So the question is: Should I contact my dealer only about this? And when I do contact them what is it that they should do, what sort of response should I settle with?

Yes. 13MPG spells something wrong period. I think if you havent looked around here enough LOTS of people get the 20-28 range as advertised.

Doesnt sounds like something is correct on your E.

 

Assuming it's new, mileage will get better as the Element gets broken in.

My son doesn't consider himself a heavy footed driver either. I've ridden with him. He drives like Tony Stewart.

 

Assuming it's new, mileage will get better as the Element gets broken in.

Yea but I wouldnt think it would be 13MPG either.

 

I'm curious how often you fill up and check your mileage. The only reason I ask is because when I first got my Element, I was horrified by the mileage too. I've found that if I fill up early in the tank, like if I'm just down a couple gallons but I'm getting ready for a roadtrip, I might see 12-13mpg if I calculate it. However, overall, I was getting between 18-20 in the city, and 21-22 on the highway.

Now, my E has almost 4000 miles on it, and I'm more consistently getting 21/26, which is in line with the sticker. I'd be patient and give it a little more time and a couple thousand miles.

Now, if you're getting 13mpg for an entire tank of gas, that may signal a real problem, and you might take it back to the dealer.

 

I just bought a brand new E and I'm seeing similar numbers. I'd be curious to see your milage log, do you keep track in a log book?

 

well with the 13 mpg take I was horrified that my gas gauge was at around the half mark and I had only driven 83 miles. Also I have read the posts that for others gas mileage is increasing with mileage, however for every post that says that there is another person posting "from day one Ive ben getting 21 mpg ect."

 

My 05 started at 21 and is up to 23 now for average. Definitely have it checked.:?

 

I would definitely have it checked out. When I first purchased I was doing about 23-24mpg of mixed driving. After break in and first oil change I have been averaging closer to 26mpg and have even broke 30mpg on a few occasions. That's with a 4wd 5speed EX.

 

Yea but I wouldnt think it would be 13MPG either.

I first drove my Element with about 12 miles on it, and I've gotten around 24 overall since day one.

13MPG... either it's the worst possible traffic situation, the worst driver or both...

Either that, or there is something wrong with the car.

 

Ouch, I would have it checked out for sure. I now have about 2,800 mile on my "E" and getting around 23 city and 26 highway. But I am not heavy on the pedal either.

 

Yipes dude.....When I first got my E I was getting about 18mpg....I have about 5000 miles on it now and get just around 21/22 mpg....I also beleive I am a rather mellow driver but, everybody that rides with me claims otherwise..Oh yeah I also live in Hawaii where there is only stop and go traffic...so don't worry dude either it will start to improve or somethings up with your E....

 

poedoe, can you post your logs (if you keep a mileage log book)?

also:
Trim Level?
2WD or AWD?
year?
odometer?

I want to compare it to my bad mileage too.

 

It would help if you told Us what part of the country your in.

also what year it is and how many miles are on the car. We would like to know if it's an Awd or fwd , in other words Give us a hand helping you out. If you Fill out your Profile we would only have to ask how many miles are on it!

We will try to help.

 

...If you Fill out your Profile we would only have to ask how many miles are on it!

Congratulations! You've been Irv'd!

 

well with the 13 mpg take I was horrified that my gas gauge was at around the half mark and I had only driven 83 miles.

Did you remember to take it out of 1st?

 

At that mileage, I would seriously consider a trip to the dealer.

 

It would help if you told Us what part of the country your in.

also what year it is and how many miles are on the car. We would like to know if it's an Awd or fwd , in other words Give us a hand helping you out. If you Fill out your Profile we would only have to ask how many miles are on it!

We will try to help.

Oops sorry about the profile, I overlooked it at first but its filled out now. Anyways its a 2005 AWD EX with about 1200 miles on it. As of right now Honda customer care tells me to take it to the dealer for an efficiency test, and also since it has only 1200 miles on it gas mileage should improve after more miles are on it. However I have my reserves if I am ever going to see the higher mpg reports that so many others are reporting. Thanks for all the thoughts.

 

I'm seeing the same horible gas mileage, too, but I'm only at 700 miles so far

Is that really long enough to see a valid data set to draw a good conclusion from yet?

