:roll: Hello All, I'm new to this forum, but I have had an Element for approximately 5 months. I love my Element, however, with every love I think there is a question. This question has probably been asked already, but I need to know... Is anyone out there getting the advertised gas mileage?

We average 21mpg with mixed driving.

[quote:1bd92dbdf5="CCElement"] Is anyone out there getting the advertised gas mileage?[/quote:1bd92dbdf5]

It was really thirsty on my first tank...14mpg or so. I'm hoping that some mix of the "break-in tank effect" and the dealer short changing me on the first fillup was at play here. I'm keeping a log.

It was mostly short errand driving, as I telecommute, so I'm not expecting better than 20-21 around town.

I'm doing a camping trip in a couple of weeks, so perhaps I'll get an idea of the highway mileage then.

-brendan

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3732

Okay here is one thread.....there are many posts about gas mileage under "Under The Hood/Performance"

:)
I'm new to the website so it's certainly helpful.

My wife and I recently traded in our Element because of fuel consumption... :( To be fair, we WERE getting the advertised gas mileage (around 22-23mpg combined city/freeway driving), we just didn't want to pay as much as we were to commute with a vehicle that gets ~23mpg average. It was a great vehicle; we went camping several times with her, but we couldn't justify commuting in something with 4WD and (relatively) poor mileage, so we traded her in for a 2003 Civic (we got 1.9% financing and we avoided the California licencing fee hike too!!!).

Sorry to hear that you had to trade her in. I get the average also. At about 250-260 miles the fuel light goes on which means you have 4 gallons left. I've gone 310 miles with 2 gallons left in the fuel tank.

I lot of people ask the same quetion about mileage.

I have gotten 21-24 MPG from day one and after 9,000 miles it's still the same.

I use my E for commuting and most of it is over 60 MPH, so I don't expect to get great mileage sue to my "need for spped".

Yes, sorry you had to trade her in as well. :(
It sounds like you had some good memories.
The gas prices and the commute are certainly a consideration.
Enjoy your CIVIC. :P

Well wife gets nearly 26MPG yes 26 MPG with 4wd EX 5SP
I only get 23 MPG so we have different driving styles.
This is the best MPG of any car I have owned in years
Her car is Toyota Sequioa and gets 15.2 mpg ave (thanks to cool compouter thinggy)
my truck got 14 MPG so I am loving life!

I'm happy to say with my 2WD EX I'm averaging 26mpg. My last tank was 26.44mgp. I drive 41 miles each way to work daily with a mix of stop and go. :lol:

I've checked mine twice, and both times I've gotten about 25.5 miles per gallon.

amount of miles (odometer)/number of gallons filling up = mpg

At least, that is how I do it!

C

I've been getting 19-20 so far. I'm gonna check my tire pressure and see if that needs adjusting. I'm a new owner of bout 4 weeks. :)

http://www.e-shen.com/element/mileage.htm

19.6 mpg overall.

EX4WDAUTO
60/40 highway/city
high revving, hard acceleration
freeway cruising speed of 80mph

I traded in a 2002 5spd Civic Sedan on my E. I commute for 1 hour each way in very heavy traffic every day and much prefer to drive the E. It is also a 5spd and I consistently get the advertised mileage. I am in Canada, so in metric terms it gets 100 km per 10 liters. That translates to about 30 miles to the Imperial gallon, which is 160 ounces. I have no idea what it would get on a trip with hours of steady driving. My commute ranges from lots of crawling in bumper to bumper traffic to 80+ mph for short periods. Yeah, the drivers here are insane. The Civic only got about 38 miles to the Imperial gallon under the same conditions. The loss in fuel mileage is more than made up in sheer driving pleasure. I actually thoroughly enjoy my daily drive in the Element. By the way, I prefer the manual transmission for this type of driving. I had to use an automatic Civic sedan one day when mine was having its windshield replaced. (Believe it or not, it was a spontaneous fracture covered by the warranty. :shock: ) I decided on that day that I would continue to avoid automatics.
Overall, I am fairly happy with the fuel mileage I get with the Element.

i have stopped keeping track...but for my first 10 tank fulls i was averaging between 23-24 mpg in a mix of highway and city driving. when i was just doing highway miles (1 trip) the average was 25+!

I've only filled up twice so far since I have had the car for less than two weeks. ANyhow, the first tank I got 22.78 mpg, the second tank I got 25.7 mpg. Most of my driving is highway (21 mile commute), so it seems about right.

Took the E on its first long drive, 500 miles, and got around 26 miles/gallon on the highway. Getting around 20 miles/gallon around town.

Thank you for your response. Congratulations on your purchase of what I believe is an awesome vehicle.

I feel like I'm getting only 20mpg highway and city. My E is only 2,500 miles old and I'm still learning how to ease off the pedal, so hopefully the mpg's will increase.

