JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

So I picked up my 08 6mt Type S about a month ago and have finally been able to go through a couple full tanks of gas using the same gas station and even down to the exact same pump. I just averaged 25.4mpg and thats without any highway use just far suburban driving. Not to mention it was by no means an easy driven tank as im still learning to drive this manual optimally and ofcourse im still having my fun times with this new to me Type S 6mt. My previous TL was an 07 Type S automatic. Also doing the same driving and same gas station (I use the same station which is on my way too and from work) I think I usually only averaged 19 to 21ish in that one. Whats weird is if I remember correctly the automatic is actually rated at better mpg on the window sticker correct?
Also, for what its worth the MID said I averaged 26mpg so that thing is apparently pretty close since my own calculations gave me 25.4.

So my 07 auto Type S got 19-21ish and now my 08 Type S manual 25ish. Im happy because I thought it was going to be the other way around.

Anyone else experience the same thing?

James

ez12a

Nope, it's actually rated with the 6MT on top in terms of MPG at least for 04s.

6MT
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/19711.shtml

Auto
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/19712.shtml

that 6th gear is invaluable.

xander12

I read that there was a 1mpg difference. So hojw about performance? Having owned bojth is it night and day? Much faster?

6 MT

I could've sworn the 04 6mt was rated at 20 city 30 highway...

TL SLEEPER

I have a 04 auto just took a 300 mile trip today and I got 27 for the average

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Having an extra gear must help the MPG when on the highway but I'm not sure it would help when in the city. Maybe the 6MT is lighter?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^by a hundred pounds or so

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

That's gotta help the MPG but the OP states a 4-6 MPG increase with the 6MT.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

correct me if im wrong, but isnt the 5th gear in the auto actually higher than the 6th gear in the stick? as in, it'll rev lower rpm for cruising in the top gear?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

didnt copy table correctly. TL-s ratio's on the right side. and of course 6th gear is tl-s

csmeance

even though the 6MT has an extra gear, the auto is actually revving lower at highway speeds.

A member did the calculations a while ago and the theoretical top speed based ONLY on transmission and redline was that the TL 6MT would max out at like 175 and the Auto would max out at 220MPH.

xander12

So in theory the at should burn less gas at cruising speed on the highway?

ez12a

at which gear/speed does the AT lock up?

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

really? at 132mph for the tl-s 5at, im alrdy at about 5k rpm. so you're saying if it could spin to the rev limiter at like ~7100rpm it would be up to 220mph(given enough power)? thats only 2100rpm more.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

you mean when the torque converter locks up? probably 3rd gear or so.

csmeance

This is with the rev limiter removed and such and like I had said, purely based on ratios with some other factors. If I remember correctly, it was factors with some sort of teeth, the final drive, the gear ratio and the max rev limit.

Either way, folks with the 5AT have gotten to 155 MPH with a good amount of power left to go.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

o.O how? i have a speed governor at 132mph...

SouthernBoy

Yes it is. At 60 MPH, my '04 manual is turning 2000 RPM in 6th gear. At that same speed, my '05 automatic is turning 1725 RPM. Yet my manual will get slightly better mileage than my automatic. I attribute this to four factors. 1) There is less parasitic loss with a manual. 2) The automatic will "hunt" for the ideal gear when road conditions are such that this is necessary; the manual doesn't. 3) Less throttle opening is needed with the manual to maintain speed (we're assuming the use of cruise control for the purposes of precision) than with the automatic because of the increased torque multiplication of the lower gear ratio in the manual (this can reach a point of diminishing returns). 4) At 2000 RPM, the engine is operating at a more efficient speed than at 1725 RPM and is producing more torque and horsepower at the higher engine speed.

The best I have ever gotten on the road with my '04 manual was on a vacation trip in the summer with the A/C operating the entire time, at speeds between 62 and 76 MPH in moderately heavy mid-day Sunday traffic (on I-95). On the first leg of the trip, I recorded 33.94 MPG. Notice, this was NOT using the MID as it was a calculated result.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

Nice results and thanks for all the input. It is pretty interesting how this all works out with the differences between the two. Regardless of all that stuff nothing beats the hard facts from us actual drivers.
Im still very surprised at this figure because I was almost certain that with the way I have been driving my Type S and still having fun with my new car I thought for sure maybe 20mpg. But 25.4!! without ever touching the highway!!! SWEEEEEET So from my experiences with my driving techniques im seeing approximately atleast 4mpg better economy in my Type S 6mt than I did with my Type S 5at. And again this is using the exact same gas station even down to the same pump #13 Phillips 66/Cunoco station 93 octane.
I wont really get a chance to do an entire highway trip since Im rarely on the highway but on my drive home from picking the car up the MID said 31mpg. Very respectable!

James

callahan

I drive a combination of highway and city in my 04 Tl 6mt with 133k on it and I avg 28.5, last summer i managed to get a couple tanks over 30mpg.

SouthernBoy

Do keep in mind that your fuel economy increases during the warmer months so comparing mileage when it's warm to what you saw when the weather was colder is not a valid comparison.

vp55

iTrader: (6)

How did the 5AT folks manage to get to 155mph, I though 132mph was the max.

JTS97Z28

iTrader: (4)

I understand this but its been a year since I have had my automatic Type S and im just speaking of a general number. I just remember getting 19-21ish in that car all the time. And this last tank in my new 08 6mt was hardly summer temps. The weather has been real crappy around here in Chicago. Some days kinda warm but mostly 40's. So this tank has been by no means "summer" driving. But you are right there is a difference between summer and winter driving economy.

James

ez12a

not to mention they do switch between a "summer" and "winter" formula, and their prices are different.