rsxbond

Hey guys...I just got my TL about 2 weeks ago. It has about 250 miles on it. I love it so far, but the gas mileage sucks! I'm only getting 18 mpg. I don't understand b/c I drive on the highway all the time. I filled up yesterday afternoon...went to a few places @ night, and I was down like 1/3 already! My only other car was a base RSX, and I realize that the TL will drink a lot more gas than that, but still. My Mom's Volvo S80 seems to get a lot better mileage. And, my Dad's Escalade, although it only gets 12mpg or so, has a huge tank, so he doesn't need to fill up as much. Can someone share their experiences w/me? Thanks.

rets

It should be better and better after you break-in your 04TL. The first tank could be the worst sample you've ever experienced.

This car is terrible in City stop & go driving, but is truely the cruising machine over the highway.

rsxbond

Thanks rets...hopefully it will get better with gas prices this high.

Xpditor

I'm getting about the same. I'm on my 2nd tankful. It's mostly city or suburban driving.

I won't drive on the Turnpike or the Interstate until I get a clear bra installed. I don't want to pick up stone chips BEFORE I get the condom.

XP

DoubleV69

yea the gas milage does suck ....i drive through the suburb gettin 18 mpg and thats the SAME AS MY MDX which is WACK

rsxbond

Xpidtor: I'm on my second tank too. I go up to F. Lauderdale all the time. Since I'm down here for the summer attending FIU for summer classes, I have to take the Turnpike everyday. I'm on I-75 like everyday at least once as well. Maybe we can organize a meet in F. Lauderdale w/other TL'ers.

Xpditor

That would be cool. We have quite a few members between Miami and West Palm. Then there's more on the left coast who would probably meet up with us.

Why don't you start a thread with that in the title to sample the interest. A Sunday afternoon would probably be a good time.

XP

pabound

Well, I bought my TL in Erie, PA, drove it right off the lot back to Florida, and got, are you ready for this, .... 31 MPG ! Brand NEW motor.

BUT, around town I'm getting about 22 MPG, and I do hammer it! 18 sounds a bit low.

My .02

Mylriahd

Whats your average speed; that helps us understand the situation too. The trip computer will tell you. I get 20mpg , averaging 23 mph. Honestly, I don't think thats that bad. I just passed 600 miles. (I'm at the bottom of my second tank as well.)

Nodoze2004

I just picked up my car and have been really surprised how thirsty this thinng is!! I knew going in that the car wouldn't be as efficient as a 4 cylinder, but to be honest this car doesn't sip gas, it beer bongs it. My first tank which was a combo of city and highway averaged 14mpg. Also one strange thing I noticed was that the car only took 12 gallons on the fill up when it is stated that it has a 17 gallon tank. A 5 gallon reserve seems to be a bit much (unless they knew how bad the gas mileage was)!

I am averaging 16 mpg on the second tank and that is almost all highway!

I certainly hope it gets better otherwise OPEC is going to start sending thank you cards!

KeithL

My first few tanks went fast, but I do mostly suburb driving where I do some stop and go and only aroun 45-60. When I did take it on a few trips where I averaged 75+ for sustained periods the car was getting 28MPG with the A/C on, I have a 5AT. Now around town I am getting around 19-21 with AC on and 21-22 without AC. I have about 6600 miles on it and use Mobil1 0w20. My old I35 used to get about 1-2MPG better, but that took about 3k-5k before I got maximum fuel milage, so I am figuring my TL has about level off with what I will be getting.

KeithL

I find the TL gas gauage to be very linear, most cars live at FULL forever then drop, the TL drops in a linear fashion I am also finding the low fule light seems to come on with about 4 gallons left in the tank.

ed99

What do you guys expect from a 3.2litre engine. It depends how you drive and if you are using A/C and yes it would suck alot of gas. I expected to double my gas $$ buying this car from a TYpe R. You have to understand to expect to dish out more gas $$ for a performance sedan.

acura_driver

The 04 TL can put out 270 HP, if you use that capability often your gas mileage will be low.

I generally get about 21 mpg in mixed driving. On tanks that have a higher percentage of "fun" driving it drops to 19 mpg. On a recent 1200 mile trip it got 28 mpg where much of the driving was in the 80's, and the temps were over 100. I think the mileage the TL gets is quite reasonable.

If you want better gas mileage go easy on the "go" pedal. Kinda takes the fun out of it though.