I'm just approaching 10K miles.

In my EX AWD, A/T, I generally get about 23 or 24, every now and then dropping to 19 or 20.

My best mpg was 27.1. That was 200 miles of pure interestate driving, moderate traffic, and a/c on all the way in 90 degree weather. I filled up right before the on-ramp and right after the off-ramp just to check it out.

I'm getting over 30+ mpg, 85% highway driving with ac on all the time. 104 miles daily to work and back (Hawaii Kai to Waianae 4 da localz) every 3 days I put in about 10.5 gallons

Must be something in the "AIR" here 8) 8) 8)

5-speed EX. 90% Highway driving. I'm pretty happy with that considering my last truck got 17 on a good day. Either Dive Hawaii has someone filling his tank when he's not looking, or he's driving an Accord with an Element name plate. :)

I forgot to add that it's down hill both ways and I always have a tail wind 8) 8) 8)

I'm on my 6th tank... 1st tank yeilded about 22.5 mpg, then it started to drop steadily. Last fillup I only got 17.9 mpg... NOT GOOD! Talked to the dealer and it was deer-in-the-headlights-city. I had hoped to get better mpg than my 92' Caravan which religiously gave me 22mpg in mixed driving :?

[quote:a321cb267c=" "]I'm on my 6th tank... 1st tank yeilded about 22.5 mpg, then it started to drop steadily. Last fillup I only got 17.9 mpg... NOT GOOD! Talked to the dealer and it was deer-in-the-headlights-city. I had hoped to get better mpg than my 92' Caravan which religiously gave me 22mpg in mixed driving :?[/quote:a321cb267c]

Well, up until thanksgiving I'd been getting sub-18mpg, except slightly more on a camping trip. Over the holiday I did about 500 highway miles (99%) roundtrip. After the first 322 miles I tanked up (on the way home today), worrying I wasn't going to make it to the next service plaza due to my first experience in years with the bumper to bumper "expressway" thanksgiving rush home. I did the fillup then, even though the low fuel light hadn't come on. Fillup, including extra-squeeze was 12.3 gallons! That's over 26mpg! Happy happy joy joy!

I guess I'm going to go back to riding my bike for the short around-neighborhood trips I'd been doing with my newish E, those really kill the gas mileage. Plus, it's good for me and good for the environment.

-brendan

Just back from a Thanksgiving trip and we averaged 24 mpg (AWDEXAT) at highways speeds of 70-80mph. Thought it was pretty good for those speeds. Haven't had an "around town" tank yet.

jen

Jen~
Thanks for your reply. Good to hear positive mileage reports.

Enjoy your E.
:lol:

Thank you for your reply. I'm happy to hear your enjoying your driving experience with your E. I am also happy with my E and I couldn't imagine having any other car. :lol:

i think the problem with the element is the gas tank, it only holds 15.9 gallons.

We're on the road with our brand-new E. We topped-off the dealer's gas before leaving, and the first (and so far only) fill-up on the road yielded an astounding 26 mpg.

So what's it going to be like after break-in? Wow.

I'm happy! 8)

[quote:23f977d5be=" "]We're on the road with our brand-new E. We topped-off the dealer's gas before leaving, and the first (and so far only) fill-up on the road yielded an astounding 26 mpg.

So what's it going to be like after break-in? Wow.

I'm happy! 8)[/quote:23f977d5be]

Heh. What'd you do, pick up the car, drive home, immediately pack it up for the road trip and go go go!?

I fretted for over a month about my lousy luck with the gas mileage, only to get over 26 mpg on my first road trip! :)

-brendan

>What'd you do, pick up the car, drive home, immediately pack it up for the road trip and go go go!?

Yes! :shock:

We had planned this trip around the Escape, but got a surprise buyer three days before we were to leave. So not only was it a mad scramble to get the Escape deal closed, we also had to find and then come to terms on the E. It was Kismet that a dealer in town had exactly what we wanted, and we struck a reasonable deal (invoice, plus free mud flaps).

Next thing you know everything's in the E and we're off. Tonight we're in Dothan, Alabama.

Today's fill-up worked out to 24.5 mpg. There was a lot more Interstate driving on this one; now that it's broken in I set the cruise at 70 and enjoy the ride. Trip counter was at 295 miles when the warning light came on. I've never had a vehicle that could go 300 miles between fill-ups without biting my nails.

I'm writing a mini-travelogue which I plan to post after I clean it up a little.

Please don't overload the E!!!!
Make sure you check tire psi cold.....
Use Amsoil on your first oil change.....
E on....

I have about 7K miles on my E and get around 18mpg, but I drive the hell out of it (two-mode gas pedal in town and consistent 80mph on the highway) so I'm fairly satisfied, especially considering that the first new car I ever bought, a 67-hp 1983 Civic S, never gave me more than 25mpg the whole time I owned it.

