Honda Accord Real World MPG

rambo007

Friends,

My 08 EXL has 4500 miles on it. Highway gives me 32mpg (I always drive btwn 70-75 m/h) and city limits 23 mpg (avg 40 m/h). I am doing something which I think helps to reduce the gas consumption. I would like to check with the experts in this forum.

I always try to keep the rpm below 2500. After stopping at a red light, when I continue, I dont give much acceleration to keep the rpm below 2500. Once the vehicle is running in its top gear, (like 45-50 mph) the rpm is nearly 2000. In highways (70mph) the rpm is close to 1500.

To those who doesn't get good mileage in city, you can try to drive closely watching the rpm. If you have never done this before, be careful as it takes half of your concentration while driving. But It helps I think. Friends, please advice whether this is correct or not.

I also noted some of you are getting highway mileage like 40 mph. I would like to improve my gas efficiency, and would like to know is there any special driving style to adopt. What kind of rpm you guys keep while driving in the highways.?..Please share.

thegraduate

Those getting the relatively high numbers (37+ mpg), myself included, are driving the previous-generation Accords, which are lighter and smaller than the current models. They also have less horsepower (166 vs. 177-190) but are actually marginally faster-accelerating, presumably because they weigh less.

On the highway, I've gotten 40-41 MPG on two occasions, and haven't replicated those again. To get 37 or 38 MPG, I just drive normally. Fill up, maybe do a small bit of local driving, then hit the highway, set the cruise control around 75 MPH. Sometimes 78. Sometimes 72. It all depends on the conditions, and my anxiousness for getting the trip overwith. At 75 MPH, my 2006 Accord runs exactly 2,500 RPM.

When accelerating, I typically keep things under 3,000 RPM, just as a matter of normal driving style. However, I'm not against gunning it to pass an annoying or unsafe driver and revving it up a good bit. I swear, that car feels stronger than the 166hp rating suggests, sometimes!



TheGraduate

malmouza

I do not think 300 lbs or even 700 lbs for that matter make a difference in highway driving. I own 2008 accord EX Manual tranx. and I got as high as 41 MPG doing 70 MPH on the highway, and this number is the average of the trip from PA to NY. But wait when I get into the stop and go traffic there where even 100LBs make a difference. Because the MPG will drop drastically to 25 MPG. Normally I get on average 32 MPG on mixed driving, not exceeding the 70 MPH and 2200RPM. But even if I drive this car like cop chasing drug dealer, I still get 26 MPG.
On a highway sometime you do not need to push the throttle wide open to keep the car moving at the same speed, because at highway speed there is a lot of air getting into the intake faster than the car can digest, this fast moving air may just insight the computer to through unnecessary more fuel to keep up with the air flow, not because the car need all that fuel to keep the 70 MPH, but just to keep up with the emission demand that the ECU (computer) was programmed to handle. In perfect world if the accelerator we use in our cars was designed to control the fuel flow instead of the air flow, we will get better gas mileage, but automaker always take the easy way. Diesel gets good gas mileage because the throttle does not control the air flow. I hope this help to understand why some people are getting a good gas mileage with the same car that other are struggling to get even the EPA mileage. lol

pat

Here's the link: sirus270, "Honda Accord (1998-2002) Maintenance and Repair" #1554, 6 Nov 2008 9:02 pm.

wilson17

2008 accord ex-l 4cyl . I have 4100 miles get 19 mpg around town & 24 on mixed with highway driving. Not any better than my 2004 v6 accord that I trade in.

blufz1

23 MPG at 55-62 while towing a small Bass Boat in my 02 V6.

jhinsc

I have approximately 3,600 miles now and with 50/50 city/hwy mix, I'm averaging 23 mpg. My highest tankful yielded 25.4 mpg with about 170 miles of steady hwy miles, and the lowest was the first tank at 21.4 mpg. I wish it was higher but I can't complain.

byron2

Had it 5.5 years. Great car. Routinely gets 27 on the hilly San Francisco Peninsula. Regularly do 80+ on the freeway. Has never been worse than 25 mpg. Ever. I check mpg by the tank. Best ever was 34 driving back from Vegas. Fast (enough). Smooth. Roomy. Great car. Byron

ljgbjg

Should get better but there are so many variables - even with highway driving. Hilly? Flat? What speed? Windy, calm?

