lmc

This is a report for new owners (which I am) on my MPG during the first two months / 2,500 miles.

I know that there are numerous threads on gas mileage, but I did want to add another data point.

Like others, I love my TL but was underwhelmed with the gas mileage in the early days. I recognize that the underwhelming feeling about MPG is heavily dependent on the overwhelming thrill of the gas pedal.

However, I did try to control the environment to monitor my results; with some interesting results.

First off my driving style: very little city driving (my daily commute is our Nissan Leaf); this is our family longer road trip car (several 600 mile long weekend trips).

The early trips were quite disappointing with 22-24 MPG results going 55-75 mph with three adults, luggage and AC going.

I saw reports that after the break in the mileage would improve, but in the 800 mile trip after 1,500 total miles, we were still hovering around the 24 to 25 MPG range. However, this trip included some very hot weather (90 up to 103 degrees) and so the AC was used the whole time (and doing a great job).

Last weekend (after 2,200 miles total on the car) we took a trip with only two adults in the car and much cooler weather. All highway driving ranging from 60-70 mpg and an AC running only part of the time (temperatures from 70-80 degrees) and we getting closer to 30 MPG (yippee!).

On the return leg, the weather warmed up and the whole trip averaged around 77-80 degrees; which seemed to knock off one to two miles on the MPG rating.

While it is statistically wrong to draw broad conclusions from a single car, I believe I can report these two findings:

1. MPG will improve after a careful "1,500 to 2,000" mile break in period
2. Hotter weather can have significant impact on MPG.

Also including a road trip photo during a drive on the Oregon Historic Highway.

KeithL

I had a 2009 AWD TL and was never able to get anything over about 24.5 MPG on the highway. Even with the additional gear in 12+ MMC I would think it would be hard to get that much better on flat terrain. once you get over 60MPH the wind drag with the power train drag is a big problem

Edward'TLS

It is a well known fact that when the A/C compressor is running, it will significantly impact the fuel mileage of an automobile.

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

That was all highway, 2 adults, A/C & vented seats running and the trunk full of BBQ stuff and a large packed cooler.


To the OP, 3 adults, luggage and A/C running non stop seems like a bit much to expect better MPG considering the size of the V6 and drive train.

lmc

While I'm well aware that the AC will have an impact, I was never sure how much impact might be as the temperatures rose; as in how big a difference between, say, 85 degrees compared to 103.

But common sense would say that the longer the compressor has to run, the bigger the penalty.

As recognized, this is a single round trip experience, so things will change (and no scientific conclusions should be drawn from a single data point). But I wanted to add that this several hundred of "pure" freeway driving miles; so it would be treading towards the top end of the range.

(And my driving style may been severely altered after two years of daily driving a pure electric car and the constant feedback on how to conserve power.)

JM2010 SH-AWD

A/c does make a substantial difference. In addition to speed (e.g., 65-75 mph) another big factor is how much a driver ping-pongs back and forth on his/her highway speed. I've witnessed many drivers on long freeway drives go flying by me at +10-15 mph over my steady-state (cruise control) speed, only to repass them a few miles down the road when they get distracted by phone, conversation, etc. and slow down. That style of driving, with constant patterns of acceleration/deceleration, will eat up mpg even if the top speed or overall average is not all that high.

KeithL

I never trust the display, did you do real calculations. I used to track very tank with gallons bought and miss driven. I would be impressed if adding a sixth gear drove it up that much? Also what was your average speed, I found once you take the AWD over 55-60 MPH that the MPG drops fast, not sure what else they did to the 12+

Buffa

I did the proper break-in as well. It seems no matter how I drive my 2012 AWD, I average 21mpg pretty consistently with mixed highway/city. Over 40k miles now. Not great, but I'm happy given the AWD, combined with the sheer weight and power of this vehicle.

lmc

Great MPG appeals to our responsible soul, but sitting behind the wheel going hard around a corner erases any regrets!

Motor on! Life is short.

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

Keith I don't know how to calculate MPG manually without going through the entire tank and then dividing the distance traveled by tank capacity. Is there another way to do it? I've read multiple times on AZ that the automated calculation is conversative and actually .5 - 1 mpg higher. I think the 6th gear made a significant improvement, because now when traveling 70mph you're still under 2k rpm. I cruise at 70-75.

