Poor gas mileage - 2012 V6 Accord

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disappoint

Lifer
Dec 7, 2009
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It can still be humid when it isn't cold enough to run the heater yet. A/C dehumidifies, too.

True, and it's ok to do it once in a while when necessary but expect less fuel economy when doing so. Also he made it seem like he does that all the time.

Anyway have you changed the oil? If so did you use full synthetic and the correct weight oil? I had a friend who took his Sentra into one of those quickie oil change places and they put the wrong oil in his car. It wasn't even close to the right weight oil. Never trust those places.

How much does this car weigh? You don't carry around heavy stuff in it do you? Weight affects city mpg more than hwy because you have to overcome inertia.

We heard you like inertia so we pimped yo Porsche with Porscha as a passenger so you could have more inertia in yo Porsche, yo.
 
Oct 20, 2005
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Turn off AC if you are not using it. My fiancee keeps it on all the time regardless of the weather...I just want to yell sometimes.

Ok so you posted mixed average...what's your pure highway average? Based on your "driving habits" - is that flooring it? WOT merging or just passing people? Lots of stop and go in the city?

I'd say it's normal...the sticker estimates aren't for performance enthusiasts.

What does WOT stand for?

Pure highway average should be closer to 30. I know if I drove for 3-4 hours from say Dallas to Austin/Houston, I can achieve the 30mpg even with A/C on the whole time.

However, I don't think I've only driven highway (in the city, not travelling between cities) for one tank of gas. There's always some city/local driving mixed in.

In any case though, I am never "flooring it". I will usually stick close to speed limits in city, and maybe go 5-10mph more on highways.
 
Oct 20, 2005
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I'm going to try turning off the A/C more and see if that helps. I did so just now while driving home from work. It's going to take some adjusting to get used to it. It's only in the upper 70's where I live, but the air blowing in the car feels warmer than that.

Another question: If I turn off the A/C, but leave recirculate on, what is keeping the air cool if I set the temp to as low as possible? Is it going to only be as cold/cool as outside temperatures?

If so, then does having recirculate vs fresh air make any difference if the A/C is set to off? I know recirculate will help the A/C cool air faster, but if A/C is off, doesn't seem like it matters if it's recirc vs fresh.
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
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WOT = wide open throttle.

With the temp knob set to max cold, the blend door will have the heater core completely blocked off, so the temperature of the air coming out of the vents will be about the same as whatever air it's taking in. The evaporator (the part of the AC that the air flows over to get cold) will stay cool for a minute or two after hitting the AC switch, though (basically, until it's absorbed enough heat from the passing air to equalize the temps).

The big thing for me is not running the AC with the temp knob closer to the middle (except for defrosting). The AC has about the same drag whether you get 40* air or 60* air out of the vents, so a short period of max cooling is always the most efficient way to cool the interior down.
 

BUTCH1

Lifer
Jul 15, 2000
20,433
1,769
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I'm going to try turning off the A/C more and see if that helps. I did so just now while driving home from work. It's going to take some adjusting to get used to it. It's only in the upper 70's where I live, but the air blowing in the car feels warmer than that.

Another question: If I turn off the A/C, but leave recirculate on, what is keeping the air cool if I set the temp to as low as possible? Is it going to only be as cold/cool as outside temperatures?

If so, then does having recirculate vs fresh air make any difference if the A/C is set to off? I know recirculate will help the A/C cool air faster, but if A/C is off, doesn't seem like it matters if it's recirc vs fresh.

I cut my AC usage by 50% over the last 2 weeks, gained 2.2MPG. I've noticed that as well, that plain outside air entering seems warmer than normal so I just roll down 2 windows..
 

dud

Diamond Member
Feb 18, 2001
7,635
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I recommend (based upon the fact that I haven't read every post) that you sue Honda for selling you a car that doesn't meet the MPG estimate that the OEM estimated.

You wouldn't be alone ...
 
Oct 20, 2005
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Anybody who says they drive semi-aggressive, drives aggressively. That's why your mpg are low.

Not true. If I'm on the highway and someone is going below 60 in the right lane and I am behind them, passing them does not make me an aggressive driver. Not saying my driving style isn't a factor in lower mpg, but most likely it's probably b/c of my AC use more than anything.