Well, some good news on the gas mileage front. It appears that my
Sonata is responding well to the warmer weather we've had lately (50s
and 60s). The last two fill-ups have been higher than previous tanks
and the last tank broke the magic 30 MPG mark that I've been hoping for.
I can't call a trend on two data points, but things are looking more
promising. I also just changed the oil at the 5,000 mile mark (initial
change was at 2,500) and used Mobil 1 5W-30 rather than dino oil.
Here's the mileage log thus far:

Overall
Average
Date Mileage Gallons Miles MPG MPG Notes
12/27/2005 184
1/3/2006 575 14.46 391 27.04 27.04
1/7/2006 903 11.16 328 29.39 28.06
1/15/2006 1312 15.14 409 27.01 27.67
1/26/2006 1727 15.43 415 26.90 27.46
2/5/2006 2156 14.85 429 28.89 27.76
2/11/2006 2482 12.61 326 25.85 27.47
2/22/2006 2903 15.42 421 27.30 27.45
2/27/2006 3266 13.33 363 27.23 27.42
3/13/2006 3694 15.38 428 27.83 27.47
3/24/2006 4094 14.9 400 26.85 27.40
4/5/2006 4542 15.68 448 28.57 27.52 Warmer weather
4/13/2006 5012 15.15 470 31.02 27.83 Mobil 1

 

Out of curiosity, what sort of driving do you do (city/hwy), and do you
have the automatic or manual trans?

The chart above serves as an excellent example for anyone tracking their
fuel economy (see thread 8 posts down).

Speaking of which, I'm also curious what you do for a living, Matt. You
obviously know a significant amount about cars and also about scientific
process.

 

Out of curiosity, what sort of driving do you do (city/hwy), and do you
have the automatic or manual trans?

The chart above serves as an excellent example for anyone tracking their
fuel economy (see thread 8 posts down).

Speaking of which, I'm also curious what you do for a living, Matt. You
obviously know a significant amount about cars and also about scientific
process.

 

Out of curiosity, what sort of driving do you do (city/hwy), and do you
have the automatic or manual trans?

The chart above serves as an excellent example for anyone tracking their
fuel economy (see thread 8 posts down).

Speaking of which, I'm also curious what you do for a living, Matt. You
obviously know a significant amount about cars and also about scientific
process.

 

hyundaitech wrote:
> Out of curiosity, what sort of driving do you do (city/hwy), and do you
> have the automatic or manual trans?

I mostly commute to work with the Sonata. My drive is about 20 miles
each way, with about 14 of that being highway. The remainder is on
secondary roads where I can drive about 40 mph. I do very little true
city driving, with only 5 stoplights between my house and my office. I
do drive into town for lunch most days, but even that is only a few miles.


> The chart above serves as an excellent example for anyone tracking their
> fuel economy (see thread 8 posts down).

I keep a log in each of my vehicles and I record every fuel purchase and
almost always fill the tank each time so I can keep a running fuel
mileage. It is a good way to detect many problems with a car.


> Speaking of which, I'm also curious what you do for a living, Matt. You
> obviously know a significant amount about cars and also about scientific
> process.

I'm an electrical engineer/computer scientist (have both BSCS and BSEE).
Well, more accurately these days, I manage an engineering department
for a large company. The department has responsibility for measurement
and control systems in support of our R&D and early stage product
development efforts.

I'm a car (and motorcycle and airplane) enthusiast and paid my way
through college working for my uncle who owned a logging company. He
did virtually all of his own equipment repairs, including engine,
transmission and differential rebuilds so I got a lot of hands on
mechanical work. I've had no formal training in either diesel or
gasoline engines, but have picked up a fair bit through experience.

I don't do much hands on engineering anymore, but am taking graduate
courses in structural engineering to keep my brain somewhat active. :-)

Matt

 

hyundaitech wrote:
> Out of curiosity, what sort of driving do you do (city/hwy), and do you
> have the automatic or manual trans?

I mostly commute to work with the Sonata. My drive is about 20 miles
each way, with about 14 of that being highway. The remainder is on
secondary roads where I can drive about 40 mph. I do very little true
city driving, with only 5 stoplights between my house and my office. I
do drive into town for lunch most days, but even that is only a few miles.


> The chart above serves as an excellent example for anyone tracking their
> fuel economy (see thread 8 posts down).

I keep a log in each of my vehicles and I record every fuel purchase and
almost always fill the tank each time so I can keep a running fuel
mileage. It is a good way to detect many problems with a car.


> Speaking of which, I'm also curious what you do for a living, Matt. You
> obviously know a significant amount about cars and also about scientific
> process.

I'm an electrical engineer/computer scientist (have both BSCS and BSEE).
Well, more accurately these days, I manage an engineering department
for a large company. The department has responsibility for measurement
and control systems in support of our R&D and early stage product
development efforts.

I'm a car (and motorcycle and airplane) enthusiast and paid my way
through college working for my uncle who owned a logging company. He
did virtually all of his own equipment repairs, including engine,
transmission and differential rebuilds so I got a lot of hands on
mechanical work. I've had no formal training in either diesel or
gasoline engines, but have picked up a fair bit through experience.

I don't do much hands on engineering anymore, but am taking graduate
courses in structural engineering to keep my brain somewhat active. :-)

Matt

 

hyundaitech wrote:
> Out of curiosity, what sort of driving do you do (city/hwy), and do you
> have the automatic or manual trans?

