Improving Fuel Economy

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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 11:18 AM
  #1  
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Improving Fuel Economy

Well, I am finally starting to get the MPG's that I was hoping for. I just got back from a trip from Saskatoon to Edmonton (530k each way) I got 10.9 litres per 100km on the way there (against a light wind) 9.1 litres per 100km on the way back (with a 15 k wind) The trip home worked out to 31 miles per Imp gallon and 25.8 miles per US gallon. I now have 13,000 km's on my RDX and still loving it! Now I am loving the fuel economy as well. By the way, I was driving 119 km's per hour.

Rusty
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Bostonbr77
Well, I am finally starting to get the MPG's that I was hoping for. I just got back from a trip from Saskatoon to Edmonton (530k each way) I got 10.9 litres per 100km on the way there (against a light wind) 9.1 litres per 100km on the way back (with a 15 k wind) The trip home worked out to 31 miles per Imp gallon and 25.8 miles per US gallon. I now have 13,000 km's on my RDX and still loving it! Now I am loving the fuel economy as well. By the way, I was driving 119 km's per hour.

Rusty
I have been getting 11.8L per 100 km for mix city/hwy driving. But if there is a really bad traffic congestion on a particular day, it goes up to 12.8L per 100km, not unexpected.

My car is only at 700 km, so hopefully the fuel economy will pick up. fastest speed so far, 100 km/h, didn't want to "stress" the engine until break-in period is over.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 12:46 PM
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Filled up today and got 24.5 mpg. Although my wife drives it very conservatively (rarely boosting), this is encouraging data at only 1500 miles on the clock. By the way, this is a mix of city and more rural road type driving.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 02:56 PM
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bostonbr77....is that a CBP? (your avatar)
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 03:57 PM
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I seem to be driving mine harder and the mileage seems to be the same as the first two tanks...
I really would like 19-20 with 75% city driving.. Am I hoping for too much? I am at 17 now...

I had my foot to the floor of my IS300 daily, and I got 20mpg with 75% city...
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 04:56 PM
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I have been getting 20.3mpg in mixed driving. I only have 1400 miles on the odo.
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 05:21 PM
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Averaging almost 22 mpg with 3K on odometer. I have noticed a gain of about 2 mpg as the weather has gotten warming. (70% highway / 30% city)
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 07:06 PM
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Yes, Carbon Bronze. Great colour in the sun.

Rusty
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Old Apr 26, 2007 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by XIS
I seem to be driving mine harder and the mileage seems to be the same as the first two tanks...
I really would like 19-20 with 75% city driving.. Am I hoping for too much? I am at 17 now...

I had my foot to the floor of my IS300 daily, and I got 20mpg with 75% city...
My driving is about the same (75% stop and go) and I'm getting between 17-18 mpg.
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 12:38 AM
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I have about 2500 miles on the odometer and I am getting 20.2 mpg with mostly highway driving to/from work. But there is a fair amount of traffic so its not always a steady driving pace.
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 06:04 PM
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As i look at the constantly increasing gas prices... I kind of wondered why I got the RDX in the first place...

Then, it all came back to reality... I needed a vehicle which will be a truly all-season vehicle, plus have the fun factor, the fit/finish of a luxury car, with "reasonable" fuel efficiency given the AWD. Oh yeah, it has to look good too, inside and out.

No matter how conservative I try to be with the driving, it is still a turbocharged engine, with full-time AWD. Getting numbers like 11.8L-12.2 L per 100km, is actually pretty decent for mixed city/hwy driving in Vancouver. I won't be able to get the 10L per 100km fuel efficiency I get with the TSX.

I think the title of this post is a misnomer... it should not be "Improving fuel economy", but rather "how to maintain the existent fuel economy" with proper maintenace and use of high quality Top-Tier gas.

So why not just enjoy the vehicle for what it is, relax and fret not over the fuel consumption (as long you are not stomping the gas pedal from one traffic light to another). The RDX will never be a fuel efficiency champ, like the Honda Civic.

