[pford]

Hello everyone!

I am new to the forum and am relying on everyones expert opinions to help me with my issue.

Like the title says, I have a 2013 Accord V6 coupe. I have had the car for a little over a year, and, historically, have always gotten pretty great gas mileage (EPA estimate or better). I have recently noticed that my car is getting AWFUL mileage in the city- around 17 MPG. This is a range of about 200 miles per tank. I recently moved to a new neighborhood in downtown San Diego, and most of the driving I do is stop and go traffic, lights, etc. In fact, there are 7 four way stop signs back to back just to get to my apartment (Yup, 7, I counted).

I really don't know if there's something wrong with my car- or if this poor mileage is to be expected with the nonsense driving conditions I experience in San Diego.

Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Das Chicken]

Sounds pretty normal to me. Actual city driving is horrendous for mpg. Start adjusting your driving techniques for your new commute. Learn where you can let off the gas and still approach those stop signs at a reasonable speed. Consider walking if it isn't far.

 

[QtrMyL]

Make sure your air filter is clean, change oil more often for stop and go driving and when were the spark plugs changed last?
Keep tires aired up to the max rated psi.

 

[seldomseen]

When I lasted checked....I'm getting about 17mpg (city) on my '17 coupe. Definitely not what I would consider excellent, but not all that bad either. Considering that my city driving is somewhat "spirited". Luckily, the car runs on regular unleaded. :grin

I looked at what my current average is this morning and saw 21mpg, which is 95%+ city-style driving.

 

[KW2004Accord]

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/86-9th-generation/359753-poor-gas-mileage-2016-accord-sport.html

 

[Blackheart]

Physics

It's not rocket science. You have an engine that converts energy into motion and heat, and there is a significant mass to be accelerated from a stop to a certain speed, and that requires a certain amount of energy....plus, there are inefficiencies in the conversion of fuel (to motion and heat), as well as inefficiencies in the design (not only internal engine parts, but in driving compressors and water pump as well as imperfect transmission, etc.

You essentially have a spoon when a knife would be better...by that, I mean: if you want better fuel economy in stop-and-go traffic, a V6 is not the best choice.

By the way, from your description of the driving conditions: 17 mpg is excellent in this car. I'd be thrilled.

 

[Blackheart]

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/86-9th-generation/359753-poor-gas-mileage-2016-accord-sport.html

If people would simply look up the testing conditions that are defined as "city" and "highway", they'd realize that those testing conditions aren't at all similar to how they drive their vehicle. IF they were to operate the vehicle under the same test conditions, only then should they expect to match the numbers on the Sticker.

Otherwise, the "city" and "highway" estimates are only to be used to compare all vehicles to the standard test conditions. Those numbers do NOT guarantee YOUR driving conditions will result in matching the numbers achieved during the test conditions.

 

[Baldeagle]

Hello everyone!

I am new to the forum and am relying on everyones expert opinions to help me with my issue.

Like the title says, I have a 2013 Accord V6 coupe. I have had the car for a little over a year, and, historically, have always gotten pretty great gas mileage (EPA estimate or better). I have recently noticed that my car is getting AWFUL mileage in the city- around 17 MPG. This is a range of about 200 miles per tank. I recently moved to a new neighborhood in downtown San Diego, and most of the driving I do is stop and go traffic, lights, etc. In fact, there are 7 four way stop signs back to back just to get to my apartment (Yup, 7, I counted).

I really don't know if there's something wrong with my car- or if this poor mileage is to be expected with the nonsense driving conditions I experience in San Diego.

Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

Agree with all that 17 mpg city is normal. If you observed your instantaneous fuel economy as you accelerate at 1/3 to 1/2 throttle, it is probably 7-9 mpg at best. It doesn’t take much of that to drag down your average mpg. In addition, I’m not sure if San Diego uses a winter gas blend, but winter gas can nip 1-2 mpg off your average compared to summer fuel.

In the end, the odds are extremely high that your Accord is running perfectly. No need to worry about that. Just chalk it up to harder city driving.

 

[RickBlaine]

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/86-9th-generation/359753-poor-gas-mileage-2016-accord-sport.html

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/86-9th-generation/359753-poor-gas-mileage-2016-accord-sport.html

 

[200366HFP]

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/86-9th-generation/359753-poor-gas-mileage-2016-accord-sport.html

Guys, this is NOT the sport model with an I4 we are talking about here.

However, the V6 6MT is rated at 18-28, if you are getting 17 in stop and go traffic, that is completely normal. Even the 6AT is not going to do much if any better because you will never engage VCM in stop and go traffic.

 

[Donniet53]

My 2017 coupe v6 gets around 23 in the city here in Chucktown. Oviously it’s different than driving in Southern Ca.