KeithL

Manual method is just fill car, drive a distance, fill car again and do the math. That said you have to learn how top off tank the same every time. Also measuring one tank is difficult due to top off issues. From 2006 until 2011 I basically used a website and entered every tank in manually and was able to see trends, actual MPG and overall MPG. I am not doubting on any given ride a certain MPG can be reached, but the mechanics of the AWD TL make those numbers unlikely on a routine basis unless you do that same drive all the time. I had my 09 for 18K miles and never was able to get over 25MPG for any long duration drive, but then I drive 65-75 on hwy. I suspect at 55-60 I might have been able to get 25-26.

lmc

I've found a phone app that will do the MPG record keeping and so I'll commit to doing some extended data gathering and report back.

It will take a couple of months to get some real world comparable data that is more than just a couple of data points; so sit tight.

Strippers4Me

20ish MPG here mixed driving

Drove to SC and back, pretty much all highway using cruise and got 26ish and that is the best I've ever done with about 1000 hwy miles at one time

sluzynsk

Normal is 22, averaging city and highway. If I reset the meter on the interstate with the cruise on in 6th gear I can do 29.

Mr Marco

The hotter the air the lower the density. Cold air gives the biggest/best bang in hp and mileage.

Egotist

I believe you have it backwards. The hot air equals less oxygen. If there's less oxygen then your engine compensates by using less gas. Power may go down but economy increases.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

Real life doesn't work this way.

When there's less oxygen, the engine uses less gas, and there's less output power to the car.

This is the catch. When there's insufficient power, the driver will step harder on the gas pedal, thereby opening up the throttle plate even more as well as injecting more fuel into the engine.

Thus, more fuel will be consumed, and economy will either stay the same or even go down.

Mr Marco

Sure, also, the faster you go, the less gas you use...because you get there sooner, right?

Tonyware

I second that!

reddogTL

I believe if you look at the receipt after a fillup, take the amount of gas that was put into the car(ex. 10 gallons) and divide how many miles you drove from the last fillup by that number.

Example, receipt from gas pump says 10 gallons, miles driven since last fill up is 300. 300 mi. / 10 gal. = 30mpg avg

reddogTL

This is an interesting thread as I'm currently eyeing a 2012 TL Advance to trade in my 2008 TL AT/w Nav. I'm currently averaging 25mpg with 10% city/90% highway. The 2008 AT EPA is 18/26mpg which is the same as the 2012+ AWD while the FWD is 20/29mpg. I'm looking to upgrade but also get better fuel economy as i commute 75+ miles per day.
I really want a BMW 2011+ 535 but they're just so damn expensive I cant push myself to spend that kind of money.

Mr Marco

My mpg's are horrible, period. But I want to keep both cars for 10 years, so I'm stuck with 18mpg (RDX) and 20mpg (TL) until 2017 and 2019. With gas at $4 plus per gallon and rising, I will either need a better job or I will be working from home on my laptop.

AlexG_6MT

iTrader: (1)

Its not likely you will see an upgrade in fuel economy stepping up to the AWD 4G. I am averaging just under 24 with about 70/30 highway/city split. I probably top out around 27 MPG on the highway, but any city driving kills it quickly. Its not great but not to terrible considering the power and AWD.

JM2010 SH-AWD

A 4G will likely not yield a big difference in mpg from your '08.

In steady state cruising (with c/c engaged) my 6MT will hit 28 mpg or so if I keep the speed at 65 or less. Stop and go, especially with the A/C on, will quickly whittle that down. Same too if you exercise SH-AWD a bit too much.

Overall, I'm not disappointed with the mpg. I didn't buy it for fuel economy purposes, but at a running average of a little over 25 mpg in half freeway, half suburban/urban driving, I'm OK with the mpg.

deuce415

iTrader: (1)

Man, I would be happy if I were getting low 20s MPG. I don't push my car at all, and I'm 18-19 MPG at best, even with my intake and jpipe mods with 34 PSI cold on the tires.

The best MPG I've gotten was on a 200 mile round trip mostly highway, and that was only 23 MPG. You guys that are getting upper 20s are making me think that they put something in the gas in SoCal.

