| Real World Octane Testing Tomorrow
- Click HERE for Original Thread
|
| MannyE |
Hi guys.
I've been reading through the different mpg/octane/type of gas to use threads and I would like to try a test.
I live in Miami Beach and will be driving to Walt Disney World tomorrow. (there is a thread somewhere when I said I would be doing this)
I have let the premium gas in the tank run really low until today and will be filling up with mid-grade $1.95 a gallon 89 octane (Thank you President Bush).
The last time I drove to Disney I got high 17 low 18 mpg at around 75-80 mph. This was on premium Chevron (now $2.05 a gallon...thanks again Bush).
I'm going to assume that the computer uses the knock sensor to advance/retard timing hence I may experience some reduced HP. But since I am not towing or otherwise straining the engine that should not really be a factor.
My hope is that I will break into the 19mpg or even see those 20+ numbers I have been seeing posted around lately. I will bring my camera to grab a pic of the TC if I get a really great number.
Using the trip computer, I will report back any difference in feel and/or mpg numbers.
The X has about 24K miles on it at the moment (a 2001 model) and just went through an oil change. All the oil changes have been done at the Acura dealer, so I'm running whatever the factory recommends. No modifications whatsoever...bone stock. |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
Q1) Why yet another octane thread?
Q2) What does President Bush have to do with your octane test?
C1: There are way too many variables involved for "this" test to give any meaningful results.
C2: I have taken an MDX to Sarasota, FL twice from Houston, TX in June (thus A/C) and averaged 22 mpg. |
|
|
| MannyE |
A1)
I thought there have not been enough "actual" tests done. 22mpg would be great! Here, (in Miami..not acuramdx.org)I have not spoken to anyone getting more than 18. And besides to answer your question directly...if octane threads are our "Bose" threads, then we do not have nearly enough of them. Need about 200 or 300 more. But first we have to pick an overpriced/underperforming octane number to continually flog.
A2)
Bush has nothing to do with it. But until the election is over, all my posts will have a little Bush bash in them. In fact, I may just alter my sig so it will be included there. Thanks for the idea. I've even got the perfect sig...
"Republicans for Kerry"
As to your conclusions:
C1: You are probably right, hence the "real world" instead of "scientific" in the title. And if the results are a dramatic increase in mpg, then I have to disagree that the results will be meaningless, even taking the variables into account.
C2: I will be very happy if I get 22 mpg. I doubt it. How many miles do you have on your X? Perhaps it gets much better as the miles on the motor increase. I've got a relatively low amount of miles (a little less than 24K or so) |
|
|
| phins2rt |
quote:
Originally posted by MannyE
The X has about 24K miles on it at the moment (a 2001 model)
Hi MannyE,
I am a little confused here. Are you driving your X? Your sig states you have an 02. :confused: |
|
|
| MannyE |
I meant 2002.
:32: |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
quote:
Originally posted by MannyE
Bush has nothing to do with it. But until the election is over, all my posts will have a little Bush bash in them. In fact, I may just alter my sig so it will be included there.
We all agree this thread is redundant, we all agree your "test" will NOT reveal results on an octane only basis - and now we see your real motives :rolleyes: |
|
|
| MannyE |
Define all.
I thought I was being helpful.
If you were offended by my little Bush bash, you can PM me.
If you do a search you will see that I often try to be helpful or add the board in my posts.
Thanks for the personal attack in public.
It really feels good.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
mpg/octane threads were a hot topic of debate just a few days ago - so much so that they were the stimulus for admin to start the new FAQ section (I did NOT say that the octane debate caused the new FAQ section - but it did provide the context/excuse for their introduction).
I was NOT offended by your political views - however we do have Off Topic threads for political discussion and your private person political views do NOT belong in a so-called "scientific" study of mpg/mileage.
You yourself said that you would bash Bush in ALL your posts up until the Nov election. You seem to be upset that I choose NOT to take any of your posts seriously from now own. Why should I? Will future posts be a serious "scientific" report or a political statement. I merely point out to you that your credibilty to do unbiased "scientifc" testing (which is what you claim this thread is about) has been compromised.
PS: Where have I personally attacked you?
PPS: I sincerely hope you get good mileage on the trip. Have a good time.:1: |
|
|
| MannyE |
So anyway, I will be posting my results on Friday, after I get back from the trip.
