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SUVs Honda Element Honda Element Real World MPG
117 messages, Last post on Aug 10, 2009 at 4:17 PM
You are in the Honda Element Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
I cannot believe I did this great with my car. I've been averaging 23-25MPG. But on my last tank I put 300 miles on and only filled up 9.78 gallons. That means I got 30.67MPG!!!! I couldn't believe it!  I use Shell Gas because it seems to run better and get better MPG's. I go about 75% highway, 20% dirt/gravel roads, 5%city. I ease off the gas pedal, brake easy, only use the A/C in spurts on the highway, use windows in town. I wish I would have gotten the manual transmission though. I hate how long this auto takes to shift up and down. I wish I could do it myself! 
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Replying to: ragets (Aug 13, 2008 5:17 pm) Sounds like that automatic transmission is doing just fine for you! 
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Replying to: ragets (Aug 13, 2008 5:17 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Aug 17, 2008 3:59 pm) Fill variation - well, for me, I fill up at the same Sunoco (and usually the same pump) and I will go $.75 to $1.00 over the first "click". Trying to be as consistent as possible. Under my conditions, would I really see significant fill variation, to the point where that would effect mpg more so than everyday driving variations and conditions? Not arguing - just curious. craig |
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 17, 2008 6:25 pm) Part of the fill variation comes from the air bubble that fuel tanks are supposed to preserve to allow for gas expansion and vapor recovery system operation. Let us know if you get some repetition of that high mileage number - try to trace it to driving conditions, driving style (lighter throttle?). That type of mileage on the 3400 pound, big square box, AWD Element is phenomenal. In my own case, after 4,500 miles of driving my Nissan Versa (2008, 6 speed manual) I finally got a single high mileage tank - 35 mpg vs. the more usual 32 mpg. I am trying to figure out if that is a false reading due to fill variation, of if I did less weekend and after work surface street driving, and more of the freeway commuting. BTW I write down the mileage on the receipt and use a calculator to figure the mileage. The thing about mileage reports is that people often due the math "in their head" or round up or down on the miles or gallons to make it simpler. So anecdotal reports from the general public who winced at math and science classes is often suspect, particularly when the numbers are unusually high or low. Although given the prevalence of "lead foot-itis" in modern America, unusually low numbers don't seem that unusual anymore.
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Replying to: micweb (Aug 20, 2008 8:39 am) Tidester had a little problem with that, lol.
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Replying to: micweb (Aug 20, 2008 8:39 am) I would definitely say I have "re-trained" my foot since getting the Element. My previous car was a ~36 mpg Civic, so I really wanted to narrow the gap in the difference in fuel efficiency with the Element. As I read in another post, I drive "like there is an egg shell between my foot and the accelerator." I always keep this thought in the back of my mind: what is the least amount of fuel I can use to get up to, and maintain, my desired speed? (which is usually 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit - realistic cruising speeds) So even in the back-roads, hilly area where I am (not much highway driving, maybe 10%) averaging 27 mpg is not too bad. My next venture is to explore the HHO devices, which from what I've read will cost about $100 ($50 for the plans, $50 for parts). I will approach this with caution...
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 17, 2008 6:25 pm) Most US gas stations have vapor recovery systems. These systems suck the fumes back into the gas station tanks while fueling. They are intended to reduce air polution and fumes. If your gas tank spills a bit of gas back, it will go into the vapor recovery system rather than your tank. That means you lose gas and your MPG goes down - you thought that .75 cents was going into the tank, but it was (possibly) going back into the gas station owner's pocket! That is the reason that it is recommended that you stop at the first click. |
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Replying to: steve_ (Aug 20, 2008 8:56 am) I don't have a problem with it. I just want to know where they dispense gasoline measured to the nearsest thousandth of a drop and who has odometers calibrated to the nearest Angstrom.  tidester, host SUVs and Smart Shopper |
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 17, 2008 6:25 pm) I am surprised at the number of people when discussing cars say that they seldom if ever clock a tank for mpg when filling up. Like, how much math is involved in figuring out mpg?
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