Trip was great, no problems at all.

Car was loaded with a shoe horn, every available space was filled.

I use 5w-30 in all my cars, HAH too.

Driving from Orlando, FL to Paducah KY = 38.7mpg

Paducah to Orlando = 39.0


I will say I learned something that can only be believed and understood if it happens to you personally.

Here in town our mpg in the city is in the window of 27-30. Rarely out of this range.

In Paducah, even though no hills were encountered, the traffic lights and speed limits absolutely DO NOT allow good mpg at all.

There, I was struggling to get 21-22 MAX ! I now understand why some folks just cant get the mpgs some others are. Its very sad. I had not bought any of the 10% gas-a-hol while driving around Paducah. I did buy one tank full on way home though and noticed no change whatsoever.

 

I am a victim of same kind of city driving too. A significant part of my morning drive is on a city street that is still considered state highway, so the speed limit on it is 55 but there is a traffic light every 2/10th of a mile. Chances of being caught by red light at 60% or more of the lights are pretty high. When light changes to green, everyone guns their engine and I am forced to do the same whether I want to or not otherwise I will have an SUV riding my bumper. Every one then comes to a screeching halt within the next 2 lights. This is not the best driving style for fuel efficiency. I can barely maintain 24mpg in summer. During winter, it drops down to 17-18.

 

gonehiking,

Man, I feel for you. We all bought our hybrids expecting a huge increase in MPGs and there is no real way to know that it wont provide them until you do actually own one for a while and see for yourself. Where I was last week, any beater would probably get that kind of mpg, perhaps even better, again, who knows till you try.

In about 3 weeks, we will be taking the same trip, BUT even further. We may take our non-hybrid which gets close to the same mpg. We are taking it just to give it some exercise too and to just give us a different ride to break the monotony of same basic trip again.

 

TonyK,

I appreciate your sympathy. I also own a 2006 Accord EX-V6 6MT which is pretty close to the 2006 HAH and I do get 3-7 mpg more on HAH than on EX-V6 driven under same conditions on the same roads. So I do get to see that hybrid is giving me little more bang for my gasoline bucks. Since I ended up paying the same for HAH as I did for EX-V6 (after state tax incentive for hybrid), I really didn't pay a "hybrid" tax on car price and any money I save on gas is pure saving

So even though it bugs me that I am not seeing as good fuel efficiency as I could, I still get better than I would without hybrid system.

 

Awesome mileage for your trip, Tony! Too bad your city mileage suffered while you were there. I get about the same as you regularly see in the city. I see about 27-29 for my commutes through the metro Phoenix area. The lowest tank I've ever seen was 22, but I think that was a combination of filling up too early as I think I only put about 90 miles on the car before filling it up that time. So the error may lie in the inaccuracy of when the fuel service station pumps decide when to 'click' off.

However, driving around metro Phoenix isn't quite like driving through metro New York. I'm sure my mileage would take a hit up there.

Any reason why you use 5W-30? I've been using 5W-20. Luckily, both my vehicles take it, so I get it in bulk.

 

Hi Keith,

We are going to leave AGAIN in a week, this time to Overland Park KS, approx 1400 miles each way. I hope to get better mpg as the car wont be so loaded as it was this last time.

The very ONLY reason I use 5w-30 is because its quieter upon start up in the morning. Nothing rattles, nothing bangs it just seems to sound like maybe a chain like sound, it sounds like every other HAH I have seen and am positive nothing is wrong.

When I first got the car, some folks swore by 0w-20. I like max mpgs as much as the next guy. I tried it, saw no increase but increase in noise. I drained it about a 3 weeks later not noting any enhanced mpg.

Then, with the noise on my mind, I threw in 4 qts of 5w-30 and it was like a completely different car when my wife started it and left for work in the morning. Seeing as the mpg did not suffer one bit, I just continue to use it.

When it comes time to change oil again, I will use what I have bought over time on sale. I will most likely use all the 5w-20 I have around here just to get it out of the way.

We are still burning the gas-a-hol we bought on the way home and the exhauset smells sweeter to me, kinda reminds me of living up north where they used 10% alc 25 yrs ago already.

So, in a nutshell, 5w-30 is for noise only, nothing more.

 

Hmm, maybe I'll give 5W-30 a try. I do notice the same sound as you do.

However, I thought the 5W is the weight of the oil cold, and when it warms up, it becomes 20W? So in that sense, changing the second set of numbers shouldn't affect the start up sounds, since they're both 5W. Or, do I have it backwards?

 

I'd say you have it correct. Yet, even though both oils are stored in my garage, you would think no matter which 5w-20 or 5w-30 should pour with the same viscosity BUT they dont.

Actually, there is more to multi weight oils than observed 'thickness' there is something to do with the ability to pump it throughout the engine at various temps with somewhat consistent oil pressure (if I have that right??) . The science behind it is deep, well beyond me, but for my simple mind, thicker does dampen the sound more.

Also, FWIW, I used to have a diesel rabbit and always used 10w-30 in it. I got a rather large boat and pulled it with the rabbit and the temp gauge would climb and come back down as the thermostat would open and close BUT only while pulling the boat would this ever occur. Then I switched to straight 30w and the temp NEVER climbed out of range EVEN though the summer heat was increasing.

If I could find straight 20w here in Florida I would surely use it as it doesnt get that cold here. I might consider straight 30w at the next oil change but thats a long way off.

I know I shouldnt be so nutso about the oil but I sure dislike the sound of the cold engine and cant help but think that they (honda) actually changed the tolerances of any engine component which now requires 5w-20. NOT ! They did so to squeeze an extra mile perhaps out of a gallon of fuel, but I dont even see that being the case.

By no means am I saying to anyone THIS IS THE BEST thing to be doing, It is simply what I AM DOING .

Take it ez

Tony

 

So have either of you considered a synthetic like, Mobil1 0W-20? I haven't yet as both my mechanic and the Honda dealer say it won't make a difference or it's too expensive. But I see many hypermilers insist on it being one of their adjustments for increasing mpgs.
Also, what do you use to get under your car to get to the filter and plug? Or how to you do it yourself?

Roland

 

Roland

Yes I have used the syn oils you mentioned. I have to agree with your dealer on this. I know others feel different but in my own experiences in all cars I have / had, I saw no difference that would warrant the additional cost.

I think everyone needs to try the 0-20w for themselves and be honest with themselves. If they detect a difference worth the extra cost, stick with it by all means. (education costs money is what my father used to say)

I use a floor jack to lift the passenger side front and place a jack stand under the frame in order to get under and do the oil change.

Best of luck in your next oil change

Tony