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Gas mileage

23K views 35 replies 26 participants last post by  Kjhgr01 
#1 ·
Re: V-6 engines: Anyone done any research to determine what Honda has done to increase the highway mileage of the newer year models? I know the 2013's come with a new 6 speed tranny, but I doubt the final drive ratio is that different between the original 5th gear and the new 6th gear.

The 2013 brochure says, "Enhancements for 2013 let the engine run in 3-cylinder mode longer-maximizing fuel efficiency-while still providing seamless transitions to all 6 cylinders when more muscle is needed." This seems more like a software alteration than anything else, to me, and if so, it would seem any 6 cyl. CT could be so programmed.

I'm getting a maximum of 24mpg and I drive very lightly on the accelerator, and this in an area that is relatively flat and averages less than 55 mph. I live in the country, there are zero stoplights, and most trips are 30 miles or more with just 1 or two intersection stops. I've never had a Honda or any car for that matter that I couldn't get higher highway gas mileage than rated. This is the one exception to that experience, and I don't know why it should be.

Tires inflated properly, I don't believe the brakes are sticking, I am using regular gas, but that's the recommended octane, and I do not idle the car to warm it up, and live in a snow-free area of SW Washington state, so the roads are clear and resistance-free. I've always enjoyed efficient cars, and I expected this to be better than it's doing. Still love the car nevertheless.

My car: 2011 EX-L 4WD, White Diamond Pearl, Chrome Wheels, Splash guards, Rack (currently not on)
 
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#2 ·
We bought the 2011 in April of that year and in July drive it to Toronto and back (to Florida). Fully loaded with 4 adults we got 28 mpg on the road. The next May my wife and I drove to Ohio and back and got 30 mpg on the road. It seems like it is getting better once it is broken in. Just bought a 2nd CT New Year's Eve and drive about 35 miles one way to work, on rural, four lane roads and get about 25 mpg mixed town and country driving. It only has 1300 miles and I'm looking forward to better mileage as it gets more miles on it.
 
#3 ·
I've had similar experience to gyost on my 2010 4wd.

29.2 MPG was my best so far on the highway and I'm averaging 24+ overall. I live in the Mid Atlantic region and definitely drive with a heavier foot, plus vary the speed. On the computer stats (which I don't take too much stock in for accuracy), I still manage to score better gas mileage with my foot as opposed to using cruise control :)
 
#4 ·
ArtH -

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/09/2013-honda-accord-revealed-more-mpg-more-value.html

They are saying that the 2013 v6 will supposedly get 21 city / 34 hwy. Which is better than most of our 19-city / 24 hwy mpg now.

I have over 39k+ miles on my 2010 and yes there are a few... very few long road trips where I had a great tail wind, easy traffic... peak driving conditions and I got at most 26-28 mpg. Of course I drive an avg. of 75 mph as well. So that's not bad. I am thinking though of trading up our 2010 to a 2013... but will probably wait till this fall to get some better incentives.. etc.. etc. *shrugs*
 
#5 ·
Wondering what the effect of my 18 inch chrome wheels have, if any, on mileage. I assume the diameter of the tire itself is the same, but perhaps the altered sidewall size has some affect I am not aware of. Anyone else have these wheels and getting better mileage than I? BTW, I have 15,000 miles on the car(have only put 1000 of those on it myself as this was a Certified Car purchase), so it's broken in I would guess. Got 25mpg this past weekend, so up 1 mpg from best. Still, for the area I drive in, I am used to much better mileage from vehicles. I used to get 50mpg on my Jetta diesel automatic, nominally rated at 42. Of course I don't expect that kind of mileage but it's just to show that my driving generally produces better than rated mileage. I envy those who are able to get 30 mpg on trips, which is a significant 20% factor over 25mpg. Perhaps the computer will gradually adjust to my driving, whereas the previous owner may have driven only in city environments.

I was reading about an Acura 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD 6MT recently, which by the way has an incredible number of similarities to the CT. Anyway, one sentence stood out that is interesting: "With any luck, it’s also possible to have a dealer reflash the steering system with the 2010 software." The reviewer, who quite liked the car, didn't like the lighter 2012 steering, which in my estimation is also a valid criticism of the CT. Would there be a software tweek to alter the CT as well, maybe the same as in the TL? Lots of questions.

We've all seen advertisements for chips that are available in the aftermarket for truck engines and other cars, generally for performance or mileage purposes. I am wondering if anyone is considering marketing chips that will allow people like ourselves to set/reset various available engine/transmission functions that only Honda software engineers hidden in the bowels of Honda Central know about.
 
#6 ·
Even if the final ratio is close to the same of the current transmission, the extra gear(s) make a huge difference.

