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Sovereign

06-24-2009 11:23 PM

New Guy Driving Mom's Odyssey

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

06-25-2009 12:08 AM

Welcome, I'm still in college too

cfg83

06-25-2009 12:16 AM

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

Quote:

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

06-25-2009 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfg83 (Post 112058)

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

cfg83

06-25-2009 01:44 AM

Sovereign -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovereign (Post 112067)

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	06-25-2009 08:23 AM

Welcome to the site.

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

PaleMelanesian

06-25-2009 12:24 PM

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.

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