MPG and Tire Pressure

Hey All-

Think I read through most of the postings in the MPG section and didn't see much about this, but if I'm re-phrasing someone's thread please let me know. =)

I have an 09 CRV EXL 2WD and have been pleased with the mileage - I'm averaging about 23.5mpg with a 60%/40% city/highway mix in the Bay Area. I also only have about 2k miles on my V, so there is potential for mileage to improve once I break it in a bit more.

Regarding tire pressure - when I took delivery the dealer had all the tires inflated to 35psi and the night I drove it home I averaged 30.9mpg (all highway). I have since lowered them all to 30psi per the Honda manual, but have only seen 26-27mpg all-highway averages since that time.

I've been thinking of inflating the tires a bit more - maybe 32 to 33 psi - to see if mileage improves. Anyone else running them a little high? I am already pleased with my mileage, just wondering if I could be doing a little better.

I might try this tomorrow and see how much the ride suffers. Will keep you posted if I see much of an improvement in mpg.

Thanks-
Don

ours came with 30psi...got about 22 MPG combined city/highway. bumped it up to 32psi....got about 23-24MPG combined city/highway. when i got new tires 2 months ago...costco put (by mistake) 36psi on all four tires....MPG went down a bit to 21MPG...rough ride! brought them back down to 32psi...all good. recent 690 mile road trip with temps in the mid 90s to low 100s AC on average speed of 70 MPH on mountains and passes through the CA/NV desert......average 25.5MPG....32psi on cold tires. smooth quiet ride.

It's a very personal preference on what type of ride \ handling you are looking for. For MY driving tastes I keep 34 front and 32 back since that is more how the weight is distributed. Since the beginning all tolled with hwy winter gas etc. we have averaged 24.0mpg and we are just under 60k.

I keep mine set at 32 PSi all the way 'round. I drive very conservatively and have averaged 28 MPG since we bought the V a few weeks ago. I think driving habits affect MPG more so than tire pressure. I can drive it more agressively and get in the low 20's.

So it's been about a week and I've had the tires all running at 33psi. Ride is a bit harder but fuel economy seems to have gone down slightly. Over the next few weeks I'm going to try taking it down 1 psi at a time and see if I find my ideal ride/mpg combo. I'll probably end up back with Honda's recommended 30psi!

I belong to a Hybrid site as I own a Honda Hybrid as well as a V. Pretty well all the members run the max. manufactures recommended cold setting printed on the side of the tire in small print. Some are even running in the 60 lb. range and higher, but I think they are city driving only? I run my 2006 v M.T. anywhere from 34 to 44lbs. depending on road conditions. The higher the pressure ,gives the best FE! I normally get in the area of 33mpg, but then I am a slow driver! I drive at the speed limit or under. :) Hal

I belong to a Hybrid site as I own a Honda Hybrid as well as a V. Pretty well all the members run the max. manufactures recommended cold setting printed on the side of the tire in small print. Some are even running in the 60 lb. range and higher, but I think they are city driving only? I run my 2006 v M.T. anywhere from 34 to 44lbs. depending on road conditions. The higher the pressure ,gives the best FE! I normally get in the area of 33mpg, but then I am a slow driver! I drive at the speed limit or under. :) Hal

I also have a Honda Civic Hybrid (2004 MT). Makes a perfect partner for the v!
I run the v at 935 psi, which did help bump the mpg.
My life time average in the crv is 34 US mpg and best tank 39 US mpg, but then it is a diesel. I can get over 45 when really trying, but only when not in a hurry!

Ohhhhhh! to own a diesel! We can't get them on this side of the pond!:( Hal

Have a o8 lx all wheel drive and keep the tires at about 34 and get 26-28 on all highway here. Usually a 160 mile trip every 3 weeks and have about 15,000 on the crv. Side note as my wife has a Rav 4 and gets almost identical milage. Think the honda rides more like a car on the highway. Not much city drive where we live. It does drop considerable to maybe 21 or so then

Ohhhhhh! to own a diesel! We can't get them on this side of the pond!:( Hal
Hal, don't be getting all excvited about the diesed's MPG.
I am guessing those are IMP gallons.

You do the math...

In any event I am sure it is better but not 45??? Not in US MPG

PLZ say it isn't so! :)

Imperial this, Imperrial that. Why don't you use the real gallon...Yez! :)

-Rg

Hal, don't be getting all excvited about the diesed's MPG.
I am guessing those are IMP gallons.

You do the math...

In any event I am sure it is better but not 45??? Not in US MPG

PLZ say it isn't so! :)

Imperial this, Imperrial that. Why don't you use the real gallon...Yez! :)

-Rg

This is a good point, as its not often made clear by those across the pond which unit of measure they're using when they post.

1 IMP Gallon = 1.20 US Gallons

45 MP(imperial)G = 37.5 US MPG

40 MP(imperial)G = 33 US MPG

IIRC the US Gallon is based on the old UK Wine Gallon, here in the UK we don't run our vehicles on wine ;)

Vince

My HCH2 instruments can be set to Metric and or Us. I don't ever think Imp. any more! I live near the boarder so this is a handy feature to have in a auto.I miss it on my V. The gen 3's may have it ,I am not sure. Hal

Those drunken Damned Yankees! They drink all the wine then put their fuel in the jugs... Yez!

Ultimate recycling! :D

-Rg