I like the dual trip odo a lot, and reset it on every fillup to measure my distance per tankful.

I have gotten 25 mpg on both tanks I have put in my E. First one was mostly highway, second one was about 30% surface streets and 70% highway miles.

I only go the speed limit (usually 60 or 65mph on the freeway), but like to get there quickly, and have the 2wd 5speed.

Bill

I've been averaging just 17 with my Auto AWD, which I find pretty disappointing. I drive 25 miles each way to work ( 20 of it hwy) but must admit to having a lead foot on the highway. Was hoping it would get better after a break in period but now have 3300 miles and no change. The best I did was when I went on a trip- 80 miles each way (60 of it hwy) keeping the speed below 65 and got 21mpg. Have to learn to not speed.

[quote:465de3490d=" "]I have gotten 25 mpg on both tanks I have put in my E. First one was mostly highway, second one was about 30% surface streets and 70% highway miles.

I only go the speed limit (usually 60 or 65mph on the freeway), but like to get there quickly, and have the 2wd 5speed.

Bill[/quote:465de3490d]

Since this got bumped up, I'll add that on my third and 4th tanks I got 24 and 26. Mixed city and interstate.

my first two fillups were 20.1 and 19.6mpg with a mixture of highway/city driving. Not too thrilled as of yet. The needle just loves to fly towards E, and I'm afraid to go anywhere near 300 miles before going in for a fill up. I've only had it a week, so we'll see if it improves.

We took delivery on our 2004 Element DX 4WD Automatic on Christmas Eve 2003. So far, we are getting 17 mpg around town and 20 mpg on the road. The dealer told us that the vehicle has "tight" valves and will get better as time goes on. We now have 1400 miles on the vehicle and the gas mileage remains the same. Does anyone have any suggestions or maybe just some words of hope?

I get about 17 "around town", but 90% of my driving involves a <2 mile run that I normally bike in the spring/summer/fall and choose not to bike in the winter. With that kind of run, the engine never warms up and runs rich/high-idle the entire time.

If your "around town" involves trips of >5-6 miles most of the time, then perhaps it is a concern?

I was freaked out at the low gas mileage, but hit >26mpg on a winter round trip from DC<->Pittsburgh, so decided the problem with my gas mileage was my daily lazy-ass <2 mile commute to the gym in the winter. :)

-brendan

We took delivery on our 2004 Element DX 4WD Automatic on Christmas Eve 2003. So far, we are getting 17 mpg around town and 20 mpg on the road. The dealer told us that the vehicle has "tight" valves and will get better as time goes on. We now have 1400 miles on the vehicle and the gas mileage remains the same. Does anyone have any suggestions or maybe just some words of hope?

Lynn What gas are you using? When I went through Utah recently I noticed the regular grade of gasolne is only 85 octane, so up there i had to use the mid-grade 87 or 88. Also, those milages are just inside of the range given as the 90th percentile by EPA for the gas milage a person msy get (Look at the bottom in the small print of the EPA Milage sheet that was on the window. By the way I get 18 in twon on a 10 mile commute all surface streets, and about 24-27 on the interstate.

[quote:680cc90497=" "]I have about 7K miles on my E and get around 18mpg, but I drive the hell out of it (two-mode gas pedal in town and consistent 80mph on the highway) so I'm fairly satisfied, especially considering that the first new car I ever bought, a 67-hp 1983 Civic S, never gave me more than 25mpg the whole time I owned it.

I like the dual trip odo a lot, and reset it on every fillup to measure my distance per tankful.[/quote:680cc90497]

Hey, I also had an 83 S. Bought it after I totalled my 1980 Civic GL. But I have to say, I could get over 40mpg in either of those on the highway.

I was getting about 16-19 when my E was new. 7K later, my E is getting 20-27.

[quote:44addb13db=" "]I was getting about 16-19 when my E was new. 7K later, my E is getting 20-27.[/quote:44addb13db]

that's encouraging because I'm struggling to get 20 and my low fuel light is on before I hit 200 miles. And I'm doing a fair amount of highway miles. I'm about to break 1000 miles and I've had my E for less than 2 weeks.

I decided to get my second fuel fill up today at lunch time, despite only having 217 miles on this tank. It took 8.9 gallons to the very top, for an combined city/freeway average of 24.4 mpg.

my third fuel up today in less than 1000 miles. this aver was under 18. So for the record

1st-20.1mpg
2nd- 19.07mpg
3rd-17.9mpg
All with about half highway driving. All with the low fuel light going on before or as I hit 200 miles on the tank.

isn't it supposed to get better over time?

Did not check first tank from dealer.

Second tank: 23.6 MPG

Third tank: 22.4 MPG

OK so far. It is a box. A great box.... but a BOX.

