What was your average highway speed, and was there any stop and go or just all highway? Those two factors make more of a difference than anything.

Wouldn't it be neat if there was special eco cruise mode button on the Odyssey that would force the Odyssey to stay in 6th gear and run only on 3 cylinders on the highway? The concept would be that you'd set a target speed and it would apply up to a certain amount of throttle to maintain that speed, but if it couldn't, it would just accept a loss of speed. So say you set a 65 mph cruise and start going up a hill... normally the Odyssey would switch to 6 cylinders... possibly even down shift if the hill is steep enough. But in this imaginary mode, it would just lose speed while maintaining efficiency, and make the speed back up once the ground leveled out.

Of course there'd have to be some sort of maximum speed loss before the mode temporarily disengaged.. like maybe 10 mph maximum before it gave up and switched back to 6 cyl.

 

I use cruise on my 2011 EXL as much as possible and get as high as 31 mpg turnpike driving @ 65 -70 mph, usually only 2 people in car. And my overall average mpg with 32k mile on the odo is 24.5. Quite good I think!---RCAV8TOR

 

That's really impressive! Recently I took a short trip up to Vail CO - 3 hr drive each way - obviously mountain driving. Only 2 of us in the van but got 28.2 mpg round trip. I thought that was pretty darn good - and I have the EX-L transmission.

We also went from CO to South Dakota, then Iowa.......... about 4-5 ppl in the van, fully loaded. Got 26.4 mpg with that.
Sorry no pictures, forgot to do that!

 

That's really impressive! Recently I took a short trip up to Vail CO - 3 hr drive each way - obviously mountain driving. Only 2 of us in the van but got 28.2 mpg round trip. I thought that was pretty darn good - and I have the EX-L transmission.//

The final drive ratio is quite small: 4.31 versus 4.25 so one wouldn't think the difference would be too significant.

Is that the trip computer MPG or actual calculated? We haven't had our Ody long enough to calculate the difference yet but every other car I've owned the trip computer readout was 0.5 to 1.1mpg higher on the dash than the mpg calculated from tank to tank.

 

Just got back from a 1200 mile trip... only got 25mpg... we stopped 4 times each way because of kids though... all on cruise control. 2013 EX-L left for the trip with about 6k miles on the odo.

 

I was in the ''mountains" of Tennessee during this tank.

Here is average speed, which includes a couple of stops. I was driving mostly 70-75 with little traffic.

 

Here is a similar thread if interested:

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/54-2011-odyssey/151788-post-picture-your-best-mpg.html

 

^^^ Thanks.

While I'm happy with the mileage on the highway, when my wife drives it in her daily kids/shopping/sitting in school like with AC running, it gets 14 mpg.

I tried to get her to get a Prius which can run on battery for a long time with AC on, but that was no go! lol

I forgot to mention I pumped the tires up to 40 psi for the trip. That's another hypermiling trick from the Prius world that makes a good difference.

The mileage you see is indicated. I didn't calculate actual, but if it's anything like the Prius it's 3% optimistic. I was just happy to get a 500 mile tank out of the Odyssey (filled at 510). I've gotten a 600 mile out of 10.2 gallons in my Prius but I wouldn't chance it with my family...I ran 50 miles past the "distance to empty=0" to get that 600 mile tank. Turns out I had more to go, the tank holds over 11 gallons usable and I only put in 10.2.

 

Funny. I started driving differently when I got the Odyssey doing the exact same things you mention to maximize fuel economy. Then, when we got my wife's 2013 Prius in May I immediately was getting very good mileage in it vs. my wife who doesn't have a lot of experience in the van. After coaching her, she is doing a great job with mileage all the time now.

 

^^^ sounds like you and I are birds of a feather with our toys and our penchant for good mpg as well!

 

^^^^^No kidding.

 

Yeah, I got another trick. I get into the far left lane (the passing lane) set the cruse at 7.5 mph below the posted limit, get in the back and watch a movie. I'm like you, I'd rather save $1.50 in gas over the course of my trip then to be courteous to other drivers.

 

Am I missing something? Why not cruise in the non-passing lanes?

 

I never cause a traffic problem, always run with the pack.

 

Good for you. I hate those hyper milers who disrupt traffic. Especially when im in my crew cab truck. If they slow in front of me, well then they take that risk. .

I've gotten 30+ in the odyssey with cruise at 72 on flat roads no ac on. Our norm mixed is 20-22. Pretty good really for its size.


And I don't blame your wife for not wanting a prius. Nobody wants one if given a choice. Yuck. Lol

 

It's an interesting discussion. I admit to being wary of ultra-milers myself as I suspect some of them are doing it as a purely narcissistic practice and are not aware of the fuel-wasting maneuvers they are necessitating from the other drivers that have to deal with them. I may be wrong about that; I'm obviously skeptical if not simply cynical.

