Archives

Just purchased a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire Sedan 4 door with the 2.2L engine and automatic transmission. I see the EPA ratings are 18 city, 26 highway and 21 combined.

Looks like I'm getting about 30 MPG combined on this first 1/4 tank based on uncalibrated SG2 Tires are at 42 PSI. Lots of coasting downhill and DWB.

What mileage can I expect to get from this car?

Anyone else out there with one of these Sunfire's?

Welcome to CleanMPG! Sounds like you are off to a good start. I'm sure some with similar cars can give you come specific tips.

The link in my sig will point you to some helpful info here.

Good Luck!

Welcome to CleanMPG!

Is that 2.2L engine an Ecotec or the older pushrod Cavalier engine? The Ecotec can deliver better fuel economy than the older OHV engine, but 30mpg average is respectable. The transmission is the 4T45E and is flat towable up to 65mph (look up FAS for an explanation of why this is beneficial). The transmission has a rather wide ratio spread and you need to coax it into higher gears by fake shifting. During acceleration, keep an eye on the tach and lift off the throttle a bit as the needle nears 2000 and let it upshift. As road speed gets over 25mph and the car is in direct drive, the converter will lock up (you will see the tach needle drop again). When locked up, use a bit more throttle to accelerate to the desired speed. At or around 40mph, you should see the drop to overdrive. The car will accelerate in overdrive and not downshift if you have a light touch on the pedal.

The best plan of attack is a very light touch on the throttle and keep the tach under "2". Anticipate traffic lights and other slowdowns and adjust your speed to minimize stops or slowing to the point where you're back in first gear.

If you do have to stop and the wait will be more than 30 seconds, shift to N and cut the engine. The engine will restart in N and then you can bump the lever to D and take off when it's time to go again. I FAS in my Chevy all the time, and I find I can restart, get back into D and be rolling just as the car next to me is getting on the gas pedal. Just remember not to press the pedal until the transmission applies so you don't end up doing a "neutral drop".

I don't know if the engine is the eco-tech or not. I will look thru the paperwork that came with car and check it out.

Thanks for the tips on the automatic tranny. I have been hypermiling a Mazda 6 with a manual for about 3 years now and the automatic is new to me.

Its good to know I can move into neutral while moving. Glides in gear are not very long. I have several long hills to and from work that I can improve the glide length.

My initial impulse was to keep the rpms as low as possible, sounds like I was correct. I have been making it shift up by lifting the throttle. Still don't know when and how to make it up shift each time. I've been using the scan gauge to watch my TPS for a nice slow take off.

Thanks to CleanMPG for teaching me how to get the most from my $$ spent on fuel. My better half thinks I'm obsessed!!

You can coast in N (with engine on) in any A/T equipped car. The only exception I know of is the RotoHydramatic from 1961-1964 - and it had a warning on the inside of the glovebox door stating that the driver should not coast in neutral. The flat-tow capability means you have the option to cut the engine without fear of transmission damage. Most automatics don't offer that perk.

The Ecotec has a metallic valve cover with the word "Ecotec". If the valve cover is painted black and has some reference to "EFI", it's the older pushrod engine. For our purposes (better MPG), they run neck and neck. The Ecotec has the edge on efficiency, but the older OHV engine only loses by a wide margin for those auto magazine reviewers who like to send the tach needle up beyond "6".

Sounds like you are on the right track. Keep up the good work!

i have a 2.2 ecotec with auto in an 2006 malibu! i use most hypermile methods and achieve a combined(60 percent highway and 40 percent city) of 35--36 mpg's! and on interstate driving 59 mph i average between 44--46 mpg's on flat road!