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Acura TL Real World MPG

365 messages,  Last post on Jul 14, 2012 at 1:02 PM

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What is this discussion about? Acura TL, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 36 of 37

#346 of 365 Do I really need premium gas to 2012 Acura TL? by joeldavid1

Feb 11, 2012 (1:44 pm)

#347 of 365 Re: Do I really need premium gas to 2012 Acura TL? [joeldavid1] by rickpoole

Feb 11, 2012 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: joeldavid1 (Feb 11, 2012 1:44 pm)
If you want to get the maximum mileage or maximum performance then yes you need to use premium. But, all Acura cars will run on any gas. Using a lower octane rating will cause the engine computer to retard the timing to eliminate predetonation (or what a lot of people call pinging). As it retards the timing the power is reduced and as the power is reduced it take more gas to do the same work thus overall mileage is reduced. In my 2007 TL I get about 3 MPG less on regular versus premium. So, it actually costs a little less per mile when using premium versus regular.
 
In addition to reduced mileage the reduced power due to the retarded timing can make a notable difference in performance. When I first tried regular on a highway trip I could tell it took a little longer to get up to highway speeds. But, once when I had to quickly accelerate from 65 MPH to avoid someone there wasn't much extra power available, in fact, I had to floor it to get even a moderate amount of acceleration from 65 MPH. When using premium the car will rapidly accelerate from 65 MPH even when the gas is not pressed all the way to the floor.

#348 of 365 Re: 2012 TL Gas Mileage [sg5] by chirocat

Feb 27, 2012 (8:15 pm)

Replying to: sg5 (Feb 01, 2012 5:22 pm)
Believe it or not, your wife's "conservative driving" is what is tanking your mileage, that and the auto trans. I am an aggressive driver and accelerate quite hard at ALL times to 5-10 mph above the limit. Since I bought my 08 TLS 6M in 2007, I have yet to get less than 20 mpg CITY....yes, stop and go with hard acceleration. I usually average 21-22. Until 2009 I lived 23 miles from my work and had to drive about 16 miles on the freeway. Usually at 75-80. I was pulling in an average of 24-25.
 
Here is the secret. Any acceleration at all yields poor mileage, it doesn't matter if you are ginger on the throttle or accelerate like I do. Your instantaneous mileage will be maybe 10-15 mpg. In your wife's case, lets say we have to drive 4 blocks to the next light. I will be doing the speed limit, or 10 above in about 200-300 feet. Your wife's conservative driving will cause her to spend maybe 3 or 4 times that distance accelerating, albeit slowly. As soon as I get to cruising speed I am getting 35-40 mpg, while she is still getting 15. This easily makes up for my more aggressive acceleration.
 
Also when I mean "aggressive" acceleration I am talking about moderate throttle and shifting below 4000 rpm. I usually shift 1-2-3-6 in this type of driving. I also drive a 1998 Ford Ranger with an EPA "19 City/ 21 Combined/ 24 Highway". I drive it the same way and get 21 combined.
 
There have been numerous tests to back up this theory, I am just amazed they don't disseminate it. Maybe because they don't want to give people the idea of aggressive driving. BMW did such a study once and concluded that "brisk acceleration" was the most economical. Try it, it works. At least it does with a manual, since I don't drive auto trans cars I can't vouch for them.

#349 of 365 Re: 2012 TL Gas Mileage [chirocat] by sg5

Mar 01, 2012 (11:49 am)

Replying to: chirocat (Feb 27, 2012 8:15 pm)
Thanks chirocat for your detailed explanation. It does makes sense to me. I am definitely going to try it.

#350 of 365 Re: 2012 TL Gas Mileage [sg5] by chirocat

Mar 08, 2012 (8:04 pm)

Replying to: sg5 (Mar 01, 2012 11:49 am)
Please post your results, I am sure hopping it's not just me LOL.

#351 of 365 Re: 2012 TL Gas Mileage [chirocat] by mcb345

Mar 19, 2012 (12:37 pm)

Replying to: chirocat (Mar 08, 2012 8:04 pm)
I have an interesting little comparison here... I previously had a 2009 TSX manual that was rated at 20mpg/28mpg with a combined of 23 mpg. I live in Chicago and have the same commute of a mile or two in the city and 10-12 miles of stop and go highway driving. I averaged about 26mpg with the TSX.
 
I recently got a new 2012 TL, I currently have just under 400 miles on it. EPA rates the car at 20mpg / 29mpg, combined 23 (so 1mph better on highway and the rest are the same as the TSX). I don't quite understand how a car with 80 more hp, another 300lbs and two more cylinders yields better gas mileage (comon that 6 speed auto isn't THAT great??!!) but that's what the EPA says! After a week with the new car,driving pretty much the same style / acceleration rates as my old car, I'm averaging at best 22mpg during my normal commute. Strictly city driving is definitely MUCH worse than my TSX even though they're rated at the same 20mpg.
 
My question... Are the EPA estimates THAT far off on my previous TSX (extremely underrated) or is the TL just not broken in quite yet? In my opinion there is noway that the larger, more powerful TL is going to achieve numbers like the TSX, even with the new 6 speed auto.
 
Since I achieved roughly 3 mpg above EPA combined in the TSX on my normal 13 mile commute shouldn't I also expect the same with the TL and not slightly BELOW the estimates? I cant vouch for the fuel that the dealer put in (still on my first tank) but I would assume it isn't going to make that much of a difference?? Anyone have any input??

#352 of 365 Re: 2012 TL Gas Mileage [mcb345] by samiam_68

Mar 19, 2012 (2:21 pm)

Replying to: mcb345 (Mar 19, 2012 12:37 pm)
Car manufacturers in the last couple of years have learned to trick the new EPA tests very well to come up with inflated EPA numbers. New cars are tuned to give their best economy under specific EPA test conditions.

#353 of 365 2005 Acura TL by prprt33

Mar 24, 2012 (8:07 am)

I've noticed that the EPA estimates are low compared to my real world driving MPG results. They say my 2005 Acura TL gets 18 City and 26 Highway, when the real results are 26MPG blended and 29MPG highway. I use 91 octane and stay very current on all preventative maintenance. I have 154,000 miles on it and she is still running like a champ. I agree with you guys, hard to beat MPG, power and looks still 7 years after I bought it new.

#354 of 365 Re: 2012 TL Gas Mileage [samiam_68] by mcb345

Mar 26, 2012 (9:39 am)

Replying to: samiam_68 (Mar 19, 2012 2:21 pm)
This must be the case SAMIAM_68, where Acura managed tune the car for maximum possible MPG for the EPA test to get inflated #'s. Obviously I'd expect my 2009 TSX with a 200hp inline 4 manual transmission to get better mileage than a 280hp V-6 even if the EPA estimates were pretty much the exact same. Very disappointing that I'd see such a drastic difference between the two cars though, shame on the EPA! '
 
Does anyone know of any non-government companies that test fuel economy for various car manufacturers that release this info to the public?

#355 of 365 Re: 2005 Acura TL [prprt33] by mcb345

Mar 26, 2012 (9:45 am)

Replying to: prprt33 (Mar 24, 2012 8:07 am)
prprt33... Your 2005 TL real world mileage and my 2009 TSX real world mileage solidify the fact that the EPA's #'s underrated older cars while new 2012 cars are overrated in terms of fuel economy.

Messages Page 36 of 37

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