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Acura RL Real World Fuel Economy

20 messages,  Last post on Aug 22, 2012 at 7:01 PM

You are in the Acura RL Forum.

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

Messages Page 2 of 2

#11 of 20 There are always exceptions... by tamparl

Jan 23, 2009 (4:34 pm)

I have read hear and there of people getting less than rated MPGs. I have also read people getting much better than rated MPGs.
 
My 06 RL has been very consistent with mileage. I average 21-22mpg per tankful in nearly 60/40 city / hwy driving. In city driving, 19 is common, and highway 28+. On one highway cruise of 347 miles 75mph with cruise control, my MID pegged 32mpg. That is quite a range, but very impressive for a heavy AWD sedan with beefy tires and only a 5 speed tranny. Those same attributes will bring heavy penalty for city driving with less than finessed throttling.
 
For 2009 the engine was bumped from the 3.5 to 3.7 with modest gains in power and torque AND modest loss in MPG rating.
 
And a few points to previous posts....the current generation RL was the 2005 model year, not 2006.
 
Concerning the TSB for the fuel pressure regulator...badguy would you care to enlighten us as to the TSB #? I have scanned through all the TSBs issued for the current generation RL and have failed to located it. You say it came out this year...meaning 2009? I do not believe they have been released for January 09 and I cannot locate such TSB in the 2008 releases.
 
If in fact, your RL has such issues, it seems to be somewhat unique as the majority of RL owners I read posts from seem to be with rated MPG range. That would indeed make your RL unique and likely a Lemon. However, as unfortunate as your situation may be, that does now condemn all RL owners or potential owners to experience the same.
 
Machines made by production methodology will likley produce occaisional flaws. And if you condemn and entire automobile model when a lemon surfaces, you will condemn every vehicle model that ever has been produced.

#12 of 20 Re: Horrible mileage [badbuy] by nebraskaguy

Jan 23, 2009 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: badbuy (Jan 23, 2009 12:23 am)
I have an 05 RL. Last spring I drove 8,200 miles on one trip and consistently got 28-30 mpg - often at 70+ mph. Over Christmas, I drove 4,100 miles and got around 24-26, possibly because of the colder weather. One thing I noticed on my last trip - I got consistently better mileage using Shell V-power, usually about 2 mpg more. I want to experiment more with this to see if it was an anomaly. I usually use Sunoco, but plan to use Shell V-power for a while to see how it does.
 
My city driving is a different story, however. I quite often get in the 14-16 mpg range. I attribute part of that to relatively short trips - 2-4 miles is standard for me.

#13 of 20 Re: Horrible mileage [badbuy] by eclipse2

Jan 23, 2009 (5:49 pm)

Replying to: badbuy (Jan 23, 2009 12:23 am)
I have a 06 RL and I never heard of that TSB# you are talking about!!! I get my service done at the Acura dealership and no one said anything about that!! I work 42 miles from home round trip 84 miles and I get around 24-25 mpg mostly highway... I love the car it just doesn't have alot of power!!

#14 of 20 Re: There are always exceptions... [tamparl] by badbuy

Jan 25, 2009 (12:47 am)

Replying to: tamparl (Jan 23, 2009 4:34 pm)
Sorry for the confusion on timing. The TSB is 07-003 which mandates (for ALL 2005-2006 RLs and certain Vin # 2007s) a replacement for the fuel pump modulator which has a recalibrated fuel pump. This was to fix the lag problem that showed up (I guess in 2007 when the TSB was issued) in very hot climates and/or at high altitudes.
 
I'm not condemning all RL owners or future owners. I'm condemning a car company....American Honda Motor Company....which doesn't give a dxxm to do anything about this. They put it on the computer and say it's OK rather than deal with the real world. In fact, they did not even have the courtesy to reply to any letters on various problems.
 
For a car to have such erratic behavior in MPG, there has to be something wrong. And for the Long Trip mileage to tumble after the TSB fix, there certainly is a problem.
 
In decades of buying new cars including products from: Chrysler, Nissan, Toyota, GM , and Ford, I've never had this deafening silence. "It's truly luxury living with ghetto management".
 
There should never be an exception for horrible customer service...especially if you're attempting to produce a "luxury car line".

#15 of 20 Re: Real World Fuel Economy [jensad] by desert_rat

Jan 28, 2009 (9:12 pm)

Replying to: jensad (Jan 23, 2009 12:11 pm)
I have a new 09 RL, about 900 miles and get 20-21 mpg if I threat the accelerator like a raw egg. I get about 23 miles on the freeway with almost no traffic at 80mph
I certainly hope this will improve.

#16 of 20 Re: Horrible mileage [nebraskaguy] by michael0137

Apr 13, 2011 (12:52 pm)

Replying to: nebraskaguy (Jan 23, 2009 5:08 pm)
My son gets 29-30 at 75 MPH with his 2005, and 20 around NYC; I am getting the same with the 2008 we just bought. I am actually very pleased - this is a solid HEAVY car with 245/50 tires - the same I had on my '88 Trans Am!!! Uh ... can you say rolling resistance? I am shocked it gets the mileage it does for a 4000+ pound car. My Trans Am got 28 MPG on the road turning 2000 RPM at 80, and weighing 500 pounds less that the RL.

#17 of 20 Re: Horrible mileage [badbuy] by act4

May 19, 2011 (11:51 am)

Replying to: badbuy (Jan 23, 2009 12:23 am)
We have 2 Acura RL's in the family. I have only purchased Acura's for the past 20 years. Even though the gas mileage is pathetic we have not had ANY car repairs for the past 20 Years!!!! So if we consider the fact we have not had any down time other than the scheduled maintenance and oil changes etc ... and the cars are now paid for .... I have to say I am a happy camper .... however, I would be a much happier camper if the gas mileage were a little more reasonable!!!! I agree ... Oh, and I have never put in premium gas ... there is absolutely no difference in mileage....

#18 of 20 Re: Horrible mileage [act4] by michael0137

May 30, 2011 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: act4 (May 19, 2011 11:51 am)
Soimething must be wrong - just took a 450 mile roundtrip and got 29.5 MPG each way - AVERAGING 73 MPH with occasional full throttle spurts and some steady 85 MPH cruising with our 2008 RL. Better mileage than our 2008 Accord with VCM!

#19 of 20 Re: Horrible mileage [michael0137] by pearlie1

Sep 24, 2011 (11:37 am)

Replying to: michael0137 (May 30, 2011 5:46 pm)
Just drove 975 miles round trip and averaged 28-29 mpg both ways. I verified the MID mpg reading with an instant fill up at the end of each trip. Driving a 2010 RL and used cruise control 85% of the time drove the speed limit it was a four day week end pleasure drive.

#20 of 20 no fluke by michael0137

Aug 22, 2012 (7:01 pm)

Took another900 mile trip - averaged 29.4 MPG at 75-80 MPH - and I am not a featherfoot

Messages Page 2 of 2

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