Let us know what the efficient test shows. Also, if you keep a good log sheet and never miss a data point, it'll show a more accurate number as an average over time.

 

Hey i ran averages for a whole year. Drove 13000 miles and filled up 54 times, I averaged 22 miles per gallon. I did have a could tanks less then 16 miles a gallon, but it was hot and windy....

 

I have 900 miles on mine, 750 of which I put on. So far I'm making 20 something mpg, I'd say, 90% of which is in town driving.

No one of these would explain it completely, but a few things to consider....

1) You may think it's full and it isn't. I.e. I've read that b/c of the angle of the filler pipe, the gas kicks off. I step on the bumper and pump in another 1/2 gal or more.

2) Shorter runs are bound to introduce more mathematical error. Calculating from an 8 gallon fill up is going to be less accurate than a 12 gallon fill up. If you still have the figures, from the gitgo, what does the overall mileage average out to?

3) Does it seem to be idling rough or fast? As I understand it, sometimes a sensor "tells" the engine it isn't warm enough, so it makes the fuel mixture richer, which of course is going to burn more fuel.

4) Consider the driving circumstances. Are you sitting in traffic a lot, getting 0 mpg?

5) I can't see the OP here but I still feel a bit steamed that my 5MT gets poorer mileage than the AT. What are you driving?

But like I said, those may contribute...they still don't explain it. I'd take it back to the dealer.

 

However I have my reserves if I am ever going to see the higher mpg reports that so many others are reporting.

if you are getting worse than what everyone else is getting, then you have a broken car

simple as that

let us know what the efficiency test says, if you get it done

 

I think it is more than just saying if you don't have the same as everybody else your car is broken....What if there are more hills to climb, more traffic, sea level differences, more wind, all this kind of stuff could make a difference(not saying it would make that much of a difference of 13mpg but, it could definetely contribute to the problem)..

 

I would definitely have it checked out. When I first purchased I was doing about 23-24mpg of mixed driving. After break in and first oil change I have been averaging closer to 26mpg and have even broke 30mpg on a few occasions. That's with a 4wd 5speed EX.

How do you get 30 or even 26? That has to be highway miles at 55mph, windows up and no a/c. I call BS. I bearly get 20 mixed. On top of that I have 40k miles and have been to the dealer since day one about the fuel mileage and I was told that it was the way that I drive. Ok, you say that I have a heavy foot. Well, the dealer states that I drive it to easy and that I should put more pedal into it. Actually, the mechanic said that I drive like a puss*. He said to stop babying it and drive. Now, I get 20 and almost 21 mpg. I am sooo happy.

 

How do you get 30 or even 26? That has to be highway miles at 55mph, windows up and no a/c. I call BS. I bearly get 20 mixed. On top of that I have 40k miles and have been to the dealer since day one about the fuel mileage and I was told that it was the way that I drive. Ok, you say that I have a heavy foot. Well, the dealer states that I drive it to easy and that I should put more pedal into it. Actually, the mechanic said that I drive like a puss*. He said to stop babying it and drive. Now, I get 20 and almost 21 mpg. I am sooo happy.

Who pissed in your corn flakes this morning? If you weren't so quick to ass-ume and jump to conclusions you might find out that the few times I achieved 30+ were driving route 2 from VT to Maine with no A/C and windows up averaging about 60mph. So seriously, chill out and don't take your frustrations out on others.

I have said it before and I'll say it again. It's funny that the Auto trannies have a higher EPA estimate because a good friend of mine and I can take our E's on a road trip following each other and I will consistantly get a couple mpg more than him with my EX 4wd manual in exactly the same driving conditions.

 

Who pissed in your corn flakes this morning?

WORD.


I got 15 MPG on the first leg of my 1000 mile trip home from buying
my Element. I was averaging 95 on the I10 between San Antonio, TX and
Las Cruces, NM. I slowed to an average of 80 for the rest of the trip, and
by the time I get to Phoenix... 23 MPG. The box HATES wind resistance.
We should rid the world of wind resistance!!! WHO'S WITH ME?!

Oh... BTW I have a MT AWD EX.

Now that I have lowered, put 18's and 235's on, I get an average of 21.5 MPG
Whatever. I wipe my posterior with 20's