Still waiting for Wayne to share his knowledge. After all, claiming it to be so easy to get that kind of high mpg, one would expect the author to tell us something about it, beyond painting us as ignorant.
I got around 33 highway and around 23 for a mix of hwy and city for a 4cylinder 06 auto
Do you know why I am not getting the good mileage that you are getting ?
Some things to consider in comparing my car vs yours.
I had one passenger (my mom)and about 10 pounds in the trunk (various clothes and such). A total of about 375 pounds in the car.
The temperature outside was about 50 degrees.
I did not ever have to run the A/C or heat (sunshine kept us at a good temp inside).
I use Chevron regular unleaded. In the south the blend may be a different formula than another area of the country (winter formulas often reduce miles per gallon).
2,500 miles on the car at the time of the trip (so it was pretty well broken in).
The cruise control was set exactly on 75 mph for 99% of the trip, with only 2 rest stops. The times cruise was off I had to drop to about 65 mph in heavier traffic in Montgomery AL.I merged relatively slowly, not getting the tach over 3k rpm.
What kind of terrain were you in? I was in rolling hills of Alabama.
If you'll post your response to these criteria we can go over the differences together.
Good luck car crazy!
BTW, my latest mixed city/hwy 50/50 driving returned none other than 29mph (or a 50/50 split). I'm pretty light footed (usually below 3k rpm unless I have to gun it, and then I let loose!)
umm, why is it necessary to go 135 mph on a road where the speed limit is about half that? was there an emergency?
I'm just kind of curious, as the fastest I've ever been was 100 mph in my 96 Accord 4-cyl (and still had power to go prolly 20 mph faster, amazing). I never did that again.
maybe cause i've always loved speed, it still felt like i was only going like 85 90 mph, i wanted to go faster but then fear of getting pulled over kicked in and decided that is was for the better that i slow down.. by the way this was about 3 in the morning with no other cars on the road, i would never recomend someone do that, but then again why would they make a car that goes that fast if you cant use it..
Gotcha. I loved the feeling of speed, too, but with 140,000 miles on my car (at the time of the 100mph) I decided to cool it before I left a transmission on I-59 in Birmingham. I had floored it at 60 or so when two guys (in once car, a Contour I think) wouldn't stop tailgating me, even when I changed lanes trying to let them pass. I did the whole "tap the brakes" thing, and it didn't work either. So I just floored it to the next exit. It is oviously not a "bahn-burner" with only 130 hp, but it had the goods to leave the Ford well-behind me, even though they accelerated (at first, anyways) to try to keep hounding me. I got off at the next exit, pulled into a gas station, and walked around a minute to let my nerves settle. Now, when people tailgate me (dangerously close, not just too close for my comfort) I just coast until they pass. Sometimes coasting to 55 does it, but I've been down to 35 before they moved sometimes.
BTW- that Accord is still going strong on its engine/tranny, and delivers 29 mpg regularly in mixed driving. I now have 156,000 miles on it.
god i cant stand ppl like that and living in los angeles its so much worse, the constant speed of the freeway is around 85, and if you go even 70 75mph your gonna get tail gatted...
There wont be any flowers they know i dont like them.. just a very expensive taxadermous, and the only one of my family that will be there is my sister the rest have already moved on thanx..
I just got home from another beach run, this time in my dad's 2005 Accord with 38,000 miles on it. I got 35 mpg on the dot with the cruise set at 79 mph. The details were (248.2 miles out of 7.08 gallons of Chevron regular. I think the car going 4-5 mph faster than mine minus the Electronic Throttle of my 2006 made the difference of 1.5 mpgs. Overall, we are pleased with our Accords!
Awesome, congrats! I'm still waiting for final numbers after my engine is completely loosened up...the 2006 model (the one i got 36.43 mpg with only had 2500 miles at the time.
I just bought the car two weeks ago. The first free full tank of gas is almost ran out (maybe 3 gallons remaining). But I just got 233 miles (most are local). Is it normal for a new car?
