A 3.6L V6 MPG Saga . . . 2015 Equinox 17,000 miles so far.

Rather than add this to one of several other threads on 3.6L V6 MPG, I thought I would create a new one .

This thread hopefully will illustrate a few things and what a 3.6L owner may experience under some real world conditions within only a few days time of driving a 679 mile round trip under two very different weather/terrain conditions.

This first section will be the starter leg of 293.9 Miles to the first stop for fuel. After this stop, there was still approximately some 36 miles of hilly country highway at ~60 to 65 MPH driving. I filled the gas tank up before leaving and the second fillup after 293.9 miles was the only additional fillup till I returned at 679 miles. This second fillup also included two cold starts and local trip of some additional 10 miles at 30 to 35mph.

I may need to edit this as I post so bare with me.

I filled up at my usual gas station only 4 blocks from the interstate where my trip started. So with a full tank I took some pictures of the DIC shortly after driving a bit and also at the point the 2015 Equinox LTZ turned over 17,000 miles just for grins.

When I started out the temperature was 57 degrees and a nice sunrise, 3 to 4 MPH cross wind, and relatively flat terrain with occasional rolling hills for the first 200 miles or so.

These first DIC pictures are after driving about 60 miles at 65 to 72 MPH to illustrate current MPG at the time:

Now this is the first and only stop for fuel until returning a few days later. The DIC reported 29.6 Avg MPG for 293.9 Miles. I do not have the gas receipt but logged 10.11 gallons for the fillup. So, 29.07 MPG calculated verses 29.6 on the DIC.

So now I spent the rest of this Friday till Monday morning upstate in cooling weather. That is a bit of understatement. Remember, when I left it was sunny and 57 degrees with little wind. Upon arriving at my weekend destination green grass was still present, although Fall leaves were mostly off the trees. This is up in a National Forest area and temps were falling. I arrived at 11:15 AM and by 3PM winter arrived with wet, freezing rain pellets first, then sleet and snow along with falling temperatures into the mid 20's. Also, winds were gusting to 40 MPH over night. Woo-hoo. . winter in northern Wisconsin.

. . After my return trip the following pictures document my mileage for 384.9 miles. This included some 56 total miles since my only fillup during my trip. I mentioned going to dinner as well as the last 36 miles up to my destination. Also, it was 12 degrees upon leaving, and those first 36 miles have long stretches of steep 3% to 6% grades. So, a cold start with a 6 minute warm up and hilly terrain.

Here are the results after my return trip. As stated, beginning temperature was 12F degrees and at 1:10PM when I got to my home gas station it was 36 degrees. Road and traffic conditions were good and I experienced mostly an 8 to 10 mph cross wind along the way home. I drove at speeds of ~ 60 to 65MPH for the first 100 miles and then 65 to 72 MPH the rest of the way depending on traffic with some passing of semi trucks. I do like the way the 3.6L can go when needed!
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Return fuel fill up of 14.295 gallons for 384.9 miles or 26.925 MPG. The DIC reported 26.9 AVG MPG so really close this time.