jzinckgra

I drove this wknd from Massachusetts to Portsmouth, NH (110mi) and about 30 miles into the trip, I check and see what kind of mileage I am getting. I was surprised as hell to see 37mpg The temp outside was 76 degrees and I had the cruise set at 70. My car has 6000miles on it now. By the end of the trip, having to slow down a few times (toll booths) I ended up with 36mpg. Now that the weather has warmed up and my car is more fully broken in, I am getting better mileage. Anyways, I'm a happy camper.

mr_superlove

Woah.

I did round trip from LR to Memphis, got 30mpg and thought I was doing well. Best performance was on the first leg, 31mpg.

You using 100 octane?

Ron A

It must be those superb Bridgestone tires!

zexi

I don't think 37 is possible with a EPA rating of 30. You should have your trip computer looked at. The best I have donw was 29 going 65 on a 70mile trip. Even that mileage is great considering the 270hp six speed.

jzinckgra

Yeah, I forgot to refill the gas tank and check the mpg that way, but still, anything above 30mpg is all gravy. And yes, this is a 6 speed. And it's not the crappy el42's :thefinger . I've got the falken 512's, although I am getting the hpt's put back on next wknd.

I should have mentioned that with the exception of this trip, I usually manually calculate mpg when I fill up at the pump and it is usually within 1mpg of what the computer says. So I tend to think my computer is working fine.

marquis

I've had as high as 32 mpg on long highway trips. I'm going from MA to PA this week so I'll have another chance to see what sort of mpg I can get on long highway stretches.

Formula 350

WOW!!

I hope that I can get that kind of mileage when I get out and about. So far my best tank is 26 driving like grandma....

Driving 'normal' I get 24. However, still a lot better than my Monte Carlo at 18 or 19.

caball88

that's crazy mileage, better than some hybrids. were you going downhill most the time?

Zeuser

Can you tell us more details on how you were driving? What was your average speed? Did you use the cruise control? Were you coasting in neutral going downhill?

I just want to know how you got this high milage. Gotta be something with the way you drive.

jzinckgra

Well, I wasn't driving all that aggressively. I think the avg. speed was around 64mph. Although the cruise was set at 70, I had to slow down a few times and come to a complete stop at 2 different toll booths. Not that it makes much difference, but I filled up at a Mobil station on the highway at the beginning of the trip and used 93 octane.

Also, my daily commute to/from work is 52 miles, of which 60% or so is highway and 40% is back roads. My usual avg. speed is between 43-46mph for the entire week. When I 1st got my car in January I was getting about 26mpg, but now with the warmer weather and more mileage on the car, I have been getting 28mpg. I also double checked my tire pressure awhile back and saw they were under-inflatted a little. I put 34psi in the front and 32 in the back or whatever it says on the inside door panel. I think this helps a little too.

derscott

I'm up to about 1400miles on my TL (5AT) and I've seen as high as 34mpg on all interstate highway roadtrips. Figuring it by hand after a fillup, I came up with 33mpg. Not too shabby for a 270hp car!

derscott

JohnDoe2

Could someone else have been driving the car and added 5-10 dollars worth of gas, which might NOT have reset the trip computer. 37 mpg is just not very likely.

TBone2004

must'a got that "dual-tank" option...I knew I should got that...damn!

:lol2:

TLGator

Does anyone know EPA regulations? What MPH do the manufacturers use to get the best highway MPG?

I ask because the TL engine revs don't increase much in 5th gear between 55 and 70. If the MPG is calculated at 55 (still the speed limit in many places) then a TL going 70, with cruise, with a light load (driver only), with ideal weather/wind/road conditions, and with excellent quality gas, might do significantly better than the EPA rating. True? Or am I just crapping out of my ass about something I really have very limited knowledge of?

jzinckgra

Nope. I was the only driver and I always reset after I fill up. I wish I would have filled up and done the calculation manually, but like I said before, all the other times I have done this, it has been very close to what the computer says.
:lol1:

caball88

did drive the car until it went down to the "real" empy mark. when the light comes on it says there are about 40 miles left. everyone knows there's probably 3 more gallons left. so maybe you drove on those 3 gallons and the computer said 0 miles left but you were still chugging along. so your mpg kept climbing higher because the car expects you to be on empty. 37 just seems kind high for a 3.2 liter car, if someone here is a mechanical engineer here can they do the math on it and get the absolute highest threoritcal mpg from the car with ideal conditions on flatland.

