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Has it always been this bad? What type of terrain are you driving in? Have you changed the plugs and all the associated wiring? Are the plugs gapped properly?
Some vehicles are just born to lose, unless you can track down the real culprit.
VCM 2007
Katy
Second tank, a trip from Ottawa to Montreal, 90% of highway driving at 63 MPH. Return 22.5 MPG. That was really bad compare to my 2002 Civic which can easily return over 40 MPG with the same driving condition.
The bad things regard the Odyssey is that the 5 speed auto transimission is hard to drive smoothly if you don't push it hard. When accelerate slowly, it feels very choppy especially in gear 2 and 3. From gear 1 to 2, it jumps and from 2 to 3, it holds back a while before making the shift. Not sure if any one else have such problem. :confuse:
I have come to the conclusion that comparing in town mileage to the experience of someone else does not make much sense. Someone with a ten mile commute with fewer stoplights will get better mileage than I do with my 3 mile commute with many stoplights.
I have 179,000 km (111,000 miles) on the van. I used to change the conventional oil every 6,000 km (4,000 miles) as per the manual, and living in Canada.
I've recently started using synthetic oil here in Florida, but that hasn't made a difference in mpg. I went 8,000 km (5,000 miles) on the synthetic and had it analyzed at www.OilLab.com. The results were that the oil was still perfect.
This time, I'm going 10,000 km (6,000 miles). I'm using Honda oil filters from www.HandA-Accessories.com. I bet I could have gotten away with conventional oil and changed it every 10,000 km (6,000 miles), too, but I'll stick with my new schedule.
My only gripe is that the transmission clunks 25% of time from 1st to 2nd.
I am buying a 2008 Honda Odyssey (new) and have a 700 mile trip home from the dealer. What should/shouldn't I do on this trip to break it in properly?
Thanks
As a rule of thumb, try to vary the speed as much as possible. Avoid full throttle starts and high RPM, and try to break in the brakes gently.
Pretty much, don't get in and hit the highway and immediately set the cruise for the next 699 miles! Actually, don't use the cruise at all.
even better if you have a mix of highway and secondary roads. Maybe be anal, and get off the interstate every so often and sight see.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Thanks.
But, IIRC, our 2005 EXL (w/VCM) is at about 2200-2300 or so
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
This has no effect on city driving and does cause vehicle to be a little jerky.
I was in the middle of a month long back and forth with honda when I figured this out and when I told them (1-800...) what I had found their final and last response was that my vehicle was functioning as designed.
Like the Odyssey, hate the mileage and dislike the honda support worse.
great car, cross overs barely get more more mpg if any. the ford edge,etc limo types are just station wagons. Mazda 5 does look interesting mpg wise and seating wise though haven't seen it in person.
Thanks,
mkielm
The higher octane fuel gives use a lower pennies per mile since it is less than 8% more than Reg. and we get more than 10% better fuel mileage.
Easy Driver
Corn fuel sucks for good MPG. Makes the politicians happy though.
I agree with your statement regarding alcohol laced fuel.
Honda literature shows EX getting combined 18 and EX-L (with i-VTEC) getting combined 20 mpg. I had one dealer tell me that the EX would get better mileage in real world. I am looking to buy and trying to decide between the two.
Brother in law's family have an 07 Town & Country LXI. They're up in Michigan, and get about 22-24 hwy. Nice van, but he's driven mine and says it feels more like a sports car in comparison. I agree. That's why I bought it, much tighter and I think Honda engineered it better. Oh, the 160 speedo got his attention, too.
This is my second EX-L and I've been thinking about getting a 2010. Just recently began having judders between 2nd and 3rd gear after software update by Honda. I think it's up-shifting too soon. Following wobblyknobbles on other forum.
Yes, there is always a "but" isn't there?
I am somewhat shocked at what I believe to be less-than-expected city mileage. Live in Central Florida, run A/C continuously, most miles are city driving. No heavy foot and smooth on accelerating. My wife and I are experiencing 13-15 MPG city! Last night when we filled up it was our all-time low of 13.1 mpg!!! :surprise: This was our third fill-up since purchasing the Ody.
Does this not seem extremely low? Is anyone else experiencing comparable city mileage? Any ideals? Suggestions?
My fear is that the unusually low mileage might be a precursor to something else. I'm already excessively easy on accelerating (and should not even have to do this). If it were not that I park it inside a locked garage every night and park it outside my office window during the day, I'd almost be suspect of someone siphoning gasoline out from underneath.
And ~ You're right. At the current and past gas prices, it's more like "anatomy-per-mile" (an arm and a leg) than "miles-per-gallon".
I also posted earlier with questions on similar experiences with low mpg. I just hit 13.1 on city driving for the first time (also a new low for me). I had the new programming installed by my dealer re: the service notice on the tranny studdering issue between 2nd and 3rd a few weeks before this "new low".
Wondering if anyone has experienced poor mileage after this computer program update? I was getting poor mileage before, but not 13 in city.
My other question was whether anyone had improved mileage after an extended break-in (8k to 10k or after the second oil change)?
Thanks,
mkielm
I thought I'd share this since my experience seems to indicate that the tranny studdering programming fix may not have anything to do with the low mileage.
In my case, I plan to change gas stations on my next fill-up. I've used nothing but the very same wholesale club gas pumps since I purchased my Ody. Next fill-up I plan to switch to an entirely different independent major gas station and see what happens. I just have a sneaky suspicion, call it a hunch.
