You are right about the ethanol lie - I read it takes 1700 GALLONS OF WATER to grow enough corn to make ONE GALLON OF ETHANOL - THUS THE WATER SHORTAGE IN THE MIDWEST..
If you are talking about the 08, and the 4 cylinder models, I would guess that part of it is that the coupe has a higher horsepower rating. I think the coupes for 08 are more "sport-tuned." This is only my guess.
Thought I'd check back in, Iv'e got about 10k miles on my 08 LX 5 spd. I bought it in Nov and had snow tires put on right away. Well thankfully Vermont winter is over so the snow tires came off and the stock tires went back on. I also have my first service performed.
Since then I've averaged a steady 27-28mpg in mixed driving. Very pleased with that number.
Just got back from a trip Maine to Virginia and back. Driving 95% highway about 75MPH. Got 31.3 MPG. The Average gas price was $3.66 with NJ the least costly and Maine the most.
No - it isn't and I am not complaining. Just reporting. I am pleased. It exceeded my expectations, something I have found in life to be very important in satisfying customers, regardless of what your business might be.
From Honda's Website - EPA estimated 19 mpg city/29 hwy/22 combined for V-6 Sedan models. So? 24.45 exceeds 22 MPG = happy camper.
I've got 9k on my odometer now and I consistently have been getting 26-28mpg on mostly highway driving in my 08 I4 AT EX-L. I took a long trip into South Dakota this past weekend and filled up the tank 2 times. In SD, I could only find 89 octane gas (unlike Colorado and Wyoming where 85 is common). Interestingly, under driving circumstances that would have yielded my common 26-28mpg, I got 29-30mpg. I thought octane didn't make that much difference. Of course, the elevation was considerably lower - maybe that played a part as well?
Questions I have wondered about myself. Used to be that you had to rejet carburetors depending on altitude - a car equipped to run right at sea level would not run well at all in Denver, and I am sure mileage would suffer. I imagine the ECM takes care of all that these days automatically, but good question - assuming a car's fuel/air mix is correct for its operating altitude, how should MPG compare for cars at sea level versus 1 mile high? I don't know. :confuse:
bug4 In SD every pump has 89 octane with 10% ethanol and 87 octane w/ no ethanol. The 89 is always cheaper, but you get about 5% worse mpg because of the ethanol. I always buy the 87.
Interesting . . so perhaps I would have been up into the low 30s if I had opted for the 87 with no ethanol. I was surprised to find that the 89 was "cheap" (if you can say $3.49 is cheap gas :mad: ). Wyoming has lower gas taxes than does SD (lowest in the nation, I think) and yet our gas is about that same price.
There is no option of "no ethanol" here in my part of Virginia. It was introduced about this time of year either one or two years ago (two, I think, but who remembers timeframes anymore ) as a "summer" blend. It has never gone away since then.
It just showed up at Central Alabama Chevron/Texaco Stations in the last couple of months; all have the "May Contain up to 10% Ethanol" stickers on them. Since then, my mileage in my 1996 Accord has dropped from an average of 28 mpg, to around 26.5. A big letdown.
As oreviously noted either here or elsewhere - ethanol is a huge fraud being perpetrated on the public to support grain subsidies in some of the more powerful politicians' states. It takes 1700 gallons of water to grow enough corn to make a gallon of ethanol. What a waste - start drilling on the North slope!!!!!
$3.519 in NJ this past weekend. Oil keeps going up and the Arabs tell Bush to take a hike on production.
Let's face it - it ain't never goin' to be the same again - you take a couple of billion Chinese off their bikes and put them in cars??? Hello???? I have seen projections where China's daily consumption of oil will exceed the world's daily production capability in 10 years. What then? Can you imagine the cost of oil with there being that kind of competition for it. Wars have been fought over less. A consummate failure of our leadership over the past 34 years since the first Arab oil embargo - not one President or Congress, Republican or Democrat, implemented a comprehensive energy policy. :mad: Using an easily transportable fuel - oil - to heat homes instead of finding a way to burn coal efficiently and with reduced pollutants? The problem has not simply been poor MPG from cars - no new nuclear plants, coal burning restrictions, etc. etc. all conspiring to keep oil in demand and prices high. We will pay the price - what it will be I do not know - but I fear it. Economic disaster? War? It will not be pretty. Sorry - got on my soapboax, but who could not see this coming?? All you had to do was be in those lines in 1974, odd/even days, $5.00 limit($20.00 today?).