I will be using the mid-grade both ways and keeping an eye on the trip computer.
I have never seen or recorded anything more than 18.X mpg. So even moving into the 19 mpg will be interesting.
I usually use the cruise control at no more than 80 mph (that seems to keep most of the troopers happy) and no less than 75mph.
If I see a huge (2 or more mpg better) I will switch back to premium on the way back just to see what happens. If not, I will stay with the mid-grade until I get back home. |
|
|
| TheWorm |
| this thread has been moved to the FLUIDS forum. |
|
|
| frostyra |
quote:
Originally posted by MannyE
So anyway, I will be posting my results on Friday, after I get back from the trip.
I will be using the mid-grade both ways and keeping an eye on the trip computer.
I have never seen or recorded anything more than 18.X mpg. So even moving into the 19 mpg will be interesting.
I usually use the cruise control at no more than 80 mph (that seems to keep most of the troopers happy) and no less than 75mph.
If I see a huge (2 or more mpg better) I will switch back to premium on the way back just to see what happens. If not, I will stay with the mid-grade until I get back home.
Make sure you reset your trip computer each time you fill the tank. Otherwise, it would take hundreds/thousands of miles to show much difference. (I've seen 23+ on several mostly-highway trips, including 87 octane.) And I agree on keeping the politics out -- otherwise we may start calling you Richard instead of Manny. |
|
|
| Lance Crowley |
I drove from Boulder City, NV to St George, UT and back, filled up at the beginning and end. Most of the trip was between 75 and 85 mph with some slow stuff as we checked out St George. Used regular gas and got 20.7.
Don't think any President has a single thing to do with the price of gas. Have you checked out the gas prices in Europe? Or for that matter most other places in the world. We're very fortunate.
I think all the politics that's getting into this forum really lowers it's quality, value and makes it a whole bunch less interesting to me. Since this trend has started I've been on less and less. I get on the forum to exchange facts and ideas on my X and to check out a thongs now and then. I really don't think this is the place for that stuff. |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
quote:
Originally posted by Lance Crowley
I think all the politics that's getting into this forum really lowers it's quality, value and makes it a whole bunch less interesting to me. Since this trend has started I've been on less and less. I get on the forum to exchange facts and ideas on my X and to check out a thongs now and then. I really don't think this is the place for that stuff.
Of course there those who oppose the thongs and some have left the group since the babes and thongs took over - can't please all the people all the time. |
|
|
| Lance Crowley |
msu79gt82:
I guess my point is that when you click on the "thongs" tread you know what your getting. My problem is that when you go to a subject, like gas mileage, I don't expect to find the latest Bush/Kerrey crap. If you really want to do that then title the thread correctly and I don't have to go there. |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
quote:
Originally posted by Lance Crowley
I guess my point is that when you click on the "thongs" tread you know what your getting. My problem is that when you go to a subject, like gas mileage, I don't expect to find the latest Bush/Kerrey crap. If you really want to do that then title the thread correctly and I don't have to go there.
|
|
|
| MannyE |
Well OK I feel bad about the whole thing. This is a great board and I guess I've been spending too much time at the Audio Asylum. They tend to rub off.
But I'm leaving the sig in...at least until the dems lose. :D
As to the trip computer, I have it preset to reset on every fillup. I will double-check before I leave and make sure everything is zeroed out.
Hey..preset to reset... I'm a poet.
Should be leaving in about 2 hours. I will take my laptop so (if possible) I can post as soon as I have a chance. I don't know if the room has internet access and business centers are lately charging outrageous fees (last one I encountered was almost 10 bucks an hour....I guess they have to replace the super-high phone gouging now that most use cells for LD)
For those of you getting 22 or more mpg...are you doing 80 mph for any length of time? This may have a big impact especially if the X has high drag.
Remember back in the early 80s when drag was the hot topic? Now I never hear about it.
So anyway..nothin to it but to do it.
(there's that poet thing again) |
|
|
| perk |
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by MannyE
Bush has nothing to do with it. But until the election is over, all my posts will have a little Bush bash in them. In fact, I may just alter my sig so it will be included there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
Originally posted by msu79gt82
We all agree this thread is redundant, we all agree your "test" will NOT reveal results on an octane only basis - and now we see your real motives :rolleyes:
Geez MSU! Lighten up. I'm a die-hard republican and it doesn't make a hill of beans to me when folks add a little jab into their otherwise helpful threads.
