Hybrid MPG thread?

[soulsea]

Curious...were you in 2wd or auto mode?

Auto mode is always in 2wd unless it detects traction loss isn't it?

 

[Mr Ghostrider]

Auto mode is always in 2wd unless it detects traction loss isn't it?

That's what I though too but I got 19.8 on the highway also in auto. But for giggles I put it in 2wd and mpg bumped up to 21.5ish!
I think there is some parasitic loss in the transfer case during auto mode.

 

[soulsea]

Interesting ... I've never even considered putting it in 2wd, but I'll try it and see the difference. I learn something every day. Thanks.

---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:01 PM ----------

Btw, I wonder if having it on 'auto' would help with traction in an emergency maneuver/accident avoidance?

 

[Mr Ghostrider]

It probably does help with traction but if its dry and clear, I usually leave it in 2wd. The front is heavy enough that it should maneuver pretty good on dry pavement.

 

[soulsea]

You're probably right ... I guess the formula is:

Dry pavement: 2wd
Rain: Auto
Snow/ice: 4wd

 

[Green Machine]

Curious...were you in 2wd or auto mode?

My tahoe is a 2wd model.

I wonder if I was going into a headwind or maybe there is a slight uphill grade going from Orange County to San Jose? Seemed very difficult to stay in 4 cylinder mode. But maybe once you hit 75 mph, drag is too great to overcome with only half of the cylinders.

I'll see what happens on my return trip home tomorrow.

 

[soulsea]

Yup, for me the only way to stay 4 cyl mode for a relatively long time is flat ground at around 65mph ... in the end I stopped trying. I figured I save enough gas driving a hybrid, I'm not gonna obsess over 4cyl mode.

At the end of the day you gotta drive like you gotta drive ... the whole point of the hyhoe is to save gas/money under normal driving conditions. If it becomes a priority then you probably picked the wrong vehicle.

 

[Green Machine]

^It's just more of a little game for me and a challenge to figure out what is the best way to drive the truck.

So far I'm finding it hard to figure out the AFM. Today I was able to climb some grades in V4 mode at 70 mph. Go figure.

I'd love to supercharge my hybrid but I doubt the tranny can handle that. Plus I don't want to void the hybrid warranty.

How about a turbodiesel Tahoe? I'd go for that!

 

[Green Machine]

After about 900 miles:

MPG was 20.9 so my return trip was probably somewhere close to 22 mpg. Speeds of mostly 70-75 mph but also includes nearly 2 hours of crawling traffic.

 

[Green Machine]

Just added a little update to my first post in this thread...a summary of a Consumer Reports article.

 

[slk2k]

22.6 for me ...

Just returned from a 2 week, 1600+ mile trip to DC. Didn't pay attention to driving style, ran 72-76 MPH and had some city driving going to Gettysburg/Mt Vernon. Everytime I stopped for gas or whatnot, got a lot of questions about my Hybrid Hoe. Had one guy in a Burb gripe the best he got on his trip from SC was 16 and he would kill for 22!

Now I need to give it some TLC (absoluetely covered in yellow bug guts)....

[Edit - Spelling]

 

[Green Machine]

After about 4000 miles of driving, the last 3000 of which have been about 80-90% city driving, the running mpg average has slowly crept down to 18.9. Still not bad.