Personally, I've been driving a Mini Cooper for the past 3+ years and my wife, a 2012 Hyundai Accent (no kids here). Switching now to the 2011 Ody, I'm reminded of what it's like to drive a car that has me thinking about fuel consumption. It's a very different experience.

The Mini and the Accent are both so light that you can toss them around at will and it makes little difference to the MPG so it's never really on my mind. OTOH, I can't get past the feeling of pouring gas into the engine by the cupful in the Honda.

 

It's an interesting discussion. I admit to being wary of ultra-milers myself as I suspect some of them are doing it as a purely narcissistic practice and are not aware of the fuel-wasting maneuvers they are necessitating from the other drivers that have to deal with them. I may be wrong about that; I'm obviously skeptical if not ........

Oh, so you've also noticed that the Obama-Biden & Elizabeth Warren stickers on the back of a Prius entitles the driver to lead a left-lane parade?

 

I have a 4x4 truck, 13 mpg, a 10 second Vette and a 59 mpg Prius so I run the gamut.


What I have found is that you can drive with traffic and never cause an issue and improve your mileage pretty dramatically...the key is driving smoothly.

I also notice the 3 cylinder mode and 6 speed transmission make a nice difference on this van vs our 2005 touring.

I agree with Threxx...I wish there was a button to keep it in 3 cyl mode! But I've gotten pretty good at keeping it there in flat ground.

 

I also notice the 3 cylinder mode and 6 speed transmission make a nice difference on this van vs our 2005 touring.

That was the year VCM launched in the Honda J35 engine (Odysseys EX-L and above). I'd go VCM further fine-tuning, not really the 6AT

I agree with Threxx...I wish there was a button to keep it in 3 cyl mode! But I've gotten pretty good at keeping it there in flat ground.

Driving a Corvette and the likes I think you guys know how a 6-cyl engine would run on a 3-cyl mode in full-throttle and torque, correct? That is actually one of the reasons why VCM only engages under very light throttle and a lot of inertia, else the vibration and engine noise would be baaad....

Here is one of mine. Yes, highway is very good

 

And a couple more:

2012 EX-L 2 adults 1 child with bags St. Louis to Chicago cruise set at 72.

Canada:

My best so far

31.79mpg and 27.35 mpg US... yikes

 

Holy crap, yikes indeed!!!

 

Driving style makes so much difference. When my wife drive the van, she never sees over 22mpg avg.

I can do well over 25mpg avg when I drive.

And local street definitely not mpg friendly.

 

Anyone using the aforementioned methods needs to look around this forum about the recent warranty extension about spark plug fouling.
Cylinder three I think is disabled in both three and four mode. Reducing the systems cycling between modes could influence the problem.
Have a look at TSB 13-081 Eric

 

Few want a minivan either. But it happens.
Wonder if Honda will add the nine speed box they are putting in the new TLx

 

Lol, 9 speed box is an another phrase for CVT.

The real question is which mfg will make the first hybrid minivan...

 

The real question is which mfg will make the first hybrid minivan...

that if they don't kill the minivan model first

 

I love the CVT tranny in my 2014 Toyota Camry hybrid. Smooth and seamless and none of the engine shudder crap.

 

man how do you guys get in the upper 20's ? i think i avg 24 on a road trip or around there.
I cruise at 75-80mph. is the trick to do like 60mph for the high mpg numbers?

 

So I see that the OP has his tires inflated to 40psi for a long trip. What psi is everyone else going with for best economy?

 

Set the pressure at 32psi which is what is posted on the inside of your driver door. People who obsess over mileage might get one more MPG than you but your car will handle better and your tires will last longer.

 

Just came back from a 550 mile round trip, fully loaded (7 people, roof top box with skis, trunk full of luggage). Average speed was 80-85, averaged 26 MPG. Very happy with the results.

 

Okay, gotta ask. Rooftop box with skies implies you were headed to and from some mountain, going 80-85 and averaged 26mpg?? How do you do that climbing? Seven people @ 220lbs/person including luggage (this is what's used to calculate aircraft passenger weight during design) says the load is 1540lbs on top of Odyssey's ~4600lbs or total of ~6000lbs!!!

Is this imperial gallon or standard US gallon?

I just drove from south Orange County to the Bay Area driving 80-85mph and got 23mpg average. It took a hit going over the Cajon Pass but I don't ever recall seeing anything above 26mpg on an essentially flat Interstate 5.

Going home tomorrow so have to see if return is any better but going up Grapevine climb, which is much steeper, I am not expecting a better milage but who knows...

 

Very first trip on the highway I set the cruise at 70 and drove 40 miles. 28.0 mpg, right on the claimed number. Even included about 6 miles of city driving. So far so good. Slow it down to 60-65 and I can see how you could push 30, but you have to have a death wish to do that in SoCal.