| Dick at Incline |
I just got back from a 2,000 mile trip in my 2003 MDX, from Lake Tahoe, NV, into Utah, South Western Colorado and back towing a 16-foot enclosed trailer, about 3,500 pounds. Nearly all my driving was 55-58 mph, and I got overall 13.2mpg. Most of the driving was at 5000-8000 feet elevation, and I used Regular Unleaded, which most of the way was 85 Octane, no Pinging ever, and no apparent reduction in performance. Even with fairly steep grades along Hwy 50 and I-80, engine temp never went above mid-range, outside air temp was sometimes up to 85 and Air-conditioner was usually on. Speed on the steep grades dropped to about 40mph, I could have gone a little faster, but I didn't want to push more than about 4500 RPM.
The MPG display in the Nav system usually showed about 1mpg more than I was experiencing. I found that the Low fuel light comes on with about 2.5 Gallons still remaining. The Range remaining seems to be based on Zero Fuel left. One time, I added about 5 gallons of fuel, when I still had a quarter tank, but the range remaining did not change, so after about 50 miles, it went to Zero Range, when I still had about 5-6 gallons in the tank. I did some short-run tests of mileage and found that increasing my speed, pulling the trailer, by 10 mph, dropped my mileage by about 20-25%, that's why I kept it around 55mph.
The Nav system worked great, I'm very glad I got this option. It helped me locate restaurants, several National Parks, and getting back to the freeway easily when I deviated through a town for lunch. One interesting thing is that the "distance to go" is quite accurate, however the "time to go" is way off and has nothing to do with your actual speed. As near as I can tell, the Nav system assumes you will go 25mph on local roads, 35-40 on Highways and 55 on the Interstates, and computes the "time to go" based on those assumptions. |
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| MDXor |
Glad to hear that the MDX did very well!!!
And thanks for the information... it is good to know the towing mileage that we can expect.
Let us know when you change the transmission oil if anything peculiar shows up.
:) |
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| LarryC1116 |
I too just completed a long haul trailer trip. I pulled my Ski Natique ski boat from Atlanta GA to Naples FL (approx 630 miles one way). Terrain was flat and all miles were interstate. I used 93 octane gas and the Nav unit said I was between 9.5-9.9 MPG while pulling at 70 mph. I will probably change my transmission fluid as a maintenance item but haven't done so yet.
The MDX performed well pulling my 3500 lb boat and tandem axle trailer.:) |
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| hammermdx |
| Excellent news,, and it sounds like it was a fine trip! Please keep us updated at the first transmission fluid change. |
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| Dick at Incline |
quote:
Originally posted by LarryC1116
I too just completed a long haul trailer trip. I pulled my Ski Natique ski boat from Atlanta GA to Naples FL (approx 630 miles one way). Terrain was flat and all miles were interstate. I used 93 octane gas and the Nav unit said I was between 9.5-9.9 MPG while pulling at 70 mph. I will probably change my transmission fluid as a maintenance item but haven't done so yet.
The MDX performed well pulling my 3500 lb boat and tandem axle trailer.:)
I have the Wells Cargo 16-foot long Express Wagon Tandem axle trailer, and I just computed my gross weight at 3850, carrying 2-ATVs, some fuel and misc gear. At 65mph my Nav unit indicated 10.7-11mpg, and at 55mph it indicated about 14mpg (all on flat ground near the Great Salt Lake), so that was the basis for my estimate of 20-25% poorer mileage at the higher speed. As I recall, at 65 mph the engine was running at higher RPM, because it was in a lower gear, trying to maintain the higher speed. I found 55-58 to be very comfortable, although a little slow, and that gave me useage of 32.1 gallons (85 Octane) for 408 miles of continuous driving along Hwy 80 in Nevada (lots of ups and downs from 5,000 to about 7,500 feet). With the Cruise control set at 55mph and climbing a 6% grade, the speed would gradually decrease to about 40 mph then the transmission would up-shift and try to bring the speed up, which it did. |
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| Dick at Incline |
| Oops, the post above should have said, 31.1 Gallons for 408 miles. I hit the wrong key! |
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| BlueStreak |
quote:
Originally posted by LarryC1116
I too just completed a long haul trailer trip. I pulled my Ski Natique ski boat from Atlanta GA to Naples FL (approx 630 miles one way). Terrain was flat and all miles were interstate. I used 93 octane gas and the Nav unit said I was between 9.5-9.9 MPG while pulling at 70 mph. I will probably change my transmission fluid as a maintenance item but haven't done so yet.
The MDX performed well pulling my 3500 lb boat and tandem axle trailer.:)
Glad to see another skier in the group. I have a Supra and the X handles it well (single axle Ohlahoma trailer). The 4wd really helps on slick boat ramps.