We regularly get 29-30 on the highway with our '08 V6 Sedan, 75 MPH, reasonably hilly roads with occasional heavy acceleration to pass trucks etc.

50/50 mix - get about 25

City only? About 21

dpmeersman

Same car, same results. Considering it's size I feel this return on a gallon of fuel is commendable. Just shy of 15,000 miles and going in for my second oil change tomorrow, supporting Honda's claim of low maintenance. Put the pedal to the floor @ about 40 mph recently and it just kind of sat there for a 1/2 second before it kicks down and then only one gear just doesn't seem to have the kick it had. Bad tank of gas? I know it's rated for 87 octane but has anyone with VCM tried premium? Improve acceleration? C'mon somebody has had to try it.

tankbeans

Hey all-

Just filled up again. Good news it was $1.539, bad news my mileage was 22. Still trying to pay attention to acceleration and stuff like that, but winter blend is here and the necessity of using defrosters and the heater. Coupled with more short trips, I got a different job closer to home, about 6 miles now.

kipk

Premium fuels do not have any more Energy than the 87 octane fuels.

Premium does have more additives (octane boosters) to help against Spark Knock, Pinging, and so forth.

That higher octane can be useful with heavy loads in the mountains or towing heavy loads in hot weather when the cylinder heads and combustion chambers may get hotter than normal..

In a nutshell, Octane simply helps the fuel to "burn" extremely rapidly, rather than "explode". The higher the Octane, the slower the burn. Higher performance engines with higher compression and more advanced ignition timing may require Premium to ring out the extra power at or near red line.

Oil company brochures will tell us that using Premium in a car designed for 87 octane does nothing more than cost extra money. Mileage may even suffer.

Kip

tankbeans

...my mileage has gone sub-26 again. A little defrost, and of course getting the car running to clear off the windows in the morning. I've also been using 1,2,D3 as well as regular D to attempt to control the car in slippery conditions. It seems to work. The extra engine breaking helps slow me down so I don't go careening into the intersection.

My last tank was about 25ish.

thegraduate

With standard ABS, I'm surprised you were doing much "careening" in the first place!

2 is useful for starting in slick conditions though.

tankbeans

When I say careening I just mean that the ABS activates, as it should, and the car doesn't slow down at all. There have been a few times when I've been about a quarter of the way into the intersection before anything grabbed. I wasn't even going that fast and nothing, as many other people who live in the snowy states can probably attest to. ABS is a double edged sword I guess. Helpful in panic situations and on ice usually, but it seems to go off at the wrong time sometimes. It activates when the pedal is still mostly up.

Gotta love snow. Pretty to look at, but not so fun to drive in.

stephen987

We don't get much winter weather down here in Jawjah, but I always thought ABS was better in snow than it was in ice. Thanks for the clarification!

tankbeans

When it comes to snow and ice it really doesn't help much at all. I wish there were a way to manually control it or turn it off or reduce sensitivity or something so it doesn't go off all the time. I know in the manual it even says that ABS equipped cars take longer to stop in some situations than cars with regular brakes. Boy do I know it. Then again I learned how to drive here, I've only been on the road for about 6 years, but I've learned happy fun tricks of the trade.

dudleyr

Looks pretty dead here, so I will throw out some recent numbers.

As suspected the winter has killed my mpg. My 10 tank average got as high as 39.8 in the summer (during a series of back to back business trips), but is now down to 32.4 in the winter. Had some pretty poor tanks in there.

Most recently driving about 65 mpg in extremely windy (35-50 mph) mostly headwinds and temps in the single digits to teens my tank was just over 30 mpg. Did have one bright spot when it warmed up to the 50's for a trip and I got 47 mpg with a slight tailwind.

My lifetime is now down to about 33.6 mpg. Hope to hit 34 next summer and hope to not have my 10 tank go below 30 this winter.

