Mikes1098

As sad as it sounds, I have tracked every fill up in both my Pilot (blue line below) and Ford Escape (pink line below). The Pilot is currently has 145k miles and the Escape is at 170k. My concern is that the Pilot is showing a solid drift over the years while the Escape is rock steady. It is an 2003 pilot that we picked up in 2007, at which time it hovered btw 18-20 MPG...since it has drifted it 16-18 MPG -- with more points closer to 15 MPG.



I have done regular maintenance to both cars, same gas, same drivers, same daily routine, same air pressure in tires. In an effort to fix the issue, I have replaced the timing belt last year, replaced the spark plugs, adjusted the valves, replaced the intake gaskets, replaced the fuel filter -- but nothing has even swayed the mileage. I do not believe the thermostat is stuck, as the temp is always rock steady in the middle. Since it has been a slow drift and not a step change, I do not believe a stuck caliper is at fault. The few high blimps (19-20 MPG) were hwy trips. I am not sure what else to check to try to restore the gas mileage.

I was wondering if it might be the 02 sensor or the injectors -- there are no codes thrown. Is there a way to test either of those? I figured I would ask before randomly replacing parts.

Please let me know if you have any other ideas or questions.

Thanks,
Mike

Myroslav69

Sell it and buy a newer one. Or save your money by not buying anymore parts and instead use the money for gas. The Pilot is big and heavy, so it will get low gas milage. Check the compression in the cylinders, blow by, leak down. The engine itself might be loosing compression, therefore using up more gas to compensate for loss of power

Todd00

Did you put a different kind of tire on it last time? When I switch the tires on my wife's Pilot from her 'touring' tire to the wintertime M+S, there is a noticeable difference in mileage.

I've even noticed on my Civic that different similar-make tires make my mpg vary by 1-2 mpg.

Also, do you run at least 89 octane? On the Honda J-series V6's, the ones that I have seen that were 87-only cars have serious gunk build up on them and this will indeed decrease hp and mileage over time. The ones that run 89+ do not.

ashtons300zx

o2's and catalysts are the more likely cause of the lower mileage. I have noticed the same with my mdx. When i got it back in 08 i could get 24-25 mpg on the highway trips and average about 20 with mixed, Now im lucky to get about 16 mixed and at best 20mpg on highway trips. But ive had a catalyst inefficient code since i got it and have never fixed it. Im pretty much to the point where its time to replace them and all the o2's with them. Expensive but I do the work myself so I dont have to pay anyone to do it. Its still a good chunk in parts alone though