~40.75 mpg In my Elantra

[night9]

I think the general consensus is that if a car with an automatic transmission can not be flat towed then you shouldn't EOC. My owners manual specifically states that the car should not be flat towed. What I've seen discussed was that EOC could potentially harm the transmission because it doesn't have the capacity to cool its self while the engine is off. This is due to no fluids being pumped through the transmission unless the engine is running.

[night9]

I think I need to get around to doing a speed vs mpg chart. The Automatic transmission is a joke because with the transmission in gear its gas mileage is awful below 45mph. I officially hate torque converters. It only manages 35 maybe 40mpg below 45mph on flat ground. All the 5 to 20 mph trolling I have to do because of traffic kills my averages. I try to coast as much as I can but EOC would make a big difference in my ability to get better gas mileage. I predict I could average 45mpg tank to tank with a manual transmission without a problem.

[Joggernot]

I have an Accord V6 automatic and this is what the manual says. I have taken the advice of this forum and no longer EOC.

[jimd]

Originally Posted by night9

I think I need to get around to doing a speed vs mpg chart. The Automatic transmission is a joke because with the transmission in gear its gas mileage is awful below 45mph. I officially hate torque converters. It only manages 35 maybe 40mpg below 45mph on flat ground. All the 5 to 20 mph trolling I have to do because of traffic kills my averages. I try to coast as much as I can but EOC would make a big difference in my ability to get better gas mileage. I predict I could average 45mpg tank to tank with a manual transmission without a problem.

You are probably right, look at my Mazda 3, I've hit over 50 with the manual tranny without EOC.

[night9]

The other issue is that the car can not be restarted until it has come to a complete stop and is placed in park. The car has to be in park to start, the starter is disabled otherwise. I'm sure that feature could be bypassed but its not worth it.

[LeanBurn]

Originally Posted by night9

I think I need to get around to doing a speed vs mpg chart. The Automatic transmission is a joke because with the transmission in gear its gas mileage is awful below 45mph. I officially hate torque converters. It only manages 35 maybe 40mpg below 45mph on flat ground. All the 5 to 20 mph trolling I have to do because of traffic kills my averages. I try to coast as much as I can but EOC would make a big difference in my ability to get better gas mileage. I predict I could average 45mpg tank to tank with a manual transmission without a problem.

This is not universally correct. I have an auto on my 09 Corolla and I routinely get between 42mpgUS and 44mpgUS every summer with no tricks except for driving with load up hills, just using the cruise control and going 55mph (eco mods not included). I can beat my brother any day of the week in his 5 speed Corolla if he is only utilizing the same techniques as I do due to the lower final rpms at highway cruising speed. If he starts doing EOC and other tricks he would turn the tides though.

At 45mph I can further achieve 55+mpg on flat ground using cruise easily. My car has fairly aggressive deceleration fuel cut. So your findings are somewhat an ECU/engine dependent conclusion.

[night9]

I realize this is not a universal fact. It is true for my make and model. That is why I need a speed vs mpg chart for the Elantra. For me and my situation having a manual transmission would make a world of difference. When at low speed with the torque converter unlocked the Elantra gets really poor gas mileage! In the future when the warranty is no longer valid. 8 years from now. I will rig up something to lock up the torque converter. I'm almost certain I would see a big increase in efficiency. When I'm able to get off the back roads and take the highway I easily see 40+ mpg out of the car at 60mph.

Edit: After rereading your post. I realize what you are describing is basically an ideal driving scenario for an automatic. If I was able to cruse at 55mph without having to stop repeatedly for school traffic, lights, stop signs or climb hills with 18% grades (with no opportunity to coast back down), then yes I would be getting 40+ mpg on every tank.

[Fstrdnu]

This is my 1st time in the forum. Awesome... I bought '15 Elantra base model with auto tranny. Finally broke into 40's myself. Surprising since i commute from LA Riverside (ca) everyday while everyone else is too.

390 miles on 9.4 gallons = 41.489 mpg

[KingZiptie]

You guys with the new elantras are lucky. My g/f followed me back from dallas- I was in my Ranger. She got about 1.3mpg better than I did, she was following my wake, and we were doing 55-65mph. She has an automatic. That car truly does suck for gas mileage considering what it is.

[litesong]

8-28-2013

Originally Posted by litesong

My 2013 auto Elantra real-world steady-states around 51mpg in 6th gear, about 49mpg in 5th gear & 48mpg in 4th gear, using 100% gasoline(ethanol-free). If a driver is even slightly impatient however, Elantra's low 131 lbs-feet of torque, makes mpg go away quickly, thus all the complaints about Elantra mpg giving somewhat less than EPA ratings.
Presently, my Elantra is averaging 39mpg(last 5 of 6 tanks have been 40mpg or more) with city driving being 15% & tanks used up in 4-7 plus days.

Elantra update:
Love our 2013 auto Venetian Red Elantra(tho the wife, not so much) & it is still in the family, altho with another person. We then bought....another Venetian Red Elantra, 2016 manual version. Wife really loves it.....for the manual tranny & for the interior color, which she feels makes the car....smaller. ha ha ha Anyhow, the 2016 Venetian Red is nicer, with a deeper red, gleam & a trace more metallic flake(still not as sweet as other brands). Also, the 2016 engine is much quieter, at idle, than the 2013 engine. The electric steering is more precise & reacts better to slight inputs. On the new "quiet pavements" that are smooth, the 2016 Elantra is very low in road, tire noise & very very low in engine noise.....very sweet & radio listenable.

As for mpg, the 2016 is as gas stingy as the 2013, with many 40+mpg tanks. We finally got a longer trip on the 2016 Elantra(which we never quite got with the 2013), with stops at the ocean beach for pix & beach walking, hilly driving away from the ocean, & some stop&go I-5 driving, but mostly heavy traffic but steady 60mph driving. 2016 Elantra turned 46+mpg!!!

Again, all with 100% ethanol-free gasoline(E0). Both the 2013 & 2016 get 3 to 3+ fewer mpg, using E10. Because the EPA & "ethanol in gasoline industry" drove E0 to rarity, E0 is much costlier than E10. But, some places like Oklahoma & one E0 station in Aberdeen, WA (others?) sell E0 for the same price as E10.