Topic: Is your Matrix/Corolla getting close to epa fuel economy? mine isn't.

[tomas_09matrix]

So I drive an 09 matrix that used to get great fuel economy. I got around 6l/100km on the highway. It's now getting aroud 7.7 - 8 on pure highway (driving only the speed limit). I drive very conservatively, easy on accel and don't go much over 110-115 on highways.
I had the dealer do some diag. tests. The spec for 09 matrix (1.8l auto) average (city+hw) is 7.2 and my car tests at 8.5 which is pretty bad but the dealer says its good and "within spec". When I asked what the number for "out of spec" they didn't know. Basically they seem to say everything is great no matter what.

My friend driving a nissan rogue average ~6.5 on the highway and thats a 2.5l suv (spec is 7.2 hw) vs my 1.8l hatch.

Basically I'm getting the run-around and am wondering what other Canadians (esp Albertans) are getting for fuel economy with their Matrix/Corollas.

Any help/suggestions is appreciated.

[johngenx]

We're typically in the mid to low 5's on the highway, but did have a trip recently at 125km/h and high winds with a tank about 6.7, some of the poorest highway mileage ever in the car.

Matrix is known to have poorer fuel economy than the Corolla, but not THAT much worse on the consumption end.  Our Corolla rarely sees 8.0 in congested all-city driving!  Something is wrong.

[quadzilla]

Some things that could cause poor fuel consumption.

Cold weather
Winter gas
Low tire pressure
 
Hopefully the first two are changing but you can also check the third.

[tortoise]

What about an old dirty (clogged) air filter?

[Careener]

Do you still have your Winter tires on?..either that or check the pressures as an obvious first step.

[tomas_09matrix]

Thanks for the replies guys.
My fuel economy didn't change noticeably when I changed from winter to all seasons a month or so ago. Tire pressure is checked at least every 2 or 4 weeks.

I did get a new air filter when I brought it in this week, hopefully, maybe it'll help. I'm doing a 400km highway trip this weekend and will see.

Thanks again.

[johngenx]

Perhaps you'd better make sure someone hasn't attached their SUV to your bumper, going for a free ride!

[Juke1]

Look into a fuel injector purge.  Money well spent.

[boz]

I get around 8.5l/100km with my 03 Matrix w/auto trans and that's with %90 urban driving. I accelerate moderately until I get to the torque converter lock up speed ( ~62kph) and stay around there most of the time.

Funny thing is it doesn't get any better when I drive on highway only ( ~115kph). Its relatively short 4th gear and tall body killing its fuel efficiency, that doesn't explain the sudden drop of your mpg though.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I could hit as high as 5.9L/100km (48 Imp mpg) with my 2005 Vibe with the 5 speed manual on the highway. Around town it was closer to 8-8.5 (33-35 Imp mpg).

[No H2O]

You should have no trouble getting more than I did with my boxy carburetted 1983 Corolla...5.5 l/100 at a steady 105 kph.

[rrocket]

Reset you engine ECU and see if that helps.  To do this on most Toyotas, it's usually a 15A fuse inside one of the engine bay fuse boxes.  IIRC the fuse even has a name..usually "EFI 1" or something similar.  Unlug the fuse for 5 minutes.  Plug back in.  This is a preferred method of ECU reset rather than unplugging battery, since you won't lose any preset or anything of the sort.

[Ice]

If I remember right my trip computer says my average is about 8.6l/100KM for my Corolla XRS.  That's with the 2.4L 5speed auto.  It's not great but it's not bad either.

[MMMB89]

Something else to think about that can help with fuel economy would be the fuel used.  For example, I switched a few months ago to Shell (Bronze) as they have their Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines, and I noticed with every tank I was getting better fuel economy than the last (no change in driving route and driving habits).  Lately it's leveled off but I'm still averaging between 0.5-1.5L/100 km better than what I was before.  It doesn't hurt to try that's for sure.

I also think what rrocket suggested is worth a try as well.

[tomas_09matrix]

So after getting the air filter changed, I was able to get 6.6l/100km which is a big improvement (vs ~7.8 ). Lesson learned, air filter is a huge factor in fuel economy.

I kept it constantly at 110km/hr so I still expect to get 6.0. I did the ECU reset suggested by rrocket today. There was an EFI1 and EFI2 and another fuse that had the same description in the manual. I only reset EF1 though. I will be doing another 400km trip next week to test if the fuel economy improves again. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Any more easy things to check?
This is the list so far:
- tire pressure (done)
- type of gas (used to use Petro-Can when I had great fuel econ, will stick to it)
- Fuel injector purge (to do)
- air filter (done)
- check for SUV on bumper (done  )
- EFI fuse reset (done)

Thanks so much for help, it's been a positive experience on this forum, thanks.

[ktm525]

Spark plugs. What mileage is your car at?

[tomas_09matrix]

My car is about 41K, I will check if spark plugs are due for a look. thanks

[Minou]

So after getting the air filter changed, I was able to get 6.6l/100km which is a big improvement (vs ~7.8 ). Lesson learned, air filter is a huge factor in fuel economy.

I kept it constantly at 110km/hr so I still expect to get 6.0. I did the ECU reset suggested by rrocket today. There was an EFI1 and EFI2 and another fuse that had the same description in the manual. I only reset EF1 though. I will be doing another 400km trip next week to test if the fuel economy improves again. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Any more easy things to check?
This is the list so far:
- tire pressure (done)
- type of gas (used to use Petro-Can when I had great fuel econ, will stick to it)
- Fuel injector purge (to do)
- air filter (done)
- check for SUV on bumper (done  )
- EFI fuse reset (done)

Thanks so much for help, it's been a positive experience on this forum, thanks.

Avoid ethanol content in regular fuel if you can.

Between reg at 0% and 10% ethanol content, always go for 0%.  But how to tell ethanol content for sure? That is the question.

[tpl]

In Ontario you cannot avoid the ethanol content in regular . It is there by government mandate.  The only gas I know of that does not have ethanol is Shell 91 octane and Sunoco 94

[onearmed]

Sunoco 94 I'm pretty sure has ethanol. I get the worst mileage with 94.

Shell 91 I get by far the best.