Bang for the Buck

[Conrad]

I have read many post about mpg and in the end...I am confused.

I am the proud new owner of an '08 Ridgeleine RTL and I have been averaging 17.25 on the highway at 70-75mph. I was hoping for slightly more.

I have read statements about various inprovements/modifications that help economy, but what is the ranking in the 'bang for the buck' category????? (non-towing)

What is YOUR opinion and ranking when it comes to tire pressure, free flow exhaust, taunneau covers, premium gas, computer chips, platinum plugs, cold air intakes, synthetic oils, etc.....

Lets say, for conversation sake, that this is at highway speed (70 mph), with the cruise on.

So far, I have determined that...
Tanneau covers add very little, chips don't work, bump up the tire pressure, winter gas sucks, and a good air cleaner helps a little.

Thanks for everything....

Conrad

so far....
1. drive slower
2. up the tire pressure
3. avoid winter gas
4. chips don't work
5. taneau covers don't work

[MikeT]

What is your average trip distance (Under 25, 50, 100 miles)?

What grade of gasoline are you using?

What is your tire pressure (Have you had your tire pressure gauge calibrated)?

Do you have a roof rack with stuff mounted to it?

Do you have a lift kit installed on your truck?

My truck averages 16mpg city (Stop light to stop light), 21mpg highway on trips longer than 50 miles, and 23mpg on trips longer than 300 miles. This is with the A/C set to auto, the windows up, about 150lbs of stuff in the trunk, the tires set to 32psi (Cold), and running 70mph on the highway.

[shovelhd]

Biggest bang for your buck? Slow down. Then wait until your engine has 10K miles on it before worrying about gas mileage.

[davedad]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

Biggest bang for your buck? Slow down. Then wait until your engine has 10K miles on it before worrying about gas mileage.

I agree, wait for the magical 10,000 miles. Also don't check the mileage until the weather warms up and they switch back to real gas not the winter blend. In the summer I average 24mpg on the highway and around 18mpg mixed driving, in the winter it drops to 17mpg highway and about 14 mixed. Like everyone else on this forum, I wish the mileage was a little better but it is a truck.

[RidgeLI]

In my experience - 2006 Ridgeline, owned since Dec. 2005 - mileage on sticker in not entirely realistic. Locally I avg. 13mpg, highway around 70mph 20mpg. Never achieved near 15mpg locally ever, highway mileage more realistic, but higher mph will reduce mpg, as will driving style. The truck is farily heavy, > 4k lbs, shaped like a box on wheels, and was never designed as an efficient vehicle as far as mileage. I am not sure what you can do squeeze out extra miles, but driving style usually has the biggest effect.

RidgeLI

[Ahab]

With 60K+ mine does like MikeT's, only difference is I run 35psi in the tires. In my small town the other four ridge owners all get similar mileage.

[Lee Senn]

I have a 2008 model RTS with 15,500 miles and am averaging ( on winter gas ) 15mpg around town and 19/20 on the highway. I have read all the "hints to improve mileage" on the web and in the newspapers and I time the lights when in town, park so that I don't have to back up to leave ( when possible ) etc. and on the highway generally set the cruise at 68 mph. Actually the slow highway speed makes my traveling somewhat more pleasant in that I am much more relaxed at speeds slower than 75. It is surprising how much more relaxed driving can be when you slow down just a little ( it helps that I am recently retired and have the luxury of not needing to keep to any particular schedule ) !

[brich]

I track every tank of gas since my first...
*~55,000 miles -2006 Silver RTL
*Mobil 1 for a year
*Tire pressure 34-36 since delivery. Orig OEM tires
*No roof rack, no bed cover, aftermarket bug deflector and mud gaurds front and rear
*Mobil or Shell gas pretty much exclusively and I use the cheapest 87 octane...
*Prefer windows down and top open to the AC. Just enjoy fresh air more
*Most miles just me in the truck (~175 lbs)
*Do have electric jack, small military shovel, portable air pump, umbrella, first aid kit under back seat at all times.
*Car seat in the back, sometime occupied, sometimes not
*Stock radio - mostly volume up to 36-38
*Most miles are stop and go highway traffic on my commute. (Half hour 25 mile each-way trip that takes me about an hour...)

Have seen ~17 mpg average over the lifetime of my truck
It was 17.5 mpg until about 8 months ago when I stopped giving a crap about 1-2 mpg by driving "slow"...

I now drive to get to where I need to get, abiding by local laws of course. I don't consume myself any more with mpg. I know about what I get and now pay more attention to just driving.
Thats my story....

[Conrad]

Thanks guys.

Actually, my Ridgeline has 17,000 miles. I don't have a roof rack or tonneau cover. My tire pressure is 32 and I have standard oil in the engine.

On the highway, with a light foot and just me, I have been getting 17.25 mpg at 70-75mph.

What I was asking is what mods are worth the money. Does the mileage improve with a tonneau cover? Is a K&N air cleaner worth the money? Do platinum plugs pay for themselves? Will Mobel 1 help?

Why is there such a discrepancy between what some report and others?

[MikeT]

Originally Posted by Conrad

Thanks guys.

Actually, my Ridgeline has 17,000 miles. I don't have a roof rack or tonneau cover. My tire pressure is 32 and I have standard oil in the engine.

On the highway, with a light foot and just me, I have been getting 17.25 mpg at 70-75mph.

What I was asking is what mods are worth the money. Does the mileage improve with a tonneau cover? Is a K&N air cleaner worth the money? Do platinum plugs pay for themselves? Will Mobel 1 help?

Why is there such a discrepancy between what some report and others?

Is a K&N air cleaner worth the money?
No

Does the mileage improve with a tonneau cover?
Slightly

Do platinum plugs pay for themselves?
No

Will Mobil 1 help?
Possibly, but any fully synthetic oil should do the job as well.

Why is there such a discrepancy between what some report and others?
Different people drive, well, differently. I use cruise control, others do not. I run 32psi in the tires and check them once a week, others do not. I run 87 octane fuel and do not hammer the throttle at the starts, others do not. I also do not baby the truck and shifts happen around 3000 rpms to 3200 rpms. My crossbars are not on as the noise they induce into the cab bugged me. I drive my truck as I have driven my past cars and trucks without worrying about hypermiling (sp?).