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Chrysler PT Cruiser Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers

151 messages,  Last post on Jun 15, 2011 at 10:02 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chrysler PT Cruiser, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 16 of 16

#142 of 151 Re: can anyone help me out [thesnowman] by naomi223

Apr 07, 2010 (10:18 pm)

Replying to: thesnowman (Apr 07, 2010 8:57 pm)
I have a 2006 GT PT Cruiser & because of the turbo, I get terrible mileage. You're used to driving a 6-cylinder, as I was. Pt Cruisers have 4-cyl & that is why I got a turbo. I really love the car, but do not drive much. For you at 40 miles daily, there might great disappointment.
I live in Dallas & although it does snow here, it is quick & over. I do not drive in snow at all.
Maintenance is not expensive.

#143 of 151 Re: can anyone help me out [thesnowman] by naomi223

Apr 07, 2010 (10:19 pm)

Replying to: thesnowman (Apr 07, 2010 8:57 pm)
Hope you got my message!

#144 of 151 Info on the Turbo Cruiser by camshot2

Apr 11, 2010 (7:14 am)

Hey people!
   Just to let all know here, I recently noticed a sharp drop in fuel mileage, from 20-21 mpg avg/city, to 15-17 mpg city. Driving style having not changed, made me curious.
    THEN, I was on the way to college one afternoon and the little beast popped a solid backfire and began to act as if it was running on 2 or 3 cylinders. I returned home that eve, made it somehow without the computer shutting her down completely, and the following morning made these discoveries.
1) The ignition module was shorting on 2 corners straight to the block, not much spark getting to the spark plugs I'll bet.
2) Bought new module and as I was replacing it found that 3 of the bolts were extremely tight, and one was completely loose! I pulled the spark plugs and 3 of the 4 the insulators were cracked, again causing a short to the side of the plug, NOT the way for a clean burn or good mileage
3) The plenum bolts were loose also.
   After re-installing new parts, plugs/ignition module/ and tightening the plenum bolts to spec, I began to see a big decrease in the fuel gauge drop as I drove. It is just about time for a fill up, and I will have to see if the changes are as good as the gauge indicates.
   Just remember, these little Turbos and small 4 cylinders run HOT, and do a lot of power creation in small cramped areas, so checking them regularly for things like bolts tightened to proper specs and good spark wires and good spark plugs, and a non-shorting ignition chain are critical! ANY variations can, and will, affect the performance/mileage a LOT!
   Good luck with solving the unusual mileage reports I read here. I can't help but wonder how much is mechanical and how much is human computing problems? Get you fuel mile averages over say 3 or 4 tanks of gas, not just on one, and check the tune-up procedures carefully. I NEVER fully trust mechanics to do the job right, and either do it myself, or at the least re-check the things they tinkered with. I had it in for a tune-up about 4 months before, and this is what I found, and more than likely the plenum bolts loose were the cause of careless workers.
Keep on Cruisin' all!
 
Willie D. "the cat in the PT Cruiser" Welch
 
  '03 Flamin' Red PT GT, auto Power stick, with all the accessories except the mileage computer.

#145 of 151 Re: Info on the Turbo Cruiser [camshot2] by camshot2

Apr 11, 2010 (7:25 am)

Replying to: camshot2 (Apr 11, 2010 7:14 am)
OOOOPS! About forgot to mention...When I replaced the spark plugs as mentioned in this replacement message, the old plugs had a gap of about .042, which not being too far off, made me curious, so I perused the forums on spark settings for PT Cuisers, and found reccomendations from .040, to .060. With an ignition module of good quality, AND copper, not aluminum, contacts, the wider gaps are suggested, so I set mine to .045 first, and then the next day set them to .055. Cannot see a lot of difference in the performance, except for a tiny bit of "pinging" as I accelerate HARD to merge with traffic here in Wichita. Will try Premium fuel next to see if the boost is there, and the ping goes away. The difference in cost of .20 per gallon isn't good, but we'll see if there is a lot of benefit.
 
Willie D Welch
 
03 Flamin' Red PT GT w/ Autostick

#146 of 151 Re: can anyone help me out [naomi223] by thesnowman

Apr 11, 2010 (1:20 pm)

Replying to: naomi223 (Apr 07, 2010 10:18 pm)
ok thank you for replying

#147 of 151 Re: can anyone help me out [thesnowman] by jpf

Apr 12, 2010 (8:37 pm)

Replying to: thesnowman (Apr 07, 2010 8:57 pm)
I have a 2007 PT Cruiser convertible (non-turbo). Here are my comments:
 
Advantages:
 
1) a fun car to drive.
 