But we're sorta in the wrong place for this type of debate. Let's keep the focus on how we can get the most out of the gallon we actually have in the tank.
Has anybody seen the whole water for gas stuff going around the web? It supposedly can increase your mileage by 37% or something like that by increasing the efficiency of the combustion in the engine. I think it sounds a lot fishy. I know I'm not willing to try it.
Does anybody else think it sounds fishy? If you haven't seen it the happy website is www.water4gas.com. I've been looking for ways to improve mileage and saw this, but I don't trust that. Sorry to be confusing.
Well here is the 64 dollar question, why haven't they put restrictions on cars sold in China by the Gov. ie diesels, hybrids etc. Our Pres. has also done an awesome job on putting the same pressure here in the US, why hasn't he visited Wall Street where those trader idiots are price fixing to gain higher profits, like any time the wind blows near oil theres another reason to send the prices upward. I dont blame the Saudis there just selling the stuff we just dont know how to use it yet. How many people have you seen on the highways in there cars especially the SUV's there still gunning it even on the local roads.
I filled up my 1996 Accord LX (2.2L 4-speed Auto) yesterday, and thanks to my local stations now using 10% Ethanol, my mileage has hit a new low of 25 MPG. I was averaging over 27 in a mix that is pretty highway-heavy.
I have never really studied water injection but know it has been a performance enhancing technique for years, and as mentioned herein, suppresses detonation. There was a world record holding Corvair back in 1965 tested in Hot Rod magazine where the guy had modified the intake system to include a 4 bbl carb, and a water injection/turbo system with a high performance Isky cam. The car was street legal and ran 163 MPH on the Bonneville salt flats. "Normal" turbocharged Corvair would top out around 110-115.
Last week I ran a bottle of STP fuel injector cleaner, don't know if it actually works. Anywho, my latest mileage, filled up today, was 27.726 mpg.
Are there any "fuel injector cleaners" that actually work? Just curious. I know stuff can build up in the engine, but is there really a product, that if used regularly, will clean some of the deposits up? I know some who don't bother figuring they're a waste of money, and others who swear by them. Just curious to find out from somebody who knows.
I've been using Chevron's Techron fuel system cleaner for years (concentrate) on the advise of a mechanic friend of mine. I put a large bottle (up to 20 gal size) every 5,000 miles. It may a bit over kill but I'd rather be ultra-clean then have it work toward removing any build up. So far, so good...
On a separate note, my 2005 4 cylinder accord has the nav system and, although not entirely accurate for fuel consumption, I do keep the Trip Computer screen on while driving as it helps to keep my "honest" while driving. With that mpg bar graph, I can see how efficiently I am driving.
Anyway, I'm lucky in that I travel mostly highways to and from the office. Until mid-April, I always hit the cruise control at about 60 or 62 mph and just tooled along.
When the gas hit a "new" high in mid-April (again), I hit the cruise control at 55 mph and you would believe the impact it's had!! Lots of angry drivers passing me but I always catch up to them at the exit or the toll, or...
At 60 - 62 mph, I was (according the nav) getting about 400 miles out of a tank.
At 55 mph, the nav tells me I'm up to 500 mile per tankful.
25% increase!!!??? Now THAT'S significant.
I also have my tires inflated to 40 psi (the michelin's are good up to 44 psi). makes for a little harder ride but at just short of $4 per gallon, I can deal with it.
Been keeping the 40 psi ever since I bought the car in April 2005 and finally changed the tires just before Christmas with 60,000 miles on the car. So the extra psi had virtually no impact on the wear of the tires (contrary to what lots of folks say).
Just thought I'd pass that on - again, the nav isn't the be all and end all, but it DOES recognize the load under which the engine is at any time and the numbers have been consistent for over a month now.
25% guys...
Oh - by the way: the 5 mph difference adds about 2 minutes to my commute (in case anyone wanted to go down THAT road).
That's an extra 2 minutes, count em 2 minutes, that I could stay in bed sleeping or dinging around home.
