2015 Ford C-Max, initial mpg's not good

[salsaguy]

Per the owners manual you arent supposed to watch the MPG or find the info valuable for the first 1000 miles as it is learning your driving habits and programming the computer in your car. It will take a while to break in the engine as well and once broken in the mpg #s will start to settle in and be more reliable

 

 

I just got a new 2015 C-Max, and the mileage is terrible.  See data here.

 

 http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/vonoretn/C-Max/mpg-miles_zps6qrmfnzz.jpg

 

 

I can get 42 if I stay under 60 mph, but at 70 mph plus, on the highway it drops into the low to mid 30's.  Something must be wrong with this C-Max.  I also have a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid with 124K miles and 6 years on it, and it consistently gets between 38 and 42 mpg. 

[salsaguy]

The CMax and other hybrid cars are notably not the best cars to get if you live in cold weather cities. Hybrids work best in cities like Los Angeles where its nice and warm in the 65-85 deg range most of the time

 

We just got a new 2015 C-MAX Hybrid SEL, we now have about 600 miles on it and we are struggling to get over 35mpg. Mind you we live 40 miles NW of Chicago, IL and we are going through a bit of a cold spell. Last 2 days my morning commute started at -8F.

 

I'm confident once the weather warms up we will see much better mpg's.

[vonoretn]

Increasing the tire pressure also helps with the MPG but bottom line, the faster u go, the lesser the MPG. Also, I presume you are using eco-cruise - that does a pretty good job for a relaxing ride. However, if you like to squeeze the extra MPG, you need to change your driving technique to Pulse & Glide, also be smart about the turning the cruise on & off, since if you see an decline, come off the ICE and use the EV.

 

Even with eco-cruise, those numbers are about what I get in my 13 SEL. It use to be better till the 13b07 update, we traded the 66 MPH EV cap to 85 MPH now but back then, we use to run the "ICE high MPG" where you could go sick 45-55MPG on ICE with the high battery by throttling back the pedal..ah those were the days :)

 

:welcome:  to the forum vonoretn, by the way :)

 

ps i think the consensus for high speed fwy, the cmax sucks, be better off with a diesel but for city-its a KILLER. But u trade mpg for comfort & tech, better than my :pimp: Prii....don't let nick see this..

Thanks for the welcome.  I have the tire pressure at 38 psi, which is what is recommended.  It was about 35 psi from the dealer.  What do you recommend?  I guess you could go as high as 45 or so.   I just gave it a wax job today, it is really slippery now, maybe that will help.   I don't quite follow what you did pre 13b07, but I assume it would not apply to my 2015 C-Max.

[plus 3 golfer]

..  I don't quite follow what you did pre 13b07, but I assume it would not apply to my 2015 C-Max.

It still applies but IMO harder to do post 13b07.

 

At highway speeds if one can operate in negative split mode, ICE will run at a more efficient point because the generator is being operated as a motor to reduce the rpm of ICE while the torque level of ICE is still high.  In order to get into this mode, the HVB has to be at a high level of charge which is the key.  Pre 13b07, it was easier to maintain a high level of charge because one could not go into EV mode which would discharge the HVB above about a nominal 62 or so mph .  So, maintaining negative split mode operation was fairly easy to do on fairly level roads above the nominal 62 mph.

 

Post 13b07, the PCM algorithm can use EV up to a nominal 85 mph.  So, now it's more difficult to maintain negative split mode since the algorithm can / will use EV at higher speeds and discharge the HVB.  One can still do it by feathering the throttle appropriately (generally reducing speed and thus load on ICE) so EV doesn't kick in.

 

Basically if one truly wants to hyper-mile, one can do it pre and post 13b07 and likely get similar FE especially if one use P&G techniques.  

[scottwood2]

The CMax and other hybrid cars are notably not the best cars to get if you live in cold weather cities. Hybrids work best in cities like Los Angeles where its nice and warm in the 65-85 deg range most of the time

I do agree that the cold does hurt the FE but it really is only a few months that is the worst of it.   My lifetime avg is still about 47.5 on the dash.   I am happy with that. 

Edited February 5, 2016 by scottwood2

[jestevens]

In cold weather + short trips my MPGs range from 22MPG-36MPG in the winter here in Central PA - but consider please that the average MPG of my HHR on a good day was 25MPG all the time..one time on a very straight, flat road averaged over an hour of driving I was able to get 29MPG and that was my best for that car. 

 

Once weather warms up to about 40F the mileage starts improving on the C-MAX.  The ENERGI has supplemental PTC electric heaters wired in with the high voltage battery, the regular hybrid C-MAX must run engine to make cabin heat.

 

I would rather be warm when it's 10F out then freeze just to get good MPGs, plus the rule is if you are comfortable in the cabin then most likely the battery will be too (and last longer).

[Louder North]

 

I would rather be warm when it's 10F out then freeze just to get good MPGs, plus the rule is if you are comfortable in the cabin then most likely the battery will be too (and last longer).

 

Reminds me of that scene in 'The Martian'! 

[scottwood2]

I do try to not run the cabin heater for the first few miles if I can.   The electric seat heaters help a lot and for a few miles I am OK.   I can get 40 to 50 MPG for my 10 mile ride to work even when it is cold.  Today it was 19 deg when I left home and I think I was about 42 MPG for the route.  All city driving.  

 

I think running the heater from the start will shave off about 5 MPG or so.  As others have said too, the lowest FE figures for the C-Max is still better than most ICE cars and that is only a few months of the year. 