"But I just got 233 miles (most are local). Is it normal for a new car?"
I too have a 2006 SE Auto with 3200 miles on it. I'm only getting 260-290 miles in between fill ups compared to others who are getting at least 340-350 miles.
There's something wrong with these Accord SEs! I'm beginning to hate my Accord again. I should have learned my lessons with the previous O3 Accord LX, which sucked big time! Thanks, it got wrecked, me with only minor bruises.
The gas gauge is not an accurate measure of what is in the gas tank; it is very pessimistic for its owners sake. My car will only take 7 gallons when it reads half a tank. If the readout of 1/2 tank were accurate, I should be able to get around the 8.55 gals that = 1/2 tank. I usually fill up my car before the light comes on (its only happened once, at approx 360 miles. I drove another 50 miles before I got gas, and it still only took 14.XX gallons. Don't rely on the gauge, do the calculations. If you come back and are getting 260 miles on said 14 gallons, THEN we'll know either your Accord has a problem, or you have a lead foot.
Some people (not pointing fingers) drive faster than normal, but to them, it IS normal. You can see my mileage in earlier posts...MY normal acceleration is keeping the RPMs under 3,000 before the gear change; its on the slow side for many, but I've found it makes little difference in my punctuality, since I'll end up stopped at the same red light as the hot rod revving to 5,000. My lowest tank was the first one, in which I got 26 mpg; ever since, I've improved to a mixed average (6 miles at 70 mph freeway with 9 miles of suburban roads, from 30-45 mph with about 20 total traffic lights/stop signs) of about 28 mpg.
The low fuel warning light comes on approximately 4 gallons in advance of Empty (and the needle is almost at the red line with 3 gals left).
miles between fill ups really doesn't matter, since that won't be a consistant # of gallons. Just do the math (miles/gallons used) for a couple of tanks to average it out, and go from there.
on my car, the gas guage seems to be pessimistic, making it look like there is less gas than there really is (based on how many gallons it takes). I have not yet (and likely never will) seen the low fuel light, since I try not to let the tank run down that much.
I will be taking my first real trip 9after 2 months of ownership) this weekend. Round trip from NJ to VA, which should be ~325 miles, all highway 9and hopefully no stop and go!). Hoping for low-mid 30's, if I can keep the speed reasonable (75 or below).
Have a safe trip, and just an FYI...my car read 250 miles or so when it showed half a tank...this is when I got over 36mpg...just to give you an idea of how you are doing.
......The low fuel warning light comes on approximately 4 gallons.........
....I don't have a four in my Accord Coupe 6M.....
...low fuel light glows with 3.1 to 3.3 left........
..this month's trip to NAF, El Centro/RTN, used four tanks............31.7,29.3, 33.0 (slow easy drive: EC to Santa Ana) finally Burbank to Sacramento in five hours flat: 30.9.....
..you need not settle for the four to post good numbers... (4 is a good engine; this 6 is a great engine....IMHO)
Very nice. People argure that they don't get EPA numbers; they often don't realize that it is just as easy to get above EPA as under, as you and I have proven with our 1-3 mpg over EPA hwy estimates.
My light came on at an obvious 4 gallons: The light came on around 370 on that particular tank. I remember, b/c the gas flap was frozen when I stopped to try and fill up. I drove on home and broke out the hair dryer. I went back to Chevron and had about 410 miles on the tank. As far as number of gallons, it took 14 and change, meaning that I had about thirteen left when the light came on (I drove highway and about 70mph most of the way to my home, then slowly back to Chevron. (I figure 30-35 mpg in that 40 miles.)
I think BOTH engines are great, given the power and economy that comes from them.
I usually fill up about every half tank or 200-250 miles on interstate trips, whichever comes up...I have to GO after drinking sweet tea for three or four hours!
