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Help a newb pulse and glide...

2.9K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  K&M  
#1 ·
hi,

I have a 2012 CR-Z base model. I've been watching some youtube videos on getting high mileage with the CR-Z. The best I can get is in the 35-37 range on econo mode trying out these techniques.
I am trying next to fill my stock tires to 45 psi.
How do I drive to pulse and glide?
What do I monitor on the CR-Z display? I've been using the econo display with the leaves to try this. I get all my leaves and only about 37 mpg.
SO what does a newb need to know?
TY
 
#2 ·
I'm not an experienced hypermiler but will say I keep my rpms 2.5k and under and I also made sure my car had new plugs, air filter and oil. I am getting solid 38.6mpg. Manual though. I am contemplating sending my injectors out to be cleaned which could help as well.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Do not fill tires to 45 PSI that is too high and dangerous. Will wear tires, is over inflated and is in general a bad Idea. Plus or minus 5 PSI maximum from door post label(when cold and checked with a known good gauge) is what is safe. See other postings on tire pressure. My CRZ I get 37mpg even with less driving due to pandemic, I keep my tires between 30 and 35 (air pressure checked every 2 weeks before driving on a Saturday). My current tank filled just before a long trip to apartment hunt (over 80 miles and 2.5 hours one way) I got over 41 MPG (round trip). When I first got car and was commuting daily, I still got 37 to 43. Best MPG was on the relocation trips from TX to NY and from NY back to VA with car heavily loaded. Got over 50MPG on those. But mine is a 2013 and CVT. The MID reads high actually calculating or using my Scan Gauge II is more accurate, and I try to check a full tank from full (10.5 gallons) to 0 to 3 bars (each bar is one gallon). No bars appear to be 1/2 a gallon as proven by the Scan Gauge II.
 
#5 ·
Ive tried using some technique but have found that gains made during my commute (40 miles each way) can be easily lost during the morning cold start. I recently replaced my under belly cover (was missing when I bought car) and bumped my tire pressure from 30 to 32.
 
#6 ·
32 is low for getting fuel economy.

Any chance it has improper tires on it? I was running sticky high performance summer tires in 205/50-16 and still pulled 36.

But also don't go buy $800 worth of tires to save 1-2mpg. The return on investment is far greater than the life span of the tires.
 
#7 ·
The current tank of gas in my car, I filled up on Monday night, is setting at 49.6 MPG. That is one of my MPG's on a tank of gas I can assure you. But if you look in my sig below, you can see my lifetime average. I am around 45.5 MPG over 69 fill ups. I do not hypermile but I do not race around either. My drive to work on most days is 80 miles round trip through the Cherokee National forest. I try to keep my RPM's down also. Hardly ever above 3000. Mine is a CVT.

I have my tires at 38 and I think it is a firm ride. 45 would be much firmer but would probably get a little better MPG. I would try changing the air filter first. It's easy. Change the engine oil and use 0W20 with a good filter. If the car is new to you you have no idea what oil is in the engine. Could be 20w50 Lol!!
 
#8 · (Edited)
Longer average trips and a little thought raises MPG. Short average trips lowers MPG, especially in cold weather. For me with the less than 10 miles a week on slow(25 MPH or lower) local roads in traffic, of course it is lower than others who drive more. I am using a full tank of gas once a month. The apartment hunting trip was a one time event. I filled up in the morning (from no bars on gas gauge). I left then drove 2.5 hours (80 miles) one way to where I was apartment hunting looked at a bunch of apartments and then headed home. Part of the trip was highway, but most was 2 lane paved back roads with some traffic lights, low speed limits and traffic. I still have a 1/4 of a tank left and have driven over 400 miles. Not sure what MPG will be by the time I fill it up and do not plan on no bars on gas gauge again.

I run 34 PSI most of the year on the Pirelli P7s I have on the car. I might report back after I move and go back into a daily commute mode. I don't know what the traffic conditions are in my new home city. It is a place I have never lived or worked. I also do not know how long the commute will be. Best I have ever gotten is 50-55 (IIRC but I would have to check the log book and hand calculate) MPG on the long relocation trips.