 

I am still ready for spring to come!  Nice to see the days starting to get longer :)

[fbov]

I do try to not run the cabin heater for the first few miles if I can....  

Just to clarify for those who may not be aware, there are two ways to prevent the ICE running for heat, when you might otherwise EV.

 

Turn the heat off. Nothing works.

 

Set the system to 60/60. Everything works.

You get airflow to the vents and windshield, but the air is cold. I direct air to FEET and turn down the fan until the engine's warm, then up the temperature, too.

 

Upping the temperature a little also enables an "EV limp" mode, where the ICE threshold is reduced to 1 bar, regardless of SOC. I get it when I'm cold, and want heat, but the engine's not warm enough. Holding 64F and EVing at 1 bar turns out to be a very efficient way to drive if your roads allow you to hold speed at 1 bar.

 

Have fun,

Frank

Edited February 15, 2016 by fbov

[Louder North]

Does anyone know if the cooling system for the AC/DC inverter is also harnessed to provide cabin heat? I ask because as we all know, there are two pressurized coolant reservoirs and therefore there must be two radiators (do they keep separate temperatures?).  Just wondering if cabin heat is provided by both systems.

[ptjones]

Does anyone know if the cooling system for the AC/DC inverter is also harnessed to provide cabin heat? I ask because as we all know, there are two pressurized coolant reservoirs and therefore there must be two radiators (do they keep separate temperatures?).  Just wondering if cabin heat is provided by both systems.

No it doesn't, the inverter needs to run at a lower temp than the ICE cooling system.  As it is the ICE has a hard time getting hot enough to operate efficiently,  it rarely does.  :)

 

Paul

[vonoretn]

The mileage is still not Good.  See:

 

http://s911.photobucket.com/user/vonoretn/library/C-Max

 

Everything above 40 mpg is around town, suburban, everything below 40 is on the highway, on a trip, 70 mph plus.   

[stevedebi]

The mileage is still not Good.  See:

 

http://s911.photobucket.com/user/vonoretn/library/C-Max

 

Everything above 40 mpg is around town, suburban, everything below 40 is on the highway, on a trip, 70 mph plus.   

You know, that is about right for the C-Max. I get about 45 around town (when driving hybrid mode), and at 75 I will get 37 or so. At 80 I get 35.  Your figures are about what I would expect.

 

For better mileage, keep it to 65 on the freeway. You will probably get over 40. I know that for trips when I manage to keep it to 70, I get right at 40 MPG.

 

I have an Energi, but once the extra battery runs out, it is basically a C-Max hybrid, except that it can capture more energy going down hill.

[ptjones]

I have been using 50 psi for over a hundred thousand miles with no problems, and again if you are ever in the Atlanta Area we could try your car on my test loop to compare cars MPG's to see if their is a problem. :)

 

Paul

[Marc Smith]

Vonor

 

I did a trip last year from DC to florida and back.  2500 miles  90% highway  and I got around 40.  with speeds 60-70mph.  my last few fill ups around town have been netting high 40's (average speed 25-30)

 

I think you are on track.    also remember  winter blended fuels will be coming to end soon  which means  MPG should increase as the winter blends get out of the inventories at least until you start having to use AC..

[ptjones]

The mileage is still not Good.  See:

 

http://s911.photobucket.com/user/vonoretn/library/C-Max

 

Everything above 40 mpg is around town, suburban, everything below 40 is on the highway, on a trip, 70 mph plus. 

 

I have been using 50 psi for over a hundred thousand miles with no problems, and again if you are ever in the Atlanta Area we could try your car on my test loop to compare cars MPG's to see if their is a problem.

 

  We could also put My ScanGaugeII on it to see what's going on. :headscratch:

 

Paul

[vonoretn]

The mileage is getting better.  I can now get 40 mpg on the highway at 70 mph, but very tailwind sensitive.  Since most of my driving is not highway, my overall average based 100% on fileup data has just crossed over 40 mpg.  I am satisfied with the mileage now.  

Edited October 30, 2017 by vonoretn

[vonoretn]

The first 5,000 miles don't really mean much and if it's wintery where you are it's even worse. I bought mine on Halloween 2014 and by April I was down to 32.2 mpg, right now I'm at 42.6 mpg, be patient.

You are right, it has gotten better.

 

http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/vonoretn/C-Max/20000%20mile%20mpg%20status_zpsma2gsmyh.jpg

[vonoretn]

I have to update this topic, I am now solidly getting over 40 mpg.  My last fill up was 47.4 mpg at just over 30,000 miles.  It just gets better and better, even with a few full throttle blasts in traffic, and going between 70 and 73 mph on the highway.  It definitely likes winding and even hilly roads, where the speeds are like in the 50-60 mph.  Hills don't bother it, it seems to average them out.  I am very pleased with the car.  Too bad 2018 is the last year for it in the USA.  

[SnowStorm]

Glad your mileage is better.  I'm convinced hills can help save gas - and easier than pulse and glide!  Was just down your way for the eclipse - went right by Vonore taking "back roads" down to Sweetwater.  I guess you watched it from your back yard.  Got 56 mpg coming home due to slow traffic and taking side roads.  Saw some beautiful country - but it took almost twice as long!  Should have waited another day.

[C-MaxSea]

Grouper likes hills.  :play: :skateboard: :play:
 
"The Force is With You !"

 

Nick