alvon

Go to this website to see how the fuel economy is calculated:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/info.shtml#estimates

jzinckgra

No. The gas gauge needle was just under the 3/4 mark after 110 miles. Normally I'll get between 200-215 miles out of a half tank (according to the gas gauge). Anyhow, I wish the trip computer would read the avg. mph and mpg to the tenths place. Like 36.5mpg, instead of 36 or 37. It would at least be more accurate.
Just to clarify, as I pulled off the highway I had 36mpg. It was the 1st 30 or so miles that it read 37. But still very good either way.

marquis

I'm confused by some of these replies. Isn't the calculated mpg based on actual gas usage and not by the distance to empty which does not take into account the 3 gal reserve?

gainful

I don't count on tank "empty" but "full" as my reference of calculating mpgs. Last week I filled up my tank and reset the odometer and went on a trip to AC, when I came back I fill up the tank again. The reciept says I put in 7.26 gallon gas, and odometer says 217 miles. So my gas milage is 30.

My car is a least aggresive TL---2003 TL base non-s! w/5000 miles. So i also doubt about the 37 mpg record.

moeronn

If you look at the window sticker that was on your car, you should see that there is a range of mileage from the tests (in smaller print) near where the 20/28 number is. It is possible that some TLs will get better gas mileage than others. I don't have my sticker with me to look at (I should get a wallet sized duplicate), but 37 shouldn't be too far from the high of the tests.

Pushing_Tin

I'm calling BS. Unless you drove downhill the entire way with a 70mph tailwind.

Stewie

I agree. No way in hell you got 37 MPG.

TLGator

alvon - Thanks for the link, I checked it out. So the EPA highway MPG is calculated by a 10-minute trip averaging 48 MPH over various kinds of "rural" and highway-type roads. In which case it certainly seems one could do much better by cruising at 70 for a longer period of time.

jzinckgra

Well, believe what you want. I am only reporting what the trip computer says. Even if it is off by 1-2mpg, it would still have been ~35mpg, which is awesome. I will certainly repeat this test as I will be driving the same route soon. I will fill up at the end of the trip and see how close I come to the trip.

BTW, I do my best to make intelligent/non misleading posts here. Just look at any of my other posts. I am a straight shooter and have no reason to make this stuff up, nor am I trolling.

BrandHdriver

I believe you - I had an Odyssey that was rated for 25 on the highway. I had my family of 5 in it with a full trunk of stuff, and was hauling the mail north of Santa Fe on vacation in the mountains. With the a/c off and premium unleaded, I got 29 mpg on that tank of gas - not computer, but odometer and pumped gallons. Awesome...

jonro

I'd like to know how the trip computer calculates the miles remaining. I refilled my tank, and it read 228 miles. Based on a 17 gallon tank, that's about 13 mpg. If it's based on 14 gallons (minus the 3 reserve gallons), it's about 16 miles per gallon. Is it based upon the current MPG in the trip computer? Does resetting the computer change the estimate? BTW, I seem to be getting about 30 mpg on the highway (approx. 75-80 mph) and 16-20 around town.

KJSmitty

Sure it seems hi, but I for one have no reason to doubt you. My TL (auto) currently has 4000 miles and has increased about 1-2 mpg per 1000 miles. I too have a 60 mile commute of which 70% is 75mph. I was shocked to see my latest tank reading an excellent 31 mpg average! My previous tank fluctuated between 29-30, and I did check it at fill-up. Like you, I always compute within 1 mpg of the computer. I too believe the higher temps are key. When it was in the 40/50's here in TX I was only getting 25/26mpg.
Heck, at this rate by the time I hit 10000 miles and the temps are in the 90's I'll be getting 35-36 mpg also. Well, one can hope anyway... :toothless

One thing is for sure, with 270HP and seating for five, anything over 26mpg in my book is great.

Now, if you claim 38mpg, we might have to have more proof... You know, each of us get the car for a week to burn a tank full...

