Gas mileage

[818Guy]

New member here, first post.

I'm thinking about buying an H3 before the end of the year. I'd like to know what everyone is getting in real world driving for gas mileage.

My driving will be about 70% highway/30% city. I'm religious about cruse control set to 68-70 on the highway.

[818Guy]

New member here, first post.

I'm thinking about buying an H3 before the end of the year. I'd like to know what everyone is getting in real world driving for gas mileage.

My driving will be about 70% highway/30% city. I'm religious about cruse control set to 68-70 on the highway.

[nmikes]

if your not heavy on the throttle, it actually gets pretty close to the manufacures stats. I've an auto and I'm getting 17 plus in mixed driving. I do seem to get better economy using the midgrade fuel... and it runs better I think. Though 87 octane won't give you any problems either.

[Aqualight]

Well, I have had mine for about a month and I get between 300-320 miles per tank @ 23 gal/tank ~ 13.5 mpg. I drive about the same ratio as you.

[818Guy]

That is what is so strange... such a difference in fuel mileage.

Thanks for the replies (and keep 'em coming).

[NM H3]

I just finished my third tank, and got 13.7 in pretty much exclusive city driving. Good news is that so far it is improving by about 1 mpg per tank of gas as it breaks in. Hoping it will settle above 15, but I can live with 13.7.

[medicjeff]

had mine just at one month and so far with mostly highway driving getting 16 to high 17's depending on how much of a hurry im in.

[wannabeH3]

i been getting 13 with city driving.. my best ever has been 16 on a rd trip

[Steve - SanJose]

Averaging 15 mpg in suburban driving in Silicon Valley (mixed city and fast freeway driving).

I check my mileage almost every fill-up, and I have about 9000 miles so far. I use Chevron regular.

Low=14mpg
High=18mpg

S.

[crop000s]

17.5 ave


I drive in the slow lane......

[DarthKarl]

Recently with the sub-zero cold weather and snow I'm only doing about 13.5 in city

[nmikes]

I should probably quantify my earlier remark as well... I try to keep the rpm's at 2000 or less. wich is around 60 to 65 mph. So its with fairly benign speeds.

[Sewie]

I've been averaging around 15+/- mpg over 7300 miles. That's in crappy Bay Area traffic and I've got a heavy foot.

[818Guy]

Thanks everyone.

This afternoon I rented a base H3 with auto to see what kind of mileage I'll get over the 24 hours. This rental has 4k miles on it so it's still "new" but we'll see. I just got back from driving around a bit in my area.

Two comments after my first hour in the H3:

1. Rear window is useless; can't see the car behind me - especially if they're drafting.

2. I've opened the hood once already; meant to release the parking brake, grabbed the wrong one. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif

[nmikes]

You get used to the rear visibility, its not that big a deal... the side mirrors are much more useful in reverse anyway. And the parking brake thing kinda funny... I must have hit that damn thing like 3 times test driving, would drive a h2 and then drive the h3... and forget... couldn't make up my mind... but you get used to that as well... I'm very happy I ended up with the 3.

[Sewie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 818Guy:
Two comments after my first hour in the H3:

1. Rear window is useless; can't see the car behind me - especially if they're drafting.

2. I've opened the hood once already; meant to release the parking brake, grabbed the wrong one. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_redface.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


1. Yep. Although it's a little better with the back seats down. You might also be able to adjust the rearview mirror up so it has a better angle looking out the back.

2. Done that several times myself. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Steve - SanJose]

1. I had a hitchcam installed a few weeks ago, seems to help when backing up.

2. I did the hood release once instead of parking brake.

[MyxH3]

I do a mixed amount of driving to and from work and at 6K I am averaging 17MPG I did a road trip and on the Highway I got almost 20MPG which I was most impressed by although it was a fairly flat stretch of road we were driving.
I have noticed that I am getting better exceleration since I passed the 5K mark. Maybe its just me but then again it was my wife that mentioned ot me first.

[Humden]

consistently getting 13.5 mpg. I have the adventure package which I think affects mpg negatively.

[Anonymous]

So far after 800 miles of mixed driving, I'm averaging 17.1. I have the Adventure Package.

[FLYINGBADGER2006]

14.5 Average.
I have the K&N CAI and SMA dual exhaust. Average speed on hwy 65-73MPH.
24 miles to work(one way), most is fwy time.
89 octane.
16700 miles.

[Highlander]

Is there a difference in the gas mileage between the 32 and 33 inch tires ?

[ketcat]

I've keep track of fuel used since day one and have averaged 15.3 mpg during the last 12,500 miles. That includes 1000 miles of four wheeling with the rest being a mix of 50 / 50 street and highway. Oh yea...... I might exceed the speed limit from time to time and live in Phoenix so the A/C is on all the time.

My vehicle has the following options which may effect MPG:
Off Road Package, Auto, Roof Rails and I have raised the front about an inch.

[WPBGUY]

How do you figure out the milage? The computer does not give that?