-r

wonder

I've got 3500 miles on mine now. Took the TL on a trip to Chicago last weekend. Averaged 31mpg on the highway going 80 - 85 most of the time with about a 700 lb. people/baggage load. My combined at home runs 20 - 22mpg generally. Has seemed about right to me and I haven't gotten a big increase as the car has broken in. It sure was great on the road. Smooth, quiet, DVD-A, power to pass. Acura has a winner.

rsxbond

Wow...so do I have a bad one?? I'm driving mostly anywhere from 65-80 mph on the highway...for about 30 min. at a time. And, I'm still getting 18mpg at the most. Hopefully it will go up by the time I reach more miles?!

rsxbond

OH...is weather a factor? I live in Miami, and recently, it's been in the upper 90's to 100's everyday. I don't floor it at all. I use the a/c, but it's always only on the first three levels. I use bluetooth a lot, but I don't think that contributes to gas mileage. I use premium 93 octane gas from Citgo and Chevron.

jjsC5

I"m curious how you guys are measuring. Is it on your nav? The original poster only has 250 miles on his car, he can't possibly have checked it other than the nav (if it went through a tank of gas already, how can you know how much gas it had in it to start with?). At 250 miles, and 18 MPG, you would have only used about 13.5 gallons. It should not have even needed filling up yet.

Just curious if it's the nav, and is it pretty accurate?

rsxbond

No, I just used the trip computer. And, I fill up @ half tank.

wonder

Trip computer is on all TLs.

rsxbond

So will/can the dealer do anything about gas mileage being low?

wonder

Are you using at least 91 octane gas? This can make a difference I understand.

Jss1

Not with 250 miles on it! I used to get bad mileage too, but it has been getting much better, down to 8 litres/100 km on the highway, city is about 11. When I got the car it was more like 20 litres/100 km in the city and 15 on the highway so it should get better. Incidentally 8 litres/ 100 km is about 33 mpg highway and 11 litres/100 km is about 24 mpg city, and thats after 10 months.

Make sure you use 91 octane. A gas attendent put in regular once by mistake and my miles/empty dropped to half normal. It corrected when I filled up again.

Xpditor

They will give you sympathy and a free cup of coffee.

That's fine with me. I am not the guy who will turn my baby over to those unknown quantities in the SVC DEPT "Insurance Regulations [and your weak stomach] do not allow customers in the service area [where unmentionable attrocities are being wreaked on your pristine TL]" ... and to tell them "Muck around under my hood and see if you can tweak something so I get better gas mileage. What a nice big Harley belt-buckle you have and it reflects so pretty when you scrape it across my Zainoed Nighthawk Black Pearl fender"

XP

rsxbond

thanks...93 octane

ed99

Hell YAAAA....the hot weather will definately make a huge difference. Everything works harder on your car when the temperature is high!!!!!

jefffree

I've got 2500 miles on mine in 2-1/2 months. This morning's commute between Tacoma and Seattle showed 33 MPG (yeah!) on cruise at 67 MPH - the gendarmes have been really wicked this week with speeding tickets. Typical trip to Portland at about 31 MPG and in-town about 23. Use only 92 octane. Very happy camper.

JetJock

Try using the trip computer. Get on the hwy with premium fuel...make sure you are using at least 91 octane or higher.....if not...wait a few tanks for the computer to reset before checking with the trip computer. When you are on the hwy driving at say 60-80mph, reset the computer, and drive 10-20 miles at a constant speed...you should get at least 38mpg...if not..something is wrong and the engine needs to be adjusted. The timing could be off or something else not set properly. Does the car drive normally otherwise? I wouldn't sweat it just yet as long as the engine is running smooth and seems to have good power. Let the gas mileage settle in a bit, then take it to the dealer if you don't get better gas mileage..just make sure you check it with the trip computer on the hwy at a steady 60-80mph. I get 31 on the hwy....but as low as 22 otherwise.

KeithL

The Trip Computer in my I35 was always off by 2-3 MPG so I normally do manual math, but after a dozen or so tanks in the TL I find the TL to be dead on so now I trust the trip computer.

rsxbond

JetJock: How do you reset the trip computer? Thanks.

MN CLS

After 401 miles and one tank of gas, 28 mpg on the trip computer and 27.6 mpg using the calculator. This driving was mostly highway averaging 60-85 mph and being gentle due to break-in period...