I'm aware of that, but gas is cheaper at certain places on our normal beach-trip route. That happens to be about 220 miles from our starting location. I could wait and fill-up on the way back home, but I would have lots of stop-and-go driving mixed in with it, spoiling my highway average. While I'm at the beach, I average about 30 mpg on the local highway.
250 miles isn't similar to checking after 5 miles.
My 2003 LX-4 auto has given me 30 mpg over the 35,500 miles. This is equal to my smaller/lighter 1987 LXi Hatchback with 5-speed manual. I have hit 40.5 mpg returning from SC up I-95 to VA on Shell regular gas averaging 70 mph. I usually get about 26 mpg in mostly city driving. Rarely do I need more power, but it would have been greatly appreciated on a trip to WVA with two other adults and luggage for ten days. I can hardly wait to see what Honda is going to do in 2008 to compete with the new 2007 Camry boasting 268hp in their new V-6.
I can hardly wait to see what Honda is going to do in 2008 to compete with the new 2007 Camry boasting 268hp in their new V-6.
This is pure speculation, but I see the Accord possibly getting the 3.2L engine from the TL, probably around the TL's 258 hp. The TL needs to be rear-drive next time around to support ANY more horsepower/torque due to its torque steer problem. The Accord needs to be careful of this, also.
with the new '05 EX-L 4 cyl 5 speed stick. Took the amily and a large load of junk from Phila. to N. VA (outside DC) and back. About 320 miles RT. FIgure that with the people and cargo I had at least 750 lbs. of a load(FWIW).
Anyway, got just about 33 mpg. This was a combo of stop and go (I just love I95) and cruising at various speeds up to ~ 75 (a couple of time I briefly went over). Had a few times we just sat creeping along, or a line into a toll, so it was anything but steady cruising.
So, IMO, not too shabby given the conditions. I also just ticked over 1,500 miles on the trip.
Just an update. Filled up my 1996 Accord LX 4-cyl AT today. 315 miles/12.1 gallons of Chevron regular = 26 mpgs. I drove it hard and a lot more in town than usual. I had a couple of times when I had to be somewhere (my haircutter was going out of town for a week after 1:00PM yesterday. I went much faster than normal, and did that a couple other times this week. I'm still pretty happy.
Keep your Honda's well-maintained and they will likely give you miles and miles of service with great mileage.
You keep mentioning Chevron. The brand does not matter. You'll get the same results with any brand or no-brand fuel as long as it's 87 octane. Save your money.
Not I, dear sir. Different blends in different regions of the country, remember. I used to use Raceway/Racetrac, and after two tanks of bad gas I stick to Chevron which hasnt' given me one bit of trouble.
**The bad tanks were obvious...rough starts, choppy, coughing idles...I took it to the dealer, they said it was probably just bad gas and to let it pass through.
Chevron where I fill up is $2.11 a gallon. The RaceTrac nearby is currently $2.09. It's worth my $.20 a fillup for the Peace of Mind.
You may can find an article online by googling "Top Tier Gas". It recently came out in an article in Car and Driver that I read. 8 Gas Stations (companies) that sold the best quality gasoline for cars. I believe all of them had a detergent agent (such as 'Techron' at Chevron stores) that helped keep fuel injectors cleaner, and instrumented tests confirmed it. Among them were Sunoco, Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, etc. In fact, my owner's manual (in the 2006)reccomends gas with a detergent agent in it (I'm nearly positive I read that), 87 octane.
Not the same results, about the same money, and much more conveniece and peace of mind. For you, what you use seems to work for you, and I'm glad. My problem may be localized in nature (bad gas at RaceTracs).
I've been using the least expensive fuel (of the correct octane rating) in my cars since 1959. Except for one tank of fuel in the mid-1960's, that had some water in it because it probably was drawn from the bottom of a gas station's virtually empty underground tank,I have NEVER had ANY problems with fuel.
I've not calculated my savings over the past half-century, but they have obviously been substantial over the life of the approximately twenty vehicles that I've owned during that period.
You can spend your money any way you wish. But you now have my advice.