[ketcat]

Thought I would add high and low.

High 100% highway 20.6
Low mostly in town 13.7

Low 8.7 (all off road)

[818Guy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WPBGUY:
How do you figure out the milage? The computer does not give that? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, for me I'll fill up the tank and set one of the trip odometers to zero. Drive until the "low fuel" light comes on. After I fill her up, I'll look at my mileage and calculate my MPG. Total miles driven/gallons put into the tank.

[PCBeach]

5300 miles, Mobil 1 synthetic, 265 base tire at 35#. Flat and at speed limit..20.1 Hwy, 15.5 city.

[DarthKarl]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by WPBGUY:
How do you figure out the milage? The computer does not give that? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Keep track of how much fuel you have put into the tank and then use the trip odometer to see how many miles you got out of that fill-up. It’s a little hard to be completely accurate, but here’s one method that is pretty close:

1. Go to a gas station, pick a pump.
2. Fill it up until the pump clicks off.
3. Reset the trip odometer to zero.
4. Have some fun
5. Go back to the exact same pump under similar conditions (~ same time of day, same outside temperature), fuel up again until it clicks off
6. Record the amount of fuel and record the miles on the trip odometer.
7. Do the math

[818Guy]

http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

My gas mileage under my "driving" habits = 13.5 mpg.

Ouch, that really hurts.

[NEOCON1]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ketcat:
Thought I would add high and low.

High 100% highway 20.6
Low mostly in town 13.7

Low 8.7 (all off road) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
hey ket good #'s are you running a hi psi ? I run mine on highway at 38-40 psi . got 21.4 coming back on 150 mile run 62mph -65mph just cruisen averaging 17 in town . tire rating is 50 psi [on sidewall] so before everyone slams hi psi's , tires will wear even . 38-40 psi will ride stiffer and a little more floaty over 75 mph , but if your commuting like i do and dont mind cruisen 65 its worth an extra 5 mpg and mine is an automatic . i have over 6k in miles now so well broken in also . I havent computed my offroad at 20 psi yet http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[hmrlvr]

NEOCON, if your getting over 21, Im going to adjust my pressure as well and try it. I also commute and could use the extra mileage. 10,000 miles and going strong.

[hummerdonthurtem]

12 mpg for me. mostly city driving. also have true-flow air filter.

[Mickey]

We have 2 H3's. My wife's is yellow and mine is black. She's had hers 4 months (6000 miles) and said her best mileage was 22 and her worst was 16. Mine is 2 months old and only has 1400 miles on it (I split the driving between my CJ7 and the Hummer to keep the mileage down). I get 17 most of the time. We comute to Tulsa from the country about 33 miles one way so most of our driving is highway. I did the "torsion bar crank" thing on mine to gain 1 1/2" of lift in the front. I'm leaving hers alone until I see how it works out. Love those H3's.

[evomind]

man o man.....
i get about 200 miles from top off to low fuel light.
i have 35" superswampers on...
i knew my mileage was bad, but didnt think it was that bad.
now i know.

[HumbleAg]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by 818Guy:
http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

My gas mileage under my "driving" habits = 13.5 mpg.

Ouch, that really hurts. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've got just over 7000 miles now, have checked mileage on every fillup. Low has been just under 16, high has been 18. Mine is auto with adventure package.

I haven't done any offroading, my driving is probably about what you do, 70%HW/30%City. I drive a bit faster (73-75) on the highway (this is Texas after all).

I don't know how yours could be so bad. It does sound like there is quite a bit of variance among the people here. If this is going to be a primary decision criteria for you, the H3 may not be the right vehicle. You'll beat yourself up every time you fill up.

Me, I just have fun driving it and keep investing in the energy companies.

Good luck!

[818Guy]

HumbleAg,

That is what is killing me so much. The gas mileage. If it was around 15-16, the H3 would be in the mix for my next vehicle. Granted, I wish I would have checked the tire pressure before my "test."

The H3 is still in the running but fuel economy is one of the things I'm considering.

BTW, I live in Los Angeles.

[818Guy]

Side note, when I was at the Hummer dealership the salesman said that a CAI and exhaust "will" improve mileage.

Any truth?

[Mike B]

I have almost 4K on mine and lately have 15.5 stop and go and 17.5 highway. It gets better with time, as I was averaging 13.5 and 16 before.

[818Guy]

My current car, 2004 Mazda RX-8, had the similar situation. I was getting about 13 mpg mixed driving for the first 15k miles. Since then it's up to about 18 mixed. Currently I have 21000 miles on the car.

But that's where the H3 comes in. If I'm going to get 17-18 mpg with mixed driving, I might as well be driving an SUV just for the utility and room of it.

[H3HUMVEE]

I'm getting around 21 mpg. with the base, 5 speed manual http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[H3 Alaska]

I'm getting 22.2 highway with cruise control, tires at 35psi, on unleaded regular. Altitude is from sea level to 250 max.

10mpg in high lock in the snow. Some of that is from warm up time in the mornings/etc....even though it has a block heater.

