As mentioned in the Introductions forum, I just picked up my new desert mist, no-nav Accord on December 18.

So far, I think it is a great car. If you have questions about the car, post them and I will try to answer. I'm no automotive expert, so please keep them simple.

Also, I'm curious what mileage other Honda Accord Hybrid owners are getting, so please update the database when you fill up.

Regards,

Mike

 

hey there's a cool accord hybrid forum i just found. its


www.hybridaccord.net
or
www.accord-hybrid.net

 

Seems to me that the Accord hybrid is more of a performance upgrade than a gas milage thing. I've heard they are very fast what do you think?

 

Yes, it's true that the Accord is designed to out-perform its non-hybrid counterpart. However, it still has a very good gas mileage/performance ratio. Much of the intention with the Accord hybrid (we presume) is to ween consumers off gas-eaters by showing them the alternatives with sacrificing. Of course, manufacturers are still businesses, and it's always possible they'll forgo all the mileage benefits just to create a powerhouse vehicle.

 

Hi All:

___If you want to see what the AH is possibly capable of in warmer temps, keep an eye on Lewis’ and GreenandBlue’s AH’s over the next few months. GreenandBlue has already had a segment of 39 mpg with our garbage oxygenated winter blend and in temps cold enough to give you frostbite in short order … I suspect he will see even higher with a bit more practice, warmer temps, and more miles on his new AH. Boy would I love to get my hands on one with 44 - 50#’s in the Michelin’s and some fresh 0W-20 installed. GreenandBlue, are you listening

___Mikemc, read as much as you can in regards to what the AH is capable of if you really want to achieve stellar FE. Even if you don’t achieve hypermiler status in one, it is a very beautiful car to own in terms of ride comfort, handling, amenities, and performance from everything I have read including the rides I have taken in the 7th generation Accord I4 and V6 (non-hybrid’s).

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

zzzzz... huh? whazzat ?

Wayne - thanks for the encouragement / kind words. Most appreciated. BTW - I got my oil report today from Blackstone, and I'm sending that to you via email. When you get back in town, give me a call at the number I'll list in the email, and we'll schedule a meetup. I'd like to see what you can do in the car, too

For everyone else, I'll also post my analysis on the board. I've always wondered what was in that 'magical' break-in oil that's supposedly in Hondas; maybe someone else is as well.

I'm thinking that the gas in Madison, WI is a better blend than what we get here in Lake Co, IL, because that mileage was sooo good . It also helped that the car was fully warmed up, and the gas station was literally next to the on-ramp. The reason I only reported the 50 mi. segment was because I ran into about 40mi of road on US Interstate 23 that could most charitably be described as...washboard (hey, that's where the Navi told me to drive! LOL) It was so rough that I know my foot was dancing on the go pedal. But I was really pleased to see 39.7 (?) on the trip odo for the 50mi stretch (65mph limit), if for nothing else than to know that I can match / exceed EPA on both the city *and* highway ratings ( 29 / 37, according to my Monroney ). I've *never* done that before with any car, and it's a very satisfying feeling. With just a few adjustments from my driving style with the old '01 AV6 coupe, I can get 50% better mileage now (39 vs 26 - hwy). Better justifies the purchase, and I traded 'away' nothing in terms of performance, luxury (actually gained in both). Traded away about 4yrs worth of equity, though...

It was still climbing, too - had I not run into that bad stretch of road, I might have seen 41-42 mpg . Seriously. As it was, I completed the 175mi trip at 37+, and that included 25mi of secondary highway w/ more stops than I would have liked.

I've had 1 warm day w/ lighter than usual traffic where I got 37+ on my 22mi trip to work, all on secondary highway.

Bottom line - the potential is there, for those wanting to improve their FE.

 

I just got my new HAH w/nav last weekend and so I guess I am still breaking in the engine - I don't want to damage it therefore, I was wondering if it would hurt the engine by "constantly" shifting into neutral going downhill. I used to do this with my last car - but I don't know enough about this engine to know if I could cause any damage. I apologize if this has been answered in a different section, but I am still learning my way around here...

You guys have a lot of helpful advice. Now at least I know not to "gun it" uphill (please don't cringe) thinking that forcing the electric motor assist to come on would actually help my car *save* gas...or maybe I shouldn't admit to that... So far it looks like I'm getting 26mpg - as you can see, I'm still learnig

 

Lisa,
We haven't discussed putting the Accord in neutral before, though such conversations have come up about other vehicles. I'm sure you know this is illegal, but I don't know the technical ramifications on the engine.

Your best bet at this point is to use the techniques also meant for the Civic Hybrid. This is a good place to start: https://www.greenhybrid.com/learn/ar...el-efficiency/

Remember that the Civic and Accord are built on the same IMA system (right?)

 

You definitely want to leave it in drive. The IMA system can't recapture energy when coasting downhill or decellerating if you take it out of drive. You're effectively disabling the hybrid system if you shift to neutral. Not a good thing!

 

Ah, those stupid female drivers

Thanks for the advice - I'll do better, I promise.