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Wagons Dodge Caliber Dodge Caliber MPG-Real World Numbers
221 messages, Last post on Jun 09, 2009 at 5:10 PM
You are in the Dodge Caliber Forum. Your Host is kcram
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To significantly increase the MPG of your Caliber you are going to have to do some things that Dodge did not. #1 Use Synthetic oil #2 Change to a Cold air intake #3 Change to a performance exhaust manifold #4 Change to a Cat-back (catalytic converter to the tail pipe) exhaust system. #5 Inflate tires to "firmer" pressures. #6 Drive close to the speed limit. Expanded: #1 Full Synthetic oils signicantly reduce friction. Less friction means your engine strains less to do the same work. #2 to #4 Each of these assemblies adds approximately 8-10 hp by allowing your engine to 'breathe" and "exhale" easier without adding any load to your engine. More horses to move the same weight (Caliber and passengers) easier #5. Inflate the tires to what the tire manufacturer recommends...not to what Dodge recommends. Most car manufacturers want you to travel in smooth comfort, so they recommend a 'softer' tire pressure. "Firmer" tire pressures deliver better MPG by providing less rolling resistance. IMPORTANT:DO NOT OVER INFLATE YOUR TIRES. HIGHLY OVER INFLATED TIRES REDUCE TREAD LIFE AND CAN LEAD TO DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. #6 Speeds above 65 mph wastes fuel. Period. Your Dodge dealer's Parts Department can get you prices for items 2,3,4 and their Service people can install these parts. These assemblies are genuine Mopar and are specifically engineered for your Caliber. NOTE:Performance parts/assemblies may affect your warranty so get all the info before you open your wallet. If you plan to keep the Caliber until the wheels fall off the performance modifications might be a way to go. Much of 2,3,4 is a digest from Pat Goss of Goss's Garage, MotorWeek on PBS "Drive like your life depends on it." The WheelMan
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Replying to: wheelman (Nov 27, 2007 6:29 am) |
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Haven't posted here in many months & need to follow up. At the end of my first year ownership (October 1, 2007) with the CVT 2 liter SE Caliber here is my MPG compilation. The first month of ownership(Oct. 2006) I averaged 31+MPG. As the weather got colder & lower energy winter mix gas was used, individual tanks dropped to 25 MPG, dragging overall average down to 28.4 MPG. During February & March, 2007, weather warmed & higher energy summer mix gas returned, & individual tanks averaged 33+MPG with highway highs of 35.6MPG. Slowly overall average rose till October 2007 when my YEARLY overall average topped out at 31.4 MPG for 50+ tanks of gas. My average going over 4000 foot mountain passes was 32.7+MPG. My 2 previous cars were very reliable & averaged 42 & 45MPG. I bought the Caliber because I'd been waiting for a cheap reliable CVT for 16 years. Tho I got less MPG than my previous cars, I have feather footed the Caliber & the CVT returned as good MPG as I could have hoped for. Many people have had bad Caliber MPG. But my SE Caliber & feather footing have done a pretty good job. Furthermore, my SE Caliber has been 100% mechanically reliable & NOT ONE creak, squeak or rattle has developed anywhere in the car. I'm happy! 
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Replying to: litesong1 (Jan 14, 2008 2:48 pm) 
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Replying to: flyusmc (Jun 14, 2006 7:05 am) The car has 36,500 miles on it. No big problems. Minor stuff like water leak around 3rd tail light, squeaking bushings in rear and door alignment(just after delivery). No complaints. Car rides nice, handles well. Love it! |
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| Using fuel pump calculations & Miles driven. I always get more mpg than the numbers on the sticker in the window. Round trip to Doore county from Rockford, IL. including driving through small towns, 32 mpg. Commonly get 30+ highway driving. 25+ around town. Using Synthetic 5w-20 Oil, K&N air filter, Mobil 1 oil filter (Made by K&N), Nitrogen in tires, and a light foot, staying close to the speed limit. A heavy foot will bring you close to the window sticker number of 23 for city driving but usually closer to 24. I love cutting my fuel bill 35-45%. Also love the fact that I don't have to sit 4 inches off the ground and have to repel, every time I get in the car. I tell people its my old Pacifica, it just shrunk in the wash. | |
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Replying to: kato1 (Apr 25, 2006 11:00 am) 
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Replying to: wheelman (Dec 03, 2007 5:34 am) Synthetic oil is overrated. The minute amount you'll gain in mileage will be countered with the price of the stuff. At best, it's a complete wash. DO NOT GO BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER'S PSI. This is not smart. Fill them to "firmer" and you will wear them out faster. There is a reason to follow the car maker's recommendation and it's called safety. The vehicle was designed for tires to be filled to a certain PSI for handling, braking and ride. I've been in the auto industry for fifteen years and you ALWAYS go by the "book" when it comes to tire PSIs. |
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 12, 2006 8:06 am) |
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I filled up today with 503 kilometers on the trip odo since last fillup tank guage was still showing 1/4 left ( I know that's not how to determine mpg/liters per 100 km).It took 40.922 liters to auto shutoff,worked out doing the math that's 28.9 US or 8.151 L/100kms/34.65 mpg CAN.All under city driving conditions with max speed of 90 km/hr. I use Shell 87 exclusively Mopar oil and filter on my SXT 2.0/CVT which is 3 yrs old and 39,000 kms on the odo.
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