Break in must be complete. MPG improved... anyone else?

[RCollins]

I passed 2500 miles and noticed a nice jump in fuel economy. Today I recorded 47.34 mpg, topping the 43.74 on the first fill up. I had a low of 38 once but that was due to some Interstate driving. I have decided to take the side roads from now on, as I am not in a big hurry and the traffic is generally lighter. The main reason I bought this Ford was the MPG claim of 40 city. The fact that I can easily exceed that in hilly central Pennsylvania is a real bonus. I know enough to lower my expectations in winter, but if it stays above 35 mpg I will still be smiling.
Has anyone else noticed better MPG after break in?

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[MinntoMich]

I can't speak to post break in but my 1st two tanks averaged 47.
Yeah, I think it's going to tank in the winter. This morning I used the heater and saw 32 after my work commute which I'm sure will be in the low to mid twenties by the time the serious sub zero stuff settles over us. Makes me glad I opted for the block heater.

 

[icegradner]

Cannot say I noticed much difference at all as time went on, unless I did more freeway driving than normal, or until I got different tires.

 

[Traegorn]

I can't speak to post break in but my 1st two tanks averaged 47.
Yeah, I think it's going to tank in the winter. This morning I used the heater and saw 32 after my work commute which I'm sure will be in the low to mid twenties by the time the serious sub zero stuff settles over us. Makes me glad I opted for the block heater.

Yeah, the heater needs the engine running to work, so it'll knock down your mileage for sure.

Which is why in winter I mostly just turn on my heated seats and steering wheel.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

I passed 2500 miles and noticed a nice jump in fuel economy. Today I recorded 47.34 mpg, topping the 43.74 on the first fill up. I had a low of 38 once but that was due to some Interstate driving. I have decided to take the side roads from now on, as I am not in a big hurry and the traffic is generally lighter. The main reason I bought this Ford was the MPG claim of 40 city. The fact that I can easily exceed that in hilly central Pennsylvania is a real bonus. I know enough to lower my expectations in winter, but if it stays above 35 mpg I will still be smiling.
Has anyone else noticed better MPG after break in?

I noticed 5-6 mpg improvement when AC IS NOT PULLING 2-3K AMPS.

 

[MaveRichard]

I passed 2500 miles and noticed a nice jump in fuel economy. Today I recorded 47.34 mpg, topping the 43.74 on the first fill up. I had a low of 38 once but that was due to some Interstate driving. I have decided to take the side roads from now on, as I am not in a big hurry and the traffic is generally lighter. The main reason I bought this Ford was the MPG claim of 40 city. The fact that I can easily exceed that in hilly central Pennsylvania is a real bonus. I know enough to lower my expectations in winter, but if it stays above 35 mpg I will still be smiling.
Has anyone else noticed better MPG after break in?

I noticed better MPG around the same point as well and it was for 2 distinct reasons.

1. Subzero temps were gone. I have not been below 40 for a full tank all summer except for when I am towing.

2. I learned how to drive a hybrid. I’ve driven fuel efficient cars for years and this just needs a different approach to driving efficiently.

I too hope to keep it above 35 during the winter. The irony of driving efficiently is that it does not create much heat, because that would be wasted energy. My best tank is only slightly better than yours at 47.7MPG.

 

[LSchicago]

I passed 2500 miles and noticed a nice jump in fuel economy. Today I recorded 47.34 mpg, topping the 43.74 on the first fill up. I had a low of 38 once but that was due to some Interstate driving. I have decided to take the side roads from now on, as I am not in a big hurry and the traffic is generally lighter. The main reason I bought this Ford was the MPG claim of 40 city. The fact that I can easily exceed that in hilly central Pennsylvania is a real bonus. I know enough to lower my expectations in winter, but if it stays above 35 mpg I will still be smiling.
Has anyone else noticed better MPG after break in?

Same thing for me. When it passed 2,500 is when I noticed the MPG go up.