It allows the engine to remain in the most efficient RPM range more of the time.

Not sure what other tweaks they've made... but the extra gear is nothing to scoff at.
 
#7 ·
FYI, earlier Crosstours have a 4.53 final drive vs 4.25 in the new V6.

Top gear......earlier is .612, while the 2013 is .566, yet has a lower low gear.

The 2013 is about .8 sec quicker to 60, I'm guessing, what with the reconfigured torque curve and better gearing . Also , the new ones (V6) have electric steering,which I like better than I thought I would. .Just traded a 2010 for a 2013. 70 mph is at about 2000 rpm now.
 
#9 ·
"The electronic steering... do you know if it's variable depending on speed? "

Sorry,I'm not sure. Can only say it feels good to me..subjective, I know.

As to the original question on gas mileage, my limited experience would lead me to believe it has improved by the 1 -2 mpg Honda claims, maybe more. Not much data yet.
 
#12 ·
First week ownership report, 13 EX-L, was doing well on MPG until I discovered the joy of Sequential Shift driving in this baby...mileage dropped below 15, or below my 650i previously driven. I don't mind so much as I know the mileage figures are available for highway driving and this baby still gets it when I feel like I need to get it (without buying super unleaded)! ;-). I love this ride!
 
#14 ·
I have a 2012 V6 AWD and overall am averaging about 21mpg over the first 6000 miles. I would say about 60-70% of the miles are highway. The best I have gotten so far is 24.5mpg on 100% highway around 75mph. I live in a relatively hilly part of the Northeast. I update my profile occasionally on Fuelly. That site is really useful for seeing what mpg real people get.
 
#16 ·
Recently returned from a multi-state trip from Arizona to New Mexico-Colorado-Wyoming-South Dakota-back thru Wyoming-Utah-Arizona.

Total of 3655 miles, including mountains and interstate highways, used 124.22 gallons for an overall average of 29.423 mpg. Best tank was 33.037. Worst was 26.113. Most miles were highway but these numbers included all in-town driving.

Drove at maximum legal speeds when possible. Didn't do anything special to increase mileage, unless subconciously.

2013 CT V6 2WD w/o Nav

Wanted to see what CT would do. Bought new 5-27-2013. Used 87 octane gasoline even though some of those states had lower choices for less money.

Better than mileage claims on window sticker. Good power throughout mountain areas. Very happy with overall performance.
 
#18 ·
NICE jc8---

Sounds like a nice roadtrip. I sure need to hit the open road soon in my CT. :cool:

I've read on several car owners sites that they've tried higher octane fuel than what their autos' required and have had some very good numbers come up for them useage-wise.

May be worth the extra fuel cost at times. Like long, hi-way roadtrips maybe.
 
#19 ·
Thanks, Joe and Ernie,

Yes, it was a very nice trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend those areas to anyone who wants a beautiful and scenic trip.

Ernie, maybe next trip I'll try better gasoline. This time I wanted to get a baseline, which is the reason I did not use the sub-87 Octane fuel in a couple of states. I would rather be nice to the CT until I'm sure the lower octane would not be harmful.

Also, I forgot to mention it earlier, but the computer on the CT was a bit more optimistic than the real figures, showing approx. 1 mpg difference in most cases.

Very happy with the Crosstour!!!
 
#22 ·
We traded in an '05 V6 Accord that regularly got 32-35 on the highway. The BEST I've ever done with my '10 CT V6 AWD is maybe 26 mpg, and that on one leg of an 800 mile trip. More typical is 21-22 highway at 75-80 mph. If the '13s and '14s are getting 30+ with V6 and AWD, it may be time to make a change!!
 
#23 ·
Kemosabe - Seems to me that this is a Username from a Pilot forum - waaaaaaay back. I have an '03 and an '09 Pilot.

And I traded my '10 Accord Crosstour for a '13 V6 AWD Crosstour. I am getting about 3 mpg better than my '10 - and the electronics (mainly Bluetooth phone and using the Aux In for audible.com playback) are much better.

I do not have Nav - I'm allergic to Honda's user interface, so I have a dash mounted Garmin - but the EX-L has a large going backwards camera - plus the Lane Change camera and the right side blind spot camera. I have not tested the Collision Warning, and don't intend to.

I'd say that the transition from the '10 to the '13 was well worth it.
 
#24 ·
I did a casino trip this past Saturday. It's about 75 miles away, mostly freeway. Mostly smooth sailing in both directions I averaged (-1 mpg from on board computer and "Automatic" verifying) 32MPG. I was very happy with that result. I was mostly doing 70MPH.
 
