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Hey guys ..new to the forum... i have a 2003 Honda Accord LX 4cyl Auto, with 86,700 miles ... I get about 23 miles / gallon, i used to get about 28, but after doing some research .... have noticed i can do more... any suggestions on what to do to increase my mileage...

is there there any non required maint. i should do? (like fuel filter, etc.)

is it possible to shoot for 34-35 mpg... my car is rated 24/33 (my commute is 70 % city now, it used to be 80% hwy)

Thanks in advance...

Good Morning Princealyy:

___First off, welcome to CleanMPG! Please introduce yourself in the Introduction forum when you get the chance as well …

___There are two or three Accord drivers (I know of at least one personally ;)) that can really help improve your Accord’s and your FE capabilities. The amount is basically dependent on your willingness to change driving habits.

___To begin, we have to bring up your tire pressures. If you are like most folks, your tire pressures are probably down in the high 20’s/lower 30’s. I recommend that you immediately bring them to at least MAX sidewall of 44 #’s. To remove some of the harshness hit, you may want to fill them to 38, drive for a day, fill to 40, drive for a day, 42 … to 44 #’s. It will make the transition a little easier to handle.

___On your next oil change, some Mobil1 0W-20 half way between the marks will be the other setup change. A new air filter will certainly not hurt either.

___As for driving techniques, please consider what you read in the following article as a guide. Beating the EPA - The Why’s and how to Hypermile. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1510) Do not attempt to take it all in at once or use any of the advanced techniques on a heavily traveled roadway as you might end up with a broken Accord or worse, be an ICU patient in a local hospital or worse. You must drive with safety being your number one priority. That means reading, realize a basic understanding of what is being discussed, practicing on roads with very limited traffic, and then becoming proficient enough to transition into and out of the various technique(s) when and where applicable without a second thought. The basic’s can be handled quite easily but the advanced … Be very careful out there as the numbers are spectacular but the results without a lot of patience and awareness of your surroundings can be disastrous.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

look up lindermatt on his civic coupe auto, he's pulling some good numbers, be sure to ask him for advice since hondas help out other hondas :D

i'd help you out... but highway isn't my game ;)

All good advice but the first, easiest thing I'd concentrate on is lowering speed. It's one of the most effective MPG tools we have, and if you're used to high speed then slow down 5MPG.

Coming from an ex-speed demon that was the hardest thing for me to get over. I was only used to people in front of me, but not behind and if anyone came behind...even 1/4 mile away sent me in near panic. Heart pounding fast and everything.

Next thing I had to get used was to drop the terrible habit of pressing the gas pedal simply because it felt right. I had to get used to working the foot feed for a purpose.
Back when I started I also had trouble with relaxing. Between the higher tire pressure and a stiffly-tensed up curved back and cramped Right thigh left me tired and achy when I got home.

Since then I've learned to relax on my commute. I drive in the far right lane and don't bother anybody just plodding along. My slower speed takes 5-7 minutes longer for my 46 mile commute but usually park with around 70MPG on the dash. Others I see zip by in the same identical car is likely in the 40's MPG. Yes I use some of the more advanced techniques in the article Wayne posted a link to and it took a while to learn this.

princealyy I'm glad you came by...and Truly thrilled that you're looking to improve your MPG.
All of us here are glad to help you with suggestions and encouragement. Please read over Wayne's link and apply what ever you feel comfortable with. Ask us questions and let us know how it goes- we are all still learning this wonderful skill.
-Steve

Thanks guys for your input... here are the things i am going to try in order to get better gas mileage. I dont want to jump into this too much, since i routinely make 600 mile trips and going 60 is hard without some practice. So i will slowly try to reduce my current 85 mph to 75 mph (limit is 70mph).

A few things i am working on, are keeping my rpm's low... using less ac (almost impossible since it is 110 here with the heat index).,

The best mileage i have EVER gotten was 40 mpg (which i thought was a fluke, however now after reading the forum believe it)., I did not know about hipermilling then, but i was on the highway for about 265 miles (*about 40 MPH the entire way) and had to get some water and stoped and filled up and noticed 40 mpg.

I check my mpg every time i fill up, usually on long trips avg'ing about 80 - 85 on the highway with full A/C nets me 29.5 MPG, which i do not think is so bad.

I will keep you guys posted as i go along...


Aly

You will definately notice an 85mph to 75mph drop! Tack that on to increasing the air in your tires and I think you are in for a nice supprise at the pump next fill up.

Obviously if you could get down to 70 it would be even better, but 85 to 75 will do for now ;)

Can you get away with just using the fan and not the a/c when you would normaly use a/c?

Years ago in my old car I'd also in cruise at around 80-85MPH. The thrill of it all kept my mind awake. I ran both a detector and CB radio to monitor truck chatter about speed traps.

At one point I realized getting 16MPG in a Dodge 4 cyl rated at 21 was excessive and with fuel reaching $1.00/g decided to save by slowing down. It was the only thing I knew to do.

