Have you ever reset it before? If not then whatever it was showing was your lifetime average, hence the 'stuck' feeling.

 

No, I'd never reset it, but if that's the case, then my lifetime average SUCKS! Still, I have a hard time understanding that, since it has gone up and down drastically in the past.

 

Have you ever "done the math" and calculate the mpg the old fashioned way?
Lots of reports out there where actual mpg is less than the computer has calculated, BUT, there may be times when it goes the other way, in your favor.

Walt

 

This should reset automatically when you get gas but you have to get 3 or 5 gallons, cant remember exactly

 

That would have been (supposedly) the average for that tank - or since you last put sufficient gas in it. I reset it occasionally. I only use it as a rough guide, which I think is its purpose. The only way to know for sure is to calculate from a full tank, getting your real average.

 

Your true 'average' would be a number somwhere in between your 17-18 daily commute mpg and the 33-40 highway trip. If you drive 100 miles at 18mpg and 100 miles at 36mpg, your average would be 27. The true average is easily calculated if you reset the trip odometer and fill the tank each time you add fuel. Then divide #miles on the trip odometer by #gallons added.

After the highway trip, the number will be somewhere in the 30s and then when you commute again, it will fall to somewhere just above the normal 17-18. When you fill up again, it will reset and you will again see the number you usually see for your average. As winter approaches, the number will fall and will probably be lower than what you normally expect, and then it will increase again when the weather warms in Mar/Apr.

 

I am not surprised at your 17 to 18 average. A 2 mile commute is a killer to MPG, especially in cold weather.

 

I got a phone app called gas manager. I have been using it since the first tank. Now im on the 5th tank and it is calculating the same results as shown on the instrument panel. I am consistantly getting 8 l/100km per tank. That's 30 -32 average MPG. Im told by a family friend that has a 2011 elantra, that he was getting significantly better MPG after 15000 kms.

 

Thanks everyone for your input. While I do know how to calculate mileage (I took calculus in college, after all), I am often too distracted or lazy to take the time to do it.

The weather has been super cold lately, which could explain poor mileage. I was confused because I filled up with an entire tank of gas, so the thing should have reset, but it seemed to be stuck, even when on the freeway. I doubt there is any problem with my car, but I was just curious.

 

Yes, if you put plenty of gas in your car, your average MPG reading should have reset a moment after driving away from the gas pump. As for the rest, unless you hit the freeway with a nearly-full tank (MPG counter recently reset), it'd take quite a bit of freeway driving to increase your average MPG for the tank significantly. Nevertheless, you should see it gradually creep up, perhaps a tenth or two at a time. If it really is stuck, something's wrong.

 

I just thought it was odd that the reading was 18 MPG on the freeway going 55, then when I reset it while still driving at that same speed, it jumped up to 33-40.

 

That sounds like exactly what it should do. It resets any time you command a reset (the way you did) OR if you add more than 1.6 gal of gas and exceed 1.6 mph. Once you have driven 50 meters, it will have a new calculation. It was much better once you reset it because it started calculating right then as you were cruising at optimum conditions covering a lot of ground while at pretty low fuel flow. You hadn't even accelerated from a stop yet. Your previous number was not your lifetime average, but your average since your last fill-up.

 

Thanks, makes some sense now.

 

If I were 2 miles from work, I would ride my bike. BUT if I had to take the car, I would leave early enough to get in 15 or 20 minutes of driving in- an added excuse to get donuts... or something fun. But that's just me :whistling:

 

I actually don't have a bike. Well, *technically* I do, but it's an antique and not fixed up, and still sitting at my parents' house 4 hours away.

Also, I get off work at 10:30 pm, by which time it's cold and dark. I just started working 2 miles away a couple weeks ago; before that I worked at a different location in downtown Portland. I would ride the MAX (light rail) quite often.

I live like a mile from a Krispy Kreme, but rarely eat there. Want to keep the donut OFF my body, thanks!

 

Yeah, I know. I guess that's the only thing I can say I understand about Homer Simpson

10:30! That is late. Oh well. Frankly even if I did work that close here in FL, I wouldn't take a bike. Definitely not as bike-friendly as Oregon.

 

Yeah, I've been to Florida over 10 years ago, but last June I went to North and South Carolina. Barely saw ANY bikes. It would certainly be nice to take a bike. Maybe when the weather warms up again, I will get one!

 

Last weekend we started on out trip North to Mn. from Northern Mo. My car had like 1,500 miles on it. at start of trip with cruise on 6 sp manual at 75 mph. The mileage just kept creeping up from 29 mpg. It finally reached 41.6 at about 100 miles and stayed there all the way. I check my gas the old fashion way. I always put the gas pump on the slowest auto pump selection. When it shuts off I never top it of. Thus I get a true reading every time. When I read that trip it came out to an actual 41.2 mpg. We had a fair amount of luggage in the trunk and a tailwind. I look at the gas meter on the dash as more of a fun thing to watch, but I don't think it is usually that far off from my experience anyway. Bob