#25 ·
34,000 miles on my 2012 v6EXL 4WD now. Still on original Michelins, which have a good long way to go yet since we run real snow tires on both our Hondas in the winter. It snows a bit here in Saratoga County and the southern Adirondacks, where we spend a good bit of time.

Life of the car, since Day 1, is 21.6 mpg. That sounds low till you consider that we are in a sort of suburban sprawl area, with more traffic lights being installed every five minutes, it seems, and a LOT more people moving to the area since our economy here has remained strong. Most of my driving is around southern Saratoga and Albany area, with frequent business trips 100 to 150 miles south, closer to NYC.

The mileage suffers in the winter as well - dramatically - once those heavy tread tires go on, but the car is terrific in snow and far better in slush than with the street tires. Major difference. Regular tires in slush, you couldn't stop the thing with a court order... it would just slide along with the anti lock brakes thrashing away trying to stop it.

Best tank was 28.2 last summer coming back from Georgia. Local driving in town here runs around 17 - 18, but as soon as you put it on the Northway and turn on cruise it always gets to the right side of 23 or 24.

All things considered, for such a large and heavy car with 4WD, we are quite happy with the mileage. Could be better, and the next one, probably a 2015 (another Crossstour for certain) may well be. I can't say enough good things about this car though, and that's the best part.
 
#26 ·
I'm at 4000 miles on about a 50/50 mix of city and highway. I try to maximize fuel economy where possible and I'm averaging about 27mpg. I got this from Wikipedia on the Honda V6:

The J-series is Honda's second V6 engine family, introduced in 1996. It is a 60° V6 – Honda's existing C-series was a 90° engine. The J-series was designed for transverse mounting. It has a shorter bore spacing (98 mm or 3.86 in), shorter connecting rods, and a special smaller crankshaft than the C-series for compactness. All current J-series engines are SOHC 4-valve designs with VTEC variable valve timing.
The J-series engine was designed in the United States by Honda engineers. It is built at Honda's Anna, Ohio engine plant.
One unique feature of some J-family engine models is Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system. The system uses the i-VTEC system to turn off one bank of cylinders under light loads, turning the V6 into a straight-3. The latest Variable Cylinder Management system is able to turn off one bank of cylinders or one cylinder on opposing banks, allowing for three-cylinder use under light loads or four-cylinder use under medium loads.
J35Z2 - Variable Cylinder Management
  • 2008-2012 Honda Accord (except V6 6MT coupe)
  • Displacement: 3,471 cc (211.8 cu in)
  • Bore and stroke: 89.0 mm (3.5 in) x 93.0 mm (3.7 in)
  • Compression: 10.5:1
  • Power, torque: 271 hp (202 kW) @ 6200 rpm;
  • Torque: 254 lb·ft (344 N·m) @ 5000 rpm
  • Valvetrain: 24v SOHC i-VTEC
  • Fuel control: Multi-point fuel injection; PGM-FI
J35Y1 (EarthDreams)
  • 2013+ Honda Accord V-6
  • Displacement: 3,471 cc (211.8 cu in)
  • Bore and stroke: 89.0 mm (3.5 in) x 93.0 mm (3.7 in)
  • Compression: 10.5:1
  • Power: 278 hp (207 kW) @ 6,200 rpm
  • Torque: 252 lb·ft (342 N·m) @ 4,900 rpm
  • Valvetrain: 24v SOHC VTEC (Traditional VTEC cam profiles on Intake Valves plus VCM on rear bank)
  • Ignition control type: ECU -Coil on Plug
  • Fuel control: Multi-point Direct fuel injection; PGM-FI - DEFI
  • Red Line: 6,900rpm
  • Fuel Cut off: 7,300rpm
 
#28 ·
2012 v6 AWD

I have a 2012 CT V6 AWD with about 22k miles on it. I bought it used a few months ago and have put a few thousand miles on it. My gas mileage will range from as low as 15 mpg for mainly city driving to 24 mpg for mainly highway.

I was convinced there must be something wrong with it, since the mpg seemed low compared to what the sticker claims this cars mpg should be. I'm glad I read this thread, because now it appears that all 2012 v6 awd CTs average the same gas mileage.

It's just too bad we have all these 2013 owners in here rubbing it in that they get up to 10 mpg better than us. :rolleyes:
 
#31 ·
2010 Crosstour

I have had my Crosstour for 3 years. It's the V6 4WD version. Mostly city driving and getting about 20 MPG. Best on several different road trips has been 26-27 MPG.
The only thing I don't like about my Crosstour is the Honda installed remote start. That was a mistake!!! How dumb it is to turn OFF your warmed up car to get in when it's 5 degrees. Why have a remote start?
 
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