I mostly commute to work with the Sonata. My drive is about 20 miles
each way, with about 14 of that being highway. The remainder is on
secondary roads where I can drive about 40 mph. I do very little true
city driving, with only 5 stoplights between my house and my office. I
do drive into town for lunch most days, but even that is only a few miles.


> The chart above serves as an excellent example for anyone tracking their
> fuel economy (see thread 8 posts down).

I keep a log in each of my vehicles and I record every fuel purchase and
almost always fill the tank each time so I can keep a running fuel
mileage. It is a good way to detect many problems with a car.


> Speaking of which, I'm also curious what you do for a living, Matt. You
> obviously know a significant amount about cars and also about scientific
> process.

I'm an electrical engineer/computer scientist (have both BSCS and BSEE).
Well, more accurately these days, I manage an engineering department
for a large company. The department has responsibility for measurement
and control systems in support of our R&D and early stage product
development efforts.

I'm a car (and motorcycle and airplane) enthusiast and paid my way
through college working for my uncle who owned a logging company. He
did virtually all of his own equipment repairs, including engine,
transmission and differential rebuilds so I got a lot of hands on
mechanical work. I've had no formal training in either diesel or
gasoline engines, but have picked up a fair bit through experience.

I don't do much hands on engineering anymore, but am taking graduate
courses in structural engineering to keep my brain somewhat active. :-)

Matt

 

I'll say that you seem both more literate and more scientifically aware
than most engineers I know. And that's a wonderful thing.

 

I'll say that you seem both more literate and more scientifically aware
than most engineers I know. And that's a wonderful thing.

 

I'll say that you seem both more literate and more scientifically aware
than most engineers I know. And that's a wonderful thing.

 

hyundaitech wrote:

> I'll say that you seem both more literate and more scientifically aware
> than most engineers I know. And that's a wonderful thing.

Well, I generally don't admit to being an engineer unless someone asks.
People often don't know how to interpret what it means. :-)

I think the literacy part comes from having attended high school many
years ago before being illiterate was considered acceptable. I also
love to read and that helps as well.


Matt

 

hyundaitech wrote:

> I'll say that you seem both more literate and more scientifically aware
> than most engineers I know. And that's a wonderful thing.

Well, I generally don't admit to being an engineer unless someone asks.
People often don't know how to interpret what it means. :-)

I think the literacy part comes from having attended high school many
years ago before being illiterate was considered acceptable. I also
love to read and that helps as well.


Matt

 

hyundaitech wrote:

> I'll say that you seem both more literate and more scientifically aware
> than most engineers I know. And that's a wonderful thing.

Well, I generally don't admit to being an engineer unless someone asks.
People often don't know how to interpret what it means. :-)

I think the literacy part comes from having attended high school many
years ago before being illiterate was considered acceptable. I also
love to read and that helps as well.


Matt

 

I started keeping better records after a similar posting in January. So
here's what I've got for a GLS 4-cylinder automatic. This is almost all
commuting which is about 35 miles, four-lane all the way, but about 15
miles are in the city with some slow-go construction areas. I'm still
waiting for that long road trip...

Date Mileage Gallons Miles MPG
1/29 2562
2/10 3001 15.55 439 28.23
2/21 3423 15.28 421.7 27.60
2/27 3799* 14.06 376.6 26.79
3/6 4214 15.16 415 27.37
3/15 4636 15.60 421.6 27.03
3/22 5062 15.00 425.5 28.37
3/30 5483 15.20 421.8 27.75

*1st oil change at 3551

That averages out at just a shade over 27. I'll be interested to see how
the warmer weather effects things for me. I've barely touched the
temperature controls over the last few months with mostly mild weather,
but have started running the A/C quite a bit this week with temps in the
upper 70s to low 80s. That will become more of a constant as summer
approaches here in Alabama.


Matt Whiting wrote:
>
> Well, some good news on the gas mileage front. It appears that my
> Sonata is responding well to the warmer weather we've had lately (50s
> and 60s). The last two fill-ups have been higher than previous tanks
> and the last tank broke the magic 30 MPG mark that I've been hoping for.

 

I started keeping better records after a similar posting in January. So
here's what I've got for a GLS 4-cylinder automatic. This is almost all
commuting which is about 35 miles, four-lane all the way, but about 15
miles are in the city with some slow-go construction areas. I'm still
waiting for that long road trip...

Date Mileage Gallons Miles MPG
1/29 2562
2/10 3001 15.55 439 28.23
2/21 3423 15.28 421.7 27.60
2/27 3799* 14.06 376.6 26.79
3/6 4214 15.16 415 27.37
3/15 4636 15.60 421.6 27.03
3/22 5062 15.00 425.5 28.37
3/30 5483 15.20 421.8 27.75

*1st oil change at 3551

That averages out at just a shade over 27. I'll be interested to see how
the warmer weather effects things for me. I've barely touched the
temperature controls over the last few months with mostly mild weather,
but have started running the A/C quite a bit this week with temps in the
upper 70s to low 80s. That will become more of a constant as summer
approaches here in Alabama.


Matt Whiting wrote:
>
> Well, some good news on the gas mileage front. It appears that my
> Sonata is responding well to the warmer weather we've had lately (50s
> and 60s). The last two fill-ups have been higher than previous tanks
> and the last tank broke the magic 30 MPG mark that I've been hoping for.