HELP- Horrible Gas mileage!

[spork]

UGH! 13mpg is horrible.
I bought this x5 because the reports indicated 17-26. I can live with 20 mpg, not 13.

I appreciate all the feedback, Im starting to think the best thing to do is take it to my independent BMW shop and let them run a diagnostic.
I doubt the DISA is the problem ( I could be wrong), i fixed mine on my 2000 528i.

The cooling system was just refreshed/ rebuilt so I doubt thats the problem.

Im still open to ideas-

[andrewwynn]

New doasmt mean properly functioning. Use the hidden menu to confirm the core temp and it's onky 2 T40 bolts hold the DISA valve.

When you are driving about 45 mph on flat ground set the cruise and reset your mpg and see what it is.

Also do that same thing when going down a slight grade.

On the slight downgrade you should see numbers like 50-70 mpg at first. If you don't there is a problem and not just crappy gas

[Auto Parts Guy]

Have you checked the short term and long term fuel trims?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by spork

UGH! 13mpg is horrible.
I bought this x5 because the reports indicated 17-26. I can live with 20 mpg, not 13.

I appreciate all the feedback, Im starting to think the best thing to do is take it to my independent BMW shop and let them run a diagnostic.
I doubt the DISA is the problem ( I could be wrong), i fixed mine on my 2000 528i.

The cooling system was just refreshed/ rebuilt so I doubt thats the problem.

Im still open to ideas-

Time to sell the X and buy a 4 cylinders SUV like a Toyota Rav4 or a Honda CRV.
The EPA lists the gas mileage as between 14-19. Don't know where you got 17-26. Maybe that was in Kilometers and not miles.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Powe...X5&srchtyp=ymm

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Winter gas formulation?

I usually get about 21-22 highway and on a trip on the freeway driving an indicated 75-80 (actual 72-77), I was getting a crappy 18-19. Didn't change anything on my car just noticed that the highway mpg is crap. Some days I get 23-24 but haven't seen those since fall.

Do you live where they use winter blend fuel and if so can you drive to where you can get apolitical fuel (no pork funded ethanol mix). I use an app "pure fuel" to find stations that sell non diluted fuel.

Oh: random crappy performance: check your DISA valve. Be very careful removing there is a little pin that falls out it's steel you don't want it falling in the engine!

I have a DIY how to repair for 10¢ vs replace for $225.

Is there a winter in SF CA? I thought it was either spring or summer.

[Effduration]

Originally Posted by spork

UGH! 13mpg is horrible.
I bought this x5 because the reports indicated 17-26. I can live with 20 mpg, not 13.

I appreciate all the feedback, Im starting to think the best thing to do is take it to my independent BMW shop and let them run a diagnostic.
I doubt the DISA is the problem ( I could be wrong), i fixed mine on my 2000 528i.

The cooling system was just refreshed/ rebuilt so I doubt thats the problem.

Im still open to ideas-

I agree, I think you should be getting more than 13 mpg...But if you are doing mostly city driving and using ethanol mixed gas, maybe the best you can hope for is 18 mpg... If you do 15,000 miles a year and gas is $3.00 the annual difference is $960...

make sure everything is at its most efficient - as mentioned earlier and live with it. I think bringing it to an indy shop is a good idea.

If you changed the thermostat, I agree it is unlikely to be a problem, But BMW thermostats tend to fail in open position which leads the engine to run 10-15 degrees too cool, and that hurts mpg..may not be your pblm.

[dkl]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Time to sell the X and buy a 4 cylinders SUV like a Toyota Rav4 or a Honda CRV.
The EPA lists the gas mileage as between 14-19. Don't know where you got 17-26. Maybe that was in Kilometers and not miles.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Powe...X5&srchtyp=ymm

OP, what gave you the idea that the X should be giving you 17-26mpg? My Monroney window sticker indicated 16MPG city/21MPG hwy. I barely got 16MPG in the city after driving off the showroom floor...so I wouldn't expect the same after 147k miles later.

[andrewwynn]

San Francisco means hills so does also quite matter if you drive up and down them.

The downhill test is a quick way to determine if the engine is in open loop. You won’t get the crazy spike like 80 mpg.