My mpg sucks (12.5-13.0 mostly city driving). I'm wondering what I can do to increase it.

So far, i've changed the plugs (oem from dealer plugs), coolant, air filter, and tranny rebuild. Truck has 103k. miles.

any other suggestions?

 

If you have a truck then that would be about right. If you have an MDX then we would need to know more info: year, original wheels? which tires etc..

If, as you say, in mostly city and you lead-foot from light to light then you are probably about normal.

I just got 15.5 towing a dual jet-ski trailer for 250 miles.

 

MPG's are related to many factors, such as:

Terrain
Quick acceleration
Idling excessively
Weather
Cargo boxes on top of the vehicle
Running mechanical/electrical accessories such as the radio and A/C

Also be mindfull of the gas you are using. It may be tempting to run the cheap 89 octane from Costco, but in the end it will cost you more.

 

Hi everyone,

I purchased a new 2013 MDX (Technology) 2 weeks ago, and noticed very poor MPG driving in the city (didn't have a chance to do much highway driving yet). I'm getting 11-12 MPG, according to the trip computer. Very disappointing. I had 2006 MDX before, I was getting around 17 MPG on that one, having a similar usage patterns. Is there any kind of tune up that can be done to fix this?

thanks!

 

Once the engine is broken in and you did another oil change the MPGs should increase slightly.

 

Sorry to say but 12-13 in city driving is quite a normal number. Especially if you are waiting at traffic lights often. We own a gas hog. But I would not change it for another SUV at this point. Great family hauler.

 

stop sitting in stop and go traffic traveling 15 mph on avg.

it's a 4500 pound CUV, it takes a lot of gas to move that amount of mass.

city driving is relative from location to location.

you guys need to indicate what your avg MPH is while getting your 12-13 mpg.

i get about 16-17 mpg at 24-25mph avg speed (this is "mixed" driving). on the hwy (only-ie roadtrips), i get 23-24 mpg at an avg of 65-67mph.

 

Unfortunately it's mostly stop and go for me, 15 mph on avg is about right, driving kids to different schools with traffic lights on every corner. Hope to get some highway driving this summer. Gotta look into suburbs to improve mpg.

 

Can anyone else chime in on what kind of MPG they get with highway driving? I am looking hard at the 2013 MDX and my only real concern is the fuel economy (or more precisely, the range as I don’t like stopping for gas). Ironically, this car won’t be used for carting a lot of people around town, but will rather spend 90+% of its time on the highway loping along at about 75 MPH on my roughly 70 mile commute. And most of the time I will be the only passenger (although it definitely will be the road trip vehicle for my wife and I). I tried to pull together some data from fuelly, but that has turned out to be not very useful. I have seen threads on this board where other folks have also said mid 20s for MPG is attainable on the highway. Does anyone use their MDX as a highway cruiser? If so, can you share your fuel economy figures?

I do know that there are vehicles that are better suited to my commute, as I currently have a little diesel sedan for that…I just miss having an SUV (I had a 2004 4Runner that I miss dearly, but I am not a fan of the 5th generation model, so that rules out the Toyota). Oh, and the X5 diesel is also on my short list.

And I also know that the new engine in the 2014 will be more efficient, but I tend not to buy the first year or two of a new generation to let the bugs get worked out (plus I want to see how the new engine with direct injection performs). Plus, if I can manage to get a really good deal on the surplus inventory of 2013s, that would be icing on the cake.

Thanks in advance for any help that anyone can offer!

 

my brother had an 07 MDX...his roadtrips yielded the same numbers as my 09. he now has a '13 since he didn't want to wait for the '14. with the 6spd tranny (vs the 5 in the 07-09) you should be able to get an extra 1 mpg (maybe). i've seen numbers around 22-24 mpg on hwy exclusively. i have seen my trip computer as high as almost 25 mpg but that was a short hwy run maybe 20 miles after the dealer got a hold of it, it promptly dropped to 14 mpg with them stomping on the gas.

he hasn't taken any roadtrips as of yet, so not sure what his numbers are.

 

Good data point for you: I just did a round trip from northern NJ to Boston and back, 98% highway, 93 Octane gas, minimal luggage, 2010 MDX ( same 3.7 engine as the 2013 ), roof rails and running boards. Just me in the driver's seat. Doing 65-75 mph all the way, I managed to get 22.5 mpgs round trip.

Efficiency gets worse at above 70 mph and gets much worse if the car is at idle in a traffic jam. Hope this helps you.

 

@TLtrigirl: Thanks for the info! Yeah, it always seems like I am having the best tank ever right before I take it in for service. It is nothing but sad trombone after that.

@NJ06RL: Very useful data! My 4Runner was basically the same way. Any time I got it above 70 MPH I could hear it saying to me, "You do realize that I am a truck, right?"

 

^^also just so you have a better idea of my load...all the road trips include a cargo area full of gear, a hitch rack with two race bikes and two adults (including myself-and i don't weigh that much relatively speaking). once the MDX gets up to speed...she tends to sip on the gas...stomp on it a few times and it gets interesting with the MPGs.

what kind of MPGs are you looking to get?

 

I would be super stoked if I could get 24 on a regular basis, but just don't think that is realistic. I may drive 90% highway, but that 10% city would probably be enough to scuttle the MPG number. Not a deal breaker; just something to consider.

 

WOW, I have a 2005 Lexus LX470 that weighs around 5800lbs. I regularly get 15-16 mpg around town in 100 degree plus weather here in Vegas and I get 19 mpg hi way.