Thanks, and if I ever change areas where I live, i'll try out the "cheapies" again, but for now, Chevron is the best value for me in my neighborhood(it's actually cheaper at $2.11 right now than many RaceTracs on another side of town ($2.10-$2.13).
I have a few questions regarding mileage on an 05 Accord Coupe 4 cyl automatic. I believe that in order to track mileage you should fill up the tank, write the beginning mileage, drive until you refuel, when you refuel write the number of gallons it took to fill the tank again, and write down how many miles you drove between the last refuel and the current refuel. Is the formula mileage divided by gals? While I don't write the beginning and ending mileage, I do track the miles driven between refuels on the trip odometer (I reset it to zero when I refuel).
I have noticed that sometimes I am able to get 250 miles to a 1/2 tank of gas while other times I am struggling to get 175 miles to 1/2 tank. My miles per gallon seem to be all over the place, ranging from 24 mpg to 27 mpg, although it has been more in the 24-25 mpg range than 27. Is this normal? Is there a different way to calculate what I am truly getting? I live in southern California and it is wrong to say "freeway" miles because it really is city driving on the freeway. I used to get, on a consistent basis, better mileage on my 04 Accord Sedan 4 cyl auto. It was more in the 27 mpg range.
Also, how does cold weather affect mileage? And, is southern California weather considered cold? There have been a few mornings where there has been ice on the windshield.
I have another question. Which gas companies/stations are considered first tier? In southern California, would they be Chevron, Union 76, Mobil and Shell? Is there a difference in the gas between these four other than price?
Mileage will be affected by many factors but if you drive the same route day after day with essentially the same traffic conditions, it should be fairly consistent.
In cold weather, the engine will run a little richer (i.e., use more gas) until it warms up but I wouldn't consider southern Cal. cold. It was 17 this morning in Indiana and the high was 38. Now that's cold
There is a gasoline specification called "top tier" developed by several of the auto makers. Follow the link to see which companies comply with the spec.
You're doing the right thing. Divide the number of miles you've driven by the number of Gallons you used to drive those miles.
Flunctuating between 24 and 27 mpg is totally normal... Your drive is different every day, ESPECIALLY when stuck in California's congested freeways... So all is OK.
The one REAL way to calculate your MPG accurately, is go out for a LONG drive on the freeway, out of the city, keep the speed steady at around 75(use your Cruise Control) and drive for HOURS, no stops, no slow down. Don't load the car too much, don't use the A/C.
Then, after driving 300-400-500 miles, you stop to fill up your tank and do the measuring. That will give you an accurate reading, or at least the MOST accurate reading you can get, as "highway mileage".
I just thought i would post my experiences with my 2003 Honda accord LX 4cyl AT w/ 75000 miles.
I used to get about 28 mpg avg (80/20 highway/city)
Now i get about 22.5 mpg avg (75/25 mix) i use Shell 87 octane..... i avg. 85 - 95 (it is not uncommon for me to clear the triple digits) on highway about about 50 - 55 on the city (yes i speed... sorry)....
Just thought i would check in ... also i used to be fairly calm on the car when i got it ... now im whatever... i usually let it go to 4- 4.5 on the tach if i need to.
Also i have noticed that i am getting better mileage on Chevron... i noticed someone else mentioned this... maybe its all in my head?? go figure...
i think you're getting too much of the Chevron vapors and it's getting to your head.
but seriously, you might want to slow down before you hurt or kill yourself or someone else. think about your reaction times, but now, consider you're amonst many others with differing skills, reaction times, attention, vehicle condition changing road conditions, etc and you cannot predict their actions or have proper situational awareness about what is up ahead. all you need is someone in front of you to zone and drift into your lane, or something to come off the back of a vehicle in front of you, or something to have found its way in your lane, the vehicle infront of you swerves late, and you have no choice but to hit it.
i see this all the time in Atlanta traffic.
game over: inertia=0.0
when you slow down, you should notice improved mileage. by switching fuels, the additives in the current brand will help remove the deposits from your prior brand. if i understand it correctly, it's good to periodically change brands.
various vehicles have different coefficient's of drag, weight, etc. where an accord peaks in terms of fuel economy vs. another... i don't know but at triple digits, you've gone well beyond that optimal (and safe) speed.
