| Gas Mileage / Fluids
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| waynow |
Just bought my MDX and gas mileage seems to be pretty bad. I’m averaging 14 to 15 mpg in the city. Is this the norm or is it the fact that I still have the original oil in the truck assuming that they still put some type of break-in-oil in new automobiles. Freeway driving improves somewhat, the mileage climbs to aprox. 18 mpg. No where near the 22mpg posted here. What do you guys think?
Also someone posted that the VTM fluid cost $16.00 per gal. Is this correct. As this fluid needs to be changed often, are there any substitutions that can be made. I’m trying not to buy out / use the entire expensive Acura fluid department. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by waynow
Just bought my MDX and gas mileage seems to be pretty bad. I’m averaging 14 to 15 mpg in the city. Is this the norm or is it the fact that I still have the original oil in the truck assuming that they still put some type of break-in-oil in new automobiles. Freeway driving improves somewhat, the mileage climbs to aprox. 18 mpg. No where near the 22mpg posted here. What do you guys think?
Also someone posted that the VTM fluid cost $16.00 per gal. Is this correct. As this fluid needs to be changed often, are there any substitutions that can be made. I’m trying not to buy out / use the entire expensive Acura fluid department.
What do you consider often? Fluid is changed every 15K. It takes less than 3 qts. NO substitution. Very easy to change yourself. Search for threads on same subject. It may be cheaper if purchased at a Honda dealer vs. Acura.
Mileage is typically worse for the first several thousand miles. I did not see much above 20 mpg on the freeway until I had almost 6 or 7K miles. Now to see 24 or 25 is not unusual. Town driving varies by location. I rarely get less than 16 but that is in a semi rural environment. |
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| azfansinnc |
What DaleB said on the VTM4...
My '03 gets about 16.5 in light city driving and a max of 24-25 on the highway. Usually, highway is 21-22.
I have 17K on mine and mileage has not really improved. I get better mileage in the summer vs the winter because of the oxygenated fuels in the winter.
I have tried Mobil1 0W-20 oil over the winter. No improvement that I can tell. I have since gone back to the M1 5W-30.
Do the '04 specs still list MPG's as "based on 02 estimates" or similar? That's what the '03 specs said. |
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| mdx99 |
quote:
Originally posted by waynow
Just bought my MDX and gas mileage seems to be pretty bad. I’m averaging 14 to 15 mpg in the city. Is this the norm or is it the fact that I still have the original oil in the truck assuming that they still put some type of break-in-oil in new automobiles. Freeway driving improves somewhat, the mileage climbs to aprox. 18 mpg. No where near the 22mpg posted here. What do you guys think?
Also someone posted that the VTM fluid cost $16.00 per gal. Is this correct. As this fluid needs to be changed often, are there any substitutions that can be made. I’m trying not to buy out / use the entire expensive Acura fluid department.
Check your tire pressure, properly inflated tires can increase your mileage by about 6-8%, I have about 32-34psi on my tires.
VTM fluid should be changed at 15,000 intervals which cost only $20 each time from honda dealer for the materials, cheap! |
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| Pauls MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by waynow
Just bought my MDX and gas mileage seems to be pretty bad. I’m averaging 14 to 15 mpg in the city. Is this the norm or is it the fact that I still have the original oil in the truck assuming that they still put some type of break-in-oil in new automobiles. Freeway driving improves somewhat, the mileage climbs to aprox. 18 mpg. No where near the 22mpg posted here. What do you guys think?
Also someone posted that the VTM fluid cost $16.00 per gal. Is this correct. As this fluid needs to be changed often, are there any substitutions that can be made. I’m trying not to buy out / use the entire expensive Acura fluid department.
Slow down your highway speeds to 55 mph and you will see the 23-25 mpg. Also make sure your on a flat road, if going uphill the mileage drops. I've been getting what you have mentioned because my highway speeds are at 70 mph on average. I've noticed a big drop as you go over the 55 mph speed. Around town the 14-15 mpg is excellent on stop and go, I was getting only 12 mpg around town. |
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