I'm looking for a way to get more mpg out of my 2008 mini clubman. Granted 34 is not bad. But the overseas car gets a lot more. Gas is going in the wrong direction. Thanks

 

I find with mine that shifting below 2,000rpm will get me the best mileage. I was getting as high as 41mpg (all highway) before I installed the JCW engine tuning kit. Now, with the kit, about 37mpg.

 

1) slow down

2) air up your tires

3) take everything out of the car that doesn't need to be there

4) ease up on the gas and coast whenever you can

Stop worrying about it!

Even if you got 40mpg instead of 34, you're only saving a few dollars a month - it's hardly worth the grief.

And I'm sorry, but I don't buy an S JCW getting 40 mpg unless you drive like my grandma and do 55 mph on the highway everywhere you go - and if that's how you drive, why the heck do you have a JCW?

 

A boost/vacuum gage will help, if you try to keep the gage reading a vacuum a much as possible.

Dave

 

But a gallon of gas in England is also 5 quarts not 4 so there is a difference there.

And when you look at it from a GAS standpoint they do not run ethanol in many places overseas like we do here. Ethanol WILL reduce you mileage.

When i can get ethanol free gas I get close to 15% better mileage. My Clubbie S normally gets 31-32 on a mix of highway and city. but when it is ethanol free I get 38+.

 

Hey every body , You all have great opions. I think you are all right because I really enjoy driving my Mini and thats not always slow.. I had not thought about oversers having 5 quarts instead of 4 either... Thanks to all

 

Cost close to $50 to fill her up this AM! :(

 

yup, gas here in sacramento is about $3.65 a gallon. still half of what europe pays, but still expensive by our standards.

 

Here in Glasgow KY> the price of gas runs around 3.03 to 3.18.. like you say thats to much even for here. The gas companys are loving this.

 

A couple hints...

When approaching a stop light, try and time your approach so you won't need to stop. I downshift into 3rd-32nd and approach the light at just a few MPH. Stopping is the enemy of increased MPG!!!

Use the cruise whenever possible. HWY I get 1-2 more MPG in cruise than not.

Use your MINI's MPG meter qualitatively, not quantitatively

Stay off the SPORT button.


I do all these things - for fun, occasionally. Usually though I tire of 'driving my age' and pop on the sport button and have at it. Like someone above posted, you're saving a few bucks a month at best driving the MINI like a Japanese import!

I look at my MPG as a skillset and not as the do-all end-all of driving. I monitor it for fun, sometimes, but usually I just drive... and enjoy!

 

how can you guys get so high on mpg? the best i've ever got was 328 miles (logo-25mph to 40mph and highway-70mph)with 13.6 gallons, which is about 24 mpg, i m not very happy with my mpg, because even my c300 is doing a better job on mpg than the mini.

ps:
mine is a just-a-cooper

 

In 100% city I get about 22. In 100% hiway I can get anywhere from 33 at 75mph avg to 37 at 65. I've got a justaclubbie. And that's in an auto.

 

If you have an automatic. If a manual, the sport button won't do anything to directly affect your mpg.

With a manual, when slowing to a stop or going down long hills, etc., keep it in gear. You'll get better gas mileage than popping it out of gear and coasting.

Do a Google search on hypermiling.

 

What year is your Cooper? I ask because the R50 cars don't so as well as the newer R56 models.

 

I almost always can get 500 miles a tank with all highway driving (65mph). And the sport button off. It does make a big difference with a manual transmission.

 

well, i am puzzled. i have a 2011 clubman delivered dec 24 and my average is 28mpg. last fillup i was easy on her to break her in. This last fillup i played around with the sport button a little bit but nothing that should drop my MPG this far below sticker.

Am i being paranoid because its brand new (565miles) does it get better or is there something seriously wrong. its an S btw sticker shows 37

 

I was having the same problem thinking that I should be getting better milageout of my MINI. I was going by the on board computer.. I talked to my salesman one day and he told me to reset my MPG on the computer on my next trip and see if there was a change!!!!!!! Guess What... There was.