I couldn't trust myself to drive the speed limit so I set cruise control at 55,65 and 70MPH.
Wow what a terrible experience. I grew so accustomed to the faster speed and was bored to death just sitting there watching things slowly drift by. It reminded me of a DVD set to play in slow motion.
That lasted two days then gave it up. I rationalized it by thinking I get there much faster so I save as much fuel as going slow.

But later on when I got serious and researched driving for efficiency found it's all about habits and what we're accustomed to. I've been driving this way now since Jan 2004 and flipped my habits around as much as possible.
While the thrill of speed kept me occupied, my slower speed with cruise control left a wide vacuume for boredom. Today even though my speed has drastically lowered from before I have so many things to think about...so many more choices to make and trying new things that I'm seldom bored.

I'm so used to this new way of driving that I can't go back to the old way. Just can't waste fuel $$$ anymore.
I just came back from a family trip 300 miles away and kept it well under 70 in the Right lane. I believe we passed 3-5 other cars for the total trip, 99.9% of other traffic wizzed on by, some going +80. My total fuel cost = about $50. Other people's cost? $250 or more? (Depending on vehicle)

Anyway sounds like you're on the right track for some good things to come. :bananajump:
-Steve

Just an update on where i stand, i have gotten about 28 mpg. also i cannot turn off the a/c to reduce fuel use., since it is over 100 degrees here, call me spoiled :). Anyways, we will see where this goes, i have a 600 mile drive coming up and will hope to break the 35 mpg mark.

Thanks for all your input.

Accords can do great mpg. Its in there soul.

First... slow down. Drive the speed limit atleast. Get the tire psi up some. Accords respond well to a gental throttle. Get the car moving in a hurry if you have to. But back out of it a tad at 45 mph or so. This lets it lock into 5th gear, thus the rpms will drop ,,, better mpg comes fast at that point. Alittle gas pedal goes along way in a Accord. The engine in the newer Accords is a modern work of art.

The car its self is wonderful in many ways when looked at as a mpg mid-size sedan. Will show claws if needed or wanted! Its a near perfect blend of areo, hp, torgue and size. The car is one of the best coasting cars currently built. God if only honda would put IMA on the current k-series motor and a 5mt. ( drooling ).

Just set back and enjoy your Accord. Slow down abit for starters and you will see your mpg come up.

have fun

The car is one of the best coasting cars currently built. God if only honda would put IMA on the current k-series motor and a 5mt. ( drooling ).


2.0L with an atkinsonized intake, please! Indeed, an Accord Hybrid done right would be incredible when you consider that a standard 4-cyl version in even moderately experienced hands can just about hang with with the Camry Hybrid's EPA numbers.

And good advice all around from everybody. I come from the same mentality that Hot Georgia described, which involved driving well over the limit with the radar detetector on the dash and my eye peeled for law enforcement. Driving the speed limit instead of 10 over gave me immediate results, and the other tricks only improved the mileage from there. But that 70mph limit really needs to be treated as such: a limit. After spending some time right lane you realize that it's not suicide to keep the speeds down, and time added to your trip isn't nearly as much as most folks think.

After spending some time right lane you realize that it's not suicide to keep the speeds down, and time added to your trip isn't nearly as much as most folks think.

I got to find out how little differnce it made recently. My wife and I took my other car to my mom's house so she could borrow it. My wife went first and drove the speed limit but used no hypermiling tools. I used DWL and P&G and FAS and I pulled in less than 20 seconds after she did.

all it takes is one red light to waste any effort you put into speeding

Just a quick update.. im up to 34 mpg.. with A/C and also with the same tire pressure as the factory setting..

Thinking back to my college days, a well-build conventional economy car would have been great. I was happy to get 20mpg city/ 30mpg hwy. Remembering how I was, just avoiding speeding and accidents would be a worthwhile goal.

Quick Question regarding Hondas with VTEC -- If you fill the oil to between the marks on the dipstick, will this allow enough oil to operate the variable valve lift system? I had a problem on a '99 Civic Si with lower oil and VTEC operation. Granted, I don't see much past 3000 RPM these days, but I do have i-VTEC in the TSX that works at a variety of RPMs instead of a single stage setpoint like the first gen. Any problems reported?

Thanks...

RH77

princealyy you first wrote:
is it possible to shoot for 34-35 mpg
And now:
im up to 34 mpg.. with A/C
Yes! :bananapowerslide:

This is the start of a great thing. Be careful. It becomes addicting.

Hi Rich:

___She has probably only been on the hot cam once or twice in her life but no problems. Between the marks is great. Below the low is taking a chance. She doesn’t leak a drop over 12,500 either ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

N if your friend, your brakes are not except when avoiding collision.

Don't drive on the road, let the road drive you!

Note that for a 600 mile highway trip, 60 mph takes 10 hours, 70 about 8.5, 80 takes 7.5 hours, so for a non-stop (light traffic) highway trip slow speeds do take longer. I personally choose slower speeds to get better FE, but I don't think it is valid to say it won't take longer if you slow down, usually 75 in a 70 zone will not result in any citations.

Dennis