OK, This is my third tank of gas that I've gotten only 179 miles off the tank with a 12.3 gallon refill. I'm averaging 15mpg. The on-board computer tells me the range is 203miles on a full tank and my average consumption is anywhere from 11-14mpg.

I drive almost all short trip city driving, AC on, a bit agressive, but not over 4000rpm. The dealer says that they can check the computer for possible errors or keep the car for a week and run through a tank of gas. They said their test cars get about 20ish MPG.

The only MOD I've done is the ALTA Intake... Any ideas what could be going on here?

Thanks!
Ryan

 

>>OK, This is my third tank of gas that I've gotten only 179 miles off the tank with a 12.3 gallon refill. I'm averaging 15mpg. The on-board computer tells me the range is 203miles on a full tank and my average consumption is anywhere from 11-14mpg.
>>
>>I drive almost all short trip city driving, AC on, a bit agressive, but not over 4000rpm. The dealer says that they can check the computer for possible errors or keep the car for a week and run through a tank of gas. They said their test cars get about 20ish MPG.
>>
>>The only MOD I've done is the ALTA Intake... Any ideas what could be going on here?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Ryan

Wow, I'd say that mpg is too low, unless you are a total lead foot (maybe a plutonium-foot?).

You could do a test, drive a stretch of wighway at around 70, no AC on, no acceleration, and see what mpg you get (after resetting mpg avg on OBC).

You could also try to be really moderate in your city driving for a while. I avg around 22-25 mpg city in my MCS, but city can get as good as 26 if I'm really careful.

Check handbrake, you could jack up car to see if wheels are spinning properly.
Is the gas ok, proper octane etc.., maybe try different gas station?

Did you maybe leave a rag in the intake pipe?

 

My 02 MCSJCW is getting 27.6mpg with 6700 miles on her. I hardly ever drive with the AC on in Connecticut and put Sunoco 94 Octane in at $1.94 per gallon.

 

02 MCS (13,000 miles)
Lead foot (often above 4000rpm)
Mostly city driving (6 miles each way to work, stop/start)
25-26mpg

 

03 MCS, just under 10K miles

When I drive her in a spirited manner, I get around 22 MPG combination: mostly city driving; on the freeway I will go between 80 and 90.

When I drive her conservatively, say around 70-75 MPH on the freeway, and start out slow and easy in the city, I will get about 25+ MPG.

I only use the AC occasionally, and more often on the freeway than around town. I don't have the OBC so all my numbers are by hand. I calculate every tank when I fill up.

I'm also in SoCal, so the highest I can get is 91 octane. I usually fill up with Chevron Premium. Don't know how much of a difference that makes, tho.

 

03 MC approx. 2400miles and I'm filling up (11.5 gal) every 175-200 miles. I'm lucky if I get 200 miles to my tank. In Hawaii, 91 octane is at about $2.25/gal, so needless to say Ive been eating PB&J for lunch. I drive about 200 miles per week, stop and go traffic with my lead foot, but no A/C....so I'm not sure if it's the way I'm driving or something wrong with my computer. I placed a call into my service advisor, but no call back yet.

I also have CVT and drive manual a little bit more than I drive in SD or D mode. I'd love it if I could at least get 20mpg.....I'd be in heaven if I could get 25mpg.

 

WHOA!

Sounds like you need to take it in for service.

Do not wait another minute, do it today...

Call 1866 ASK MINI and Tell them the problem so that they can record an incident report... and tell them where you plan to get it serviced....

BUT

Do not ask them what is wrong, they don't have any idea, they are customer service employees, not mechanics.

 

I'm using 91 octane (best avail) from Chevron. Have changed stations for each of the last few tanks.

I'll call MINI tommorrow. Thanks for the advice.

Do you think they will say it could be related to the Alta Intake in any way?

 

Unfortunately, the Mini's fuel economy just plain sucks in town. I drive a Cooper and I'm not overly aggressive or fast, and even if I try to drive as conservatively as possible, it's very hard for me to average over 22 mpg in the city. Below 20 is not uncommon. I know others are reporting different numbers, and all I can say is, I wish I had gotten your car instead of mine. Some days I feel like I might as well be driving an Explorer. I think that EPA "city" ratings should be based on driving that includes idling at lights and a bit of acceleration every once in a while.

_________________
"In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane."
-Oscar Wilde

 

Chris, welcome back. Thought you were gone for good.

 

I have been getting about 20-22mpg with the air running on full blast. Highway driving I got 25-27mpg. Now when I drive like a crazy person which is most of the time my averages drop to 17 city and 20 highway if I'm lucky. Intake, pulley, exhaust and ECU sure do make the car faster and more enjoyable butI'm sure they have allot to do with the mpg drop. Not because they are not efficent but that you drive faster and that sucks more fuel. Just my opinion.