Cali to GA via ABQ in Dec, returning southern tier

[SentraSE-R]

Ouch! I destroyed the '06 Elantra's engine Tuesday. Leaving Slidell, there was no heat coming into the cabin. My mind didn't comprehend what was going on until it was too late, on the freeway with the coolant temperature pegged at 287 degrees F.

We had the car towed to a nearby Hyundai dealership. It needed a new engine, but they're back ordered with no estimated shipment date. The search for a used engine could take a week, while we'd have to live in a motel.

The dealership only had one used car that was remotely suitable, an '08 Sonata with 85k miles and a 3.3 liter V-6. I ended up buying a 2012 AT Elantra at MSRP, with a $600 trade-in credit for the old car. Following photo shows old car next to the new one.


The first three tanks in the new car are promising, but also disappointing. We're averaging 33.3 mpg driving at the speed limit (80 mph in central/west TX) to get back on schedule, while varying speeds during break-in. The current tank is the only tank I've driven at sane speeds, and it's showing ~41 mpg in mixed 60-65 mph driving per the AFCD and still-uncalibrated SG. 33 mpg with 70-80 mph speeds isn't bad, but we're not seeing mid-high 40s at hypermiling speeds, yet, either. I'll be filling the current tank this morning.

[msirach]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck, but congrats on the new car!

[phoebeisis]

Yikes!!
I've done the middle part of your trip maybe 8 times(both ways) over the last 10 years.
New Orleans to Flagstaff AZ.Depending on the car it is 3020 or 2990 miles one way.
All but once was summer-and I always got better mpg W>E that E>W except it was a bit closer with the Suburban(think I drove faster on return trip)
Ive done it with
1998 Tacoma AT 4 CYL-23mpg E>W 25MPG W>E- actual average was 24mpg-doing 72mph
2001 Tundra 4.7 V-8 15.9 average-about 1mpg better W>E
2003 Honda Pilot 3.5 V-6 AT ROOF BASKET -HORRENDOUS 16MPG-on two trips.But we had a roof basket-stuffed to gills and drove 70+ mph!
2003 Pilot-NO ROOF BASKET- "built" a carrier basket that I suspended from bike rack and sat on back bumper shelf 22.3 MPG YES 22.3 MPG- same speeds same car same time of year-once again better W>E about 1.5mpg better
1998-Suburban two trips 21.3 mpg-barely under the Pilot- but now I am driving 65mph or less-probably 5 mph less than with Pilot-not much W>E difference-probably drove faster.

Not sure why we always got measurably better W>E mpg-suspicion is prevailing winds.
The 7000 foot altitude drop should be just 1/2 gallons or so of the 3 gallon difference.

How did the engine destroy itself??
Lost coolant? No coolant would mean no heat going to the cabin.
If I had no heat I would figure "bad" HVAC not no actual coolant. I would be foolin' with the switches-trying to get some heat-
I would probably completely MISS the water temp gauge until it was too late! Probably would figure no coolant was getting to midget radiator under dash-switch problem.

On the bright side -it is nice to have a new car!!

80MPH-were you on I-10- just W of San Antonio heading to El Paso- it was 80mph?? I-40 my memory says was 70-75 in TX- but 75 in NM AZ??
We did all 3 routes-across TX- most often not the I-10 route
So why did the engine fail? On long trips I get hypnotized-I would never notice the gauge has suddenly changed-until I smelled cooked motor-but you car probably doesn't let engine bay smells in.
Charlie

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

Note to self :

Pay more attention to coolant temp gauges.

I was proud of daughter #1 , who DID pay attention to her gauges ( and loss of cabin heat) in time to avoid engine damage when her radiator developed a fatal leak a few weeks ago. But I can also understand that when driving thousands of miles in a few days' time , one can be lulled into a dazed complacency. I once drove about ten miles with the temp gauge pegged in the Si after hitting a large-ish racoon and losing all or most of my coolant. No damage, thank Honda.

Good luck with your excellent new Hyundai , Darrell.

[FSUspectra]

Sorry to hear Darrell, but alas, bet of luck with the new beauty! I was really glad to see that picture and not one of a wreck!

[seftonm]

I'm surprised more manufacturers haven't put in warning chimes for stuff like that. My car likes to make noises about everything, it beeps for simple stuff like washer fluid low, parking brake still engaged, or low fuel warning. Hoping if it ever starts overheating, it'll beep about that too. Nice upgrade though! The Elantra and Sonata look nice to me in light colors.

[MaxxMPG]

Two observations:

1 - Looking at the photo above, it is easy to see how the Elantra has grown in half a decade. The '11-'12 appears wider and taller, and I'm not entirely sure it's a photo-perspective error or a lighter colored car looking larger than a darker colored car.
2 - If you haven't checked the tire pressures, make sure they have enough air in them. In this car, you will see a 10psi difference show up clearly in the FCD result.

41mpg at 65mph loaded with passengers and luggage sounds about right for a brand new car. As the engine loosens up, the numbers will improve. Also, low temperatures and headwinds eat into FE. And finally, remember that the odometer is very likely off by about 3.5%. You may want to take advantage of the mile markers on the interstates and measure the degree of error. If it's 3.5-3.8% under like other Elantras, your actual mpg will be about 1.5mpg higher than calculated.

[EVuser]

Originally Posted by MaxxMPG

Two observations:

1 - Looking at the photo above, it is easy to see how the Elantra has grown in half a decade. The '11-'12 appears wider and taller, and I'm not entirely sure it's a photo-perspective error or a lighter colored car looking larger than a darker colored car.

Elantra's have moved from the compact to intermediate car size at the rental companies I deal with, so indeed they have continued to grow as they age. Someone could see if they have also gained weight. Base model I had rented before Christmas had no spare, as in air pump and sealant can. Weight and cost saving for sure.

Car had 18K, a lot of road noise but nice seats and likely easy epa numbers if the MN head wind hadn't been doing 20+.

Bummer to lose a vehicle on a road trip. Hope all is well again and you are liking the new Elantra.

Mike

[phoebeisis]

Hey- you are right-give me noise when I lose coolant oil or trans fluid,
Forget the "you haven't fastened your seat belt" noise.And the "you are backing up noise" I have a horn-I always hit it when I back up-neighborhood cats etc.Besides-I back slowly!!
We have info overload-zillion readings-zillion switches-that water temp gauge needs to be LOUD!!

New cars are FUN!!
Full MSRP?? Is that what they go for- or was it a "captive buyer" price?? Not as if you can do much shopping in that situation-$1000-$1500 doesn't seem worth bothering with when you are 2500 miles from home!
Charlie.

[MaxxMPG]

The Elantra is selling right around MSRP because they are selling as fast as they can be built. The captive-buyer price would have had an extra 500-1000 worth of pinstriping, glass etching, free-range natural-fiber trunk mats, custom mud flaps, and other dealer installed essentials.

And 600 for an '06 Elantra with a bad engine isn't too insulting considering many dealers don't offer more than 100-200 for a car that won't run. Sounds to me like one of the mechanics in the shop spotted an incoming exc-cond Elantra and he wanted the carcass to do a quick engine swap and trans-fluid change so he can get himself a nice daily driver.