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Chevrolet Equinox Real World MPG

199 messages,  Last post on Feb 27, 2013 at 6:49 AM

You are in the Chevrolet Equinox Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Equinox, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV

Messages Page 15 of 21

#137 of 199 Re: Expected better miles per gallon? [mike69440] by rrovernut

Jan 05, 2012 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: mike69440 (Jan 05, 2012 9:31 am)
Hi found your comments very interesting and agree with the visibility issues, will take mine in and get re-flashed, one thing I am trying right now , have installed a chip takes a while for the computer to adapt , this is to try and get the mileage that GM claims!!!

#138 of 199 Re: Expected better miles per gallon? [mike69440] by overtheedge

Jan 07, 2012 (9:22 am)

Replying to: mike69440 (Jan 05, 2012 9:31 am)
I agree with most of your comments, except the one regarding the ZF 9 SPD Auto Transmission. I have done some research on this subject and understand that most 8/9 speeds offer almost no real mechical loss advantage, by virtue of the extra gears, because the additional gears require additional turning elements that add mechanical losses, that subtract what can be gained by additional gear ratio range.
 
My understanding is that GM has already introduced significant 6 Spd improvements in the 2012 Nox, and will offer even more improvements in the future that will allow it to trump any 9 SPD. Bottom line, these 9 SPDs you hear everyone clamoring about are nothing more than a marketing gimick. A 6 SPD with exceptional Engineering can beat a 9 SPD in mechanical losses, mass, and quality (less rotating parts and complexity). GM's real FE opportunity in the future is 6 SPD improvements, reduced vehicle mass and height of vehicle (like you said). I have to say though, my 2011 Nox feels substantial and safe. I get about 26 MPG in City/Hwy driving.

#139 of 199 EPA MPG Test Proceedure by ohc6sprint

Jan 07, 2012 (10:37 am)

I am planning on buying a 2012 Equinox, 4cyl, fwd, soon and have been following forums such as these for awhile. I find that most posts don't mention if the Equinox is awd or not when they report poor fuel economy. So, it is hard to draw a conclusion on what to expect. The 32 mpg EPA HWY figure is for a 4cyl without awd and is for the following conditions:
 
 http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml
  
It is a 12.75 minute test done on a dynamometer between 68 and 86 degrees. According to the test graph, the vehicle starts out at 0, accelerates to 50, slows to 30 once and accelerates to 60 and ends at 0. There are some small fluctuations, but never exceeds 60 mph, and the average speed is 48.3 mph. There are other graphs that are worth looking at, including future tests like cold weather, air conditioning and high speed (80 mph).
  
 This chart gives detailed test comparisons:
  
 http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml
  
Note that the average speed is 48 mph, no A/C used, warm weather, no wind resistance and no exceeding 60 mph. So if you drive 70 mph in cold weather with the defroster on (A/C on) and you get 25 mpg, is it the car that can't get 32 mpg or is it that you and the conditions can't get 32 mpg?
 
I also wonder if the EPA test uses gasoline with 10% ethanol content, or if some people with apparent mileage problems are using fuel with a higher ethanol content.
 
Hope this aids the discussion.

#140 of 199 Re: EPA MPG Test Proceedure [ohc6sprint] by overtheedge

Jan 07, 2012 (11:54 am)

Replying to: ohc6sprint (Jan 07, 2012 10:37 am)
I get a new car every year. In the past two years I have had a 2010 AWD 4 Cyl Nox and a 2011 FWD 4 Cyl Nox. On a similar long distance round trip in the summer months averaging 65-70 MPH, with the car loaded with family stuff and AC on, I averaged 29 MPG with the 2010 AWD and 31 MPG with the 2011 FWD. I found a similar trend in the City/HWY FE, averaging 24 and 26 MPG, respectively. My driving technique is not aggresive. I will say that the AWD was great in snow, but the FWD can still make its way, with a little more focus on the throttle.

#141 of 199 Re: EPA MPG Test Proceedure [overtheedge] by jonox

Jan 08, 2012 (9:25 am)

Replying to: overtheedge (Jan 07, 2012 11:54 am)
Interesting comparison, could the mpg improvement be due to GM's switch to Dexos oil in 2011?