I guess the lower gas prices mean that people are less concerned about mpg. I hope they remember the high prices, because the last thing we need is for everybody to celebrate the low prices and go buy a guzzler as that will drive prices right up again.

Efficiency has a snowball effect. The more efficient we are the lower gas prices get because there is less demand.

BTW I paid $1.25.9 the other day for pure unleaded (no ethanol) in Rapid City SD. It is starting to go back up a little now.

tankbeans

It is very dead here lately. Anyway I just filled up, from half, today and my mileage SUCKED. I got 19.4 out of a 4-cyl. This is my second worst tank following my tank last year of 17. I got stuck in a snow bank and had to try to get out and I had to let the car warm up a few times because the windshield, inside, was frozen. Grr.

Now my overall average from last march is 26ish. I'm annoyed, but I've come to expect this from MN winters. Lower energy content in E10 coupled with forced idling to melt frost on the inside of the windshield plus having to get out of snow piles every now and then equals crappy mileage. This is the only reason I look forward to spring.

96gc1owner

My daily 30 mile commute into DC is 20 miles of rolling four lane at 70 mph and 10 miles of stop and go. I get 28-29 mpg without even thinking about it. Great car...just hit 36,000 (good by warranty) using Mobil 1 synthetic. Only complaint is the tires are terrible in turns ...especially when wet. :surprise:

tallman1

Aww, I got my first sub-30 mpg tank this winter. Lots of short trips and cooler weather amounted to 29.8 mpg. I usually get 4 of these tanks every winter. My all-time lowest tank is 28.0. I can't complain though. After 61k miles, I've only had nine tanks of gas that were below 30 mpg and only two of those were below 29.

06 Accord EX-L w/navi I4 manual

packer3

The winter gas has definetly something to do with the poor mileage that's for sure, I'm in Jersey it's cold, in city driving back and forth to work the car got 16.9 when I filled it up, thats pretty poor in my mind. Lets face it every blog Iv'e read sounds the same and Honda knows it, the gas mikeage with these cars is what it is and thats that, no matter what gimmikcs we try.
I do belive that the EPA needs to state two MPG numbers on the car stickers winter and summer driving.

tankbeans

I agree with that statement. Normally I can get 23ish in the winter, but things always work against me. I don't blame it on the car because any car would have the same type of mileage. I continue to work on my driving to eek out the extra mileage, but it's slow going.

jhinsc

I just hit 6,000 miles today and filled up. I calculated 24.4 mpg on this tank and lifetime average of 23.55. My mpg's have been steadily increasing, but it's still almost 1 mpg avg less than my 06 EXL V6 I had previously. For comparison, I had an 08 Taurus rental for a week and averaged 19 in similar combined driving. Since my 08 is larger and more comfortable than my 06, I am very happy overall.

imscf

I, too, am now getting around 16-17 mpg in NYC combined city/parkway driving. I can't understand how some are getting 30+ pmg. Even this past summer, driving straight highway on NJ TNPKE, I never got anything approaching 30 mpg. I don't speed, and stay within the posted limits.
Sorry, but I just can't believe anyone getting over 30 mpg.

personatech

I can verify that it's possible to hit 30-31MPG in an 08 EX-L I4 automatic sedan - I've done it a couple of times on long straight highway drives over flat terrain at approximately 75 MPH in the summer. I usually get more like 27MPG on a regular basis with a mix of small town and curvy highway driving and MPG seems to have suffered a bit (25-6) since the winter began.

thegraduate

I, too, am now getting around 16-17 mpg in NYC combined city/parkway driving

Living in NYC, consider yourself lucky to be getting 17mpg in the winter. One of the most congested metropolitan areas in the nation combined with cold weather and winter fuel additives. Its rough on mileage.

Have you taken a pure highway trip?

jhinsc

Driving in NYC, you spend a lot of time getting 0 mpg while at stoplights or idling. You probably already know this, but when cruising on parkways, make sure you're not in D3, which is easy to do. It takes a steady right foot to get good mpg. If you're constantly moving the gas pedal up and down, don't expect good mpg's.

kipk

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList2&make=Honda&model=Accord-

Recently took a trip in our 4450#, 4WD, 3,5 liter engine, automatic 03 Pilot, that pushes a lot of air and has an EPA rating of 15/20.
Trip consisted of 20+% local/backroads with some traffic lights, and the rest X-Way.