Mister V

Hi folks,

Lots of people has complained about bad mileage... means that their mileage is a way off the Acura spec. (32 mpg for highway and 20 mpg for city).

Personnally, my 2004 TL mileage is 33 mpg in higway (6th at 65 mph) but a outragous 12 mpg in city and my overall average is 18 mpg (doing 75% of highway and 25% of suburban).

I compared all my gas bill with the trip computer... And I can say that the trip is good. means for the first 200 miles I have done with my TL... my gas bills are telling me the same average mileage (such as 18 mpg). So I have conclued that the trip computer is good.

Okay, I like drive this car in city traffic but I am not driving wild. As if I removed A.C and driving as smooth as possible (as grand-pa) I've reached once a 14 mpg.

However I read once I owner that the same fuel consumption... and he changed (by the Acura dealer) a Oxygen 02 sensor in its motor. After that, the fuel consumption went okay.
I have tried to find this post but I couldn't find it.

Is there other owner who as the same type of fuel consumption?


P.S. I've spoke to Acura, they said at it will be better soon (means after 5000 miles) but I know owner that their TL performs okay... from the first day!

JPSMAN

I saw a huge improvement in gas milage after 3000 miles. (after break in period) I hope you see the same results.

BFreedman372

31MPG is noice!!!! Even my 1.8T four banger in my VW isn't there yet

HORDAK

I just drove round trip between Annapolis, Maryland and Deerfield, Illinois (760 Miles) for the Fourth of July. My car got an amazing 33 miles per gallon during each trip. I was surprised that driving through the Appalachian Mountains had no effect on gas mileage.

On another note, it was a pleasure to listen to books on tape and XM Satellite Radio during the trip.

With normal city driving in Annapolis, my car averages between 18 and 20 miles per gallon.

It seems to me that this car loves to ride on the open highway (No traffic backups) and hates to sit at traffic lights.

2004 TL/NBP/Ebony/Non-Navi/VIN 17,XXX

JetJock

Just press and hold the reset button...even while driving the trip computer should reset in a few seconds and you can check the mileage while driving at any speed.

Sherlock

You might want to check to see if you have the current ECU flash, that made my mileage go up. But mine wasn't bad in the first place.

This car, in the city, if you do a lot of tailgating and revving and stopping, will level out around 15mpg. A lot of people will never admit they race from light to light, speed up and slow down behind other drivers, and generally use the fun of this 270hp beast. ANY car will get sub 15mpg in that case. The beautiful technological dream of the NorthStar engine showed me 7mpg once coming out of a tollbooth.

Try this, get in traffic, and reset your trip computer, and punch it around for a while, it'll do miserable.

Then get on the interstate, wait till you're at cruising speed, then reset the trip again while you're driving. Dont tailgate anyone so that you have to slow down and re-accelerate, and you'll see 29+ mpg easily, generally I can see 32mpg.

If both of those tests see that mileage, then you are probably just driving it hard in city to get that mileage.

I've also seen people on here say that they leave it in one gear lower than normal for city driving so that it plays fun and revs high and loud, that'll kill mpg for sure.

just some thoughts.

But certainly go get the ECU flash and have them check for fouled O2 Sensors. One of mine was replaced and my mileage went up immediately.

BLACURATL

Here is the last 4 fillups with my at tl with 11k+ miles...

6/21/2004 7 10350 350 11.93 $26.00 2.179 29.34 Cum MPG 00350/11.93=29.34
6/28/2004 7 10750 400 14.41 $31.40 2.179 27.76 Cum MPG 00750/26.34=28.47
7/5/2004 7 11180 430 14.81 $31.40 2.119 29.03 Cum MPG 01180/41.15=28.68
7/12/2004 7 11590 410 14.55 $30.40 2.089 28.18 Cum MPG 01590/55.70=28.55

My cum for the last 1500 miles is over 28!!! I always drive in SS mode, shifting early.
You drive hard...you pay hard!

Mister V

Can you tell where is the ECU flash? Is it on the dash board?

ndabunka

Now you guys with sub-20's in the fuel efficiency rating wouldn't be trying to save money by buying the non-premium fuels would you? My TL gets good gas milage but I've had a few TL loaners that seemed to get poor mileage. I just chalked it up to someone being cheap and putting 89 octane in the tank. The efficiency studies have already shown that whe you do that, you get VERY poor fuel ecomony (i.e. not worth it).