We got this vehicle, knowing it has the full-time AWD, and turbocharged engine... Dreaming of Honda Civic type of fuel sipping effiiciency? Well...
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Old Apr 27, 2007 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by grooks1
My driving is about the same (75% stop and go) and I'm getting between 17-18 mpg.
FWIW, my readings started at around 17-18 with 75% city (if not more) in January when I took a lot of short trips and it was blistering cold here. I'm now at about 2900 miles and today noticed I'm getting 19+ (same mix of driving, not as many short trips). I don't get on the turbo excessively, but I do like to use it when it's warranted.

Subtract 1 to 1.5 from each of those numbers for reality as the trip computer is goosed.
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Old Apr 29, 2007 | 01:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Pacer
FWIW, my readings started at around 17-18 with 75% city (if not more) in January when I took a lot of short trips and it was blistering cold here. I'm now at about 2900 miles and today noticed I'm getting 19+ (same mix of driving, not as many short trips). I don't get on the turbo excessively, but I do like to use it when it's warranted.

Subtract 1 to 1.5 from each of those numbers for reality as the trip computer is goosed.
no matter how we try to strain to improve the fuel economy of the RDX, it will never be a Toyota Yaris or Honda Civic... even the Accord has 50% better fuel economy. But we have full-time AWD, remember? + fast-spooling high performance turbocharged engine = 18-21 mpg combined. NEVER ever = greater than 25 mpg city.


Was debating on a Toyota RAV4 and even the Honda CRV... way better fuel economy... but didn't feel right with those vehicles...
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Old Apr 30, 2007 | 12:13 PM
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I have close to 500 miles under my belt with half city half Highway. I average around 17 to 18 mpg. I filled up twice so far.
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Old Apr 30, 2007 | 01:02 PM
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With 1200 miles on my RDX, my average (real mileage, not using the MID computer) has been a shade over 19 mpg, and the best so far on a trip that was approx 50% hiway was 22.5. I love driving the car, the pep combined with great handling and road hugging makes up for the gas mileage. Believe it or not, my '04 TL can get over 32 MPG on long hiway trips, and thats with 270 horses under the hood! So, my TL becomes my economy car, and my RDX is the FUN car!
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Old Apr 30, 2007 | 01:50 PM
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Originally Posted by escheing
With 1200 miles on my RDX, my average (real mileage, not using the MID computer) has been a shade over 19 mpg, and the best so far on a trip that was approx 50% hiway was 22.5. I love driving the car, the pep combined with great handling and road hugging makes up for the gas mileage. Believe it or not, my '04 TL can get over 32 MPG on long hiway trips, and thats with 270 horses under the hood! So, my TL becomes my economy car, and my RDX is the FUN car!
As I indicated in my previous post, the RDX has full-time AWD system. The extra weight and added "friction" in the drivetrain, really does make a huge difference in terms of fuel economy.

Your TL is only FWD, and and even with 280 HP, on the freeway, with the gearing at it's highest, say 5th or 6th, it should be fuel "sipping"...

The RDX even on freeway driving, is 50:50 split front and back wheels, a lot of power is dissipated in simply driving all 4 wheels constantly.

RDX does not equal "fuel economy" champ. enough said about this I think... IMHO.
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Old Apr 30, 2007 | 06:06 PM
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Accessories really knock down the mileage (lol)

Went about 200 miles RT this weekend (all highway) with the boat on the roof and mileage dropped from about 21.8 down to 18. Can't say I was surprised, but who cares, I'm still loving the ride!

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Old Apr 30, 2007 | 06:41 PM
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haha cool boat
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Old May 1, 2007 | 09:20 AM
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I have too many stop lights where I live and that's hurting my economy. I try to ignore it now.
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Old May 1, 2007 | 10:48 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Animagix
I have too many stop lights where I live and that's hurting my economy. I try to ignore it now.
Yup, same here in Vancouver, BC. The traffic congestion here can be really bad...

I tend to drive in to work really early, like around 6:30am, to reduce the impact of heavy traffic congestion. Don't do jack-rabbit spins offs from traffic lights... anticipate when the traffic lights are going to turn red, and allow the car to glide in slowly and then braking to a stop...
Some people I see, actually step their gas pedal when coasting downhill on a road... why??? just let the car control it with the engine speed...

This is not to try to achieve low fuel consumption, but rather, not wasting excessive fuel due to poor driving habits...

If I can get about 12L per 100km for both city/hwy driving combined, here in Vancouver, that is pretty good for AWD car...
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