[djatour]

I just got a 2011 Honda Element back in Sept. and the gas mileage has never been higher than 19 mpg. The car runs great and I use good gas. I have done all the online tricks, clean the O2 senor, check the tire pressure, unload any extra weight, etc. My 2003 Element got as high as 27 mpg on the highway, but not this one.

Can anyone help with some suggestions I can do to improve the gas mileage otherwise I might have to sell it and I really don't want to do that.

 

[AWD]

get the valves adjusted

 

[fleetw00d]

How many miles? Have any service history? Air filter, plugs, checked if the brakes are dragging, check engine light on? Transmission operating correctly? Alignment?

What kind of driving? Driving style/habits?

 

[djatour]

How many miles? Have any service history? Air filter, plugs, checked if the brakes are dragging, check engine light on? Transmission operating correctly? Alignment?
85K, I do not have any service records, new air filter, brakes good, and so is the trans. car does not pull. I drive normal, I keep up with traffic, everyone drives over the limit in Florida....lol
What kind of driving? Driving style/habits?

 

[djatour]

85K, I do not have any service records, new air filter, brakes good, and so is the trans. car does not pull. I drive normal, I keep up with traffic, everyone drives over the limit in Florida....lol

 

[djatour]

get the valves adjusted

How much is that?

 

[AWD]

How much is that?

Roughly $300 to $400 depending on who does it. One of the smartest investments you can make for maintaining our K series engine.

 

[fleetw00d]

Of buy a valve cover seal kit and do it yourself.

 

[dc99]

What do you mean by "good gas"?

 

[AWD]

What do you mean by "good gas"?

He doesn't buy the cheapest gas available.

 

[dc99]

He doesn't buy the cheapest gas available.

I got that, I was thinking maybe he meant high test which would actually get worse mileage in an element

 

[AWD]

19mpg is pretty normal for city driving. That has been my experience with my 2005 auto.

 

[fleetw00d]

I have averaged almost 24 mpg over the 8000 mikes that I've owned my 2008 LX FWD AT. A lot of short trips will wreak havoc on fuel economy.

 

[nutzack]

in bought my 2010 brand new and have taken excellent care of it... it seems to still get the same mileage it did when i fist got it... i was also thinking way back then "shouldn't i be getting better mpg?" i mean it's a 4 valve.... not that heavy honda. i always thought that and still don't get it. ....honda k series engines i guess

 

[dc99]

Well part of it is there not a civic, they weigh 3500+ and they arent exactly shaped to cut through the air

 

[AWD]

My giant 2015 Pathfinder (20 inch wheels) 7 seater is 4500lbs+ and still gets 19MPG (with a big V6 engine). It's AWD too.

 

[dc99]

Part of it might just be tuning. Elements arent exactly maxed out on power. Lot of things determine mileage. Efficiancy, weight, trans gearing, overall gear ratio.

 

[Athertones]

Could just be the stop and go nature of driving in Florida and racing from red light to red light. We lived in Clearwater for about 5 years and it was hard on MPG. I recently had my best tank so far with an average of 22.3 MPG, but all I do with the E is short trip driving in town.

 

[mtown67]

85K, I do not have any service records, new air filter, brakes good, and so is the trans. car does not pull. I drive normal, I keep up with traffic, everyone drives over the limit in Florida....lol

If you city drive it's 19. If you stay at around 65 mph on the highway you will get around 22 or 23

 

[Boomboy007]

I have seen a fairly significant increase after switching to ethanol free gas. I went from 17-19 mpg to 22-24 mpg within four or five tanks. Not sure the cost differential is worth the extra 40 cents a gallon, but I do enjoy getting mores miles off a tank.