Here are the results from the first full tank of gas on my new 06 Accord EX-V6. I topped off the tank after the first 100 miles or so to be sure I measured off a full tank.
Total miles on my new Accord - 792. Bought the car with 290 miles on it. Miles driven 379.1 50/50 hwy and city Gallons used 14.316 MPG = 26.48!!
I let the tank go down until the light came on, and then drove another 35+ miles before filling up. I was surprised to see the pump stopped at 13.9 gallons, so I topped it off until 14.3+ when it kept shutting off. I even nudged the car a bit to make sure no air was trapped in tank. We'll see if my mileage is consistent over the next couple of tanks - I'll report again in a few weeks.
I can't believe I got mileage this good with the V6! I don't drive like a little old lady, but I'm not very aggressive either. Just smooth moderate acceleration from stop signs/lights, and smooth braking, and coasting when I anticipate I'll need to stop if I don't have a lot of traffic behind me. Honda ROCKS!! :shades:
Hey guys...I'm the one who posted about using Chevron first. I mainly do this b/c I have a card from there, but it's the cheapest top-tier gas I can get also.
I have gotten over 35 mpg with BP also, I think that any of the top-tiers will likely give you similar results.
The optimium speed for an Accord seems to be between 70-80MPH. When I drive 75 MPH w/o Air Conditioning running, I got 36.4 mpgs. When I drove 80 MPH on the same route, I got 35.1 mpgs. I don't know if driving 70 will be better than 75mph etc...but 75 is as low as I'll go on the 280 mile trek, where the limit is 70MPH.
At 100MPH you are well over 3,000 rpms, probably closer to 3,500, and at 75MPH, I run exactly 2,500RPM (2,000 at 60MPH; It's about 500RPM per 15 MPH.
I have to side with thegraduate on this one. There are differences between the gas addititives and the general upkeep and maintenance of stations, pumps and the undeground gas tanks. If you come to Houston do not get Raceway/Racetrac gas or you will be sorry. Addtionally, there is some local variance here, because some of the gasoline is supplied buy local refineries.
I have driven my EX V6 almost 5600 miles since october when I bought it with 16 miles on it. 85% highway driving at almost 70 average, sometimes 60 average at smaller highways. Average of shade under 27. The car does drive like a dream! PT.
Thank you for reassuring me! While I do typically drive the same route to work every day, I'm sure that some days I drive differently than others. I'm glad to know that I'm actually get mileage that is in the range. I guess I should plan a trip to Vegas to test the highway miles, huh?
Yes, drive to Vegas, and then, when you get there, just use the ramp to get off the freeway --- and then BACK AGAIN on the freeway, driving all the way back home.
That way you save money on your gas (no city driving), and save yourself from loosing more money on the poker table....
Comments
That's what this board is all about, no?
Do you know why I am not getting the good mileage that you are getting ?
Some things to consider in comparing my car vs yours.
I had one passenger (my mom)and about 10 pounds in the trunk (various clothes and such). A total of about 375 pounds in the car.
The temperature outside was about 50 degrees.
I did not ever have to run the A/C or heat (sunshine kept us at a good temp inside).
I use Chevron regular unleaded. In the south the blend may be a different formula than another area of the country (winter formulas often reduce miles per gallon).
2,500 miles on the car at the time of the trip (so it was pretty well broken in).
The cruise control was set exactly on 75 mph for 99% of the trip, with only 2 rest stops. The times cruise was off I had to drop to about 65 mph in heavier traffic in Montgomery AL.I merged relatively slowly, not getting the tach over 3k rpm.
What kind of terrain were you in? I was in rolling hills of Alabama.
If you'll post your response to these criteria we can go over the differences together.