My morning commute is probably the most fuel efficient around. I usually take about 4 miles of freeway, and the rest is stop and go, but on the stop and go portion it's a main drag and at the time that I am going to work it's about 3:45 am so most of the lights are green when I hit them. Meaning that my average speed for that portion is about 43 mph with minimal stopping.
If only my afternoon commute would be a little smoother.
If only everybody had the patience to figure out what the difference is when going slower. I could probably do just fine going that far under the limit. Maybe I will try it. I usually have about 10 minutes before I have to be work and on the clock anyway by the time I get there.
I'll have to report back. Just filled up today. I'll be seeing you soon.
I wasn't kidding about the angry drivers, though... I wear sunglasses so that i can steal a peak in the rear view mirror every once in a while to see just HOW po'd the person behind me getting.
finzz Your right about the Techron I once leased a 1986 Audi 4000S had a little problem 2 year later an the tech said to use it after one tank ful the hesitation disappeared.
Also what size tires do you have, I have th 08 Accord LX-P 16" what is the highest PSI I can go with.
You know you're right about wearing sunglasses just to catch how p'oed they are. I've almost contemplated aiming my mirrors all the way in to the sides of my car just so I wouldn't have to look at those behind me, but I've come to rely on them more for lane placement than anything. I don't use them to change lanes, it's just one more step when you have to look over your shoulder anyway. I guess I try to keep up to avoid road rage situations, but I guess in the era of $4+ for gas coming soon it's time to be a little selfish.
On a side note I did the math and the difference between going 70mph versus 55mph when boiled down to the minute is 1.166 miles/minute and 0.916 miles/minute respectively. Which means that we really aren't getting anywhere too much faster at the higher speed.
That difference is going to be greater 55 vs 80, but anyway. In terms of short distances the difference is minescule. Sorry I can't spell. I figured that if I were to go exactly the speed limit, my commute would only be lengthened by 1.2 minutes.
Packer - I have 205/60/16 but I don't know what your max psi would be. I just looked at the sidewall of mine and saw 44 psi. Since the car calls for 30 something, I figured I'd beef it up to an even 40 and kept it there ever since.
LOL... avoiding eye contact so we don't get into a conflict with the school bus driver doing 80... What a world we live in. I just can't figure how these huge SUV's can pass me at such speeds and then have to face the music at the pump... I'm po'd at paying $50 to fill me honda. Imagine if you had to fill a Suburban or a Hummer or something???
it's amazing, isn't it? Sure, if you're on a long road trip, the difference could add up to some real time but, like you said, at nearly $4/gal, time really IS money.
I'm not patting myself on the back or anything but i still can't get over the impact 5 mph had... Now I'm on a mission.
Check out BG 44. They make a diesel and gas cleaner. My local Mercedes dealer sold it - not cheap - but using it in our BMW 524 TD would add about 5 MPG to its highway mileage. I have not tried the gasoline version. I put it in about every 5,000 miles, but that was diesel. Mileage went from 37 - 42 - yes, that is right, 42 MPG in a 5 series BMW. Best mileage I have ever gotten in any car. And the car was loaded with 4 people, luggage,, A/C on on a 440 nile trip.
Over the course of 17 miles the difference is minor. Today coming home from work I was cruising at 60, in the right lane, minding my own business and people were getting angry. Meanwhile I just laugh to myself. Now that I know I'm not going to be in the car that much longer going 55 versua 70 I think that I'll start trying to stay under 60. Granted sometimes you just start itching to go above 60, I guess you can "treat" yourself once in a while.
I'll have to see if the difference is really all that noticeable, especially since I'm used to 70 on the freeway with occasional flies up to 80, now it'll be 55-60 with occasional flies up to 70. I'll report back when I fill up next. It'll take a lot of self-control, but I think I can do it.
The max pressure on the Dunlops 7000 is 51 PSI, I think 40 PSI sounds like a good middle number. The door PSI pressure info calls for 30 PSI min. and currently I keep 32 PSI in all four. Thanks for the input.
It was a 5 series - about the same size as the new Accord - imported only in 1985 and 1986. The car otherwise was a disaster - all kinds of problems - don't lament! Got it at cost from a dealer our bank floor planned. Sold it because of other issues and bought Acura and never had another. 2.4 liter 6 cylinder turbo diesel with 111 HP, but GOBS of torque. Power at 80 was inpressive. 0-60 in 11 secs. - fastest diesel at the time.