[2xtreme]

I have 4500mi on my H3 now and I can't seem to break about 13.5 mpg. Most of my driving is done on the hi-way usually crusing between 70-80mph, depending what the posted speed limit is. I have an automatic with 33in tires, I plan on changing the oil around 5000mi with mobil-1 synthetic hopefully this will help.

[ETD]

mpg?...MPG? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif
Are we talking about a Hummer? When I decided on a Hummer (for 5 seconds I thought about the Prius http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif), the only times the mpg came into thinking was H2 vs. H3 (H3), stock vs. after market air intake (so far stock because the dynocharts conditions are not how I drive), and new exhaust system (probably coupled with a cold air intake but awaiting the dynochart results on the Magnaflow web site). Mpg? Furgetaboutit!

[XM DUDE]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sewie:
I've been averaging around 15+/- mpg over 7300 miles. That's in crappy Bay Area traffic and I've got a heavy foot. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
or is that from dodging all the enviro whackos up there?

[ketcat]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NEOCON1:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ketcat:
Thought I would add high and low.

High 100% highway 20.6
Low mostly in town 13.7

Low 8.7 (all off road) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
hey ket good #'s are you running a hi psi ? I run mine on highway at 38-40 psi . got 21.4 coming back on 150 mile run 62mph -65mph just cruisen averaging 17 in town . tire rating is 50 psi [on sidewall] so before everyone slams hi psi's , tires will wear even . 38-40 psi will ride stiffer and a little more floaty over 75 mph , but if your commuting like i do and dont mind cruisen 65 its worth an extra 5 mpg and mine is an automatic . i have over 6k in miles now so well broken in also . I havent computed my offroad at 20 psi yet http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The 20.6 was coming back to Phoenix from Ouray which ==== mostly downhill. I had the cruise on at about 70 and the tires at 35psi. Anyway you look at it the average is 15.3 which I don't consider bad. As a side note: Yesterday I passed a family in a Prius. Mom steering, kids in the back and Dad pushing.... Out of GAS!!! Funniest thing I've seem in weeks. I just wish I had a camera.

[fourfourto]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Yesterday I passed a family in a Prius. Mom steering, kids in the back and Dad pushing.... Out of GAS!!! Funniest thing I've seem in weeks. I just wish I had a camera. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Its the holiday season you should have gave them a hand.

[Sewie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by XM DUDE:
or is that from dodging all the enviro whackos up there? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Who's dodging them? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Killer]

My average thus far with 15,700 on the odometer is very close to 16 mpg. The family and I took a trip to Tennessee (from Louisiana) and I averaged 19.5 during that trip. Also worth mentioning is that the H3 did very well in regards to maintaining pace in the smokies...by that I mean power was adequate as far as I am concerned.

[818Guy]

Thanks everyone for the replies. While some may not consider MPG important, I do.

The city mileage is what would kill me. In all the stop-and-go traffic in Los Angeles, 12-14 mpg will eat into my wallet too much.

My reasons for an SUV are...

1. Room/utility
2. Visibility
3. Ability to trailer my motorcycle

Admittedly, off-roading is not a priority for me which is one of the H3s strong points.

Problem is, I really like the look of the H3. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[wannabeH3]

it doesnt get good city mpg... i get about 220 to a tank doin city driving... thats prolly 12-13 mpg u may want to consider a saturn vue.. those are decent.. or a honda crv

[818Guy]

Well I was able to get a GMID Certificate so this will factor in my decision. (Read: money saved off purchase price can be used for fuel. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif )

[Grandman]

Mine is brand new 300 miles on it . highway 70 mph on the first tank was 16.3 mpg .

I also have the off raod package and the off road lights sticking up on top , still not sure i care for the look of those things . http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Huck BB62]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ketcat:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NEOCON1:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by ketcat:
Thought I would add high and low.

High 100% highway 20.6
Low mostly in town 13.7

Low 8.7 (all off road) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
hey ket good #'s are you running a hi psi ? I run mine on highway at 38-40 psi . got 21.4 coming back on 150 mile run 62mph -65mph just cruisen averaging 17 in town . tire rating is 50 psi [on sidewall] so before everyone slams hi psi's , tires will wear even . 38-40 psi will ride stiffer and a little more floaty over 75 mph , but if your commuting like i do and dont mind cruisen 65 its worth an extra 5 mpg and mine is an automatic . i have over 6k in miles now so well broken in also . I havent computed my offroad at 20 psi yet http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The 20.6 was coming back to Phoenix from Ouray which ==== mostly downhill. I had the cruise on at about 70 and the tires at 35psi. Anyway you look at it the average is 15.3 which I don't consider bad. As a side note: Yesterday I passed a family in a Prius. Mom steering, kids in the back and Dad pushing.... Out of GAS!!! Funniest thing I've seem in weeks. I just wish I had a camera. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You mean to tell me that a Toyota Pious doesn't go forever on a tank of gas and batteries? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif