My truck's mileage is a mystery to me. (AKA let's share vehicular quirks)

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94) 02/26/2016 at 09:20 • Filed to: None

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I’ve been tracking my mileage since I bought this truck, and the only bit of conclusive evidence on what it likes best has been in fuel type. It definitely likes 89 better than 87.

However, HOW I drive doesn’t seem to make any difference at all. When I first got it, I was fairly gentle on the loud pedal. Now, I’ve gotten past that to the point where I just don’t care. I bought the V8 for the power and dammit I’m using it. Weirdly, my mileage hasn’t suffered at all.

Also, regarding city/highway driving, it doesn’t seem to care for the most part. My ordinary driving is a pretty even split between the two. If I skew it a little more to the highway it doesn’t care. Won’t give me any more. Skew it a little more to the city, still doesn’t care. Won’t give me any less. It’s only when I go WAY out of my usual range (eg burning a quarter tank in one shot, either city or highway) that the mileage changes, and here’s the weird part: it so far has only gone up, never down. City or highway.

Next weird part. The only truly dismal tank I’ve had came from playing in the snow in 4x4. I’ve noticed a slight dip any time I’ve run 4x4 (so any time we’ve had a decent snowfall), so it seems that the only thing that can really kill the mileage is 4x4 use. And yet despite that evidence, I did a bit of bumbling around snowy trails last year and it barely put a dent in the mileage.

On a similar note, the only great tanks I’ve had were an almost constant 80kph-road trip. However, even here there was plenty of low speed accelerate/decelerate stuff because I took some good narrow, twisty, sand/dirt/rock backroads.

So yeah, I have no idea what’s going on. But you gotta love not having to pay the mileage price for ratting it :)

Lets hear about your vehicle’s quirks you can’t understand, oppo.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:29

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My car has a habit of fogging up really quickly and really easily, don’t get why. Checked for any leaks, haven’t found a thing.

Niquemarshall > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:31

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My 940 turbo gets anywhere between 8-20 mpg

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 02/26/2016 at 09:31

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Recirculate jammed on? We had a 97 Jetta with an exhaust leak. You had to keep it on recirc or you’d gas yourself. got VEEEEERY sketchy in the winter if there were any grey cars around.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:32

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My truck is the same way, no real difference between being gentle vs not or freeway vs city. But it does not like bigger tires. My regular tires are 29-30" (I don’t remember off hand) and my snow tires are 31" and a bit wider...my gas mileage goes down 1-2 mpg as soon as the snow tires go on

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:32

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I’ve have two different techs at Acura check it out, they also haven’t found a single thing

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:32

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On really cold days the transmission drags and doesn’t want to shift. Also has a vibration at 45mph and 83-88mph... I think I’m gonna stick a new transmission in it, only thing we can think would be causing both.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 02/26/2016 at 09:33

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One other thing. I had the same issue for a bit, our own BigBlock440 made a comment that (mostly) fixed it for me. If you have the temp set all the way to hot, it’ll fog up because the temperature difference is so big. Backing it off just a little solved that.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 02/26/2016 at 09:36

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Good thing I don’t plan on changing my wheel size. Could that be winter gas though? As soon as they switch I lose up to 60km per tank.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 02/26/2016 at 09:37

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First part I’d consider normal for an auto. Second I have no idea and it would really bother me.

BigBlock440 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 02/26/2016 at 09:38

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My car had the same issue, fogged up the inside as soon as I got in it in the winter. This winter though, I put an open box of chalk in the map pocket to soak up moisture, hasn’t done it since. It has been a fairly mild winter though, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it, but it used to do it all the time so I think it was the chalk.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:40

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possibly, but i think it’s the wheels because as soon as they come off my mileage goes back up...i’m assuming i haven’t been timing the switch to and from winter tires exactly when stations are switching fuels

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > BigBlock440 02/26/2016 at 09:40

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If this does anything for me that’ll be two of your comments on fogging I’ve found useful.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:41

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When I say drag I mean parking brake or worse dragging and by doesn’t want to switch I could do 30 before it would finally get the umpf to do it. We’ve fixed the wheels so what else could a phantom vibration be? (My dads owns a Lexus/Toyota shop and were still lost on it, also its at school with me so we have not had to much time to work on it)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 02/26/2016 at 09:41

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Yeah, must be the wheels.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars 02/26/2016 at 09:43

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OK, that’s just weird.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:54

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I swear up and down my car gets better gas mileage on winter blend.

The power steering squeaks at full lock and nothing I do can stop it and I genuinely can’t find any other evidence of someone else having the same issue.

For some reason my sunroof’s auto open only works like 90% of the time. Sometimes I hit it and it barely moves but if I hit the button again it rolls back normally.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 09:54

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My car is the same way. My commute became mostly highway and I thought I would get better mileage, but nope. 16 MPG’s. If I do everything I can to save fuel, 16. If I’m not trying to save fuel and drive like I normally would, 16. So I just stopped caring. Not that I got a V8 to care about fuel mileage. Speaking of quirks, these cars had issues where if the temperature got to warm the driver’s side window won’t go down, but if you leave it a crack open it’ll always work. I fixed that with a new motor and regulator. the map light will sometimes stay on because a pin inside the door gets stuck and you have to use WD40 to get it unstuck. And don’t even get me started on these wonderful manuals. I love New Edge Mustangs.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 02/26/2016 at 10:04

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Say WHUT?!?!? Wow. Good for snow hooning :)

You mean when you get close, or when you actually run into the stop? Mine doesn’t like that either. Actually I don’t think any PS pump does.

German electrics brah

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/26/2016 at 10:18

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Yeah, exactly. The thing is, it can be expensive (though in my case insurance savings offset the gas cost), but at the end of the day the fact that having fun doesn’t cost you any more is awesome.

On the window note, as soon as it gets cold my windows squeal like pigs. Also, I had an issue where my passenger windows were all intermittent. Took the front passenger door apart, pulled at some wires, shrugged and put it back together. I’ve had no issues at all since.

BigBlock440 > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 10:34

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Really? I don’t remember making the first one, but I do remember a comment being made about laving the defrost on a low enough setting so it doesn’t melt the snow on your windshield. Maybe I did though, it’s easier to remember who gave you advice that worked than it is to remember who you gave advice to.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 11:37

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There are some days when I think my car just doesn’t feel like going anywhere. On a good day, the engine revs willingly, the transmission avoids abnormal behavior, the brakes engage smoothly, and everything feels tight and composed. Then there are days (usually cold starts in the rain) when the engine feels like a dog, the transmission gets a little dopey, the brakes feel grabby, and I can hear the doors rattle against their latches over bumps. Maybe it’s the cold starts, maybe it’s just me, but sometimes I think my car gets a tiny bit temperamental.

03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 11:54

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Surprisingly my insurance didn’t matter on my car, it was all due to my age. Which made for a good case for getting the car. But ya, fun offsets all the expenses.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > 03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST 02/26/2016 at 12:13

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I was just barely 20 when I got this. In Ontario truck insurance is MUCH cheaper, and young drivers insurance is through the roof. I got a quote at 18 of 9,000 a year for a ‘99 Cavalier.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 02/26/2016 at 12:59

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Is it weird that i never check milage in any of my vehicles? I get why people do it but i have never cared for some reason... also get a turbo vehicle then you will get worse mpg when you get on loud pedal

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 02/26/2016 at 13:10

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I didn’t care until I bought the truck. Then I REALLY cared. Now I don’t really care what the mileage is but I like to know what it’s doing. You can tell a lot about what’s going on by mileage changes.

At least you can if the vehicle isn’t deliberately fucking with you.