Well john answered.. but since this is your thread I figure its okay to provide more data. I've had my volt a 14 months.. I generally trash the EPA.. From may to Sept I get 25kWh/100miles (from the wall), which is more than 50 miles per charge. IN depths of winter Jan/feb I get 31-2kWh/100miles. (36-38 miles per charge). Many volt owners report easily beating the EPA most of the year.. You might check voltstats.net to see the type of milage others are getting -- it does not show miles per charge but shows overall MPG and EV ratios. There is a canadian group on voltstats.net and at gm-volt.com they may have more insights for you.
I did diagnose it as the exhaust donut being the problem. There is a bracket that secures the flange on the converter side to the transmission casing. When I removed that support bracket, I could both smell and now finally see the exhaust come out. I taped it up temporarily and while the exhaust smell is gone, now I get the pleasent smell of exhaust tape glue! Its getting better. If I were to go about and actually replace the donut, what is involved exactly? The bolts for the flange are not in the worst shape, but they are likely going to break. Once the bolts and springs are removed, just how much clearance do I get to fit the donut in there? Do I have to remove the entire exhaust from the converter back to make sufficient clearance or is it workable from in there? Any help is appreciated.
You guys are making me and wife itchy to buy it now!!! I just love the Volt. The Prius is in a way nicer in that it carries 5 people, but that is not an issue for us. I can't seem to get an answer to this question however. If I drive the Volt where I run out of the EV range and run the tank to empty. Can I just fill up the gas tank and continue driving as I would a normal car? One dealer said no, while another said yes. I am confused. Logic dictates yes, but if it is no, then that is a deal killer for us, then its back to PIP. I don't care if all I get is the 35-40 mpg while doing so, I just want to know if it can, but I get conjecture from the dealers. My reason being is that we drive to Florida, and I cannot always guarantee that a charging facility will be available. Your input is appreciated.
Yes, you can fill up again and continue driving on the gas generator. You can continue doing this until you drive into one of the oceans or run out of money! I can't believe the stupidity of some dealers. <sigh> NEVER base your car buying decisions on the advice or information from sales staff. PHEV (volt, pip, etc) owners who take multi-day trips try to charge up at hotels, public ev chargers, friends/relatives homes, etc. whenever they can along the way to better their overall fuel economy but it isn't mandatory by any means.
The volt can run on gas a long as it needs to on gas. I bought mine in TX an drove it home 900 miles on its first 2 days. Did charge in a hotel overnight so I had 80miles of ev out of 900 after my first 2 days... still digging out of that deep hole. If you run out of EV range and empty the gas tank while driving, you will likely be calling someone to brign you gas. However, unlike an ICE car, after the gas is empty the volt will allow you a small amount of "emergency" power from the battery (but mostly its enough to get safely off the highway) -- maybe 1-2 mile at low speed. Of course that is a lot more than a regular ICE will allow after its out of gas. I disagree a bit with fotomoto with respect to Never basing buying decision on sales staff. If the sales staff is that bad you don't want to use that dealer --don't ever go back to the dealer that said you could not fill up and keep going.
Well I try to avoid using absolutes but in the case I'll stick with my advice the few exceptions are greatly outweighed by constant rollover of salesdroids. Full disclosure: I sold motor vehicles in a previous life.
If you get the same answer from a few of the sales staff I would agree. But, if it's just one, they may be the rotten apple in the bunch. So as they say Buyer Beware! Always double-check any answer that doesn't feel right.
I guess I'm rougher when its something this basic. But if a sale staff is not trained to ask someone else when they don't know, its not a place I'll want to shop -- what else has poor training at that company (e.g. service techs). . if it was subtle issue I cut them some slack, but this is just off the wall stupid for an answer. I tell the company owner when I get such bad people that I'm not likely ever to return because of it. If not, then they learn its okay to hire incompetent people.
