I can't seem to get close to the rated 26mpg the RL is supposed to get. I average right around 20mpg. Most the miles are hiway as I commute 50 miles one way for work. Curious what others are averageing. A person close to where I live says thy get 28mpg on thier 05 RL!

Has anyone had problems with low mpg? what did you do to raise it? Has anyone gone to Acura and had the ECM firmware upgraded? did it help? Anyone put those after market chips in that say it increase mpg by up to 5mpg?

My 2000 TL gets 26.5 mpg and the car is rated at 27mpg and this is with 'regular' (87 octane)gas not premium!

If I run 87 octane in the RL I get just over 19mpg, 90 octane I get just over 20mpg. I am at sea level. 20 cents a gallon more for 90 octane and only 1mpg better sure seems to not be worth it.

 

Keep in mind, the RL includes idling time into its calculation. So, if you have a remote starter or sit in traffic often, the MPG will be much lower than someone who drives mostly on the highway.

 

I know it includes idle time, my own calculations are what I have mentioned here and they are exactly what the trip computer has as well! What do you get for mpg?

 

I used to get about 21 mpg average. Then I inflated my tires to 35 psi all around and now I get about 24 mpg average. I do about 80% highway driving per tank.

This is from dividing trip meter by amount filled up.

 

I ave 19 to 20 mpg for commute that is 2/3 highway

 

1. +1 for shitty mpg (I get the same as you). Probably your tires, pressure, driving style, etc.
2. No firmware upgrade, but I would absolutely stay away from those silly chips that promise the world for $60.
3. Stop running 87 in your RL. There are advantages beyond your mpg.

The mileage is what it is. There are several threads on here that discuss the amount that tires affect your mpg. I think that is probably my problem and yours.

 

On the highway on cruise, I've averaged almost 29mpg at times. Of course, I'm always using 93.

 

I agree with the fact it's probably tire pressure related. I can easily get 25+ mpg on the highway. My cold pressure is 32psi. When the tires warm up, they are 34psi or greater.

What about your air filter? When was the last time you had it replaced?

 

I get just about 18 around town and 28 on the highway although I did hit 30.1 on the Atlantic City Expressway once (straight, flat, and probably with a tailwind).

LL

 

can't get 93 octane here!

 

not the air filter, brand new! tire pressure 40psi, I'm driving like an old lady for God's sake!

 

It doesn't matter what octane I run. I commute 100 miles round trip 95 percent hiway and can't get better than 21.

 

as others have said, tire pressure plays a critical part, especially on the highway (even the tire type and design can effect it to a point also)

also are ALL the shields on the underside, if not, that can be causing additional drag on the car

then what SPEED are you cruising at, slower means better MPG normally (iirc the epa test only goes up to 65 mph or so [even though the speed limit is 75 here, compared to other states)


also remember you are spinning the AWD system, let alone being in Honda/Acura's TOP-of-the_LINE model

 

Have you ever tried resetting the ECU? If successful, this process forces the ECU to re-learn the fuel required at your low elevation. Not sure if this helps with the RL at all as the fuel mapping is probably much more sophisticated than the cars/bikes this did work for.

FWIW, I average 17mpg but I drive with spirit.

 

How do you rest the ECU? I would deffinately try that!

 

I have tried cruising at 65 and 75 not much difference. All the parts underneath are there. I just got this car and realize it is AWD but the rating is 26 mpg while my TL is 27 mpg. Doesn't matter on my TL what octane I run I always get 26.something mpg. I just figure the RL should at least get close to the rating.

 

i also see one other thing that is going to hurt your mileage some, is the f@cking cold ass nights and the warming up in the mourning from such low temps (since you ARE located in the 50th state)

assuming you do (i think it is alot more common for being standard on cars up there), but do you have a block heater on it (or a somewhat heated garage even), and actively use it?

 

might help for a little bit, but the ECU will just relearn the engine, and go right back to where it was as far as programing goes, over enough miles





also as far as the TL goes, are you getting the gas at the same pump/station in both cars (just trying to rule out variabilities)(and for the most part the engines should act roughly the same, considering they are based off of the same motor, just different sized)

 

Yup usually always get gas at same place, once and a while I have to else where. I don't let it sit and idle too long, just depends on the temp. outside. We have actually had a mild winter for here!