The trip going netted 28.2 mpg. Return trip was 26.7 mpg.
X-Way speed going was 55mph. X-way speed returning was 60. Back roads were posted limits+ 5mph.

The aftermarket gage that plugs into the car's computer connection was within 1/10 of a MPG of my calculator figures for the trip, so I have no reason to doubt any of it's instant MPG readings.

Flat road readings at 55 yielded 31-35 mpg. At 60 they were 28-33 mpg. I've made that same trip with the X-Way portion at various speeds.

70 mph = 22-23 mpg, 80= 18mpg.

Some of the Edmund Accord posters claim 36 mpg Hyway, under ideal driving condition. I believe them because we consistantly get 29-31 Hyway on my wife's 03, 4wd automatic CR=V at 60 mph. Locally it delivers 21-22 with her driving, and 25+/-- with me driving.

My 6.5 mile commute to work in the Pilot averages 18-19 mpg. when the temperature is above 50 degrees. Last Saturday the temp was in the low 20s and the MPG was 15 +/- .

Add in some heavy traffic and a ton of "RED" lights and it would not surprise me to see it drop into single digits.

Temperature, traffic conditions, and the weight of the driver's food contribute heavily on mileage.

Kip

packer3

I remember reading somewhere ( might have been in the Honda manual) that in heavy bumper traffic you should keep it in D3 so the gears dont change often and the city mileage should be better. I could be wrong.

thegraduate

Not sure where you read it, but it doesn't make sense. If you get to speeds high enough to hit 4th gear, the car should go into it and use less fuel. You prevent that if you leave it in D3.

tankbeans

I think I remember seeing something like that, but only if it's thick bumper to bumper, traffic where you don't get above 45ish, not just city driving in general. I think the rationale behind that was to keep the transmission from cycling between 3 and 4. I don't, however, recall it having anything to do with improving mileage.

thegraduate

The transmission has something to prevent hunting, especially on hills, called Grade Logic Control. At any point if the transmission senses it'll be in that hunting situation, or if you need engine braking, the car will not go beyond 3rd gear, sometimes downshifting all the way from 5th to do so.

Leave it in D, you won't be disappointed.

tankbeans

I always do. Someday I want a 5 speed, 3 pedals and a stick, but right now I only have 2 pedals so I don't futz around.

Although I would encourage you to grab the manual and peek through it. I'm sure something is hidden in there. I know about grade logic and all that, but I also have this tendency to just read my manual when I'm bored. I need a life.

I've read my mom's, my dad's, my brothers' and I think my friends. Pretty boring considering they all say almost the same thing.

I know the bit about hunting for gears is in there.

Well it's late, so I think I'm going to pass out until tomorrow.

tankbeans

Hey all it's gotten quiet in here. I thought I'd post some more numbers. I just filled up from just above E, I ran a can of Sea-Foam through it to clean things up a little. I got just over 22 mpg. Which sucks, but it's still winter so it's to be expected. My rolling average since March is just above 25 or 26. Been trying to keep my speed in check, but it gets away from me sometimes.

ezshift5

...my January fuel numbers are provided:

1514 miles of mixed driving around the north state. 54.103 gallons of 87.

Close enough to 28 MPG for this sailor..............

..best, ez....

tankbeans

I wish I could get numbers that high in the winter.

I just put new tires on my car and I'll have to see if it will affect my mileage or not. Hopefully not, but who knows. If it makes a difference to anyone I just put on Bridgestone Potenzas and found out that my alignment was off.

Spec is -0.08 to 0.08 mine, on the passenger front, was 0.25. Don't know quite what the numbers mean, but I know that it had been pulling a lot at speeds above 60.

hondaowner10

Have had my 09 Accord for about 10 days now. The mileage for my 1st fill up was just under 26mpg. I am driving about 75% highway and 25% rural/city. This also includes letting the car warm up for at least 5 minutes before driving and having to drive through snow and slush a few times.

tankbeans

I'd say you're doing well, depending on where you are and how big the engine is. Considering the 09 Accords are significantly larger than the primary generation being discussed in this thread. My 03 is struggling to get above 23, but I run the defrost a lot and have relatively short commuting distances, about 8 miles give or take.