Good luck car crazy!
BTW, my latest mixed city/hwy 50/50 driving returned none other than 29mph (or a 50/50 split). I'm pretty light footed (usually below 3k rpm unless I have to gun it, and then I let loose!)
I'm just kind of curious, as the fastest I've ever been was 100 mph in my 96 Accord 4-cyl (and still had power to go prolly 20 mph faster, amazing). I never did that again.
BTW- that Accord is still going strong on its engine/tranny, and delivers 29 mpg regularly in mixed driving. I now have 156,000 miles on it.
Enjoy your V-6, xkiddx
'p.s. i will enjoy the v6, love it..
"...ME TAKING IT UP TO 130 TO 135 MPH..."
What kind of flowers would your family prefer for the funeral?
...and I can see (at least fuel efficiency-wise) why.....
.....FWIW: I have a six that can do that...............
I too have a 2006 SE Auto with 3200 miles on it. I'm only getting 260-290 miles in between fill ups compared to others who are getting at least 340-350 miles.
There's something wrong with these Accord SEs! I'm beginning to hate my Accord again. I should have learned my lessons with the previous O3 Accord LX, which sucked big time! Thanks, it got wrecked, me with only minor bruises.
Disappointed, ramida
now then, when are you filling up? when the light first comes on? you realize that is a very inaccurate indication of low-fuel.
on my '02 4cycl for example, I typically have about 4 gallons left. do you know how many gallons remain in your tank when the light comes on?
it will be a function of your mileage, but also the conditions (hwy / city).
i believe you will experience a break-in improvement in mileage.
Some people (not pointing fingers) drive faster than normal, but to them, it IS normal. You can see my mileage in earlier posts...MY normal acceleration is keeping the RPMs under 3,000 before the gear change; its on the slow side for many, but I've found it makes little difference in my punctuality, since I'll end up stopped at the same red light as the hot rod revving to 5,000. My lowest tank was the first one, in which I got 26 mpg; ever since, I've improved to a mixed average (6 miles at 70 mph freeway with 9 miles of suburban roads, from 30-45 mph with about 20 total traffic lights/stop signs) of about 28 mpg.
The low fuel warning light comes on approximately 4 gallons in advance of Empty (and the needle is almost at the red line with 3 gals left).
thegrad
on my car, the gas guage seems to be pessimistic, making it look like there is less gas than there really is (based on how many gallons it takes). I have not yet (and likely never will) seen the low fuel light, since I try not to let the tank run down that much.
I will be taking my first real trip 9after 2 months of ownership) this weekend. Round trip from NJ to VA, which should be ~325 miles, all highway 9and hopefully no stop and go!). Hoping for low-mid 30's, if I can keep the speed reasonable (75 or below).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
thegrad
2006 Accord EX Auto
....I don't have a four in my Accord Coupe 6M.....
...low fuel light glows with 3.1 to 3.3 left........
..this month's trip to NAF, El Centro/RTN, used four tanks............31.7,29.3, 33.0 (slow easy drive: EC to Santa Ana) finally Burbank to Sacramento in five hours flat: 30.9.....
..you need not settle for the four to post good numbers... (4 is a good engine; this 6 is a great engine....IMHO)
best, ez
My light came on at an obvious 4 gallons: The light came on around 370 on that particular tank. I remember, b/c the gas flap was frozen when I stopped to try and fill up. I drove on home and broke out the hair dryer. I went back to Chevron and had about 410 miles on the tank. As far as number of gallons, it took 14 and change, meaning that I had about thirteen left when the light came on (I drove highway and about 70mph most of the way to my home, then slowly back to Chevron. (I figure 30-35 mpg in that 40 miles.)
I think BOTH engines are great, given the power and economy that comes from them.
I usually fill up about every half tank or 200-250 miles on interstate trips, whichever comes up...I have to GO after drinking sweet tea for three or four hours!
