06 Equinox Poor Gas Mileage

[kvarilek]

Hey Everyone. I recently purchased a 2006 Chevy Equinox. After our first couple of fill ups we are only averaging 13-14 mpg of mixed driving. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas on why this is so bad and how I can improve it? Has anyone else experienced this? I don't have a heavy foot and treat the car well.

Thanks,

[MrCritical]

Air filter clean? Tire pressure up to spec? How much city/hwy driving are you doing?

[kvarilek]

I know the tires are up to spec. As far as driving, I usually put on about 15 miles of highway driving and 10 miles of city driving, maybe a little more. I have not checked the air filter, that will be my next area to check. Have you or anyone else used a K&N Air filter? I am curious if the claims of increased gas mileage is true.

[nsap]

When I had my 2005 Equinox I got as low as 8.4 MPG with it on a whole tank. I generally averaged about 12-14 MPG with it in mostly city driving. The dealership had it more days than I did, but they could not find anything wrong with it. They drove it on an all-highway trip (one person in the car, no A/C, mild weather) and got 26 MPG with it, so they assumed it was my driving habits. It's kind of funny that my 361 HP V8 G8 GT gets 15-16 MPG in the exact same driving conditions...and I drive it harder!

Point: The old 'Nox did not like certain driving conditions apparently. Although I don't want to go so far as to say it as fact, but my guess is your Equinox is normal.

[kvarilek]

I have been researching and I come across really mixed results. Some people say they get great gas mileage for an SUV (16-18 city) and some say theirs is terrible also.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by kvarilek

I have been researching and I come across really mixed results. Some people say they get great gas mileage for an SUV (16-18 city) and some say theirs is terrible also.

Yeah, that sums up the 3.4L V6 fairly well.

[MrCritical]

I've seen mileage improvements with the K & N. Most people go for the horsepower increase, but both are possible.

Baby the 'Nox for a tankful. Fill up at the same pump when you start the mpg ck. and when you finish. Use the cruise and don't exceed the speed limit. Take off easier than you usually do, let off the gas earlier before stops.

If you don't get 1.5mpg better, you're probably not going to. I'd say run some Techron through with a full tank of fuel, could help.

[kvarilek]

The other thing I am thinking is maybe the last owners were heavy on the pedal and the computer has programmed itself to respond to it. Is it possible that if I baby it for awhile it might reset and that could improve the mileage some?

[nsap]

Originally Posted by kvarilek

The other thing I am thinking is maybe the last owners were heavy on the pedal and the computer has programmed itself to respond to it. Is it possible that if I baby it for awhile it might reset and that could improve the mileage some?

The transmission is the only thing that has a learning mode when your Equinox was new. It tailors the shift points to the driving style. There isn't a way (that I am aware of) to put the transmission back into learning mode without a firmware/software upgrade from GM.

That does not influence enough to have mileage issues though.