Went from 32 to 38 average mpg :)

[sohcsol]

I just had to share my excitement


I have not changed the way I drive or anything about the car, just my daily route to work. I used to go slightly out of my way to get on the highway, get up to 70-75mph for a couple miles and then exit.

My new route is more direct but I maintain a steady 45mph the whole time until I end up where I would normally exit the highway. In the end it takes me about 1-2 minutes longer to get to work, but I've gained 6+mpg in the process.

I think that 38mpg avg is pretty good, considering I have heavy 18" wheels and drive spiritedly in sport mode 100% of the time. With the stock wheels on I think I could achieve 40+ without even trying.


I did not buy this car for the mileage, it was just an extra perk, but I have always wondered in the back of my mind why my mileage was so low. I usually drive it pretty hard, so I excused my low 30's average but even when I tried to get good mileage I couldn't hold more than 34-35.

My hope is that this could perhaps help some others with lower mileage, knowing that it appears this car does not like going over 55mph very much. I also tend to accelerate quickly up to my crusing speed which seems to help, the longer you spend accelerating the longer you spend getting a low mpg number that hurts your average.

Just my speculations of course.

[Widget]

Originally Posted by sohcsol

the longer you spend accelerating the longer you spend getting a low mpg number that hurts your average.

I'm not exactly sure that it works this way...

[Scotty001]

Originally Posted by Widget

I'm not exactly sure that it works this way...

I think it does if once you get to speed you have a ways to go before you have to slow down or stop.. Accelerating fast requires the IMA to assist.

If your stop and go - then no, there is not an advantage..

Have driven Honda's IMA since 2007.. Played around quite a bit with different techniques..

Getting to speed quickly can be a good thing in certain situations - not all though.

[kmanatt]

I find that the faster I get into the top gear or 5th at least the sooner the mileage gets respectable. I thought for a long time I should accelerate slowly to Max the Mileage but I think Sohcsol has something there. K

[sohcsol]

Originally Posted by Scotty001

I think it does if once you get to speed you have a ways to go before you have to slow down or stop.. Accelerating fast requires the IMA to assist.

This is my thinking as well, and why I believe sport mode actually helps my mileage for my style of driving. You can increase the throttle from say, 1/4 to 1/2 without the mileage meter dropping dramatically, it just maxes out the IMA assist then I coast as long as possible to stoplights, of which there are about 15 on my trip.


The kicker is yesterday I went for a 2 hour cruise out on the islands, lots of twisty roads and even hit the 4-5k rpm range a few times, not concerning myself with mileage at all. I still averaged 37.9, so it seems like as long as I avoid 55+ mph roads, I can get better mileage.

Seems a bit backwards doesnt it?

[daveczrn]

not completely backwards, 55+ is where you start really loosing milage due to aerodynamic drag. It seems you have figured out how to drive in your area to get some decent mileage. I'm still trying to figure mine out. Lots of big hills for me with areas where the redlights are far between and some area's that are every 1000ft or so. I'm doing ok i think though and i am keeping it in normal for now. i may try and use sport mode for diffrent area;s and see how that goes.

[Ludercrz]

stop and go motion is what kills your MPG. if you can keep a constant speed it's better for your mpg.

i got too many traffic lights and stuff around here that i'm constantly changing speeds and it kills my mpg.

[varoom]

I have enough long commutes that it keeps my mileage up. One commute I have of < 5 mi in traffic and I'm around 30 mpg. The other big factor is outside temperature.

[dsw_777]

Nice going! I've adjusted my driving technique a little bit over the past few weeks and went from the low 30s to upper 30s in normal. My drive to work is pretty hilly and can't stay in econ mode.