Maverick mileage versus my calculations

[Kgassert]

I have seen this brought up many times and I wonder why folks always assume their manual filling the tank and calculating is more accurate than the computer calculating fuel flow. Just curious .

kevin

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[lm126027]

You adjust the setting using engineering test mode. There's a bunch of threads on it.

When people post their mpg's they are unknowingly incorrect, I used to mention this but have since given up lol. Generally about 5% high.

Have adjusted mine several times (back and forth small amounts after the 1st change) with the tires that came with the truck using the engineering test mode and have gotten my difference down to less than 1 mpg most tank fills.

Putting different size tires and adjusting won't really correct anything. Maybe the numbers you see may be consistent, but then both will be wrong. MTE will be off when you put on different tires as well. When I put my snow's on, my speed is off as well as MTE. With my snows MPH are off 2 at 70 and 3 at 75. MTE will show 25 or less, yet the gas gauge will show in excess of 1/4 of a tank. Will probably need Forscan to reset the tire size before doing the adjustment via test mode. Hoping the dealer can do for me when I put on my Snow's later this month, if not, may be looking for someone local that can adjust for me using Forescan.

 

[MaverickDragon]

My 2025 Mav indicates that I'm averaging 38.6 mpg. However when I calculate my own mileage I consistently come up 5 mpg less.
Any ideas why?

The Infotainment system is optimistic.
I've owned a lot of cars, but few were accurate in their estimations. IMHO, they intentionally are set to err on the high side as the owner feels better about their vehicle getting great mileage, and that costs the factory zilch.

Most people don't bother to calculate the mpg's, so they are blissfully ignorant.
A similar thing seems to happen with the fuel gauge... It seems take a lot longer to go from full to half than from half to empty, which also promotes the illusion of low fuel use.

 

[markinvictoria]

Don't holler folks. I looked and did not see this on the forum addressing this particular subject. My 2025 Mav indicates that I'm averaging 38.6 mpg. However when I calculate my own mileage I consistently come up 5 mpg less.
Any ideas why?

Only check mine occasionally...usually my calculations are about 2mpg less than the Mav shows.

 

[MaverickDragon]

I have seen this brought up many times and I wonder why folks always assume their manual filling the tank and calculating is more accurate than the computer calculating fuel flow. Just curious .
kevin

The volume of fuel that is dispensed into the tank is verified for accuracy by local weights and measures. There are also enough people who check to raise a flag if the pump is off.
All anyone has to do is fill up a one gallon can and compare it to the pump.

The mileage traveled can also be easily verified by the owner for accuracy, and can be adjusted if necessary, as for instance larger tires will mean the odometer will record less mileage.
A manual calculation can include a factor to correct the miles travelled figure.

With accurate fuel and mileage, dividing distance by gallons is the actual miles per gallon used.

By comparison, the infotainment number is very often optimistic, and is not required by law to be an accurate figure, and will also be subject to inaccuracy in the miles travelled.

 

[Chops]

I have seen this brought up many times and I wonder why folks always assume their manual filling the tank and calculating is more accurate than the computer calculating fuel flow. Just curious .

kevin

Both me & the truck computer are using the odometer for distance traveled.

For fuel usage, I’m using a calibrated/certified gas pump that calculates the fuel input at the exit tip of handle. Not sure what the computer is using for fuel used?
That is why I trust my calculation better than the truck’s computer.

Also, the truck computer allows you (or anyone) to alter the mpg calculation. Good idea to keep your computer on a short leash. Make sure it is correct. Maybe a previous owner used AI to set the truck computer’s AFE incorrectly?

 

[Pete Sheppard]

It's not worth the trouble to try to set up some sort of 'scientific' experiment, but it seems that driving habits and conditions also affect the variance. I have seen over 5mpg difference, and as little as 1. Upon reflection, it seems that the spread is greatest at higher speeds and/or driving over rolling hills, where the engine kicks in a lot to pull up the grades.