Pushing_Tin

So if your trip computer said you were getting 200mpg you'd believe that too? Try doing it the old fashioned way, (several times) and then let us know what the results are. I'm sure you'll find 37mpg is simply not correct.

inky

EPA test loop is outdated and does not show TL advantage cd of .29 and low rpm at higher speeds. I have gotten 37 in steady long flat driving in my TL with Falkens (Low rolling resistance) and I use 0w30 amsoil. 37 is possible with little wind, flat and steady driver at a steady speed. My computer is +- 1 mpg most of the time.

jzinckgra

I don't see what your problem is. Your comment is way off base. It's not like I was claiming I got 40+mpg or something, which obviously would be an out right lie or there would be a problem with my computer. I have no reason not to believe the computer, as I've already mentioned. All I'm tryin to do is contribute some positive info. about an already great car to this forum, which I feel is pretty accurate. Some of you guys with your lame comments need to relax a little.
Inky, I've got a set of Falkens too. I didn;t know there are low rolling resistance.

berlinrl

Inky and Jzinkckgra,

So do you think your great mileage has something to do with the Falkens ?

jzinckgra

I have no idea, but I am getting my HPT's put back on this Friday, so as soon as I repeat my little experiment again, I'll let you know if there is any difference. Of course, as others have said, this really needs to be repeated several times to be considered statistically valid, but so far, I'm happy.

Pushing_Tin

I don't have a problem, I just don't think that 37mpg is close to accurate. Again, if you no reason not to believe the trip computer, then it stands to reason that if it said you're getting 200mpg, you'd believe it. This is a public forum, if you can't take opinions that differ from yours, don't post.

inky

Rolling resistence. Consumer reports noted in recent test of Falkens et al that rolling resistance makes 2-3 mpg difference. The highly rated Falken 512 had above average in this and Pilot and EL 42 had below average as I remember-- The best tire is Michelin Energy MXV which the Accord uses.
I noticed 1 mpg when I switched to Falken and another 1-2 mpg increase with amsoil 0w30 which has superior friction reducing formula and reduced engine wear. 5w20 never again.

jzinckgra

Uhmm, sorry you're wrong. Using 200mpg as an example is ridiculous and you know it. Nobody would believe it. I'll be the 1st to admit when I am wrong and can take constructive criticism when it's due, but your statement was/is not an opinion. It's more like saying "Boy John, you must be really stupid to believe that your car is getting 200mpg."
That is all.

Sherlock

I've gotten 35mpg out of it from Atlanta to Orlando so 37 isn't a stretch. Keeping your foot out of it, constant speed, good conditions, and sure, 2 more mpg is very possible. MPG ratings as well as over the trip stated above are done at 65 degrees F. Colder temps give you better HP and efficience (colder air is denser, which translates to more usable oxygen for combustion per charge/squirt for a better burn cycle). That's why cars feel more peppy in the cooler fall and winter versus the summer, hot air is very thin and the engines don't like it.

We have a very nice 5th gear in this car, made for fuel economy

Pushing_Tin

jzinckgra, is your skin this thin in real life too? Let me explain just one more time for you......The whole intent of my statement was to point out that the "computer" is not infallible, and probably not very accurate.

JohnDoe2

Maybe you got a car destined for Canada and the mileage is being calculated in Kilometers per liter.

I'm not calling anyone a liar, I'm just trying to discern why the reported mileage is way outside the 3rd sigma in the standard deviation of gas mileage. It's true that "your mileage may vary", but only up to a point.

Take that you big fat liar! (Sorry couldn't resist).

jzinckgra

I'll respond one more time. You say that the car's computer is not very accurate. Define what you mean by "accurate". So if someone's car gets better mileage than what is claimed by EPA standards, then are you to assume that whatever the computer says is inaccurate? If I had said I got 35 mpg, would you find that acceptable? Why is it not possible for my car to have gotten such good mileage on this one trip. Based on the weather, low humidity, sea level altitude, cruise set at 70, Falken tires(maybe a contributing factor), etc., maybe I just got lucky. Also, others have posted in this thread that they have gotten above the EPA standard of 30mpg (AT or 6mt), so clearly it is possible.
My current trip says that I am getting 33mpg. This is the same tank of gas from when I filled up prior to my highway trip. My mpg has obviously fallen since I am going back-and-forth to work this week. I will fill the tank tonite and see how many gallons I take and calculate manually. I'll let you know how closely it is to the computer.