Used the BG 44K about every 5000 miles - about $20 a can You can find it online. Just do a search.
I broke the 30 mpg mark on my previous tank and I was excited. Today I was at 31.94 mpg so close to 32!!! The first few months when Gas still wasn't outrageous I was getting 23 mpg a tank. The fact that I am getting 32 mpg by accelerating slowly increasing psi to 40, driving 55-60 on my 26 mile highway commute to and from work gets me excited. This has made a huge difference the savings will be remarkable. I am not sure I will be able to get this car above 33 mpg but I will be happy with a combined 30+ mpg city and highway!
I have had the '08 EX-L (4cyl auto) for about 3 months. Have been getting around 24mpg in mostly city driving. I took a road trip recently and filled up before and after to gauge true highway mileage. Got 32.3 mpg with a passenger, cooler w/drinks, and luggage in hot conditions. Still haven't checked tire pressure, but they look full. I drove as fast as 75-80 and generally stay about 5+ over posted limits. Also ran the a/c the whole time as really hot in Texas now.
Overall average is over 25 now and getting better I think. Curious to see if anyone else getting better than EPA estimates on new Accords. Can't say I'm ecstatic but I was initially unimpressed with the city numbers.
On a couple of hwy trips I've managed to better the EPA numbers for my 08-EXL-V6. Unlike with your 4 cyl I made a concerted effort to do all the things we've been told to do of late that will positively impact fuel economy. Like you my driving style is typically 5 mph over posted limits and exiting toll booths have always been a time for aggressive behavior, a holdover from my more youthful days. When driving my normal style I'm getting 21-23 mpg's in the city now that the warmer weather is here, hwy miles are right @ 29 mpg's right where the EPA numbers are. The more conservative hwy trips I've managed 30 & 32 mpg's with speeds up to 70 mph. Can't seem to drive conservatively in the city so I don't expect to better the 21-23 mpg's, besides @ 3,600 pounds and a mildly aggressive right foot, my VCM activity is pretty limited and usually running on all 6 cyl.
I purchased my 2008 coupe in September 2007; it now has nearly 8,500 miles.
For most of the time that I have had this car, I have been deliberately driving in a conservative manner, although the car is truly capable of some fun driving. Last week, I made two, 180-mile round trips, mostly interstate. I set my cruise control for 55 m.p.h., and the car got nearly 37 miles per gallon. The weather was cool, around 60 degrees, so I did not run the A/C. However, I did turn on the vents for fresh air. In my normal daily commute (25 miles), I am getting around 31 miles per gallon. Again, I have been driving conservatively by accelerating mildly, and anticipating traffic stops.
This last tank I did mostly city driving and what I got was really interesting to me, 18.5 mpg and less than 400 miles on the tank. My overall mpg for the life of the car so far on a little over 7400 miles is still at 24.2 mpg mixed city/hwy driving.
Just rolled 50k today in my 03. just kidding. Anyway 2 ticks below half-tank I'm sitting at 250 miles. Will it crest 30 mpg for this tank? I don't know. I have to wait until I fill up on Friday.
I might add that normally when I am two ticks below half-tank the trip meter is sitting at about 220. I must admit that I've only been doing 55 in the morning when there isn't anybody behind me, literally in the morning I see maybe 6 other cars, that's beside the point, and I've been doing 70 in the afternoon. People get very angry when you are disrupting their flow, even when in the slow lane. It's a balancing act. Making others somewhat happy and keeping your pocket-book in the black.
One advantage to driving at or below the limit that nobody has mentioned and I'm surprised is that we are reducing our risk of getting a ticket, because that is the main thing most of us do that would warrant a ticket. Anyway sorry to ramble.
I'll let you all know on Friday what the reading is.
I didn't make quite make it to 30, I did, however, achieve 29.16, the best mileage I've ever gotten in a car.
It probably would have been better if I had kept under 60 in the afternoon, but as I said It's a delicate balance of keeping the bank as full as possible while not pi$$ing too many people off. I should have stayed under 60, but it's a case of woulda, coulda, shoulda, didn't.
Comments
Since then I've averaged a steady 27-28mpg in mixed driving. Very pleased with that number.
Just got back from a trip Maine to Virginia and back. Driving 95% highway about 75MPH. Got 31.3 MPG. The Average gas price was $3.66 with NJ the least costly and Maine the most.