I've been geeting 23-26 mpg on my AWD auto E but I drive her gently because she is so new.

I'm getting a consistent 24 mpg. I've heard some stuff about ideal tire pressure. What is that ideal tire pressure to possibly increase gas mileage?

[quote:da8c1249d2=" "]I'm getting a consistent 24 mpg. I've heard some stuff about ideal tire pressure. What is that ideal tire pressure to possibly increase gas mileage?[/quote:da8c1249d2]

I imagine the best psi would be the max listed on the tire wall, as rolling resistance (and perhaps contact patch) decreases with increases in pressure.

Technical question: is the listed max psi "as measured when tire is cool" or "as measured, even when hot"?

-brendan

[quote:f09408d138=" "]Technical question: is the listed max psi "as measured when tire is cool" or "as measured, even when hot"?

-brendan[/quote:f09408d138]

Always take the reading cold, never after having driven for a while. Of course, running with max psi will not give the nicest ride, but mpg and steering response should be better.

http://www.csaa.com/global/articledetail/0,1398,1004010306%257C2038,00.html

Hmm, that article didn't seem to clarify what to do when the manual/tire says that "recommended" pressure is, for example, 10psi lower than "maximum".

It's still not clear to me what the best/safest combination is.

-brendan

I finally averaged 25.5 mpg! My first measured break of 25.

Its the figure i've been shooting for since i got the Element

For everyone - 85% hwy / 15% city
Set the cruise control at 70 mph on the hwy.

Cruise control is definetly the key to better gas mileage.

I ran out of gas at 296 miles the other day. Or I should say there wasn't enough for the car to start while it was on a slight left angle. So my first fillup after the oil change giving me a 21+ mpg was just a fluke. Still peeved. My damn light comes on at 213 miles. I'm on dead E at 267 right now....ugh. And most of my trips on this fill up were highway doing around 70.

I've gotten as high as 26 mpg on a tank after mixed driving. I make extensive use of cruise control on highways and don't do a lot of revving in the city. On average I get about 24 mpg.

here is some recent gas figures.. i bolded the highest and lowest..

the information is in the following order:
5/3/2004 5/10/2004 5/17/2004
change from a week then change from a year ago

States
CA 2.115 2.223 2.269 0.046 0.460
CO 1.836 1.934 1.960 0.026 0.475
FL 1.835 1.908 1.982 0.074 NA
MA 1.783 1.907 2.015 0.108 NA
MI 1.816 1.902 1.988 0.086 0.492
NY 1.911 2.025 2.120 0.095 0.502
OH 1.788 1.860 1.996 0.136 NA
TX 1.709 1.804 1.868 0.064 0.503
WA 2.052 2.180 2.239 0.059 NA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cities
Boston 1.782 1.904 2.017 0.113 NA
Chicago 1.954 2.014 2.149 0.135 0.583
Cleveland 1.800 1.890 2.019 0.129 NA
Denver 1.811 1.933 1.958 0.025 0.481
Houston 1.686 1.783 1.847 0.064 0.491
Los Angeles 2.145 2.250 2.304 0.054 0.505
Miami 1.865 1.957 2.034 0.077 NA
NY City 1.830 1.936 2.038 0.102 0.463
San Francisco 2.126 2.237 2.295 0.058 0.408
Seattle 2.057 2.161 2.251 0.090 NA


USA 1.844 1.941 2.017 0.076 0.519
East Coast 1.797 1.893 1.981 0.088 0.531
New England 1.802 1.923 2.028 0.105 0.504
Central Atlantic 1.823 1.931 2.020 0.089 0.503
Lower Atlantic 1.775 1.856 1.938 0.082 0.561
Midwest 1.820 1.911 2.003 0.092 0.528
Gulf coast 1.728 1.818 1.885 0.067 0.516
Rock Mts 1.891 1.968 1.987 0.019 0.480
West Coast 2.083 2.200 2.243 0.043 0.508

in the two weeks since those numbers were compiled.

we're up to about $2.30 for regular here in SoCal.

[quote:34db95e23f=" "]in the two weeks since those numbers were compiled.

we're up to about $2.30 for regular here in SoCal.[/quote:34db95e23f]

those numbers were updated to yesterday.. wow $2.30 a gal.. whew.. why don't ya'all drive hybrids.. smiles!

I average over 21 mpg and I have no complaints since I drive hard and I'm having fun doing it! 8)

I went to San Diego from Sacramento for a vacation recently and gas mileage I got was about 21mpg on fwy. . I put almost 1400K on this trip and the overall performance was OK. I think I am more happy with a V6 like my Odyssey. This car is good for short trip up the hill skiing but not for a long trip. I have about 7000K miles on this car right now. I got sick of stoping for gas every 250miles or so. I might consider trade this in for something else in a few months.