Speaking only for myself, and not presuming to speak for "all" other members :twak:, I'm glad to have another thread from someone who plans to give more real world experience as to his actually-observed mpg on a specific trip. Relatively speaking, this thread (and the premise behind it) is much more useful than about 80% of the other threads found on this site, regardless of whether it has been discussed many times before. The way I see it, the same rules apply to this thread as to all the others you mentioned--if you find it objectionable, DON'T READ IT!
:cool: |
|
|
| MannyE |
Ahhh the one time of the year when those of us in Miami Beach actually envy the weather in DC. It's about 80 and hooooomid right now.
Thanks for the back up perk. I AM a republican after all... BUT... although had sigs not been available, would still include a jab on each and every post... I do agree that what makes this BB so cool is the richness of actual MDX info and lack of off topic stuff.
My fellow republicans are becoming like feminists...no sense of humor.. for example...
How many feminists does it take to screw in a lightbulb? THAT'S NOT FUNNY!
Oh...but how much fun we will have in the off topic forums....how.....much.....fun.
:2party: :2party:
I really hope I get some good results. And I hope that anyone else planning a 300+ mile trip that has been using premium exclusively try this as well.
And perk, you are right. I read through a lot of the gasoline threads and with the exception of the very thorough testing done by someone who put the X on a dyno (sorry I don't remember the sig...nice job dude) I did not see a lot of real world testing done.
that guy saw a drop in power with regular. I can see where this might be a problem when towing or accelerating, but not when driving on I-95 north at a steady speed. |
|
|
| cp_ssrebba |
MannyE, keep it up!
anything to help this board and the members is welcome :)
msu79gt82,
i think debates/competitions make a great nation.
keep up the good work to you too
:) |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
... I look forward to the results of this "test." My initial posts did indeed include my opinion of political statements in a so-called scientfic study (and MannyE has adamately stated he will continue to add his politics to each and every post - period :rolleyes: ) But as I said politics aside ...
... what about this "test" (yes I put test in quotes/italics on purpose)? MannyE proposes to do "Real World Octane Testing" - I also stated that such a test has too many variables to test for octane alone. There are too many dependant variables; there is no way that his mile-per-gallon results can be definitively tied to octane.
Weather conditions (temperature, humidity, wind, rain, etc), tire pressure, traffic conditions, road surface, speed (average and fluctuations), acceleration, braking, driver mood/attitude, vehicle load, elevation changes (road slope), brand of gas, etc, etc all affect your mpg - unless all these variables are held rigidly constant then any observed mpg variance can NOT be attributed to octane alone.
What if MannyE sees a Bush-for-President Billboard on the way to Walt Disney World and does not see one on the return trip :eek: (thats a joke - but driver mood IS a very real variable). Will speed be exactly the same both ways? Will the number of accelerated passes be the same both ways? Is the number of overpass inclines the same both ways? Will the outside temp/humidity be EXACTLY the same both ways so that the A/C works exactly the same both ways? Is the road surface on the west-bound lanes EXACTLY identical to the east-bound road surface? Was traffic conditions the same both ways? Will time spent sitting at lights and stop signs be exactly the same? Will the number of pit/rest stops and lenght of time stopped be the same both ways? Etc., Etc.? Traffic (starting/stopping & accelerating/braking) is the single biggest factor in the MDX's mileage.
So anyway measure your mpg - report the results; data is data and good to have. |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
quote:
Originally posted by MannyE
For those of you getting 22 or more mpg...are you doing 80 mph for any length of time?
We usually set the cruise control at about 76-77 on long interstate trips. Not unusual to hit 80-82 on passes but do not cruise at 80 for any lenght of time. We had the old '01 on thirteen 500+ mile trips as well as several ~300 mile trips and usually average 22-24 mpg.
