The following data was collected from July 26, 2006 to Dec. 22, 2007. My favorite gas station is Chevron. I filled up 30 times at a Chevron. Shell is in second place, but I don't like going there because of the one time I got "ripped" off by them. I used Shell 6 times in the last year and a half. 76 is third place, but I didn't fill up with 76 once for the past year and a half. All the other stations I don't care for too much: Exxon (3 times), Mobile (0 times), and etc.
Side Note: TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is the premier standard for gasoline performance. Six of the world's top automakers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi recognize that the current EPA minimum detergent requirements do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance.Of the 39 times I filled up, all were premium (91) grade except for 9 times when I used just plus (89) grade. I would only put in plus when gas prices are outrageous, otherwise I would put in the recommended premium. Therefore, I used premium grade gas 77% of the time and plus grade 23% of the time. I wouldn't use premium at all if I had a choice, but my Acura TSX "requires" premium, even says so on the gas cap cover. =P
Price/Gallon:
Most expensive = $3.60 (Premium) on May 17, 2007 @ Chevron
Least expensive = $2.56 (Premium) on Oct 30, 2006 @ Exxon
Average = $3.14
Miles/Gallon:
Most: 23.91 miles/gallon
Least: 20.32 miles/gallon
Average: 22.15 miles/gallon
Simple Cost per Mile (price/gallon divided by miles/gallon):
Most expensive: $0.17
Least expensive: $0.11
Average: $0.14
Most miles on a tank before refilling: 310 miles (with about 4.052 gallons before complete empty). So ideally, I could get 20.32 * 4.052 = 82.34 miles + 310 miles for a grand total of 392.34 miles. Average miles on a tank before I refill = 268.60.
Comments: I have not doubt in my mind that my car can get 30+ mpg cruising on an empty highway, problem is I'm rarely doing that (gotta take a road trip in my car one of these days ;) ). The automatic Acura TSX is rated for at least 30+ mpg on the freeway, but every time I'm on the freeway, I'm stuck in morning rush hour traffic... or evening rush hour traffic. As you can probably understand by now, sitting still on the freeway won't get me more mileage than sitting still in the city. Sitting still anywhere results in ZERO mpg! These are my real life gas results.
There were a couple instances throughout the past year and a half where I got some Speed Racer spirit inside of me and pushed my car hard, may it be using the tiptronic shift or not. Usually when using the tiptronic, I'm pushing the car extra hard, revving towards redline and into the VTEC range. Enjoying driving like this results in very poor gas mileage.
After reading this USA Today article, I don't feel as bad putting in 89 instead of 91... maybe I'll start doing that more often this year. But if I really think about it, that will only save me at most about $200 a year, which isn't all that much. Skimming on gas to save $200 a year on something that I use everyday and hope to still use 10 years from now isn't so logical.
2005 Acura TSX Performance Specs:
Engine: 2.4 liters in-line 4 cylinder VTEC engine with double overhead cam, four valves per cylinder, and multi-point injection fuel system.
Recommended Fuel: Premium unleaded fuel 91
EPA Fuel Economy: highway (mpg) - 31 / city (mpg) - 22
Power: 200 HP SAE @ 6,800 rpm
Torque: 166 ft lb @ 4,500 rpm
Torque: 166 ft lb @ 4,500 rpm
Recommended Fuel: Premium unleaded fuel 91
EPA Fuel Economy: highway (mpg) - 31 / city (mpg) - 22
Fuel Tank Size: 17.2 gallons
For the full specs on the 2005 Acura TSX
Here is a thread at Acurazine.com discussing driver's real world mileage for the Acura TSX.
2 comments:
LOL Thought I was the only anal retentative engineer who kept fuel logs.
But you take it a step further, all I do is track the date, odometer reading, trip distance, fuel cost, gal used and calculate the mpg in a book I keep in my vehicles.
But since we're on the subject, why does the navi in my '04 TSX always show about 2-3mpg HIGHER than what I calculate?
And keep up the great work!
hiptech- Thanks for the comment, and sorry for getting back to you so late. From my understanding, most manufactures keep their mpg calculator "optimistic," therefore when you calculate the mpg by hand it's almost always less than what the computer shows.
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