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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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#87 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [steve_] by ccirelli
Aug 03, 2008 (2:20 pm)
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Replying to: steve_ (Jul 24, 2008 9:52 pm)

SECOND MILEAGE REPORT
 
OK, for my 2nd tank, I used my baseline of filling the tank between $.50 and $.75 over the "click" of the gas pump handle.
 
Driving conditions:
 
- maybe 5% highway
 
- 95% back roads, 40 to 50 mph, pulled lots of hills
 
- used Sunoco fuel 87 octane
 
MPG: 26.80
 
An increase of 1 mpg, even more back road driving this time. Still driving slow & steady, taking it easy going up those hills. Essentially I am doing the speed limit, maybe 5 to 10 mph more here & there. Nice & light on that gas pedal.
 
For my third tank I am curious to see what I get - I filled up with Sheetz fuel. I don't expect the same as Sunoco, but we'll see. And, I will be doing some more highway driving over the next few weeks. I will keep tabs on the general percentage of highway vs. back roads.
#88 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [ccirelli] by steve_ HOST
Aug 03, 2008 (3:16 pm)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 03, 2008 2:20 pm)

I had several tanks in the first 3,000 miles or so on my last new car that were 10 or more mpg lower than what appeared to be the norm. No real rhyme or reason to it either. Some people seem to dial in their mpg right off the bat, but mine didn't really settle down for months.
 
(so don't get too upset if the Sheetz tank is way off what the Sunoco gave you ...)
#89 of 117
Re: New Element EX AWD [ccirelli] by coldcranker
Aug 03, 2008 (5:23 pm)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 03, 2008 2:20 pm)

The only possible difference in fuel economy between different types of fuels would be in the percentage of ethanol mixed into the gasoline. In other words, the energy density (amount of usable chemical energy per gallon) goes down the more ethanol is mixed into gasoline hydrocarbons. You automatically increase fuel consumption by around 2% for every 10% ethanol in there. For example, if you are running E85, you will get 8.5x2=17% higher fuel consumption. More common is E10, which is simply 10% ethanol, which is what I burn, so I routinely give up 2% fuel efficiency vs. pure gasoline hydrocarbons. The only exception is when you might run lower-octane gas in a car made for premium fuel, and the engine has a knock sensor, and the MPG drops when the lower octane fuel is used as timing gets retarded a bit. However, the Element does not have a knock sensor, so none of that octane variation really applies here.
#90 of 117
28 mpg is tops by dslightam
Aug 05, 2008 (9:04 am)
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I've driven my stock (except for new tires) 05 AWD EX M/T for 3 years now in various conditions and driving mixtures. I'm convinced that approximately 28 mpg is the best I can do. I just got that mpg again on a trip with about an 30/70 mix of city and hwy, AC and no-AC, uphill and downhil. The gas light comes on after about 330 miles or 12 gallons (3.9 remaining). In other cases, "good" mileage on my E is about 24.5. Average "bad" mileage is about 22. 20 mpg is about the worst I ever do, but that's fairly rare.
 
The beefier new Toyo tires did seem to lower the mpg it for a while. Now it seems to be back to where it was before I replaced the stock good-years. I do agree that choice of gas does seem to cause some variance.
 
I am curious about the gas saving plates from earlier, but that sounds sketchy to me. There is a lot of chatter on this list lately. I'm cuious, are folks buying Es right now downsizing from larger SUVs and trucks?
#91 of 117
Re: 28 mpg is tops [dslightam] by ccirelli
Aug 05, 2008 (9:33 am)
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Replying to: dslightam (Aug 05, 2008 9:04 am)

I'm cuious, are folks buying Es right now downsizing from larger SUVs and trucks?
 
Personally, I just traded an '07 Civic EX for my Element. Took a hit in mpg (averaged 36 mpg in the Civic) but I LOVE the room and versatility of the Element. I rescue / train / show dogs, so it is a perfect fit for me.
 
Essentially it is costing me about another $80 per month to drive, but it's worth it. And now my wife - who never liked them before - totally wants one. They are contagious...
 
craig
#92 of 117
26 mpg with awd/auto is superb by micweb
Aug 05, 2008 (3:53 pm)
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26 mpg with awd/auto is superb
#93 of 117
Re: 26 mpg with awd/auto is superb [micweb] by bigfur
Aug 05, 2008 (4:04 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Aug 05, 2008 3:53 pm)

So far my best is about 24.5 in an 07 awd auto. Winters here in MN drop it to about 21.
#94 of 117
Re: 26 mpg with awd/auto is superb [micweb] by ccirelli
Aug 06, 2008 (12:00 pm)
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Replying to: micweb (Aug 05, 2008 3:53 pm)

Better yet - today I calculated 28.01! No highway miles on that calculation, no AC either.
 
Again essentially I am just feathering that gas pedal, and taking easy up hills - and coasting on the way down. Slow starts & stops, and I do right around the speed limit, 5 to 10 mph above.
 
craig
#95 of 117
Anyone know why the lighter Element gets same hiway MPG by coldcranker
Aug 06, 2008 (2:58 pm)
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Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 06, 2008 12:00 pm)

The EPA rates the 2wd/automatic 2008 Element at 20/25 city/highway MPG. My '05 Freestyle, which weighs about 500 lbs more (3499 lb Element vs. 3959 lb Freestyle), is EPA rated at 18/25 city/highway, using the latest MPG test methods to compare. I routinely get the EPA numbers and often better, and have reached 30 MPG on a long trip with steady ~60 mph speeds. The Freestyle has a 3.0L 204 hp engine, and the Element is 500 lbs lighter with 2.4L 166 hp engine. ....Is there a gas leak in the Element? .... Maybe it can be simply accounted for by gearing alone, the Element being geared down without a good high range ratio for highway cruising. Are Element owners seeing high RPMs in highway cruising, compared to the Freestyle which does 1500 RPM at 60 MPH on flat roads?
 
The Element has a conventional 5-speed automatic while the Freestyle has a CVT, so maybe the difference is there, but how does that make up for 500 lbs of mass difference?
 
I like the Element and want to buy one, but am unwilling to get about the same MPG numbers as my bigger, heavier, more powerfull vehicle I have now for a 4-cylinder light Element. You'd think the Freestyle's bigger 17 inch wheels would reduce MPG to way below the Element, but thats not the case. What is going on with the Element?
#96 of 117
Re: Anyone know why the lighter Element gets same hiway MPG [coldcranker] by ccirelli
Aug 06, 2008 (7:20 pm)
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Replying to: coldcranker (Aug 06, 2008 2:58 pm)

Well - I think we're pretty close. Regardless of what the EPA numbers are, again - I am getting between high 26 and low 28 - with less than 10% highway travel.
 
I am reasonably certain that I could hit 30 on a long flat trip as well, based on what I've seen in my first three tanks.
 
At 60 mph the element (awd ex auto) hovers just under 2K rpm, if I recall correctly (sorry - I've only had it for 10 days..). At 70, 2.25K rpm. Not bad at all, and right inline with my Civic.
 
A lot of factors could go into why these two cars get about the same mileage, despite the weight and hp difference - the short answer is, that's just how they're engineered. Specifically, the CVT and general aerodynamics could be a big part of it as well.

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