 

93 octane?
Top tier fuel ( Shell, Texaco, Chevron, a few others added pretty recently)?
Sport button off?
Auto trans?
IMHO hard break in is best, YMMV, but less than 600 miles, it should be kind of bad.
Do a true check after 1K and see if it is better. It will go up some but not dramatically in most cases. Depending on where you drive it could be normal. These cars shine on the highway, but lack a bit in traffic in the gas mileage department.

 

HELLO ALL jUST WANTED TO TELL EVERYONE THAT I HOOKED UP A SLR CHIP TO MY CAR AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. ALL IT DID WAS MAKE MY CAR PRODUCE MORE FUMES. I'V TAKEN IT OFF ALL READY. SOME OTHERS TOLD ME IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME. tHEY WERE SO RIGHT.. THANKS PEOPLE!!!!!!!

 

Living in Los Angeles and driving clear freeway in morning to work, traffic on 101 on way home and weekend running around my mileage is around 26mpg using 91 octane top tier(Shell), I am in a 2009 S and do have a heavy right foot. 29,5xxmiles. I really feel I have enjoyed all those miles as well...

 

93 Sonoco
6speed Manual
Sport off.

Who knows, i was on a long stretch of highway cruise set to 70 and the insta calc showed 27-41.....

 

What wheels and tires do you have now?

Stock 16" and runflats?

If you have 17" then they are runflats (heavy) and have a higher rolling resistance. If you can fit 16" wheels on your MINI that would help to allow you to use tires that are more narrow and have less rolling resistance.

Some tires are designed for higher mpg.
see
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=121

But one tire cannot do everything for every owner-
high mpg
Braking
Cornering
Comfort
Wear
Cost

From the tire test-
Quote:
Conclusion

Tires shouldn't be considered as an afterthought as just round and black. They've always made important contributions to vehicle handling, traction and comfort. And while today's newest low rolling resistance tires are designed to be lean and green, this test has shown many of them can enhance vehicle fuel economy without sacrificing traction.

And as you can see from the top-rated tire in each characteristic we evaluated, many of the tires' names essentially identify their intended strengths.

Fuel Economy: Michelin Energy Saver A/S
Ride Comfort: Goodyear Assurance ComforTred
Noise Comfort: Goodyear Assurance ComforTred
Road Handling: Yokohama dB Super E-Spec
Wet Braking: Bridgestone Ecopia EP100
Dry Braking: Goodyear Integrity
Wet Cornering: Michelin HydroEdge with Green X
Dry Cornering: Goodyear Integrity

Good for higher mpg and good in wet-
Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 (Grand Touring Summer tire) 400 treadwear
185/65-15 for those with 15" wheels, $75 each, 17 lbs
195/55-16 for 16" wheels, $96 each, 19 lbs
215/45-17 for 17" wheels, $186 each, 21 lbs

More narrow usually allows for less weight and less rolling resistance but less grip for cornering at speed. Less weight helps acceleration and braking.

Also high on mpg
Michelin Energy Saver A/S Passenger All Season, 480 treadwear
185/65-15 $122 each, 17 lbs
195/60-15 $115 each, 18 lbs

Or good on handling and mpg
Yokohama dB Super E-spec (Grand Touring Summer tire) 460 treadwear
185/65-15 $110 each, 18 lbs
195/55/16 $148 each, 19 lbs

Also as mentioned, keep tire pressure up a few psi over recommended amounts is fine. Hypermile if you can and use a Scan Gauge II plugged into your OBDII connector under dash if you don't have a trip computer.

Brake as little as possible and be easy on the trottle, the scan gauge can tell you how much throttle you are using as well as instant mpg and trip mpg.

 

I have an 08 Cooper Clubman and I run 15in rims with 175/65/15 tires on it. My city highway combined is 36mpg hand calculated. On the highway if I am not weighted down with gear and a passenger, and I go 65 I can get up to 39mpg if I really watch it. If you search for hypermiling forums you can get tons of tips about increasing your gas mileage. It has a lot to do with how you drive.

 

Hello again, I have a regular clubman. I only use REG. GAS in mine. It does'nt seem to mind it a bit. Runs great with a lot of spunk!!!

 

Reg gas is gonna kill the engine in the long run.....