Just as you don't fill up again to check your MPG after driving 5 miles... The more miles tested, the error-factor becomes less significant.
250 miles isn't similar to checking after 5 miles.
I can hardly wait to see what Honda is going to do in 2008 to compete with the new 2007 Camry boasting 268hp in their new V-6.
This is pure speculation, but I see the Accord possibly getting the 3.2L engine from the TL, probably around the TL's 258 hp. The TL needs to be rear-drive next time around to support ANY more horsepower/torque due to its torque steer problem. The Accord needs to be careful of this, also.
Anyway, got just about 33 mpg. This was a combo of stop and go (I just love I95) and cruising at various speeds up to ~ 75 (a couple of time I briefly went over). Had a few times we just sat creeping along, or a line into a toll, so it was anything but steady cruising.
So, IMO, not too shabby given the conditions. I also just ticked over 1,500 miles on the trip.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My car does not do so good locally as it just gives 24 but i read on this forum that they improve as they break in.
Keep your Honda's well-maintained and they will likely give you miles and miles of service with great mileage.
You keep mentioning Chevron. The brand does not matter. You'll get the same results with any brand or no-brand fuel as long as it's 87 octane. Save your money.
**The bad tanks were obvious...rough starts, choppy, coughing idles...I took it to the dealer, they said it was probably just bad gas and to let it pass through.
Chevron where I fill up is $2.11 a gallon. The RaceTrac nearby is currently $2.09. It's worth my $.20 a fillup for the Peace of Mind.
You may can find an article online by googling "Top Tier Gas". It recently came out in an article in Car and Driver that I read. 8 Gas Stations (companies) that sold the best quality gasoline for cars. I believe all of them had a detergent agent (such as 'Techron' at Chevron stores) that helped keep fuel injectors cleaner, and instrumented tests confirmed it. Among them were Sunoco, Chevron, Shell, ExxonMobil, etc. In fact, my owner's manual (in the 2006)reccomends gas with a detergent agent in it (I'm nearly positive I read that), 87 octane.
Not the same results, about the same money, and much more conveniece and peace of mind. For you, what you use seems to work for you, and I'm glad. My problem may be localized in nature (bad gas at RaceTracs).
I've been using the least expensive fuel (of the correct octane rating) in my cars since 1959. Except for one tank of fuel in the mid-1960's, that had some water in it because it probably was drawn from the bottom of a gas station's virtually empty underground tank,I have NEVER had ANY problems with fuel.
I've not calculated my savings over the past half-century, but they have obviously been substantial over the life of the approximately twenty vehicles that I've owned during that period.
You can spend your money any way you wish. But you now have my advice.
I have noticed that sometimes I am able to get 250 miles to a 1/2 tank of gas while other times I am struggling to get 175 miles to 1/2 tank. My miles per gallon seem to be all over the place, ranging from 24 mpg to 27 mpg, although it has been more in the 24-25 mpg range than 27. Is this normal? Is there a different way to calculate what I am truly getting? I live in southern California and it is wrong to say "freeway" miles because it really is city driving on the freeway. I used to get, on a consistent basis, better mileage on my 04 Accord Sedan 4 cyl auto. It was more in the 27 mpg range.
Also, how does cold weather affect mileage? And, is southern California weather considered cold? There have been a few mornings where there has been ice on the windshield.
Thanks,
Lea
Thanks,
Lea
In cold weather, the engine will run a little richer (i.e., use more gas) until it warms up but I wouldn't consider southern Cal. cold. It was 17 this morning in Indiana and the high was 38. Now that's cold
http://www.toptiergas.com/
You're doing the right thing. Divide the number of miles you've driven by the number of Gallons you used to drive those miles.
Flunctuating between 24 and 27 mpg is totally normal... Your drive is different every day, ESPECIALLY when stuck in California's congested freeways... So all is OK.
The one REAL way to calculate your MPG accurately, is go out for a LONG drive on the freeway, out of the city, keep the speed steady at around 75(use your Cruise Control) and drive for HOURS, no stops, no slow down. Don't load the car too much, don't use the A/C.