 

[Dmat]

im still on my first tank. my second week of driving has me a little more adjusted to the ev mode and its pulling around 47-48mpg with the AC constantly running. I have no clue what the break in period for this engine really is or to be more precise what it really needs but ill be interested to see if mpg really does go up.

 

[Edrobyn]

I noticed better MPG around the same point as well and it was for 2 distinct reasons.

1. Subzero temps were gone. I have not been below 40 for a full tank all summer except for when I am towing.

2. I learned how to drive a hybrid. I’ve driven fuel efficient cars for years and this just needs a different approach to driving efficiently.

I too hope to keep it above 35 during the winter. The irony of driving efficiently is that it does not create much heat, because that would be wasted energy. My best tank is only slightly better than yours at 47.7MPG.

Regarding your second comment. How do you drive a hybrid “different “?

 

[MaveRichard]

Regarding your second comment. How do you drive a hybrid “different “?

Three of my previous vehicles were direct injected and turbocharged. They tend to be the most efficient in steady state driving and keeping boost levels low.

This hybrid has a naturally aspirated, port injected engine. These are more efficient at higher loads.

“Most” people think that accelerating slowly will get you the best MPG. This is not true with a hybrid. Get up to speed at whatever pace you are comfortable with but remember the goal is to get to speed so that you can maintain it under electric power.

To answer your question more directly - pulse and glide. People have been doing this for efficiency for years. The hybrid just increases your ability to glide farther under electric power. You can maintain or slightly accelerate while the engine is off.

The longer you can glide with your engine off, the better MPG you will get.

…but also, do not pulse and glide on the expressway. The traction motor/small battery do not have the power to maintain highway speeds.

 

[Dmat]

something ive realizing the last few days its more likely to engage the electric motors if you coast for a few seconds as that winds up the electric motor to help recharge then when you try to use the throttle again, the motor is already at speed and can engage faster.

The highest speed ive seen electric engage while using cruise control is 59 mph. its tried to hold faster speeds a few times but its short lived. 59 was the most it would maintain until the battery got too low. I have to wonder if the motor has a maximum rpm it can sustain because that would also help explain why its goes beyond the maximum recharge rate when braking at a high speed versus a low speed.

 

[MaveRichard]

something ive realizing the last few days its more likely to engage the electric motors if you coast for a few seconds as that winds up. I have to wonder if the motor has a maximum rpm.

The traction motor spins 125 RPM for every 1MPH of wheel speed. It is always spinning the same speed for any given vehicle speed. It does not “wind up”. The maximum RPM of this motor is 13,750 at the 110MPH speed limiter.

You can go faster than 59 in all electric, but you are probably going downhill . I have seen it as high as 70mph, but again, downhill.

 

[Dmat]

The traction motor spins 125 RPM for every 1MPH of wheel speed. It is always spinning the same speed for any given vehicle speed. It does not “wind up”. The maximum RPM of this motor is 13,750 at the 110MPH speed limiter.

You can go faster than 59 in all electric, but you are probably going downhill . I have seen it as high as 70mph, but again, downhill.

yea, I live on mostly flat land so I dont get to see much down hill unless its an overpass. The rpm thing does make me wonder about the electric motor engaging though. Like if I coast some then hit cruise control, it usually immediately goes to electric only where as when I just accelerate and activate it when I reach my speed, it will sit in hybrid mode for a little while sometimes not even trying to engage electric only mode.

 

[MaveRichard]

yea, I live on mostly flat land so I dont get to see much down hill unless its an overpass. The rpm thing does make me wonder about the electric motor engaging though. Like if I coast some then hit cruise control, it usually immediately goes to electric only where as when I just accelerate and activate it when I reach my speed, it will sit in hybrid mode for a little while sometimes not even trying to engage electric only mode.

Usually it is just trying to charge the battery for longer while the engine is running. It will decrease the RPM slowly on its own until it gets to 1250, then shutdown.

But if you back off the throttle after getting up to speed it will encourage the truck to go into electric mode quicker - assuming that you have enough battery charge to maintain the speed that you are going.

Basically whenever you let off the throttle pedal it wants to try to shut down the engine.

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