To accurately measure MPG when should I fill back up.

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

You know, all you mileage gurus run up and down these boards saying this and that about how to get your mileage up, but I never see any of you outline it simply for the members that don't feel like scouring yet another web site for information. Not everyone wants to be an expert. Some just want results.

The following goes double for all you manual drivers that have more control over your revs.

The idea of how to improve your mileage is so simple. The gas pedal controls many things, including the amount of fuel being injected into the cylinders. As RPM's go up, fuel consumption climbs with it. The trick to getting wonderful mileage in your car is twofold.

First of all, keep your revs as low as possible without overwhelming your gears. In other words, there is no reason to leave first gear at 4500 RPM as that wastes fuel, but at the same time you don't want to leave first at 1500 RPM either or you will find yourself having to gas the hell out of second to get your car in gear. 2500-3250 RPM's is what I have found to be the ideal shift point in the Yaris depending on how fast you like getting from point A to point B. Keep in mind the Yaris loses about 1000 RPM's per shift (loosely) so if you leave first at 3000 RPM you're entering second at 2000 RPM, which is teriffic. Also, If you're bitching about your gas mileage and you don't have a tach, you have no room to complain. Go get a tach and start paying attention. Your tach will pay for itself after you have used it to raise your MPG a few points.

Second, thanks to BailOut we now know about the DFCO feature. If you're heading down a hill at a speed that allows it, shift to third and take your foot off the throttle entirely. This will cut out fuel consumption. You automatic drivers can do this too... just take it out of overdrive. Since it is probably relatively rare that you find yourself in a situation where you can use this feature long enough to make it worthwhile, I see this as kind of a secondary way to improve mileage. Focus on that gas pedal and keeping your revs just right.

There, mystery solved.

Wrong! Mystery NOT solved so easily. Knowledge is power.

What is wrong with turning others on to anothe web site, that specializes in saving gas? I find your admonishment inappropriate, and defeats the whole value of such forums. We exchange ideas here, we provide our best knowledge, and take other's knowledge so we all can benefit...why poo-poo this?

Saving MPG is not just about RPM's....this is a drastic over simplification.

It's also about engine load (vacuum), and the ScanGauge II provides a display of this parameter realtime. Don't you realize that shifting with too low RPM's can boost engine vacuum very high? High Vacuum means high fuel consumption, so shifting too early to keep the rev's down can often burn gas faster then shifting at higher RPM's, so to suggest that high RPM's = low MPG is not necessarily true in all cases.

The site gasavers.org (or gassavers.org) provides many tips on saving gas, that anyone can learn from, if they want to lean how to drive for highest MPG. Those that want to save gas are morons for ignoring such sites, as there are many.

And nobody requires a tachometer to increase MPG, but of course it helps, or can make it easier, but certainlly not a gotta-have.

Some want results? Sure, but the best results are only received from knowledge, and no one has to be an "expert" to glean the many, many tips of getting the best MPG from our cars.

Why the attitude?

[ChinoCharles]

Originally Posted by Pavel Olavich

so to suggest that high RPM's = low MPG is not necessarily true in all cases.

I understand that there is a happy medium. Notice I mentioned that low RPM's can result in low mileage too, and I even listed the window of proper shift points for this car, none of which would qualify as "high RPM's."

Do you ever argue a point or do you just like reading your own posts?

All I am saying is getting good gas mileage on a car like this is WAY the hell simpler than most hypermilers make it seem on this site. Instead of writing a dissertation on gas mileage spread across 50 threads, why don't one of you just post a thread... "how to get good gas mileage." It isn't rocket science!

If you guys come back at me for this saying I'm a jerk, it will prove who is posting for the betterment of fellow member's experiences... and it will prove who posts just to post.

BailOut, I nominate you. At least you know what you're talking about.

And to answer your question, the frustration looms from your total lack of understanding of our membership... among other things. I don't go to school with Jamal or anything, but I would bet 50 bucks he would rather have someone just give him a couple reasonably easy tips on how to improve his shitty mileage rather than you saying "hey, go read this whole site." You have to know your audience in order to help effectively.

Knowledge is power... and ignorance is bliss.

[Pavel Olavich]

Originally Posted by ChinoCharles

I understand that there is a happy medium. Notice I mentioned that low RPM's can result in low mileage too, and I even listed the window of proper shift points for this car, none of which would qualify as "high RPM's."

Do you ever argue a point or do you just like reading your own posts?

All I am saying is getting good gas mileage on a car like this is WAY the hell simpler than most hypermilers make it seem on this site. Instead of writing a dissertation on gas mileage spread across 50 threads, why don't one of you just post a thread... "how to get good gas mileage." It isn't rocket science!

If you guys come back at me for this saying I'm a jerk, it will prove who is posting for the betterment of fellow member's experiences... and it will prove who posts just to post.

BailOut, I nominate you. At least you know what you're talking about.

And to answer your question, the frustration looms from your total lack of understanding of our membership... among other things. I don't go to school with Jamal or anything, but I would bet 50 bucks he would rather have someone just give him a couple reasonably easy tips on how to improve his shitty mileage rather than you saying "hey, go read this whole site." You have to know your audience in order to help effectively.

Knowledge is power... and ignorance is bliss.

Nope, I disagree....pointing Jamal to anothe web site that specializes in MPG gains is better then posting a response on this teeny tiny thread...my advice is about quality of information...that site will do more for him then a several words I or anyone can write in a thread.

Threads are a clearinghouse for information...some responses can give the answer in one response....others are best answered by a more detailed site.

I would bet you $100 that Jamal, being a smart dude, would rather view a site specific to MPG gains then the massively condense advise I or any one can give him on this thread.