Then, after driving 300-400-500 miles, you stop to fill up your tank and do the measuring. That will give you an accurate reading, or at least the MOST accurate reading you can get, as "highway mileage".
I used to get about 28 mpg avg (80/20 highway/city)
Now i get about 22.5 mpg avg (75/25 mix) i use Shell 87 octane..... i avg. 85 - 95 (it is not uncommon for me to clear the triple digits) on highway about about 50 - 55 on the city (yes i speed... sorry)....
Just thought i would check in ... also i used to be fairly calm on the car when i got it ... now im whatever... i usually let it go to 4- 4.5 on the tach if i need to.
Also i have noticed that i am getting better mileage on Chevron... i noticed someone else mentioned this... maybe its all in my head?? go figure...
but seriously, you might want to slow down before you hurt or kill yourself or someone else. think about your reaction times, but now, consider you're amonst many others with differing skills, reaction times, attention, vehicle condition changing road conditions, etc and you cannot predict their actions or have proper situational awareness about what is up ahead. all you need is someone in front of you to zone and drift into your lane, or something to come off the back of a vehicle in front of you, or something to have found its way in your lane, the vehicle infront of you swerves late, and you have no choice but to hit it.
i see this all the time in Atlanta traffic.
game over: inertia=0.0
when you slow down, you should notice improved mileage. by switching fuels, the additives in the current brand will help remove the deposits from your prior brand. if i understand it correctly, it's good to periodically change brands.
various vehicles have different coefficient's of drag, weight, etc. where an accord peaks in terms of fuel economy vs. another... i don't know but at triple digits, you've gone well beyond that optimal (and safe) speed.
Total miles on my new Accord - 792.
Bought the car with 290 miles on it.
Miles driven 379.1
50/50 hwy and city
Gallons used 14.316
MPG = 26.48!!
I let the tank go down until the light came on, and then drove another 35+ miles before filling up. I was surprised to see the pump stopped at 13.9 gallons, so I topped it off until 14.3+ when it kept shutting off. I even nudged the car a bit to make sure no air was trapped in tank. We'll see if my mileage is consistent over the next couple of tanks - I'll report again in a few weeks.
I can't believe I got mileage this good with the V6! I don't drive like a little old lady, but I'm not very aggressive either. Just smooth moderate acceleration from stop signs/lights, and smooth braking, and coasting when I anticipate I'll need to stop if I don't have a lot of traffic behind me. Honda ROCKS!! :shades:
I have gotten over 35 mpg with BP also, I think that any of the top-tiers will likely give you similar results.
The optimium speed for an Accord seems to be between 70-80MPH. When I drive 75 MPH w/o Air Conditioning running, I got 36.4 mpgs. When I drove 80 MPH on the same route, I got 35.1 mpgs. I don't know if driving 70 will be better than 75mph etc...but 75 is as low as I'll go on the 280 mile trek, where the limit is 70MPH.
At 100MPH you are well over 3,000 rpms, probably closer to 3,500, and at 75MPH, I run exactly 2,500RPM (2,000 at 60MPH; It's about 500RPM per 15 MPH.
....good for you.........
...it just will keep on getting better...
..as the miles pile up....
..and you 'get next' to the car.....
..great engine/great car.....
best, ez..
I have to side with thegraduate on this one. There are differences between the gas addititives and the general upkeep and maintenance of stations, pumps and the undeground gas tanks. If you come to Houston do not get Raceway/Racetrac gas or you will be sorry. Addtionally, there is some local variance here, because some of the gasoline is supplied buy local refineries.
I tend to favor Cheveron and Exxon here!
Cruis'n double sixes :shades: ,
MidCow
85% highway driving at almost 70 average, sometimes 60 average at smaller highways.
Average of shade under 27.
The car does drive like a dream!
PT.
That way you save money on your gas (no city driving), and save yourself from loosing more money on the poker table....