I'll let the forum know the outcome when I've calculated my mileage after next fill-up.
The Honda mechanic did agree that 13.1 MPG was excessively low, that diagnostics can't point to anything specifically wrong, the tranny programming wouldn't do anything to help or hinder mileage, and that maybe its related to the gasoline that I am using.
I filled up my tank and drove about 50 miles, 90% highway, the pin was touching (F) when I put the car into the garage on Sunday. When I took the car out today, the gauge is only showing 80% full. Is this normal?
I suspect the garage staffs is stealing gas from their clients/tenants.
Here's a tip. Take out the seats to lessen the weight. I did so on my 2004 and it made quite a difference. I will do so on the '09 for camping and travel next summer. Additionally, my dealer mechanic, whom has decades of experience, advises to raise the tire pressure to 36. Finally, when on the hwy in the summer, I usually turn off the air and put the air control on recycle when ascending long hills. Having done this when returning from Albert Lee, Mn. a couple years ago with a full load and keeping the rpm at or below 2k, I got about 35 mpg.
Bradkansas
I had this old 97 Nissan quest which gave me at least 15 ! I drive very gentle and smooth and this car simply wouldn't give you any more than 12, 13 max.
Couldn't believe that a) A 2010 Honda should be worse than a 97 Nissan Honda would state on the sticker that the avg MPG would provide at least 17mpg.
Dealer telling me that I should wait until I get about 2000 miles to give the engine some time to kick in best performance however I checked two friends having about 3500 miles each, they don't get more than 12 either. Is this a scam or what?
Can anybody explain this please?
generally 15-17 around town (and that is very short hop, stop/start, often no tirps over 3 miles driving). On th ehighway, even in mixed local/interstate, and not babying it, normal is probably 22? Might get 20 in the summer with AC, roof bag and bikes ont he back. And generally 24-25 on mostly open road if not hammering it too bad.
I think the worst tank in th ewinter was maybe 14, but that was really horrible conditions.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I took the van on 4 long trips all highway in the summer fall and winter and averaged from 25.6 the lowest going over the Allegheny Mountains to 31.5 traveling south to South Carolina from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. This was calculated from fill up to fill up and I filled the tank until the gas was just about to come out the neck of the filler tube (that way I know I have an accurate fill each time. The computer calculated mileage was within .2 of the calculated amount which surprised me for the accuracy.
I have never gotten below 19.5 or .6 on any tank at any time and those times were over the winter when I sat idling in the park and ride lot with the heat on waiting for the bus when the outside temperature was around zero F.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I wont, however, get another honda AT. I just hope I can make it 3 more years (and to about 85K) before the tranny bites the dust.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My experience with diesel cars:
VW Golf Variant 2,0 TDI (140 hp), 123.000 km, 39 mpg in average, takes a lot of engine oil, however, no problem to drive 120 to 125 mph in Germany for a few hours (then 22 mpg) ...
Mileage of diesel cars is much better generally, however, maintenance costs are higher and older diesel engines are noisy.
????????????
Brad
If I find the article on the EPA requirements I will post.
Then record your mileage at the fill-up. Run your vehicle until you are low, doesn't really matter whether the warning light is on, but as low as you feel safe going.
Then re-fill your tank, as above again, then record the number of gallons used to fill the tank. and the number of miles driven since the last fill-up.
Divide the number of miles by the number of gallons used and that results in the miles per gallon for that tank.
I always average 20+ MPG or higher. I travel 3.5 miles one way to a park & ride every day. About 1 mile residential with a couple of stop signs a a traffic light. Then 2.5 miles highway (55 MPH) with 2 lights. This averages just at 20 mpg.
On several trips highway at 65/75 MPH I average 24 to 28 MPG with full luggage for 3 adults and air on the whole way. I never open windows except to pay tolls, my family has allergies so it's not an option.
There are many factors that contribute to actual MPG and the EPA explains they try to simulate average conditions, but load, tire preassure, humidity, octane, ethanol in summer blends (less mpg per gallon with ethanol), spark plug wear, oil, driving conditions (open road, speed, stop and go),etc, all create real world average so just looking at EPA is to compare one vehicle to another. Sometime you get the EPA estimate sometimes you don't.
I have found my trip Comp in my Touring to be reasonably accurate compared to the actual math (varies by a few tenths higher or lower) but I would never quote the computer as actual, just as I don't accept the tank as full when the auto-shut off at the pump occurs, I can always squeeze in at least another gallon or more, which is why to be accurate I fill until I can see fuel at the neck, just be careful not to spill and pollute..if you care about that stuff (plus that wastes money).
Excellent points. I've always filled to when the pump turns off and I insert the nozzle up to the second coil of the spring on the nozzle. The fuel gauge always is at the very top using this method but I will fill the tube almost to the top as you recommend. Additionally, if I fill my tires to 38 instead of 35 I get a bit more mileage but could be contributing to increased tire wear and earlier replacement.
If I keep the RPM steady just below 2K, I can get significantly better mileage on the highway. Finally, I turn off the AC when ascending long hills and turn it back on once over the crest.
Brad
In reality, it's the biofuel industry and corn lobby that is pusing for more ethanol use.
My understanding is that filling beyond the shutoff point can result in damage to the emmissions systems. YMMV.