Pretty much right where everyone is w/all around driving
From Honda's Website - EPA estimated 19 mpg city/29 hwy/22 combined for V-6 Sedan models. So? 24.45 exceeds 22 MPG = happy camper.
In SD every pump has 89 octane with 10% ethanol and 87 octane w/ no ethanol. The 89 is always cheaper, but you get about 5% worse mpg because of the ethanol. I always buy the 87.
Y'all ain't just awhistlin' Dixie on the $50 fill-up...............
Well, perhaps in B'ham.................
First time today: 13.075 gallons@$3.879/gal. (353.8 miles)
At these prices (with who knows what coming down the pike), I am really glad I stayed in the Reserve.
....ez...
Let's face it - it ain't never goin' to be the same again - you take a couple of billion Chinese off their bikes and put them in cars??? Hello???? I have seen projections where China's daily consumption of oil will exceed the world's daily production capability in 10 years. What then? Can you imagine the cost of oil with there being that kind of competition for it. Wars have been fought over less. A consummate failure of our leadership over the past 34 years since the first Arab oil embargo - not one President or Congress, Republican or Democrat, implemented a comprehensive energy policy. :mad: Using an easily transportable fuel - oil - to heat homes instead of finding a way to burn coal efficiently and with reduced pollutants? The problem has not simply been poor MPG from cars - no new nuclear plants, coal burning restrictions, etc. etc. all conspiring to keep oil in demand and prices high. We will pay the price - what it will be I do not know - but I fear it. Economic disaster? War? It will not be pretty. Sorry - got on my soapboax, but who could not see this coming?? All you had to do was be in those lines in 1974, odd/even days, $5.00 limit($20.00 today?).
But we're sorta in the wrong place for this type of debate. Let's keep the focus on how we can get the most out of the gallon we actually have in the tank.
Does anybody else think it sounds fishy? If you haven't seen it the happy website is www.water4gas.com. I've been looking for ways to improve mileage and saw this, but I don't trust that. Sorry to be confusing.
I filled up my 1996 Accord LX (2.2L 4-speed Auto) yesterday, and thanks to my local stations now using 10% Ethanol, my mileage has hit a new low of 25 MPG. I was averaging over 27 in a mix that is pretty highway-heavy.
There was a world record holding Corvair back in 1965 tested in Hot Rod magazine where the guy had modified the intake system to include a 4 bbl carb, and a water injection/turbo system with a high performance Isky cam. The car was street legal and ran 163 MPH on the Bonneville salt flats. "Normal" turbocharged Corvair would top out around 110-115.
Are there any "fuel injector cleaners" that actually work? Just curious. I know stuff can build up in the engine, but is there really a product, that if used regularly, will clean some of the deposits up? I know some who don't bother figuring they're a waste of money, and others who swear by them. Just curious to find out from somebody who knows.
Thanks again.
03 Accord LX coupe 49,771
On a separate note, my 2005 4 cylinder accord has the nav system and, although not entirely accurate for fuel consumption, I do keep the Trip Computer screen on while driving as it helps to keep my "honest" while driving. With that mpg bar graph, I can see how efficiently I am driving.
Anyway, I'm lucky in that I travel mostly highways to and from the office. Until mid-April, I always hit the cruise control at about 60 or 62 mph and just tooled along.
When the gas hit a "new" high in mid-April (again), I hit the cruise control at 55 mph and you would believe the impact it's had!! Lots of angry drivers passing me but I always catch up to them at the exit or the toll, or...
At 60 - 62 mph, I was (according the nav) getting about 400 miles out of a tank.
At 55 mph, the nav tells me I'm up to 500 mile per tankful.
25% increase!!!??? Now THAT'S significant.
I also have my tires inflated to 40 psi (the michelin's are good up to 44 psi). makes for a little harder ride but at just short of $4 per gallon, I can deal with it.
Been keeping the 40 psi ever since I bought the car in April 2005 and finally changed the tires just before Christmas with 60,000 miles on the car. So the extra psi had virtually no impact on the wear of the tires (contrary to what lots of folks say).
Just thought I'd pass that on - again, the nav isn't the be all and end all, but it DOES recognize the load under which the engine is at any time and the numbers have been consistent for over a month now.
25% guys...