#142 of 199 Re: EPA MPG Test Proceedure [ohc6sprint] by jan21816

Jan 08, 2012 (3:22 pm)

Replying to: ohc6sprint (Jan 07, 2012 10:37 am)
I get what you are saying, but frankly, if I could get even close to 25 mpg at any time with my 2011 Nox 4cyl AWD, I wouldn't be on this Forum looking for ideas and tracking discussions. I'm not interested in wasting my time online and I am certainly not a habitual complainer.
 
But when, over six months, the best I can manage with a tank is around 18.5-19.5 (with about 20.5 on highways and 17.8-18.2 locally), then I think the car is to blame, not me, my luggage, the weather, the road, the terrain or any other manufacturer excuse.
 
Visit One, I had the computer reflashed.
 
Visit Two, they performed the recall#11195 (rough idle poor driveability) and they "installed SOP cam phasers" and "updated calibrations".
 
Visit Three, they discovered an "engine warning P0011: failure of intake manifold cam phaser solenoid" which apparently caused the stalling issue (for me, at least).
 
After all those corrections (for which I am nonetheless grateful), the overall mileage still only hovers around 19.8.
 
25???? When?
 
My biggest hope now is a couple of contributors who have suggested that the AWD mpg will continue to improve up through 10,000 miles or more. I am only at 6,500 right now. Fingers crossed. At this point, if I could only get to seeing 21-22 overall, I would celebrate.

#143 of 199 Re: EPA MPG Test Proceedure [jan21816] by ohc6sprint

Jan 08, 2012 (11:09 pm)

Replying to: jan21816 (Jan 08, 2012 3:22 pm)
Are you relying on your fuel computer for your averages and if so, have you verified it's accuracy on one or more fillups? Also, have you checked your odometer's accuracy using milemarkers on the Interstate or with a GPS?
 
If so, have you driven a short loop on the highway while maintaining a steady speed of 55 mph and zeroing your mpg figure at the start and returning to the same point and noting the figure?
 
If you did, and if you can't get in the high 20's, then I would say that you may have a mechanical issue. Could be engine related or a sticking brake caliper.

#144 of 199 Re: EPA MPG Test Proceedure [jan21816] by overtheedge

Jan 14, 2012 (8:26 am)

Replying to: jan21816 (Jan 08, 2012 3:22 pm)
This note pertains to my prior comment about regularly getting 25 MPG City/Hwy average mileage in a 2011 FWD 4 Cyl. This past week, I exchanged cars with my wife. She got 21 MPG City/Hwy average mileage on the same vehicle! This vehicle has ~ 7500 Miles on it and has had the cam timing actuator replaced. My guess is my wife does more stop/stop, she waits in line when picking our kids up at school, and is heavier in the throttle when she accelerates. Since this is a 3800 lb. vehicle with just a 182 Hp engine, it has to work pretty hard when it accelerates or has to push a heavy wind when driven above 70 MPH. Chevy will probably upgrade the engine to its new 2.5 Liter 4 cyl soon, which is sized better for this vehicle, and will help it run more efficiently during acceleration and at speed. That being said, I am still very happy with this vehicle since it does everything much better than similar sized vehicles i owned prior to 2010. I also feel really safe in this SUV, which is important to me.

#145 of 199 Re: EPA MPG Test Proceedure [overtheedge] by rrovernut

Jan 14, 2012 (9:41 am)

Replying to: overtheedge (Jan 14, 2012 8:26 am)
HI have you used the instataneous setting on the trip computor , the reason I am asking is when I use mine while driving on a straight stretch of hwy cruise set It will fluctuate 7.2 8.9 10.3 9.6 but never where it should be to get what GM claims the dealer claims this is normal, other cars I have had that had a trip computor the instataneous reading always whent up or down slowly and a point at a time, what have you noticed wih yours.

#146 of 199 Re: 6 cyl mileage [geohov] by munley

Feb 02, 2012 (7:32 pm)

Replying to: geohov (Oct 18, 2009 11:39 am)
Had my 2007 Equinox LT with the 6 for 92000 miles. On the highway, I get 23 to 26 mpg. Mixed mileage, I get 20 mpg. All wheel drive model costs me about 1 mpg over the FWD model. I suspect allignment issues on anyone who is getting less than 22 mpg on all highway. I measure MPG by distance on a tank of gass / gallons poured in to fill the tank.

Messages Page 15 of 21

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