I can use some help with what I should do with my low MPG. I'm getting 20MPG on the dot. No more, no less with every tank. I have 1000 miles so far on a 2007 Sport 5AT. A call to the dealer was very unhelpful - they just said try premium gas. I tried that with no change. Others here said it wouldn't make a difference, but I just wanted to make sure so I could tell the dealer I tried their suggestion.

I drive about 80%city/20% highway, the AC has been on about 40% of the time - or less. All the details are covered: I know how to calculate MPG, Our last car ('96 VW Golf GTI) was getting 23-25mpg under the same conditions. All I'm saying is this is not just a "less than optimum condition" scenario.

Could I have a lemon? Should I contact Honda directly? Should I be more pushy with my dealer?

 

20MPG !!!

Something is definitely wrong there.
Take it back. For them to suggest premium to get it back to the normal 30+ MPG is assanine.

Maybe go straight to Honda. I'm not familiar with how Honda and dealers handle such situations.

Good luck

 

The Dealer told you to run premium gas? Yeah, if that is the solution they offered it sounds like they are a bunch of jerks. Can you talk to somebody higher up in the dealership? If they don't offer help get a hold of Honda costumer service and start writting letters, these cars arn't suppose to run on premium and they most certainly should be getting better than 20mpg!

 

take it back.

 

I agree. Talk to the owner/manager. If that doesn't work, start calling and/or writing letters to Honda. No way that 20mpg is normal. Good luck!

 

"I average between 36-42mpg with the Auto sport, after replacing the paper filter with a K&N factory replacement."

I read the above on the most recent kbb customer review. No idea which filter (probably oil?) this person means, and how the replacement improves mileage versus the OEM paper filter.

 

are u driving over 3000 rpm, cuz if u are thats prolly why ur getting such low mileage...revving too high too fast will kill gas mileage no matter what they say about the mpg...

 

I shift at like 3.7k rpm most of the time. I avg 31-38mpg

 

Tire pressure?

 

Tire pressure could definitely do it. I run ~40 front and 37 rear (psi, that is).

 

Yeah thats insanly low MPG!!! I average 36-37 in my AT sport. I say go directly through Honda, they have to do something about it!

 

Thanks all,
Tire pressures are fine (not 40psi but 35psi) but I can't think that would knock off 15 off my mpg.

I doubt my wife ever revs over 3000rpm, but I don't. We don't really get a chance to "open this baby up" between Chicago stop lights.

We're going to see the dealer Thursday for their last chance to correct this.

Just a note on our dealer... when my wife went to pick up the plates we also mentioned there was a corner on the top edge of the driver door where there a spot of exposed metal (It looked like it got ground away somehow - very small, but exposed). He said they couldn't touch it up because it was actually a decal, not paint. Then he said don't worry it won't corrode. Jerk! No help, just a blow off.

I might have to move this to the Dealer Comment Section if they try to blow us off again.

CK

 

Ok I talked to someone from Seattle that was getting lower mileage.

I average around where I live in the low to mid 40's, when I've taken longer trips, (over the mountains primarily hwy) the best I've gotten is 59.

1 DO NOT PUT PREMIUM IN YOUR TANK.
The worse mileage I ever got was when I stuffed a 2 pt higher octane regular in it. (cenex gas) I have a mechanic that runs his own shop out here in Enumclaw where I live, and all he does it Hondas. (honda certified) He specifically stated you can totally F up your mileage using a higher octane. The car is designed to work with 87.
2 Use cruise control.
I use it primarily cause I kept catching myself doing 40 over in some of the straights out here. (no I don't have a lead foot, just the car is quiet when running so you don't notice or I don't. ) I don't used it just for the high speed areas, you can use it down to about 35 mph. It helps. AC I don't think makes that big of a deal, I ran from Snoqualmie pass to almost Yakima with it running, and that was on some really good sized grades. (you know the ones where they say don't run acc cause you risk overheating ones) was the first really good mileage trip, 58 mph.
3 Find another dealer.
4 Call Honda and Bitch at them over what the dealer said, write too.

T

 

1) Using the A/C actually does effect the MPG more than you would think, but not as much as the 2006 Nissan Pathfinder I drove before the Fit - that beast barely made 20mpg normally, with the A/C on it would often drop to a pathetic 13mpg. I know this because the dash would display the current MPG at all times.

2) Cruise control is your best friend for the highway. People often vary the pressure they put on the gas pedal without knowing it, which wastes fuel at highway speeds. Cruise control will attempt to burn the least fuel possible while maintaining the current speed, especially in vehicles with manual transmission. Cruise control in automatic vehicles can sometimes actually hurt MPG as the car may downshift unnecessarily (especially climbing hills.)

3) Quite suprised to find out that people are reporting poor MPG using a higher octane fuel. I have always used 87 and have averaged about 31mpg but will fill up with 93 over the weekend and report on the results.

 

I would love to see if someone else gets bad mileage from higher octane. I know someone from seattle who was out here a few weekends ago said he tried premium and his mileage dropped.

 

He probably mean air filter

 

i generally use premium because my AT fit doesn't seem to run as well on lower octane. however, when i used 87, my mileage jumped to average 42 mpg, where with premium i get anywhere between 32-37.

 

I just filled up with 87 octane last week and went 402 miles for the tank before the gas light came on.

I now will fill up with 93 octane and see if I can get the same, or more.