Pilot False gas mileage from Honda like its Accord Hybrid:

[jomejmo]

I have also been disappointed with my 05 EXL since claims like "better gas mileage in its class" were seriously taken into account during my buying decision. I do not think that a class action is the solution but consumers should not be mislead by the government or the automobile industry. Could these two be too close here? I get 13-14 mpg on mostly neighborhood driving, correctly measured frequently. Recently the dealer replaced spark plugs since a couple became bad way before their stated replace time. I have had a noticeable improvement in power and mpg but it is still too early to judge objectively. It is a great car but we are entitled to the real facts.

[dgipalo]

Originally posted by jomejmo
I have also been disappointed with my 05 EXL since claims like "better gas mileage in its class" were seriously taken into account during my buying decision. I do not think that a class action is the solution but consumers should not be mislead by the government or the automobile industry. Could these two be too close here? I get 13-14 mpg on mostly neighborhood driving, correctly measured frequently. Recently the dealer replaced spark plugs since a couple became bad way before their stated replace time. I have had a noticeable improvement in power and mpg but it is still too early to judge objectively. It is a great car but we are entitled to the real facts.

Misfiring plugs will result in a significant MPG reduction. My '03 had been dropping MPG over the last couple thousand miles. Coincident with the MPG drop, I noticed a drivability problem at light throttle. Took the car in, and the dealer replaced the EGR per TSB/warranty extension. The next tank was ~ 2 MPG better than the previous 2 with no conscious change in driving conditions (16.8 to 18.6). My commute is ~10 miles, average speed 35 MPH, with some idling. I drive with respect to the Pilot's considerable bulk, and treat momentum as a precious commodity.

If you have lots of short-trip driving where the engine starts near cold, and doesn't fully warm up, your MPG will suffer. I suspect Honda's emission strategy (and what gets it LEV/ULEV designation) has something to do with it. Seems Honda sets getting the catalyst up to temp ASAP a top priority. They do it by richening the mix and keeping timing 'late' so the exhaust temps are high. This strategy minimizes HC and CO emissions by getting the catalyst working, but the richer mix does cause increased fuel consumption during the first few minutes of operation. If your driving conditions have this as the predominant mode of operation, the gas mileage will suck. It can also cause rich-fouling of plugs.

[jomejmo]

Superb information. I will keep in mind the EGR valve, since its malfunction seems to also cause the driveability issues that I had experienced. Many thanks.

[GreenMachine]

I decided to see how well I could do on my daily roundtrip now that gas is getting a little more expensive. Since it's cool, I obviously ran with no A/C and did not race from each red light and stop sign. I went 407 miles on 19.4 gallons ~ 21mpg. I normally average about 18 - 19 in the summer.