Looking to purchase a 2009 xB but i keep hearing reports that MAX AC hurts the MPG by about 3-4 mpg as does extreme heat.
For those of you that live in hot climates, what mileage are you getting. Please mention the kind of driving you do, if you have Mods that could change MPGs like bigger wheels, and what trans you have.

If i cant get high mpg in the heat i may have to get teh xD.

 

i drive hard with my windows down at 100mph in the rocky mts and in denver i never overheat and get 26-28 city and 34-38 highway

 

Nah, I have driven freeway with max AC on and maybe lost 1MPG if that. I still get my 30+ freeway regardless of AC or not.

You also have to remember, hot air has an advantage in aerodynamics. The air is less dense the hotter is it, which means less air resistance at highway speeds. This means more MPG.

So if you run the AC, you should average what you normally do on not so blazin' hot days.

 

Alright, I live in South Florida and I'll throw in my two cents... First, I have an 09 xB with an automatic trans, 16" Enkei rims. My advice would be to get a light color. I have the new Stingray color which is very light. I have the windows tinted from the factory, and honestly, the vehicle is very cool. I rarely ever have the air past 2 out of 4. I am averaging 24-26 city and 29-32 highway. Definitely go with the lighter colors, it will make all the difference in the world...

 

The speed has nothing to do with anything. Once the compressor is on the "damage" is being done.

The speeds are just the blower fan speeds, nothing more.

Just make sure to "recirculate" to put less strain on the AC on them hot days, and plus, keeps it cooler.

 

meh

Vegas, normal driving, 29-32 mpg. with a/c (100+temps)

 

Houston, in the 90s, mixed slightly aggressive driving, 24-25 mpg. AC is always on.

 

I just finished a 1,200 mi trip to Calif where the temperatures were very high (120 deg. in Palm Springs) I got 27.27 mpg including some mountain driving. AC was on for the whole trip. I live in Tucson, AZ and get about 28 to 30 mpg with the AC on.

 

Just a thought: Anyone that has replaced their rims with larger ones....do a manual calculation of your mileage and compare it to what your gauge sez. I'm curious to know if there's a difference. Of course, you need to reset all your gauges (trip odometer and mpg average).

I'd assume that the computer measures RPMs to determine 1/2 of the equation of your mileage, the other being the level of gas left in your tank. So technically speaking, you'd expect a difference between the two.

I think it would be interesting to see the results.

 

Oh hey...I forgot to mention under the Did-You-Know: that gasoline stations have their pumps calibrated to a specific temperature, which is labeled on the pump. If you pump gas when the temperature is higher than listed, you're actually getting less gas than if you pump on a day/time when the ambient temperature is lower. This varys by state and country.

 

I have read about this and from what i can tell this has been debunked. there is a slight variation in the density of the gas and thus slightly less energy contained but the difference is not enough to make a measurable difference.

Now the size of your after market wheels, that is an issue. If your wheels have a larger rolling diameter you are getting better mpg than the computer says. If they are smaller - worse. So if you are calculating mpg best to take this into consideration.

 

I'm averaging about 25 mpg with a mixture of city & hwy driving. If its all hwy I'm getting anywhere from 28-33 mpg.

I've started to drive now at 60 mph and my gas mileage is increasing quite a bit (compared to doing 70-80 mph).

 

are you driving with a light foot or just normally? I would like to do better than 25mpg. Is your city driving parking lot traffic or just 45max speed with a light here and there?

 

I use to drive with a HEAVY foot & I was avg anywhere from 23-25mpg mixed driving.

I've recently stopped that and I'm light on the gas pedal now. I'm averaging anywhere from 31-33 mpg all hwy with a constant speed of 60 mph. (Haven't measured mixed driving yet)

If you want to get good gas mileage, you really have be easy on the throttle with the xb2. The 2az-fe is one gas hungry motor if you love to speed.

 

I recently pumped my tires up to max psi and now all highway I average just over 40 mpg on the digital readout. My current commute is 12.5% city and 87.5% highway reverse commute. My current tank is 36mpg on the digital readout. I drive between 50-60 on the highway. I just recently started driving this way. Previously I drove between 70-80 on the highways and stoplight raced. With that style of driving I averaged 23-26 calculated after a fill up. Chicago has only had 1 week of high 80s low 90s so far this year, when I used AC. During that week I got ~24mpg. Though it was before I tried getting good gas mileage.

If you want really good gas mileage the Yaris is a better bet.

 

Yaris is no good. only 3star crash test safety. Im looking only at the xD and xB since they can give 5star side impact. Gas is high but not worth compromising safety over. Good to hear that your hypermiling is working out. Have you performed calculations or are you just going off the trip computer (sounds like it). Also did you have to make corrections for custom wheels?
thanks

 

I drive 100% city with A/C ALWAYS on (temps in the 90's). I just drive normally and get between 22-24 mpg.

I don't inflate my tires past what the door says, I don't fill up at certain times of the day, and I only drive 5 mph over whatever the speed limit is.

With the traffic what it is where I live, I only average about 30 mph though according to the computer.

 

I get 25mpg in a black auto... I drive like a bat out of hell and dont let off the gas unless i am braking... I dont use the AC much, but it doesnt seem to affect my milage that much when i do... I am still trying to break the habits of my old truck...

 

I understand what you are saying, but doesnt this also cause worse gas mileage cause less dense air is flowing into your motor? And wouldn't you be on it more from the lack of power caused by the heat.. My solution to the heat, get inside a house or building that has A/C... its too damn hot to be driving around.. (i started getting symptoms of heat stroke last sunday.. it really sucked)

 

The 36mpg tank is still unfinished when I refill I will do the actual calculation it will likely be around 34. With the really nice weather we have been having in Chicago I have been taking the train and inline skating to work. I have stock steelies and hubcaps. from what I have read wheel weights do not have as big an impact on mpg as aerodynamics does, as long as you are staying within a few pounds. Since the stock hubcaps are mostly closed in they have fairly decent aerodynamics. In comparison aftermarket rims are very open and have poor aerodynamics. You see this concept used in bicycle racing, they often use fully enclosed wheels or aerodynamically designed spokes. Also in land speed racing they use a flat face wheel that is completely closed off to minimize the air getting trapped in the wheel.