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Car Forum / Chevrolet / Chevrolet Malibu / January 2006Engine choice question?
Hi, Have read some of the discussions on mileage. If you were going to 'do it again', which engine would be your choice today? I'm way past the racing stage, but wondered if the 2.2 was decent enough in the power area...since the AC will be on most of the time where I'm living? Or would the 3.5 be better without killing the gas mileage? Thanks Herb I got the 3.5 and made the right choice. I commute 80 miles per day on 2 lanes with hills. I have all the power I need for passing and climbing. This engine/transmission combo is geared very tall giving low RPM at highway speeds resulting in quiet comfortable cruising with no buzz. The other result is excellent fuel mileage for the size and performance. I get 26 to 28 mpg in winter and 29-30 in summer at 60-65 mph without babying it. I pull out to pass and accelerate hard since the distances are short to the next curve. I also have taken the family on vacation- 2 adults, 2 teens plus luggage and didn't lack power. By contrast, my 4 cyl 165 Hp Subaru struggles on the same route and gets worse mileage. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Thanks > Herb >result is excellent fuel mileage for the size and performance. I get 26 to >28 mpg in winter and 29-30 in summer at 60-65 mph without babying it. I pull >out to pass and accelerate hard since the distances are short to the next >curve. This sounds great to me! Your mileage goes UP in the summer?? Yes. Reasons: Gasoline is reformulated for the summer for lower volatility (to comply with emission requirements). This results in more BTU yield per gallon. In the winter, it's the opposite-volatility is increased to allow cold starting and running. In layman's term, the winter gas has more vapor, less substance, hence less energy yield for a given volume. More friction in the winter. Transmission, wheel bearings, and differential are cold in winter. I run winter tires-more grip but more drag. More idling in the winter-I run the car in the driveway to warm it up. Sometimes I use the remote start from inside my office. AC compressor runs when in Defrost mode, which is almost constantly in cold winter climates. In the summer I often go without the AC and roll the windows down. Driving in constant snow and rain can create more traction slippage-starting and going up grades. Jakey P.S. We make fuels and lubricants-I work for a refinery. > >result is excellent fuel mileage for the size and performance. I get 26 to > >28 mpg in winter and 29-30 in summer at 60-65 mph without babying it. I pull > >out to pass and accelerate hard since the distances are short to the next > >curve. > > This sounds great to me! Your mileage goes UP in the summer?? Interesting. Now, what about the built-in error factor from gasoline pumps being volume- corrected by law to 15 degrees C/59 degrees F when calculating milage? > Yes. > Reasons: [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >> >> This sounds great to me! Your mileage goes UP in the summer?? >Yes. >Reasons: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >More friction in the winter. Transmission, wheel bearings, and differential >are cold in winter. Thanks for confirming the mileage question. I live in south Texas, so winter driving isn't much of a problem. However, my AC will go on in April and not go off until November. (This year I even used it in December!) Thanks again. Herb |
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