Fuel Efficiency and the Yaris

[Amdkt7]

I was getting 50 mpg for most tanks last summer. I don't have the patience for it now, I get home 10 minutes faster and still get 43 mpg per tank.

The big trick for me is to put in the clutch and coast as much as possible, try to time traffic lights. Driving over 70 kills the mileage. Short trips really suck gas as the engine is not warmed up. I understand the engine runs rich until the catalytic converter gets hot enough to work.

Also, do not dally when getting up to speed. All time wasted in the lower gears really suck fuel badly. Get into top gear as soon as possible, then go with a light foot.

I drive a stick, and that makes a lot of difference. When coasting (even with the engine on) the gas mileage soars. It you are stopping use engine breaking as that causes the fuel to shut off completely.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Amdkt7

The big trick for me is to put in the clutch and coast as much as possible

- Harder to do here (and impossible to do as effectively) re the pancake flat nature of most of the terrain ('The Heights' neighborhood in Houston got it's name re the elevation being 23 feet (yes 23 feet) higher than Downtown Houston, LOL).

Get into top gear as soon as possible, then go with a light foot.

I do this as well.

coasting (even with the engine on) the gas mileage soars.

I used to turn the engine off at a few red lights, but I stopped doing that as my revious battery got toward the end of its life.