 

[slimm1469]

I'm in traffic clogged Dallas with an 8th gen V6 and I still get 22 and change. I'm not bragging! I just don't understand why the huge difference between model years -- it's virtually the same engine, similar weight and I have a 5-speed.

 

[MikeNC]

In that kind of constant stop and go, inner city congested driving, if you really want high mileage figures, get a hybrid. That’s where they excel. I’d be stunned if any v6 did much better than 17-20mpg under those sorts of conditions.

Do what you can - mild and steady acceleration, get off the gas as soon as you can when you realize you’re going to have to brake or stop. Even so, your v6 is not going to get great mileage figures doing nothing but city driving.

 

[MONARK]

A Hybrid can Remedy your MPG Concerns.

@pford

Any insight is appreciated. Thanks!

Has it ever crossed your mind buying a 2015/ 2017/ 2018 hybrid? 4 Doors, More Space, More MPG. :grin

 

[dfwxjer]

I'm in traffic clogged Dallas with an 8th gen V6 and I still get 22 and change. I'm not bragging! I just don't understand why the huge difference between model years -- it's virtually the same engine, similar weight and I have a 5-speed.

I'm in Dallas too, and I average 26.2mpg with mixed driving over 13k miles. However, it's pretty flat here compared to San Diego. I was just out there, and not only does traffic get much worse, but the hills would definitely bring mpg down.

Dallas traffic is largely concentrated around downtown. If I moved back downtown I can imagine my V6 would be getting 18-20mpg day to day.

In that kind of constant stop and go, inner city congested driving, if you really want high mileage figures, get a hybrid. That’s where they excel. I’d be stunned if any v6 did much better than 17-20mpg under those sorts of conditions.

Do what you can - mild and steady acceleration, get off the gas as soon as you can when you realize you’re going to have to brake or stop. Even so, your v6 is not going to get great mileage figures doing nothing but city driving.

And ultimately this. When I did live in a congested downtown environment I had a 4 cylinder Sport. First the 6 speed, and later the CVT. They could pull mid to high 20's in heavy traffic which is where they shined over my current V6. On the highway the V6 gets similar mileage, but in city traffic it's a much bigger gap.


If I moved back downtown I'd get a hybrid or possibly even a Civic.

 

[MartyV6]

Your 17mpg is perfectly normal. If you want a lot higher, buy a Prius

When I get on a nice long highway cruise with my V6 Sedan, I can get up to 36mpg! But our car spends 99% of its time around town in our suburbs where it is constant stop and start and sitting at stoplights. Sitting at stoplights = 0mpg. Accelerating all the time from stoplights can = 7-15 mpg depending on how gingerly you do it. Fortunately or unfortunately with the V6 I can never help myself from accelerating like I am on a track, so I get lower mpg there too!

If I were to become an Uber driver I might get a different kind of car, but I love my V6 Accord

 

[dfwxjer]

Your 17mpg is perfectly normal. If you want a lot higher, buy a Prius

When I get on a nice long highway cruise with my V6 Sedan, I can get up to 36mpg! But our car spends 99% of its time around town in our suburbs where it is constant stop and start and sitting at stoplights. Sitting at stoplights = 0mpg. Accelerating all the time from stoplights can = 7-15 mpg depending on how gingerly you do it. Fortunately or unfortunately with the V6 I can never help myself from accelerating like I am on a track, so I get lower mpg there too!

If I were to become an Uber driver I might get a different kind of car, but I love my V6 Accord

I'm always amazed at Uber drivers that don't drive hybrids

When I order an Uber and they show up in a Suburban or some other gas guzzler I just kinda scratch my head and wonder why. We had a guy start complaining about not making any money because of some litany of excuses... while he was driving a lifted Avalanche with a heavy foot. It was obviously his personal vehicle and Uber driving was not for him.

Meanwhile the people that buy Hybrids for the sole purpose of driving for Uber are where it's at.

 

[SoCalTouring]

My 2015 V6 gets around 20 in the city and the best I have had on the freeway (Los Angeles) is around 27.

 

[UnknownJinX]

I'm in traffic clogged Dallas with an 8th gen V6 and I still get 22 and change. I'm not bragging! I just don't understand why the huge difference between model years -- it's virtually the same engine, similar weight and I have a 5-speed.

My 8th Gen V6 got 18 MPG on average, with mostly city driving and a lead foot.

17 MPG in city is pretty normal with a V6. Hybrid is a lot better for stop and go traffic, since any ICE is very inefficient at acceleration.

Sent via MHA-L29. Whatever.

 

[pittpa]

I got about 17 mpg or less in town with my '15 6-6. I did not drive it for MPG.
EDIT-my Legacy GT 2.5 turbo got less, on premium gas.