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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

What is this discussion about? Honda Element, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV


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#72 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [steve_] by ccirelli
Jul 25, 2008 (6:56 am)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 24, 2008 9:52 pm)

Interesting - I learned years ago that Ethanol is added between October and April (at least in NJ / NY / PA, afaik). I always made the correlation between poorer mileage in winter to that - simply because there is a distinct and sharp decrease like clockwork, every October.
 
For example in my Civic, between April and October I would average 36mpg. Once October hits, I'm lucky if I get 32 or 33. And it's not a sharp drop in temperature, because literally one week it's high and the next week it drops... even if it's in the 50's... until mid-April again.
 
So whether my theory is accurate or not, I'm not sure. But I've always heard that Ethanol is widely known to cost us about 10% in fuel economy.
 
Picking up my Element TODAY.
 
Hey, should I pick up one of these Scan Guage devices? Thinking about it, wondering if it will pay for itself over time.
 
Thanks-
#73 of 117
Is there really a "break in" period cars today?... by 0311vn
Jul 27, 2008 (7:44 am)
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Replying to: ragets (May 05, 2007 1:14 pm)

I suspect not. Breaking in a car engine sounds so...'60s. The only caution I have seen about new car engines in the last ten or twenty years is not to make fast starts for the first several hundred miles of so. Engine tolerances have been improved, which supposedly nullify break in periods. (Feel free to correct me if I am wrong on this.)
 
See the NY Times article of 26 Jul 08 page B1 "Ethanol Stirs Up A Mutiny" on the effect of mpg. I noticed on a recent drive through South Dakota that mpg dropped off on a clocked tank full of "corn pone." (My moniker for ethanol.)
#74 of 117
Re: Is there really a "break in" period cars today?... [0311vn] by ccirelli
Jul 28, 2008 (6:46 am)
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Replying to: 0311vn (Jul 27, 2008 7:44 am)

My advice on this, based on what I've heard over the last two years (and also going through this with an 07 Civic, and now an 08 Element):
 
- Stay below 55 mph for the first 600 miles
 
- If you go on a long trip (two hours or more), try to vary your RPM's now and then (e.g., don't go 60 mph for an hours straight
 
- Do your first oil change between 1500 and 2000 miles
 
- Use common sense and drive it "slow & steady" for the first 1500 to 2000 miles
 
Again, this is what I do, not stating anything as fact - just my opinion(s).
 
craig
#75 of 117
What does Honda recommended for new engines?... by 0311vn
Jul 28, 2008 (7:10 am)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Jul 28, 2008 6:46 am)

Other than a early oil change does Honda list a so-called "break in" period for its cars?
#76 of 117
Re: What does Honda recommended for new engines?... [0311vn] by ccirelli
Jul 28, 2008 (7:24 am)
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Replying to: 0311vn (Jul 28, 2008 7:10 am)

Depends who you talk to (not sure about "listing"), but most salespersons will tell you "naa, you're fine don't worry, just drive..", but most techs will reiterate what I mentioned in my previous post. I'll go with the techs, personally..
 
I should mention that my salesperson was also in agreement with his techs as well, but again others will tell you differently.
 
hth,
craig
#77 of 117
Re: What does Honda recommended for new engines?... [ccirelli] by micweb
Jul 31, 2008 (10:08 am)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Jul 28, 2008 7:24 am)

I think you have to be more careful breaking in a stick shift. You need to be careful not to lug the engine (let the rpm sink low then use a lot of throttle with resulting pinging) or keep it at high rpm for extended periods (like driving 2nd on city streets or forgetting to upshift to 5th on the freeway). With an automatic all you need to remember are (i) no lead foot until warmed up and (ii) limit your lead foot to 3/4 of the throttle for the first 1000 miles.
#78 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [steve_] by ccirelli
Jul 31, 2008 (10:36 am)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 24, 2008 9:52 pm)

FIRST MILEAGE REPORT
 
So I clocked my mileage for my first tank of gas. Now I have to say the dealer is the one that filled it - so whether it was truly full, that is unknown. If it was not full, this works in my favor.
 
My driving consisted of roughly:
 
- 10% highway
- 10% city (stop & go)
- 80% suburban / rural roads (40 to 50 mph, but plenty of hills here in PA)
- Additional notes: AC was on for maybe 1/2 hour, passengers ranged from 1 to 4 (mostly 1)
 
MPG: 25.81
 
Total miles on tank: 345
Refill: 13.367 gallons X 3.81 = ~$50
 
My driving style: For this tank I would rate it as slow & steady. I only really get on the gas when I have to pull hills, and even then I am as light as possible on the accelerator.
 
Not bad! Will report stats back on tank #2 this week.
 
EDIT: Oops, forgot: 2008 Element EX AWD Auto
#79 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [ccirelli] by 0311vn
Aug 01, 2008 (6:18 am)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Jul 31, 2008 10:36 am)

I've never driven a AWD vehicle. Does AWD reduced mpg all that much? How much extra weight does AWD add on to an Element? I'm guessing AWD must be a real asset when driving in snow. Does it improve handling a lot in rain? Is there a noticeable difference when braking with AWD, especially when braking hard?
 
Can an Element hit 30 mpg on all highway driving if you keep her at 65ish?
 
Is there storage in an Element for bags to keep them from shifting around when driving?
#80 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [0311vn] by ccirelli
Aug 01, 2008 (8:06 am)
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Replying to: 0311vn (Aug 01, 2008 6:18 am)

Does AWD reduced mpg all that much?
 
Depends - not really as far as the Element is concerned. The FWD models are only rated 1 mpg higher on both sides (city & hwy).
 
Can an Element hit 30 mpg on all highway driving if you keep her at 65ish?
  
Probably not maybe 30 with the wind at your back - but I think someone here reported 32 mpg after installing fuel saving "plates"? I asked for a link to more info but never heard back.
 
Is there storage in an Element for bags to keep them from shifting around when driving?
 
Yup - bungees. Plenty of little rings and hooks to tie down to. Plus the driver's side seats both have kind of a net behind them, good for smaller bags & things.
 
hth,
craig
#81 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [0311vn] by pepsicolacat
Aug 03, 2008 (7:43 am)
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Replying to: 0311vn (Aug 01, 2008 6:18 am)

you probablly can't get 30 mpg. I have 05 element ex awd and 08 ex awd 05 best is 24 and 08 is 27 . I got 24.5 all freeway on 08 but i hit 95 mph several time. Shell gas is better than discount gas like bp, walmart. You can test this theory. Empty your tank and fill up with bp or any store gas.make sure you reset mileage reader. Drive a normal route and when your gas light comes on you have 3.9 gallons left. When you fill up right down how many gallons you used to fill up and divid it by how many miles you went. Fill up with shell gas and do the same thing. Remember to do it when your just driving your normal route for both fill ups. My 05 had 24mpg combined city/highway 30%/70%highway on shell 10.3 gallons/ 244 miles and when I drove out of town all freeway with bp gas and filled up as soon as i got of the freeway. 10.6 gallons 221 miles. bp gas was literally 99.9% all free way. I didn't even drive a whole mile from the gas station to the freeway and when i filled up i costed down. I did hit traffic for about 8 miles.

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