Poor Gas Mileage-2004 TL

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-21-2005, 01:36 PM
  #1  
1st Gear
Thread Starter
 
Rickshulman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Poor Gas Mileage-2004 TL

I have about 21,000 miles on this vehicle. About 3 months ago I noticed the in-town mileage was decreasing and that I was having trouble starting the engine. The dealer said it was bad gas and I should start using Shell. The dealer said that regular was OK. The problem persisted and the dealer then said to use Chevron. I am now using Chevron high octane. The starting problem improved but I still get a rough idle. Gas mileage has continued to decline. I am now getting about 16-17 miles per gallon in town where I used to get a steady 20. Has anyone else had this experieince and if so did you find a solution?
Old 11-21-2005, 01:46 PM
  #2  
Banned
 
z06girl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: a place that I look forward to move away from
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If your style of driving have always been the same... then it's probably the grade of gas you're putting in. In other words, try using premium 93 octane or least 91.
I don't think Acura recommend you using regular gas......
Old 11-21-2005, 02:04 PM
  #3  
Racer
 
oppnyc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NY
Posts: 260
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Rickshulman
I have about 21,000 miles on this vehicle. About 3 months ago I noticed the in-town mileage was decreasing and that I was having trouble starting the engine. The dealer said it was bad gas and I should start using Shell. The dealer said that regular was OK. The problem persisted and the dealer then said to use Chevron. I am now using Chevron high octane. The starting problem improved but I still get a rough idle. Gas mileage has continued to decline. I am now getting about 16-17 miles per gallon in town where I used to get a steady 20. Has anyone else had this experieince and if so did you find a solution?
Do not complain about your mpg
I am in New York and I get 12-14 mpg in the city.
However when I am on hwy I get 29-31 mpg.
It is very strange, because most of cars out there do not show such dramatic difference in gas consumption between city/hwy
Enjoy TL
Old 11-21-2005, 02:25 PM
  #4  
Burning Brakes
 
Brettg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Age: 66
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Maybe just try other brand gas until the problem goes away?

Things that impact MPG:
Tire pressure/type,
Ambient temps (colder is worse),
Driving style,
Driving conditions (stop and go, red lights)
Gas formulation (winter gas may not do as well as the summer stuff)
Octane, running low octane gas may trigger the knock sensors and retard the timing, giving lower power output and a decrease in mpg.
Having a dirty air filter.

Brett
Old 11-21-2005, 04:38 PM
  #5  
Registered Member
 
SouthernBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Suburb of Manassas, VA
Posts: 8,342
Received 162 Likes on 102 Posts
Man, that's not good.. mileage, I mean. I regularly get 26-27 in town in the summer months and 25-26 in the colder months. My '04 TL is a manual tranny and I use Mobil 1 5W/20, burn Amoco (BP) 93 octane fuel, and treat my fuel system every 10,000 miles with Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner. I just crossed 20,000 miles this past weekend.

On the highway in the summer with A/C on and no special gas-saving techniques employed, I get just under 34 MPG (33.94).
Old 11-22-2005, 12:36 AM
  #6  
Pro
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Houston
Age: 66
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It sounds to me like you are having a problem.. but the dealership is either unwilling to look for it or can not find it... most likely because it does not trip a code for them to see...

I have had problems on other cars and it is SO frustrating to keep telling them what to look for and then they come back with 'we can not find any code'.... like EVERY problem will trip a code...

Keep it up with the dealer and make them find the problem.... and I will be $$s it is not the gas...
Old 11-22-2005, 02:26 AM
  #7  
tehLEGOman
 
ACCURATEin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Charlotte, NC
Age: 41
Posts: 9,228
Received 1,983 Likes on 1,336 Posts
I wonder if your air filter is dirty.

Check it...if it is...replace it.

OR install a cold air intake. There are now three options...INJEN, AEM, or FujitaF5.

Before I cleaned my air filter, I did 28 mpg on the highway. After I cleaned the filter I averaged 34 mpg.
Old 11-22-2005, 06:58 AM
  #8  
7th Gear
 
bonedoc76's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Age: 47
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Gas mileage

I, too get about 16mpg in the city. I think it is important for people to define what they mean by "city" driving. I live in Chicago. I have noticed that when I am in the suburbs, my gas mileage increases to about 24mpg, and on the highway I get around 29mpg. I think that for those who are getting in the 20's for their City usage, that their definition be more strictly defined. I think that the stop and go of big city usage (New York, Chicago, etc) is just a big gas drain on that big V6 engine. Essentially you are using much more gas to get the car going to 40mph or so, then having to stop the car seconds after reaching that speed for yet another stop sign or traffic light. If anyone lives in a city like Chicago or New York with stop signs/lights every single godforsaken block and gets better gas mileage, pls let me know. I have been using only 93 octane, and am getting the same gas mileage as my 99Rx300 with 87 octane. Once again, that was a smaller engine.
HOpe this helps.
Old 11-22-2005, 11:48 AM
  #9  
Registered Member
 
SouthernBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Suburb of Manassas, VA
Posts: 8,342
Received 162 Likes on 102 Posts
Originally Posted by bonedoc76
I, too get about 16mpg in the city. I think it is important for people to define what they mean by "city" driving. I live in Chicago. I have noticed that when I am in the suburbs, my gas mileage increases to about 24mpg, and on the highway I get around 29mpg. I think that for those who are getting in the 20's for their City usage, that their definition be more strictly defined. I think that the stop and go of big city usage (New York, Chicago, etc) is just a big gas drain on that big V6 engine. Essentially you are using much more gas to get the car going to 40mph or so, then having to stop the car seconds after reaching that speed for yet another stop sign or traffic light. If anyone lives in a city like Chicago or New York with stop signs/lights every single godforsaken block and gets better gas mileage, pls let me know. I have been using only 93 octane, and am getting the same gas mileage as my 99Rx300 with 87 octane. Once again, that was a smaller engine.
HOpe this helps.
You're right in your assessment. My commute to and from work is through the town of Manassa, VA, a small city, nowhere in the league of Chicago or New York for sure. I go through both business and residential areas. My morning trip sees light traffic since I hit Manassas before 5:00AM. Coming home, I'm in moderately heavy traffic for the area since it's around 3:30. Takes me about 1 hour to get home in the afternoon and about 45 minutes for the morning run.

I'm pretty confident I could see high teens to low 20's in a large city because of my driving style. But it wouldn't be any 27 MPG I'd bet.
Old 11-22-2005, 02:51 PM
  #10  
Cold Racketeer
 
tzakiel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chantilly VA
Age: 44
Posts: 1,009
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Your gas usage is mostly dependant on your acceleration habits. This is the one factor that has consistently shown huge gains when using less gas to get going from a stop or getting onto a highway. I tend to push the car hard becuase it's fun, but easing off from a stop or slow speed will improve gas mileage by leaps and bounds. Your top speed isn't what does it, it's more of how you got there.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
xsilverhawkx
2G TL Problems & Fixes
4
10-05-2015 11:00 AM
MilanoRedDashR
3G TL Problems & Fixes
2
10-02-2015 10:49 AM
Skirmich
2G TL (1999-2003)
4
10-01-2015 12:59 PM
San Yasin
2G RDX (2013-2018)
21
09-29-2015 10:52 AM



Quick Reply: Poor Gas Mileage-2004 TL



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:04 PM.