 

You will get worse gas mileage in cold weather and winter-blended fuel will also affect it. Not sure if you have winter-blended fuel in AK, but in NJ we do. Also, I'm not certain about this, but I think the MPG ratings are based on non-ethanol blended fuel for 05 and earlier. The Federal mandate is now for 10% ethanol and, unfortunately, it sucks for cars, but is good for farmers. If you can find non-ethanol fuel, your mpgs will go up. I get somewhere between 20-22 in suburban driving in the winter and 21-23 in the summer. If I do all hwy driving, I can easily get 26 mpg and have hit as high as 30 mpg on a single 400 mile trip in the summer with a tail wind. Stick with the manufacturer tire pressure settings, that is what your MPGs are based on, messing with it will affect mileage and ride quality, not to mention pre-mature wear of your tires..

 

I average 17.4MPG: 93 Octane, tire pressure 34 (cold), average idling/ city/ highway = 10%/ 30%/ 60%.

 

as said just trying to rule out variabilities, and the occasional different station, might hurt it for that tank (and very SLIGHTLY a tank or two after, due to some still in there getting mixed,), but that is about it though


as far as sitting and idling too long, how long are we talking 5 minutes? cause even just that long is going to hurt your mileage some, the best way and FASTEST way to warm up a car to actually drive it, and put a load on the engine, causing it to produce more heat faster, which also equates to a faster warm up
basically what you want to do is start it up, let it build up oil pressure (5-10 seconds MAX normally from a dead cold, with a quality oil filter, it should not even take 5 seconds though)(also if the P/S whines from it being too bitter cold, same basically thing let that whine go away first, my TL does it when you start it in below zero weather ); then off you go driving down the road; i know it may be a bit cold driving, but if you want maximum MPG, you gotta be willing to do it though (cause idling just burns gas; especially when the engine is cold and trying to warm up, even more is burned then when at a warmed up idle)


and as said before a block heater will work to your advantage, especially with the colder weather, and not having to warm up the engine as much (and the house electricity is more then likely cheaper then gas for the car too)


btw: during summer time you are going to have to remove it, or at least reduce the amount of blocking, so you don't overheat the engine due to the warmer temps outside, and it not being able to "cool" as much as during the winter

 

and if you are willing to experiment a little, you can get faster warmups of the engine, but also hopefully slightly better MPG, once the engine is actually warmed up, cruising down the highway

and that would be PARTIALLY blocking the grill some with some cardboard (cheap for the time being, then if you do do it on a more "permanent" basis, you can get something nicer looking)
basically you are just trying to block some of the airflow to the radiator, so it is not able to achieve "maximum" cooling, but because of the colder outside air temperature, it already cools it down more then needed at times (and it is not like you are in Arizona to begin with anyways)

as an example look at semi-trucks with those zip-up covers covering the grill partially

 

funny that nobody mentioned the tires he drives on, they could be winter tires with not the best all around mileage.

Post up the average speed on your commute, that might solve everything as well

I get 12mpg city and lucky to get 22 on the highway running Continental DWS w/ heating on once in awhile.

 

Mentioned it post #6... I think that's why I get crappy mileage too.

 

could be wear you get your gas too. i don't have an RL yet, but in my accord i get another 30 or 40 miles out of my tank when i use chevron versus other gas stations. where do you get your gas? i know an arco station near my house just got busted for "watering" down their gas.

 

I average between 20-22 mpg. I have flirted with 27 mpg on pure highway runs. You have to be gentle with your right foot to get that though. gradual acceleration.

 

Ever thought about doing Sea Foam treatment? Always works well to getting engine into top shape as far as power and mpg gains. I run my TL at 35psi and get 33-34mpg on premium. Im on the coast so there is absolutely no elevation changes so the next question i have is where you reside do you have hills where the engine is always having to kick down a gear? This could def reduce MPG's too. Running synthetic blend or full oil helps too.