1 time: Houston - Tulsa
6 times: Houston - Lubbock
4 times: Houston - Memphis
1 time: Houston - Sarasota
1 time: Houston - Knoxville
Have not had the new '04 on a long road trip yet; but we will go to Lubbock and back (1000+ miles) next month. |
|
|
| Maik |
While not based on a "test". I have been commuting approx 50 miles each way for the past two months. Of the 50 miles, all but 6 are highway miles with little or no traffic. In my area, we generally only have a choice of 87, 89 or 93 octane. For the first several weeks, I was buying 87 octane and I was getting readings of 19-20 miles per gallon on the trip history screen. Additionally, I would say that most of the time on the highway, I was consistantly running at 80 mph.
After the first month, I changed to only using 93 octane (again, no 91) and noticed a consistant increase in the trip history to 20-21 mpg. Still driving at about 80 mph.
The pat two weeks, I have still been using 93 octane, but because of a higher (perceived?) presence of state police, my speed had dropped to 65-70 mph. Since my last fillup, I have noticed an increase to 22+ mph. This morning, the screen actually went over 23 mpg for a while. It was the best I have seen other than the 50 I got one time after going straight downhill from the gas station.
I certainly recognize that my experience is not in any sort of controlled environment, but it has certainly shown me a couple of things. |
|
|
| msu79gt82 |
quote:
Originally posted by Maik
I certainly recognize that my experience is not in any sort of controlled environment ...
|
|
|
| MannyE |
OK! WEll, I apologize for not posting this until now, but here we go:
On the way there, I noticed two things:
1. The car seemed (SOTP) less responsive to the right foot.
2. Milage reached numbers I had never seen before.
The trip up to Disney garnered an average of 19.4 mpg for the 268 miles before I reset. This is about a 2mpg improvement over the trip up five months ago.
This trip up or "to" Disney is always the same...we leave about an hour late and find ourselves having to (or at least
thinking we have to step on it.
The cruise control was engaged for about 65 or so percent of the time at 80mph.
I did about 20 miles at 98 -100 mph behind ANOTHER MDX who had a Radar detector until it started to rain and we reached a construction area where speed fell to about 60 and cruise control was disengaged.
After the construction area I was able to cruise at about 80 again until we reached the end of highway travel.
At the end of the trip, I pulled into a gas station to fill up again with mid grade and recorded the average milage for the entire trip of 19.4. As I watched the trip computer during the trip, I could see we were getting a reading of 18 or so at 80 mph, 20! at 70.
This included the city driving part (a few miles...about 10 or 12) after leaving the house in Miami, one rest stop, and about 10 miles in Kissemee.
So the milage was better, but nothing to write home about. Although I think the significant thing is that I saw a reading of 20mpg on the trip computer, which I had never seen before.
On the way back....
Much less hurried, less traffic, more cruise control...intersting results.
AS I said, I had never seen 20 or more mpg on the TC....
On the way back...again..80 mph 17-18,
70 20-21...
Now here is where it got interesting. Upon reaching the Miami metro area and leaving the turnpike and its 70mph speed limit, I set the cruise at 60 mph, reset the trip odometer, and was able to cruise for about 26 miles before hitting the brake.
A clance at the TC revealed an astounding (to me anyway) 24 average mpg over the trip! I have never seen anything even approaching these numbers with the premium gas ever....
One note. The X seems to lose a lot of low end grunt when using mid-grade. This may be my imagination, but after reaching Miami, and filling back up with premium, I felt a lot more power on the low end...but that's just SOTP and a dyno would be the only way to really tell if the HP and TQ numbers are really lower at the bottom.
My conclusions...for a long road trip without a trailer, fill up with mid-grade and save a few bucks... around town, the loss of power/little to no mpg gain...stick with premium. BUT! If you just want to save a few (literally..three bucks) dollars at each fillup and don't mind or feel the loss of power...go for it.
I was going to try regular unleaded, but I confess that after reading about the knock sensor going crazy, I chickened out and stuck with mid-grade.
That's it! Enjoy and give it a try...see if you don't see the same result... oh one last thing... no adverse effects noted..the X is still humming along nicely. |
|
|
| MannyE |
AS if the above was not long enough...
I should note that the a/c was on the entire time. Both our daily drivers have a/c units that are "on" 98% of the time the car is driven. I think I remember three days this year I could endure the heat and humidity without the a/c pumping!
The moonroof has been opened about 10 times total! |
|
|
|
|
|
