Sign In Join 

You are here: [F] Forums / Sedans / Chevrolet Malibu / Chevrolet Malibu MPG-Real World Numbers



Chevrolet Malibu MPG-Real World Numbers

288 messages,  Last post on Nov 27, 2009 at 5:37 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Malibu Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Hatchback, Sedan


Messages Page 23 of 29
1
...
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
...
29
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion

#220 of 288
Re: interesting information [ohc6sprint] by phil53
Oct 21, 2008 (5:42 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ohc6sprint (Oct 20, 2008 7:45 am)

I won't kid anyone. While I have been driving with one eye on the DIC, I don't drive in a manner to maximize fuel mileage - just an effort to improve my results over the manner I might ordinarily drive. My commute is about 75% freeway and 25% suburban streets. Traffic is not as bad as in some larger cities. Portions of my commute are run at 75 mph. I generally drive about 5 over.
So I don't expect to get 33 mpg in routine driving. But, on my other GM products (an Avalanche and a Corvette), I pretty regularly get the EPA ratings - and that under the old rating system. On this car, I'm not even matching the new ratings.
I probably won't make a big deal out of it with the dealer. I do want to wait until I can take it on a road trip to see what my actual highway mileage is. I will mention it to them, though. I have a pretty good relationship with the dealer - owner, service manager, service writer, etc. They've always treated me well.
I'll let you know how it goes. And I'll post the mileage - both DIC and calculator.
#221 of 288
Re: interesting information [phil53] by ronbo10
Oct 22, 2008 (7:30 am)
Reply

Replying to: phil53 (Oct 21, 2008 5:42 pm)

Hello- long time since I've posted on this forum. My wife and I trade off driving our 2006 Malibu Maxx. It's been a great car for us overall- a few niggling problems- had to have the steering column replaced twice (latest update seems to have done the trick). Anyway, during the break-in period I too was not getting the mileage I had been led to expect based on others' reports. Had maybe 3000 miles on it and was still getting low 20's, while others were getting 26 to 28 mpg, some as high as 34 or so on the highway. I had been coddling the thing too much, it would seem. I finally decided to do a few max performance accelerations (5 or 6 zero-to-sixty runs), and sure enough my mileage improved significantly thereafter. I mean immediately. Today we get about 28 to 29 mpg on average with 75% highway, 25% suburban. I guess that extra pressure in the combustion chambers exerted enough outward force on the piston rings such that they finally seated properly. I of course can't confirm that this is the reason for my improved mileage, but it did seem to correlate.
 
You might give it a try...couldn't hurt.
#222 of 288
Re: interesting information [ronbo10] by malexbu
Oct 22, 2008 (1:40 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ronbo10 (Oct 22, 2008 7:30 am)

Had maybe 3000 miles on it and was still getting low 20's... I had
been coddling the thing too much, it would seem. I finally decided to
do a few max performance accelerations (5 or 6 zero-to-sixty runs),
and sure enough my mileage improved significantly thereafter.
 
Interesting... Did you follow the New Vehicle Break-In instructions in
the Owner Manual, (p. 2-21):
 
   Do not drive at any one speed -- fast or slow -- for the first 500
   miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts.
 
?
#223 of 288
Re: interesting information [ronbo10] by phil53
Oct 22, 2008 (4:55 pm)
Reply

Replying to: ronbo10 (Oct 22, 2008 7:30 am)

It can't hurt. I may have to give it a try.
#224 of 288
Re: interesting information [malexbu] by ronbo10
Oct 23, 2008 (7:31 am)
Reply

Replying to: malexbu (Oct 22, 2008 1:40 pm)

Interesting... Did you follow the New Vehicle Break-In instructions in
the Owner Manual, (p. 2-21):
  
   Do not drive at any one speed -- fast or slow -- for the first 500
   miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts.
 
Yes, as I recall. I tried to stay off the interstates etc. I'm thinking I had been perhaps gentle with it, to the extreme... Definitely no full throttle starts or anything of that nature.
#225 of 288
by turboshadow
Oct 23, 2008 (9:56 am)
Reply
I've had mine for one tankful (its a 2007 Maxx LS) and according to the DIC, I'm getting 22.5 mpg in city driving.
#226 of 288
Re: [turboshadow] by ronbo10
Oct 27, 2008 (1:14 am)
Reply

Replying to: turboshadow (Oct 23, 2008 9:56 am)

If I do nothing but city driving, my 2006 Maxx LTZ will get around 20 mpg. In my area it's mostly suburban, with not too bad average speeds, as long as I avoid rush hour, anyway. With a mix of suburban and highway, I'll get around 28 to 29. Pure highway as high as 32. The car has been fairly susceptible to the effects of cold temperatures (worse mileage, of course), and winter fuel blends (if I were to guess, probably about a 7-8% reduction in fuel economy).
#227 of 288
Re: Chevrolet Malibu Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [KarenS] by 04malibuv6
Oct 29, 2008 (5:30 am)
Reply

Replying to: KarenS (May 31, 2005 8:46 am)

'04 Malibu V6 ~99k
 
Pure highway driving gets me ~38 mpg. When I take an average of the week with some town and rush hour traffic filled in, I'll get 27.
 
Let me note that I'm extremely happy, and confident, in these numbers.
#228 of 288
Re: Chevrolet Malibu Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [04malibuv6] by malexbu
Oct 29, 2008 (5:32 pm)
Reply

Replying to: 04malibuv6 (Oct 29, 2008 5:30 am)

Pure highway driving gets me ~38 mpg.
How do you measure this? What is your definition of "~"?
#229 of 288
Re: Chevrolet Malibu Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [malexbu] by jerrywimer
Oct 31, 2008 (10:19 am)
Reply

Replying to: malexbu (Oct 29, 2008 5:32 pm)

It sounds like it was measured by hand, during fillups. The "~" would mean "around" (as in, "not near my log, so can't post exact numbers"). Either way though, those numbers sound pretty spot on. The 2004 V6 LT sedan we had was the same way, with a best ever just over 38 mpg all highway, and routinely 32-35 ~90% highway mix of weekly work driving, and a worst city return of around 25 mpg.
 
The 3500 non-VVT was pretty frugal, and the much criticized EPS probably helped. Later model years limited the EPS to the 4 cylinder cars only, losing the slight efficiency bump it provided (word was, around 1 mpg gained for the electric power steering).

Messages Page 23 of 29
1
...
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
...
29
Prev
Next
Last
Go To Msg #
Search This Discussion
To POST a message, please Sign In.

You are here: [F] Forums / Sedans / Chevrolet Malibu / Chevrolet Malibu MPG-Real World Numbers

New? Join Now!

Forum Tools

Please sign in.
Email Address:

Password:

Forgot Password?

Search Forums

Enter Keyword(s)

Advanced Search

Browse by Vehicle



View All Vehicles
Advertisement
Learn More

2010 Chevrolet Malibu

2008 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT Sedan Shown

More Pictures

2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx LT 4dr Hatchback Shown

More Pictures

DoMore

Ask the Community
See What People Are Asking

Browse by Board

Browse by Topic


View All Topics

Today's Chats

Advertisement