2) routine maintenance only (oil changes); no warranty claims.
 
3) roomy interior for a small car
 
4) convertible top easy to use
 
5) inexpensive to purchase; I paid about $15,000 for the car and it had only 5,500 miles on it
 
Disadvantages:
 
1) mediocre gas mileage (20 to 25 MPG)
 
2) not much acceleration, but the turbo engine probably has a faster pick up
 
I can't comment on the snow driving becuase I live in the southeast, but with steel rims and 4 good snow tires you should be fine. Good luck.

#148 of 151 Re: Info on the Turbo Cruiser [camshot2] by camshot2

Apr 12, 2010 (9:06 pm)

Replying to: camshot2 (Apr 11, 2010 7:25 am)
Additional on gas mileage and an addendum on snow and tires.
   Used to get 20 mpg in city, dropped to 16-17 or so as mentioned in previous blog. The repairs and the good plugs, new ignition module, etc, and the fuel mileage is up to 22MPG on first tank. I expect it to get better slightly, and can't wait to run it on a long trip as opposed to the around Wichita trips this tank was used on. I expect 25-26 mpg highway. Will advise as I get results.
   As for snow, I live in Kansas, and we have had a very snowy winter this year and especially last. Both years I had not a bit of trouble getting around in 6-8 inches of the frozen water. Even drifts of 1 - 1 1/2', if handled carefully, were no problem. Now my cruiser has the Traction control set-up on it, I would imagine yours does, but let me know here if it doesn't. That might make a bit of a difference. Icy roads were not an issue either, but if I was in heavier snow/ice conditions, I would buy an extra set of cheap wheels and put a good set of snow tires on the drive wheels. Rears you probably won't gain much by snow tires there as long as you have a good tread pattern for grip and moisture "sloughing off".
   The main thing is, it is a fun car, and versatile interior set-up that will let you change it to your hearts content. Mainly, buy it and try it is the best advice I can give. These little putts are known for slightly lower mpg than some of the "economy" cars out there, but they drive very well, perform fair to excellent depending on what you demand of them. I love my little PT GT Turbo, and will continue to cruise it until I can't anymore...lol
Willie "the Cat in the PT Cruiser" Welch
 
'03 Flamin' netal flake red PT GT w/ autostick

#149 of 151 Trip results. by pewart

Nov 25, 2010 (3:11 pm)

2006 PT Base model.
Running new Falken ZR912 tyres with nitrogen fill, 18.5mpg town with 25mpg highway.
Drove Rio Grande Valley, South Texas to Dakota and back down through Wyoming and Arizona total just under 5000mile in ten days.
TX-OK 23.6mpg
OK-KA-NE-IA 24.5
IA-SD 22.1
SD-WY 25.9
WY-CO 25.3
CO-UT 26.8
UT-AZ 27.0
AZ-NM 25.2
NM-TX 25.9mpg
All driven near top limit, more to come!!

#150 of 151 2006 PT Touring with Automatic. by jwelsh

Nov 25, 2010 (9:55 pm)

Have a 2006 with 43,000 miles. Have found that straight gas is better than E10. Have found that I get 27 to almost 32. miles on the Highway. Combined driving is 20+ With E10 combined is 18-19.

#151 of 151 Re: Chrysler PT Cruiser Owners: MPG-Real World Numbers [KarenS] by ptcruise

Jun 15, 2011 (10:02 pm)

Replying to: KarenS (Jun 16, 2005 10:06 am)
66KM costs me $4.96 $1.19 per leter
it all works out to 44 MPG Canadian
at 63.5 Miles per hour, or 100KM
 
us old system
$4.96 / $1.19 = 4.136 leters
tiny us gallon = 's 3.78 leters
66 km to US old system (x.6215)= 41.049 miles
Tiny US gallons used, = 4.136 / 3.78 = 1.094
US mpg = 41.049/1.094 *37.54 MPG highway NOT US interstate.
 
Here is what other people say they read their car computer which reads total average. They drive really fast on interstates with their air on
and we Canadians send you sick gas to burn (if you believe that kind of stuff)
PT Crusier gets Greats mpg get your collector's item today get a PT

Messages Page 16 of 16

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