It'll probably get better as the temps increase and they move away from winter-blend gas.

hutch7

With just over 1K on it I've been averaging 23City/29Hwy. Pretty happy with that given the size of the vehicle.

tankbeans

You're just about spot on with regards to EPA estimates. I hope you continue to be happy with your car for years to come. My next Accord is more than likely going to be a tenth generation. By then it'll probably be huge. I only say that because I want to pack on the miles before I get a new car.

packer3

I have the 08LXP, unless Honda fixed or upgraded something I cant believe your getting 23mpg staight city. My drive to work, 3 towns over in city driving averages 10 to 15 min the average mpg in the winter is around 17 thats it, and I'm not a hard driver.

icyou812

I have a 08 LX 5 speed with just over 10k on it and it's been averaging 26mpg even when it's been at or below zero. That's with probably 90% highway driving, sticking to the 70mph limit. It's actually been warmer this whole week and we got 28mpg. Pretty darn good for winter blend regular. At least we have a choice between regular and ethanol. Before the winter blend we were getting 30-31mpg with a best of 32. I am curious as to how the mileage will be when the warm weather blend returns as it's getting broken in.

hondaowner10

I have an 09 LX-P. My commute is 26 to 29 miles one way depending on which roads I use. If I go one way (shorter distance but about 50% rural and 50% highway) it is 26 miles but takes about 40 minutes. If I go the other way to work, it is about 95% highway but about 29 miles. That way takes about 30 to 35 minutes depending on how much traffic I hit. I'll probably get better mileage when the weather gets warmer. My previous Accord (05 coupe) would get 33 to 35 mpg highway in warmer weather. In winter, it would drop to around 28 to 29 mpg. I liked that car a lot but hit a patch of ice in early January and totaled it. Only had 34k miles on it too.

tankbeans

...hit a patch of ice in early January and totaled it... I'm sorry to hear about that.

That would make me sad. Though if it happened to me I think I'd go with a Civic SI or something similar. Slight downgrade in size, but upgrade in mileage.

hondaowner10

I was really sad to see it like that but at least I walked away from it without any injuries. The rear of the car up to the window was pretty much crushed. My insurance company gave me a nice check for it. Thank goodness for excellent Honda resale values. After paying off the rest of the loan, I used to rest to pay for half of the price of the 09 Accord. I went with the sedan mostly because my new job (since last July) allows me to have weekends and holidays off so I get to spend more time with friends and family. It's easier to put people in the backseat with the sedan. Maybe I'll post a photo of the car after the accident.

packer3

I have the automatic so there are some differences right there to start with, how was the mpg with 5k on it.

tankbeans

Thank god for great crash test ratings. At least you were okay. In the end cars are easy to replace we aren't.

In any event enjoy your new car.

stickguy

Have been doing a long commute for about 6 months now. 42 miles each way. Mostly "highway", but it includes a toll bridge, a little local, and various amount of stop/go each way. Drive takes anywhere from 55 minutes to a high of 2.5 hours (usually about 1:15 or so home, and 55 minutes in). Assorted local running around on top of the commute (~2,500 miles/month total)

In NJ, so winter blend fuel. Even with the cold stretch, I have been getting a consistant 32ish. Last tank was 34, and the current one looks to be running close to that.

dpmeersman

From Jan 4th thru Feb 9:
1,130 miles using 60.61 gal of crappy winter blend New England petrol. Over a month @ 18.64 MPG. While this looks bad it is what you can expect from either the 4 cyl or 6 cyl when temperature in that time frame avg 19 deg with many early morning starts @ zero to 6 below and average distance driven was 7 miles per trip. I haven't put on any hwy miles in months. Will report back next week after a 3-400 mile trip which I'm guessing will avg 27-29 even with winter blend fuel. Heavy car, cold weather and short trips will never yield bragging writes to good fuel economy.

08 EX-L V6 16,600 miles on ODO.