winter weather KILLS gas mileage [hansienna] by dsrtrat2

Dec 21, 2005 (6:45 pm)

Replying to: hansienna (Dec 21, 2005 5:45 pm)
Consumer Reports says long warm ups are unnecessary. Instead start out slowly and allow the car to warm up as you drive. Your conditions could make that difficult and/or unsafe. YMMV

#1391 of 1887 - by dudleyr

Dec 21, 2005 (7:04 pm)

Long warmups are unnecessary, but if it is -20 degrees outside, and the entire body of the car is a lump of frost, it sure is nice to have the car warmed up.
 
Not for the cars sake - for the drivers.
 
BTW even if you drive off right away you will still get poor mileage until the car is warmed up. This can take as long as 20 miles depending on the temperature (the coolant warms up in a few minutes, but the engine oil takes much longer)
 
Just took a 450 mile trip in my 2006 Sienna. Driving 75 mph in cold weather (about 10 degrees). Averaged 24 mpg one direction and 24.9 the other. This is with snow tires on, and less than 3,000 miles on the vehicle, and starting off with a very cold engine. I expect it to get better.
 
Did notice something intriguing - when I dipped into some long valleys that were below 10 degrees, the instant mpg dropped a few ticks. I know engines are most efficient when warm, but this was quite noticeable.
 
-Dudley

#1392 of 1887 Re: - [dudleyr] by hansienna

Dec 21, 2005 (9:40 pm)

Replying to: dudleyr (Dec 21, 2005 7:04 pm)
Your experience with the Sienna trip computer vividly illustrates why I love having a trip computer on my minivan.
     DaimlerChrysler stupidly eliminated the Instant MPG reading on the trip computer in 2003 or 2004. The Sienna now has the BEST trip computer of any minivan.

#1393 of 1887 Re: COLD winter weather KILLS gas mileage [dsrtrat2] by dennisctc

Dec 22, 2005 (6:21 am)

Replying to: dsrtrat2 (Dec 21, 2005 6:45 pm)
The best way to reduce engine wear, is to start up and drive off as quickly as possible, getting up to operating temp. Pre-warming a car is the worst thing you can do to it.

#1394 of 1887 - by dudleyr

Dec 22, 2005 (9:23 pm)

A cold engine that is idleing has no more wear than one that is being driven. If you rev it up that is of course bad. It also will have more wear per mile - as it is not moving. The car that is driven right away will warm up faster.
 
It is certainly fine to drive a cold car, but one of the worst things you can do for a car is to drive it hard when it is cold. Pre-warming a car is not bad for it, it is just not really necessary - for the cars sake.
 
I am concerned about startup wear though and that is one of the main reasons that I use synthetic oil. Makes quite a difference when the temp is well below zero.
 
Do love the instant mpg on the Sienna.

#1395 of 1887 Re: - [dudleyr] by garandman

Dec 25, 2005 (1:04 pm)

Replying to: dudleyr (Dec 22, 2005 9:23 pm)
Warming up the engine warms up the engine. Driving warms up the entire drive train.
 
I agree that beating a cold engine is about the dumbest thing someone can do to a car.

Messages Page 140 of 190

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