Oh - by the way: the 5 mph difference adds about 2 minutes to my commute (in case anyone wanted to go down THAT road).
All the best - drive safe and smart
My morning commute is probably the most fuel efficient around. I usually take about 4 miles of freeway, and the rest is stop and go, but on the stop and go portion it's a main drag and at the time that I am going to work it's about 3:45 am so most of the lights are green when I hit them. Meaning that my average speed for that portion is about 43 mph with minimal stopping.
If only my afternoon commute would be a little smoother.
If only everybody had the patience to figure out what the difference is when going slower. I could probably do just fine going that far under the limit. Maybe I will try it. I usually have about 10 minutes before I have to be work and on the clock anyway by the time I get there.
I'll have to report back. Just filled up today. I'll be seeing you soon.
They pass me like I'm standing still...! Amazing
Maybe I should stay out of the fast lane...?
Your right about the Techron I once leased a 1986 Audi 4000S had a little problem 2 year later an the tech said to use it after one tank ful the hesitation disappeared.
Also what size tires do you have, I have th 08 Accord LX-P 16" what is the highest PSI I can go with.
On a side note I did the math and the difference between going 70mph versus 55mph when boiled down to the minute is 1.166 miles/minute and 0.916 miles/minute respectively. Which means that we really aren't getting anywhere too much faster at the higher speed.
That difference is going to be greater 55 vs 80, but anyway. In terms of short distances the difference is minescule. Sorry I can't spell. I figured that if I were to go exactly the speed limit, my commute would only be lengthened by 1.2 minutes.
You can check my math, I may be off.
it's amazing, isn't it? Sure, if you're on a long road trip, the difference could add up to some real time but, like you said, at nearly $4/gal, time really IS money.
I'm not patting myself on the back or anything but i still can't get over the impact 5 mph had... Now I'm on a mission.
I'll have to see if the difference is really all that noticeable, especially since I'm used to 70 on the freeway with occasional flies up to 80, now it'll be 55-60 with occasional flies up to 70. I'll report back when I fill up next. It'll take a lot of self-control, but I think I can do it.
Sorry, Host, if I've strayed too far off topic.
Also, how often did you have to use that product?
2.4 liter 6 cylinder turbo diesel with 111 HP, but GOBS of torque. Power at 80 was inpressive. 0-60 in 11 secs. - fastest diesel at the time.
Used the BG 44K about every 5000 miles - about $20 a can You can find it online. Just do a search.
304.8 15.366 19.84
5/12/08 615 310.2 15.091 20.55529786
5/20/08 952 337 14.768 22.81960997
27-May 1310 358 15.4 23.24675325
Overall average is over 25 now and getting better I think. Curious to see if anyone else getting better than EPA estimates on new Accords. Can't say I'm ecstatic but I was initially unimpressed with the city numbers.
For most of the time that I have had this car, I have been deliberately driving in a conservative manner, although the car is truly capable of some fun driving. Last week, I made two, 180-mile round trips, mostly interstate. I set my cruise control for 55 m.p.h., and the car got nearly 37 miles per gallon. The weather was cool, around 60 degrees, so I did not run the A/C. However, I did turn on the vents for fresh air. In my normal daily commute (25 miles), I am getting around 31 miles per gallon. Again, I have been driving conservatively by accelerating mildly, and anticipating traffic stops.
Just rolled 50k today in my 03.
I might add that normally when I am two ticks below half-tank the trip meter is sitting at about 220. I must admit that I've only been doing 55 in the morning when there isn't anybody behind me, literally in the morning I see maybe 6 other cars, that's beside the point, and I've been doing 70 in the afternoon. People get very angry when you are disrupting their flow, even when in the slow lane. It's a balancing act. Making others somewhat happy and keeping your pocket-book in the black.
One advantage to driving at or below the limit that nobody has mentioned and I'm surprised is that we are reducing our risk of getting a ticket, because that is the main thing most of us do that would warrant a ticket. Anyway sorry to ramble.
I'll let you all know on Friday what the reading is.
I didn't make quite make it to 30,
It probably would have been better if I had kept under 60 in the afternoon, but as I said It's a delicate balance of keeping the bank as full as possible while not pi$$ing too many people off. I should have stayed under 60, but it's a case of woulda, coulda, shoulda, didn't.