Need help to improve gas mileage

[M1Accord]

I recently purchased a house 40 miles from my work. When I did the direction under google map, mapquest, and yahoo map I was given a 33.5 miles distance from the house to the office but actual driving proves to be 38.5 miles. I have already figure out a route the avoid stop and go traffic by cutting around the outskirt of city and avoid almost all traffic lights and only had one real light that doesn't favor my direction. The distance is actually the same as the main road, which would take 30 minutes longer due to stop and go and plenty of traffic light.

I keep next to nothing in the car to keep the wait down. Fluid is 5W30 Mobil Clean that I got on sale. It usually use Mobil 1 5W20 though. Vehicle is 02 Accord V6 Coupe. Tire pressure is 2 psi over recommended setting. The tires aren't OEM Michelin Energy but rather BF Goodrich, which is nice to look at but isn't as efficient. I believe it provides better traction. Air filter is K&N reusable, cleaned every 15k miles.

The gas mileage I am getting is 25 mpg. I know that gas around here is 10% ethanol and couple with the less efficient tires, I won't get the 28 mpg from the 2002 window sticker rating, which I did get when the vehicle was new.

Since there is a decent flow of traffic to and from work, I wonder if drafting actually save fuel. I can't seem to tell the different in mileage when driving on empty road verse when in a good floor of traffic, which I would think should help fuel economy since all cars help spread the wind resistant.

Long distance commuters, please recommend things I can do to improve gas mileage.

Thanks.

 

[Jason2007]

You could switch to Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w20 or 0w30 oil that could help save some gas. Also, you could try putting a little more air in the tires to help. You could also try traveling roads with the most highways, drafting does help, but it can be dangerous. Also, if your transmission is a manual you can put it in neutral and coast when possible. Also, try not to come to a sudden stop. Try letting the engine slow you down instead of the brakes.

 

[SuperDave456]

You may be able to squeeze a fraction of a percent by going to a 5w20 in that engine. If you wanted to really go thin you could add a pint of Marvel Mystery oil to the 5w20 and thin it out even more.

MPG has more to do with driving habits than mechanics, and it sounds like you take care of your car.
Other than what you are doing slow acceleration and sparing the brakes, braking slowly, will help

I wish I got 25mpg out of my F-150 or my Xterra, and oh yeah my Taurus gets at best 27mpg but typically it is between 23-25mpg due to in city driving mixed with a lot of highway.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Increase tire pressure to 6 psi over recommended and use cruise control at 60-65 MPH or at speed limit of the highway portion of the trip. When you need to top off your oil before next oil change, use MMO instead of 5W30 Mobil Clean.

 

[Johnny]

1. Go back to the 5W-20
2. Use synthetic fluid in your transmission
3. Go to the parts store and buy a bottle of Gumout REGANE and follow directions.

Now doing all that probably won't get you an extra 3 mpg, but it will help.

Be safe, don't draft to close.

 

[Herz]

When was your last tune up and how many miles on car?

 

[addyguy]

25 mpg isn't bad for a V-6 Accord.

Like other have said, bit more air in the tires, 0W-20 syn oil, syn in the transmisson, FI cleaner, and drive smoothly.

Don't do any dangerous driving/coasting maneouvers the hard-core MPG'ers do - some of them are really dangerous.

 

[M1Accord]

Mileage was at 25 even when Mobil 1 5w20 was used. It started with the change to 10% ethanol. I am very easy on brake. It has 90k miles and I am still having 3/4 of the pads. Driving habit is good and with the mix of 20 city/ 80 highway.

I used Regan a few times already. I should have stuck with Michelin.

 

[JHZR2]

Tires can take 2 mpg away. When did you do your tune-up? Have you replaced your timing belt (it is likely due)?

Go to a synthetic 0w-20 motor oil, and synthetic ATF. You can put more pressure in your tires, go to 4-5 over what the card on your car says.

Also, drive like there is an egg between your foot and the pedal. No matter how lightly you are driving, drive gentler.

You can also spend $150 and buy a scangauge, which not only tells you everything that is going on in your car (including reading CEL codes), but also serves as an MPG meter, so you can verify your driving style works.

 

[eoghan]

Keep it tuned up, keep air filter clean, Keep tire pressures up...

Also regular use of this WILL help. I always notice an increase in mileage whenever I use it!!! https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/api.aspx

 

[brandini]

Tires: try max pressure minus 10%
Make sure you get an ALIGNMENT
Syn trans fluid
Spark plugs and wires
COAST! (my 07 Mazda6 uses zero gas while coasting)

 

[sciphi]

Drafting is dangerous. It leaves you open to rear-ending someone for zero gain.

To improve mileage, the first adjustment is the nut behind the wheel.

The essence of getting good fuel economy is: Keep it moving! The corollary to that is: situational awareness and response. Be aware of things that will hinder your forward progress, and respond appropriately. Strangely enough, backing off the gas is often very appropriate.

 

[mpvue]

people always want to fix the car to improve mpg, but the MOST improvement is from driving habits. regardless of how well you think you drive, everyone can improve. lots of hypermilers use a scangauge to help them w/ their habits.
I used to get 25-26 in my VUE on my commute and I thought I was doing well. but when I made a concerted effort to drive slower, accelerate moderately, and coast more to a stop, and shift sooner, my mpg when up to almost 32.
fwiw, when I switched the engine oil and transmission fluid to amsoil, I didn't measure any mpg improvement.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

25 mpg isn't a bad average for a 6 cyl indeed.

 

[brandini]

Oh and don't forget to track mpg here and you can compare your car to others with the same:
http://www.fuelly.com/car/honda/accord/gas v6