 

[MaverRick]

Only check mine occasionally...usually my calculations are about 2mpg less than the Mav shows.

Same here, I used to check it on every fill-up and it always came in 1 to 2 mpg less. At 16k miles my overall mpg is now showing 27.9 with mixed local and highway driving.

 

[Randorita]

You mean Ford lies about mileage?

I am so bad, that I haven't calculated mileage on my Mav or my RAV! I have done it way back in my youth, but have never been good at tracking it regularly. I checked my F-150 a few times when I had it, but it was just so depressing! Pickups have never gotten good mileage, until the Maverick. I just know it's better and drive on. My wife fills it up about half the time, and she won't even reset the mileage, so actually writing it down will never happen. So, I just drive on in ignorant bliss.

 

[HeyBales]

I have seen this brought up many times and I wonder why folks always assume their manual filling the tank and calculating is more accurate than the computer calculating fuel flow. Just curious .

kevin

Because of this:

The Infotainment system is optimistic.
I've owned a lot of cars, but few were accurate in their estimations. IMHO, they intentionally are set to err on the high side as the owner feels better about their vehicle getting great mileage, and that costs the factory zilch.

Most people don't bother to calculate the mpg's, so they are blissfully ignorant.
A similar thing seems to happen with the fuel gauge... It seems take a lot longer to go from full to half than from half to empty, which also promotes the illusion of low fuel use.

Yes you would think a system measuring the actual fuel rate could be accurate beyond the instant MPG figure (which I think is more accurate), and it should be possible.

But the display of a Trip A/B MPG (system doesn't know if you started with full tank), never seems to use those totals.
Besides MAF grams of fuel translated to quantity may be sketchy.

 

[grandpopa'sMPGs]

It is very hard to determine if I put in the correct amount of gas from the last fill up. I believe my indicator is off 0% to 10% When I got 60.3 MPGs city I probably was close to 55 MPGs I have been calculating all summer and I was getting 50+ MPGs until fall. I am now city around 45MPGs and dropping with temperature. By January I will have MPGs city in the high 30s I am a pulse and cruse Hyper miller that doesn't hold up traffic

 

[Bguy]

I noticed the discrepancy also but then discovered i was using the trip meter which splits off the electric miles from the gas miles. When i added the two together the computer mileage came much closer to my hand calculated mileage. Next time I will use the odometer mileage and not the trip meter.

 

[Prickly Pear]

I noticed the discrepancy also but then discovered i was using the trip meter which splits off the electric miles from the gas miles. When i added the two together the computer mileage came much closer to my hand calculated mileage. Next time I will use the odometer mileage and not the trip meter.

When I shut off the truck from a drive, the display shows miles driven and below that electric miles driven. Are you saying if I take a certain number of these trips after resetting my trip meter the miles displayed on the trip meter will be the sum of the total miles per trip minus the electric miles per trip?

 

[imboden013]

The Infotainment system is optimistic.
I've owned a lot of cars, but few were accurate in their estimations. IMHO, they intentionally are set to err on the high side as the owner feels better about their vehicle getting great mileage, and that costs the factory zilch.

Most people don't bother to calculate the mpg's, so they are blissfully ignorant.
A similar thing seems to happen with the fuel gauge... It seems take a lot longer to go from full to half than from half to empty, which also promotes the illusion of low fuel use.

My 25 hybrid AWD fuel tank is other way around. Top half 160-200 miles, bottom half 200-350 miles. A lot of times the top 1/4 tank only makes 60 miles or so.

 

[WJOHNM]

Don't holler folks. I looked and did not see this on the forum addressing this particular subject. My 2025 Mav indicates that I'm averaging 38.6 mpg. However when I calculate my own mileage I consistently come up 5 mpg less.
Any ideas why?

Are you doing a lot of Idling, there are so many videos on checking MPG, most I seen find the system is fairly accurate, within a mile or 2.

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