I'm in this car for another 6 or 7 years. The sticker said 17-24 MPG. I figured I'd get 20-21 MPG and getting closer to the low end of the scale is really the only major disappointment that I have with this car.

TheOMan

This is what I've been getting so far and I have the exact same car as you (although my city/highway driving skews more to the city side).

ParaSurfer1979

I'd say for your commuting, use the least amount of gas peddle as you need w/o making drivers made but returning good mpg. The TL should return 28+mpg. I know my 3rd gen going 70 returns 32-33mpg easy. I use cruise control as often as I can too. Even using the decel/accel buttons instead of feet when possible. I'm looking at a 4th gen SH-AWD too but 2010.

TotheMax

I wish i could get at least 20mpg, however since getting the car a month ago and putting 2300 miles i'm still getting 17.5 mpg... I thought the 6spd would be a little better on gas mileage but that's not happening lol... My 2010 6spd TSX was getting 25mpg on a 4 banger, idk how you guys manage that on a 3.7 awd

emanon256

When I bought my 2009, my normal commute, all city, was 18-20ish. I have a light foot. I also go on a lot of long trips, and doing all highway from fill-up to fill-up I would get 28 to 29mpg. I typically set the cruise control at 80 and leave it.

Since the software update to the transmission program, I am getting 13-14 city, and I can't break 25 highway. I can't figure out why the highway would be that much worse, though I do notice the car downshifts more frequently than it used to while going up very slight hills on the highway.

I have a case open with Acura about the software update dropping the fuel economy as its now much worse than the EPA sticker. However, Acura said its unlikely they will ever do anything.

Mr Marco

Best here was 26mpg. But I was not driving.

Booya4139

gasoline is volume dependent on temperature, which if you did the miles/gallons filled you still have the pump click variable and a temperature variable.

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/reso...lUSAJune07.pdf

LADHAR

I am averaging 16-17mpg in pure city ( in winter <-15degree C around 15 mpg)
and 25-26 pure highway going 60-70 mph on my 2009 awd

sarge_in

I am in Irvine too, and I see about 15 mpg with 95% city driving with stops and go's every 100 m or so - the benefits of working 15 mins from home. Go SoCal!

HeartTLs

iTrader: (5)

Wanted to follow up on my picture post, that was taken on a 99% highway trip, which I reset the meter prior to getting on the highway, while trying to play "Speed"; foot off the gas/brake, if I turn off cruise control = game over. This weekend I did the same trip later in the afternoon and encountered a lot more traffic and aggravation (idiots aka Prii in the left lane) and my MPG was 25.7 which was surprising considering I wasn't trying. Something else I think is interesting about my highway MPG is that I have quite a few mods which should be hurting MPG; HFPC, ice box, long jpipe and lightweight pulley.

My city MPG though is terrible in NYC I averager around 14-15.

PaulAWD

My 2012 AWD averages 21 MPG mixed driving over 4500 miles and gets about 26-30 when I'm cruising on the freeway.

Tonyware

A couple of things to do, for those with abnormal mileage: Change your engine air filter, check if any of the brake calipers are stuck, check your tire pressure (don't rely to much on the TPMS), use 91+ octanes always... and finally: take your foot off the gas pedal! There is no reason to continue accelerating when you see a red light LOL and there is no reason to floor the car every time the light goes green !!!

I am one of those who think its not the car that has the mileage issue, but the driver.

... just a few thoughts.

weather

I have about 20 000 km on my 2012 TL and I am averaging about 10l/100km (or 24mpg) with what I would say is about 70/30 city/highway. That being said, the city I live is not a big city itself so although there is some stop and go at street lights, I rarely (if any) have to wait for 2 lights to get through...

Booya4139

Having a free'er flowing intake/exhaust path improves MPG in my experience (although my full bolt on Si was professionally tuned on hondata, which you can't do on the TL, but the ECU should adjust A/F and timing)

All that restriction in the stock exhaust path saps power = saps efficiency

Mr Marco

Yes, Around here people are so slow to respond sometimes you'll catch them with a foot on the brake pedal approaching a green light.

Mr Marco