[Pat's LTZ]

OK, read this link: http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/2...-to-add-2-4l-di-four-cylinder-30-mpg-highway/
Would the Bu benefit from an increase in hp to help solve some people's concerns of the A6 shift problems? After reading a few threads, some folks were saying their car wasn't getting decent mpg's & that they had issues with shifting. As I see it, the current 2.4L is simply geared to the point where you need to exceed 65mph to get the combination of good gas mileage and power. It's like on my semi, it has a so called "sweet spot" where it gets the best economy from the rpm's being in the right spot at the right speed. If the Bu had this motor in it, I would not have chosen the 3.6L. And for that matter, the 3.0L is nice too. Your thoughts plz.

 

[rich09ltz]

i see they bumped up the HP by upping the compression ratio. I have an LTZ with the 4 cylinder for about a month now, can't really tell though anything gets better mileage than my older car (1997 pontiac grand prix). One question i have, no to sabotage this thread...are there 2 six cylinder engines that the malibu uses? i thought there was only one...the 3.6 litre.

 

[Malibu Glow]

If you notice the DI 4 cylinder is just coming out in the first place, and there's not a big increase in MPG compared to the other 4 cylinders offered. GM has figured out a sweet spot, that's why the final drive ratio is different on the 4 cylinder cars over the 6 cylinder cars in order to give good power and MPG. It's all in how you drive the car in gaining the best MPG, also we are going into colder weather and gasoline is reformulated for the winter months so there is a loss in MPG on every car and truck out on the roads. Road conditions, weather, topography and altitude can affect MPG. Don't expect you new car to get exactly the CAFE estimate on MPG right off the bat, but as you put miles on it and drive in a sensible manor you should see the MPG improve some.