I think 13.2 posted earlier (or your 9.9) MPG towing is pathetic. I posted a similar experience towing back from DC earlier in the year. A borrowed a Surburban and got better tow mileage than I do with my X. Since I live on a lake I don't tow all that much, but if I did regularly, I'd probably go buy an old pick-up just for this purpose. |
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| Dick at Incline |
quote:
Originally posted by BlueStreak
Glad to see another skier in the group. I have a Supra and the X handles it well (single axle Ohlahoma trailer). The 4wd really helps on slick boat ramps.
I think 13.2 posted earlier (or your 9.9) MPG towing is pathetic. I posted a similar experience towing back from DC earlier in the year. A borrowed a Surburban and got better tow mileage than I do with my X. Since I live on a lake I don't tow all that much, but if I did regularly, I'd probably go buy an old pick-up just for this purpose.
I am really surprised that the Suburban gets better tow mileage than the MDX. I just did a 4000 mile tow with a '97 Jeep Cherokee V-8 and got about 11.5mpg with the same trailer and the same speed. For my purpose, I like the comfort and quiet of the MDX for long distance, I sure wouldn't want to do long-distance with "an old pick-up". |
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| hockeyplayer |
| Dick at Incline.....(I snicker every time I see that name:D ) Do you have a transmission cooler?? The only thing stopping me from getting a hitch is the fact that I will not be hauling anything huge but I am sure if there was a problem with the transmission Acura could be stubborn. |
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| Dick at Incline |
quote:
Originally posted by hockeyplayer
Dick at Incline.....(I snicker every time I see that name:D )
I'm glad I bring a little happiness into your life; and yes I do have the Transmission cooler and also the power steering cooler. These are both part of the Acura Trailer Towing Package. I believe that these all worked very well, especially since my main water temp never went much above the middle of the range. Usually it is about 1 notch below the middle and during a hard up-hill pull it registered 1 notch above the middle even with the air conditioner on, and the transmission cooler sitting in front of the radiator.
I used the Cruise control almost exclusively for the whole trip, and while it holds pretty good without the trailer--pulling steep hills often dropped 15mph before it really kicked down and tried to regain speed. |
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| Dick at Incline |
| By the way, the trailer towing package is a dealer installed option complete with the coolers, and costs about $800. Since the MDX does not have a frame, but is a Unibody, you must make sure the hitch is securely fastened into the body. IMHO, I think you would have no problem towing a small trailer with total gross up to 1000# without the coolers. |
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| Blackura |
quote:
Originally posted by hockeyplayer
Dick at Incline.....(I snicker every time I see that name:D )
Phew! And I thought I was the only one reduced to snickering like Bevis and Butthead.
Dick, you do indeed have the best screen name on the entire forum and the good sense of humor to go along with it. |
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| Dick at Incline |
quote:
Originally posted by Blackura
Phew! And I thought I was the only one reduced to snickering like Bevis and Butthead.
Dick, you do indeed have the best screen name on the entire forum and the good sense of humor to go along with it.
Thanks for the comment, although my screen name was done somewhat inadvertently. On most boards, it's "Dick at Incline, NV" obviously where I live; and my e-mail name is "dicktahoe". I need to tell you it's hard being a Dick. Maybe I should have chosen Rick or Rich or something else. Once, the mother of a girl-friend of mine, spent years calling me Richard, because she just couldn't call me Dick. I find life is much more fun, if you don't take yourself too seriously--at work my unofficial title was "Vice-President of Fun things". Anyway, at 68 I have come to understand that "You may have to grow old, but you don't have to grow up." My wife and I just got back from our 2-week trip of ATV riding in Utah and it was great--that was the basis for this thread. Last year at this time we were on a Motorcycle trip through the North Eastern States and up into the Canadian Maritime Provinces on a Honda Goldwing.
Best Regards, "Dick at Incline" |
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| catzx6 |
| We pull our Sea Ray 190 (4,500 lbs w/tandem ShoreLand'r), and get around 12 mpg. Mild hills, lots of starting and stopping in NW GA area. I have yet to spin a tire coming out of a ramp. |
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| BlueStreak |
quote:
Originally posted by Dick at Incline
I am really surprised that the Suburban gets better tow mileage than the MDX. I just did a 4000 mile tow with a '97 Jeep Cherokee V-8 and got about 11.5mpg with the same trailer and the same speed. For my purpose, I like the comfort and quiet of the MDX for long distance, I sure wouldn't want to do long-distance with "an old pick-up".
Dick - No question the X is a comfortable ride when towing. You'll get total agreement on that. Since the 03 has some high shift points, mileage does tend to suffer. I towed 600 miles with a Chevy Astro and got better mileage than towing with my X, same boat, same conditions. I go from 22MPG non-towing to 13 towing - quite a drop. And yes, the Suburban did much better than I expected as well. I, like you, prefer my X and I'll use it. If towing was my game and I did it regularly, I'm not convinced the X would be my number one vehicle of choice. But for light to moderate towing, it's fine. |
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