I picked up BowZer (MC with Manual tranny) on October 20th in Michigan. The weather was still decent here then (low to mid 60's), and my 1st tank of gas yielded 37mpg, while my 2nd gave me 38.5mpg. I was very happy!

My last X number of tanks have all been in the 32 - 35 mpg range. I only got 35 once, and have been getting 32mpg regularly. My driving style has not changed. I calculate my mileage by using the miles driven per tank divided by the amount of gas put in.

It is now winter here, with the temps in the 20's - would that be enough to explain the mpg difference? It is my understanding that winter gas is different than summer gas as well... Or should I be asking the dealer to take a look at BowZer?

Despite the decreased mileage - love the ride! Getting some new checkered goodies for Christmas! (Interior mirror cover, JCW mats!)

 

Check your tire pressures. Now with it being cold they are probably underinflated.

 

If an MCS, 32 mpg is good. If an MC not too good. By any chance, have you checked tire pressures to see if down.

 

What time of the year did this change ocurre at?
was it the same time that the 10% ethanol "winter blends" of gas started?

(this gas typically causes a 5-10% drop in fuel econ!)

HTH.

(My '06 MCSm was getting 31-33mpg over the summer, and now I can get 29-31)

 

Just the mere fact it takes the engine much longer to warm up during the winter weather will cause a drop in gas mileage. Defintitely check your tire pressures though. A change in air/fuel density also contributes.

 

You do realise that there is 10% ethanol in the fuel year round right?

 

Thanks - I'll check my tire pressure tonight.

As an fyi - this is not an MCS, and most of my driving is highway - 55 miles from home to work one way. My expectation would to be in the 35 - 40 mpg range on a regular basis.

 

Another thing to check is how far up do you pull the parking brake when you set it. I just replaced my rear pads and rotors with just 35k miles and discovered that the reason was that I was pulling too hard on the parking brake. That's the way the rear brakes adjust themselves. I found I only need 2 clicks to hold the car in most situations. I had been pulling about 4 clicks which leaves the inside pads in contact with the disc causing them to wear out faster and kills my gas mileage.

 

In Austin, we still have real gas. When I visit my parents up in Dallas, they have 10% ethanol.

 

I never got over 30mpg.

Then again i never drive below 3k rpms.

 

It may not be marked on the pump, but there's ethanol in your gas in Austin, regardless. Specifically, all of the gas sold by Philips, Texaco, Chevron, Conoco, 76 and Shell is at least 8% ethanol, year-round and nationwide.

There may be some smaller off-brands that don't use ethanol, but that's dependent on the retailer, not the city.

 

I get a consistent 32-34 mpg in mixed driving here in Florida. I had to chuckle to myself on the above post, because I have never used my parking brake even once since I got the car. We got NO hills down here.

 

I have a new MC manual. I have been getting 36-37 MPG average 80% City, 20% Highway. Seems to be getting better and better. Have 1300 miles on it right now. First tank of gas - 505 miles; 90% Highway, 10% City.

 

I am fairly certain that the gas here in Texas changed around mid October. My gas milage dropped 3-5 mpg per tank. Tires checked good (I did have to add air once).

 

Like TopGunner, I live in Michigan, have an R56 MC, drive 110 miles or so round trip to work. Because of construction, about 45 minutes of that is surface streets, and I am getting 37.something without thinking about it. If I set the tach to display instant mpg, and drive gently, I can get 43 mpg.

Buying 87 octane, perhaps?

 

That's interesting - if your rear brakes are working properly, the pads should exert *no* pressure on the rotors after you release the brake, no matter how far you pulled the handle when you set the brake.

On every car I've ever owned, I've always completely engaged the parking brake (pedal or handle) to the furthest position I can.

 

Any chance you've been using your AC/Heater more often during those miles with lower gas mileage?

 

I did some research after noticing a similar drop in gas mileage as the weather became colder, and apparently a drop of approximately 10% during winter is common, due to several cold-weather related issues. I wouldn't worry unless it doesn't go back up in the spring.

 

I drive my MC hard and usually get about 30-32 around town and about 35-36 on a trip over 75 miles. Mine actually dropped around 2000 miles or so then when I hit about 4000 miles it went back up. Not sure if its time of year, temperature or what but I am sure they all play a factor in things. Definitely keep a close eye on tire pressure though as temperatures change I get big fluctuation's in my tires on a regular basis.

 

I get 15 mpg....why the complainin?

Honestly all the above are good points. Also ive always found the more I drove a car the more I knew its limits and drove it harder and harder. I'm at 900 miles so far so I guess I found its limits already. LOL

 

Hmm, I wonder why it's explicitly marked in Dallas and not here. /shrug

This tank is bad for me because I've been having more fun 28.8mpg so far.

 

Many cars use a mini brake drum inside the rear discs but the MINI Cooper uses the disc. When you pull the parking brake, the caliper pistons rotate as they move further out and the pads wear. You have to rotate them as you compress them when you replace the pads. If you pull to far on the parking brake the piston rotates to a higher position and it can't move back to it's original position thus over adjusting the parking brake.

 

As others have said, one of the biggest causes of low mileage as the weather gets colder is reduced tire pressure. Fill your tires up to 1 or 2 psi greater than recommended, also make sure you inflate after minimal driving because the recommend inflation pressure is for cold tires.

 

15??? Why? How?

Even the old engines were more efficient than that. I'd want to check it out, myself.

 

I get 26 mostly city, a little highway. Pretty sad, but what are you going to do?