On the subject of MPG and how I believe the automakers are putting in a united BS Fix and I believe most cars could get better MPG: much like how the light bulb makers united in 1925 and decreed all light bulbs will ONLY last 1000 Hours.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebus_cartel
Look into the Diamond Cartel about the real value of diamonds....
And of course planed obsolescence...look to your cell phone as #1.
So do I think THEY are lieing to us?? Are their lips moving??
MPG testing Upgrade Scan Gauge II, using trip MPG readings.
1AM I17 North from Cactus to 101 and south 101 to Cactus Temp 70Degrees
Two runs each way. No wind.
Cars I have tested this on: a 2000 Mercury Grand Marques with a 4.6 4R70 4 speed auto and a 3.27 rear end that got 28 to 30MPG at 65MPH and 1700RPMs, that on a road trip from Phoenix AZ to Riverside CA got a nice 24MPG at 85MPH to the AZ/CA Boarder and then got 26MPG from the AZ/CA boarder to Riverside. MPG checked by numbers and two MPG devices.
This car would do these numbers every time every day!!
2003 Ford Crown Vic with a 4.6 4R70 4 speed auto and a 3.27 rear end that gets 26MPG at 65MPH P71 Ex-Cop car which makes 40more HP over the 2000 4.6.
These two cars show a normal progressive loss of MPG at a rate of about 1 MPG per each 5 MPH faster from 60MPH.
BUT then there are the two Ford Explorers.
2002 Ford Explorer with a 4.0 V6 5R55 5 speed and 3.55 Rearend.
2003 Ford Explorer with a 4.6 V8 5R55 5 speed and 3.55 Rearend.
60MPH and 70MPH TRUE by GPS. I was concerned when the calculator program was off.
49MPH in 5th @ 1480RPMs 29MPG
59MPH in 5th @ 1800RPMs 26MPG
65MPH in 5th @ 2200RPMs 18MPG
Due to traffic I only got these lowest and highest readings testing even on at 3AM on Sunday morning…
65MPH and up to 80MPH done nearly everyday.
Note, from 50MPH and 29MPG to 65MPG the rate drops faster than the normal 1MPG per each 5MPH faster….should have been only 3 MPG to go from 50MPH to 65MPG what should be 26MPG reads 18MPG.
NOW NOTE these SUVs THEN runs this math so from 65 MPH and 18MPG going up to 80MPH ONLY costs 3 MORE MPG, they will make 15 MPG at 80MPH.
SO IF the SUV can get the same MPG at the Same RPMs then at the higher speed in double overdrive that will mean at 70MPH it will be doing 29MPG and at 85MPH getting 26MPG.
I have tested these low speeds of 50MPH about 8 times.
This should not happen, you should loss MPG at a steady rate from 1500RPMs (50MPH) up.
BUT these two SUVs drop 10MPG between 50MPH and 65MPH THEN lose at the normal rate of 1MPG for each 5MPH faster.
THEY say it is because these SUVs are Boxed pushing through the air.
SO as a test I pulled up behind a Big Rig going north going a very nice steady 65MPH on I17, got within the vacuum behind his box, within one car space….and no change, no 29MPG just 18MPG.
So IT IS NOT wind resistance Because a 2019 Chevy Express van (A BIGGER BOX) is officially reported by its sticker to do 29MPG highway.
The FIX is in the PCM.
I think they are doing the trick on all SUVs, Vans and pickup trucks.
Rich