New Guy Driving Mom's Odyssey

[Sovereign]

I'm still in college, so please don't judge

Actually, I don't mind the Odyssey (2006 EX-L). My friends all try to make me drive when we go places. I have a suspicion it has to do with two things: leather interior and something called "leg room" that doesn't exist in their compacts...

Anyhow I'm trying to learn how to squeeze as many MPG out of the van as possible.

[UfoTofU]

Welcome, I'm still in college too

[cfg83]

Sovereign -

Welcome to EM! Are you your own country yet, ? Those moocher friends of yours better be paying for gas, or at least hamburgers! Have you been taking advantage of the cylinder deactivation? :

2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L Minivan reviews - CNET Reviews

There is a lot of clever technology in the 2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L's engine bay, which is not what you'd expect from a vehicle that seeks neither amazing gas mileage nor exceptional performance.

But the Odyssey EX-L's 3.5-liter, SOHC V-6 engine seeks optimal gas mileage through the use of cylinder deactivation, a much-maligned technology. Honda calls it variable-cylinder management (VCM), and it's standard equipment on the EX-L. By exploiting the controllability of Honda's VTEC valve train, engineers were able to devise a largely hydromechanical system to close and idle the valves and injectors on the rear three cylinders on this transversely mounted engine when the car doesn't need them.

CarloSW2

[Sovereign]

Originally Posted by cfg83

Sovereign -

Welcome to EM! Are you your own country yet, ? Those moocher friends of yours better be paying for gas, or at least hamburgers! Have you been taking advantage of the cylinder deactivation? :

2006 Honda Odyssey EX-L Minivan reviews - CNET Reviews


CarloSW2

How does one "take advantage?" I try to keep the green light on, if that's what you're getting at...

[cfg83]

Sovereign -

Originally Posted by Sovereign

How does one "take advantage?" I try to keep the green light on, if that's what you're getting at...

Yep, that's it.

CarloSW2

[Daox]

Welcome to the site.

Definitely check out our 100+ hypermiling tips. You'll see your best gains there.

[PaleMelanesian]

From driving my 2004, which doesn't have VCM:

- Keep the rpm low. Below 2000 for accelerating.
- Learn when the shift points happen. Let up a bit on the gas to encourage it to shift sooner.
- Once it's locked into top gear (45mph), do all you can to keep it there.
- You can hold it in top gear better on uphills than the cruise control can. I disable cruise for uphills and then reengage it when the flat land resumes.
- It's eager to engine-brake, so be ready with the shifter to drop it into Neutral for longer coasting.
- Any stop and reacceleration is going to cost you big-time, so do all you can to keep moving - timing lights for example.
- Pump up the tires. Balance comfort / noise against mileage, but definitely go a bit above the car's doorpost numbers.

Does it have an MPG readout? If not, Scangauge time! Seriously. In a thirsty beast like this, it'll pay for itself in short order, through driver training.