kelli902

HI, I'm new to this site so Hello to all. I hate to start off with a problem . I bought a Caliber R/T in March 2006. I had one of the first one in Pittsbugh. I just love it it is fun and sporty. But here is my problem,I'm only getting 12-14 mpg around town. This is terrible when I traded-in a beautiful Pacifica becauce the mpg was only around 16. Now I'm getting worse than that. I have been checking for 5 months now 14.25 is the best I have gotten. I just filled up and my last tank was only 12.25mpg or 155 miles to the full tank. I'm not a hotrodder or fast driver. My dealer said that is just the way it is going to be. They gave me a paper about a petal detent and said don't push it down to hard because it overrides the gas economy. This is on all Caliber's built before 11/02/2006. It has been removed form cars built after that date. Any thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated.

okiecaliberguy

i could be wrong but isn't that basically saying don't accelerate too much because it burns more gas that way?

KStryker

hahah, yeh, if u want great gas mileage dont let the rpm pass 4k, or u are depressing the pedal hard

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kelli902

Hi,guys, I just don't know what's up. I don't drive like nut and always have my kids so I do drive like a Mom. Now I feel like I can't go over 30mph. I hate it my last tank was only 12mpg. Wouldn't you all be upset if you got that around town. Read the other threads and some drivers are upset because they are only getting 23-27. I wish!!!

kelli902

Hey,here is the paper the dealer gave me see what you all think. Read this if you don't mind. I really want the dealer to do something. Just had it inspected and told them and that is when they gave me the paper and said there was nothing they could do.

daytonakid

do this, watch your tachometer make sure you dont take it over 2500, your car really should shift around there any how, but if you want better gasmilage thats what you gotta do.

another option:

get a turbo and boost low, this will anodize the air making sure you use all the gasoline that enters your engine and you will be running more efficiently.

you probally wont do this but it is one way to get mpg up.

you could also weight reduce which agian is not practical for you im guessing.

My guess is that if you drive like most suburban moms, you just push the gas pedal to get to the speed you want. Not necassarly being a speed demon but accelerating faster than you should(if you want good mpg). its not that you cant go over 30 mph its how long you take to get there. one more thing if your dealing with ALOT of stop and go traffic your mpg is going to be worse.

kelli902

thanks for the in put. I do alot of stopping and starting and have alot of hills but 12-14 is REALLY bad don't you think . Most of you are getting around 27mpg. I know the R/T gets 23/27 so this is lower than the other models. All wheel drive gets lower also. I would have kept my Pacifica which was a laid out car and alot roomier for traveling but the gas mileage and roominess of the caliber for such a small car sold me. My 1994 full size Bronco got 17 as did my Pacifica. Sorry to babble but I love the car just so disappointed with the mileage feel like it is false advertising

litesong

12-14MPG is a disaster. & hills don't have much to do with it(my SE Caliber with 2 liter CVT has gotten 32+MPG going over 4000 foot mountain passes with very careful driving). Check your tailpipe. It should not have a thick coating of black carbon deposit on the inside. My car at 5500miles, averages 28.5MPG & has a high of 34.9MPG. The tailpipe is only lightly blackened. A really black tailpipe may mean you have an overrich fuel-air ratio mix in your engine. Your engine needs a reflash on its computer.

kelli902

Hi, i agree!! As I sit here I just figured out my last mileage. I got 180.0 miles to a tank. I put in 12.39 gallons. That is 14.50 mpg. I took everyones advice. Didn't go over 2rpms,only pushed the pedal VERY slightly, don't think I went over 35 mph. There is very slight carbon on the tail pipe. you can still see the silver. Can anyone who has the CVT transmission built before 11/06 feel the difference in this so called detent pedal? You are supposed to feel a step in the pedal. Any input on what you all would do with this car. I feel like just dropping ot off and giving them back the keys!!! Yeah right!!!

KStryker

well my car was manufactured on 7/06 and I don't feel any type of detend or whatever I'm suppose to feel when I press the pedal...what am I suppose to feel?

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