 

i also mentioned it in post #13 too

 

Sure sounds like no one really gets the 26mpg rating on th RL. I know th RL is drastically differnt than my 00 TL but one would think I would get close to the rating.

As for all your suggestions on tires, psi etc. I run General Arctic Altimax on both vehicles, the TL is studded whereas the RL isn't. I have tried 32 front and 31 rear as recomended by Acura in the RL. I increased psi up to 40 as a test on mpg to no avail so I lowered psi back. I tried 87 octane, 89.5 octane and 90 octane. I got 1 mpg different over the 87. Each level of octane that is available here is 10 cents more per gallon. The cost difference is quite a bit for just 1 mpg increase. I settled on the 89.5 octane.

The TL it never made a difference whether I used 87 oct or 90 octane. Tires have not made a difference from summer to winter on it. The TL gets and ave. of 26.4 or so no mater the time of year or tires and that is with 87 octane! There is a bit differenc in final gears between the two cars with the RL higher geared.

I guess it boils down to the fact that Acura's mpg rating for the RL was a bit high than what it actually gets.

I will reset the ECU and see what happens. My brother also recomended I see if the dealer can upgrade the ECU firmware as that might make a difference. Or perhaps try an after market chip that supposedly increase mpg. I realize this could be a waste of dollars but if it does work deffinately would be cheaper over time. I have been contemplating getting a newr TL and let the RL go. The AFS system in the RL has issues as well and from what I have read all 05 seem to have had a problem with it. At 900 bucks to repair it at the dealer and reading that most end up back at the dealer with more issues I just put up with the AFS flashing light.

 

I actually think the 27mpg is realistic as I've hit it on pure highway runs. The fact though is that because this car is so heavy and you have full time AWD, any kind of stop and go will drastically cut down the mileage. That's why you have such a big disparity between the city/highway estimates. For you to get 27mpg you would have to be cruising at 65mph feathering the accelerator pedal the whole time. Probably keeping it in cruise control,

 

Then why do I get the hiway rating on my TL all the time? I don't just drive hiway! one has to be in the city too! but the TL gets just shy of the hiway rating ALL the time. doesn't matter with city.

 

I get over the Highway mpg (which is an avg mpg by EPA) because i use cruise control every chance i get. Even in the city. Call me crazy..lol.

 

any car is achievable, but you gotta drive like a girl though (wife's roughly averages the EPA rating on her 09 WRX which also has AWD [but a manual though]; but i hope in it, and it drops a good 10 mpg to rouglh like 17 ; but the driving style is very different though, i like speed, where she does not mind sitting in the slow lane cruising at the speed limit)

 

I put 89 octane (mid-grade) and the car was very happy on this last trip to Sacramento and back (333 miles) and I was showing 26.0 when I got home and was 26.4 when I left Sacramento. It very well could be your blend of gasoline for your area. There is a large difference I have noticed from Northern California to Southern California in what mileage I am able to pull from our '06 RL.

 

No you don't I do 75mph on the freeway getting that mpg. Driving responsibly isn't driving like a girl bro i can assure you. But im beginning to see your problem now.

 

A constant 75 mph on the freeway is a heck of a lot more efficient than going 60, accelerating to 70, coasting, braking, accelerating etc. It's not speed so much as it is preserving momentum.

 

I live in Minnesota and get about 19 during the cold weather and up to 24 when it's warmer. I drive about 75% hiway miles and run 91 octane

 

exactly!

 

First, I didn't realize the RL was rated at 26mpg, unless that's "highway" only.

Anyway, my experience with our RL is that I regularly show 30mpg for extended periods of my commute, generally at 75 or 80mph, in cruise control. On long drives, such as San Diego to Las Vegas, almost all at high cruising speed (exception: where the cops are hiding), I have averaged over 26mpg **on the tank**.

It's the on-the-tank numbers that mean the most to me and I am typically ranging 18.6 to 19.2mpg on the tank when I fill up "at idiot light range" and have been doing my normal daily commute and driving. This is with oem Michelin at 34psi, 91 octane gas and the AEM cold-air intake.

Your results may vary.