I do not speed, I am gentle on my car and the max speed over the speed limit I will drive is 9 MPH but usually stay at the speed limit or 5 MPH over and use the brakes as little as possible and gently get the car to speed. Car seems to like 3000 RPM or less.

With some thought and concentration, I could probably do better, but I like driving and let the car do what it does. Considering the current use of my car except for this one trip, 37 is pretty good IMO.

I personally would not want the tires any firmer.

For the first year from new, I left it in Econ. I think using the modes the way I do now, I get better MPG. Using the car more and for longer average trips, I presume MPG will go up.

I really for me see no reason to beat on the car or push for higher MPG. It does a hell of a lot better than the car it replaced which, if I was lucky, got 25 MPG, and it took 91 octane minimum. That car was a tank of fuel a week or more, commuting a longer distance, and it had an 18 gallon tank. As you said, the CR-Z is doing what it was designed to do without even trying.

OW20 full synthetic here changed by minder or once a year. Air filter, changed once a year. Tire pressure checked every 2 weeks cold in the morning before car moved and adjusted to 34.

But I should not justify any of this to anyone. I am happy with the car and may experiment to see if I can change my habits.
 
#9 ·
hi,

I have a 2012 CR-Z base model. I've been watching some youtube videos on getting high mileage with the CR-Z. The best I can get is in the 35-37 range on econo mode trying out these techniques.
I am trying next to fill my stock tires to 45 psi.
How do I drive to pulse and glide?
What do I monitor on the CR-Z display? I've been using the econo display with the leaves to try this. I get all my leaves and only about 37 mpg.
SO what does a newb need to know?
TY
I drive mine in SPORT mode and generally get 35-37 mpg if I drive "normally." I also have an HPD supercharger, so I'd probably get closer to 40 mpg in normal driving; more spirited driving get my mpg's dropping to 32-34 mpg.

Questions:
1) What's your cruising speed? 45 miles per hour is the best for fuel economy; 70 mph+ would drop it by 10 mpg's, easily. (I'm usually on secondary roads, so my speed is generally 50-65 mph.)
2) What's the average length of your trip? A couple of 20 minute trips per day results in better mpg's than four 10 minute trips.
3) How many trips per day? ("trip" is ended ANY time you stop and get out of your car or stop at a drive-thru.) Many short trips during the day will result in lower mpg's.
4) Do you have many traffic lights or heavy traffic keeping your mpg's lower?
 
#11 ·
hi,

I have a 2012 CR-Z base model. I've been watching some youtube videos on getting high mileage with the CR-Z. The best I can get is in the 35-37 range on econo mode trying out these techniques.
I am trying next to fill my stock tires to 45 psi.
How do I drive to pulse and glide?
What do I monitor on the CR-Z display? I've been using the econo display with the leaves to try this. I get all my leaves and only about 37 mpg.
SO what does a newb need to know?
TY
hi,

I have a 2012 CR-Z base model. I've been watching some youtube videos on getting high mileage with the CR-Z. The best I can get is in the 35-37 range on econo mode trying out these techniques.
I am trying next to fill my stock tires to 45 psi.
How do I drive to pulse and glide?
What do I monitor on the CR-Z display? I've been using the econo display with the leaves to try this. I get all my leaves and only about 37 mpg.
SO what does a newb need to know?
TY
Pretty terrible. When I was all highway I squeezed out about 52 max. You really can’t drive above 55 to get really high mpgs
 
#15 ·
Things I have done to improve mpg’s.

1. Biggest change was to find optimal route to work. Finding the way with the least hills and stops.

I drive 19.5mi each way. Some country roads, two small towns, and some highway in between.

2. Soft acceleration. I never let assist get over 2 bars, unless traffic requires it.

I have read posts about engine efficiency being higher with more throttle, but with 7 turns, 2 stop signs, and 7 potential stop lights, harder acceleration kills my mileage.

3. Cruise control.

I use cruise all the time, even in town. It will set as low as 25. The computer is better at providing the correct throttle and no more.

4. Reduced speed.

I do the posted speed limit in town, and 50 on highways where the limit is 55. Interstate 60-65 depending on traffic and time.

Winter average is low 40’s, summer is low to mid 50’s. I have just over 13,000 miles on it since I got it. Never reset trip B. Best tank so far is 56.

5. Long coast downs.