Fuel Economy

[swng]

This comparison shows that a Yaris with auto transmission is more fuel economical than a competitor with manual transmission:

http://en.research.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/autos/compare/default.aspx?year=&make=Nissan&model=Versa+Hatchba ck&ts=363^^5018672007,28^^73590312007,&pos=0&pg=Co mpareAdd&ht=-1&add=595^^73589122007

The link is long and has to be copied and pasted to the location bar for the page to been viewed.

[marcus]

1st tank 540km with 39.8l fill up = 38.34mi/gal with regular 87 octane
2nd tank ran 535km fill up 38.4l = 39.37mi/gal with premium 89 octane
3rd tank 540km 37.5l fill up=40.69mi/gal with premium 89 octane
4th tank 570km premium fill up @38.00 liters =42.40 m/gal -15km/liter 89 octane
5th tank went to regular gas..unbeknown...

: car doesnt like regular gas 87 octane engine a bit noisy on acceleration unless my car timing is not adjusted right.. i should get it checked

[swng]

Your mpg numbers are improving every tank Marcus. I will be interested to know how does your car perform after switching back to regular gas as far as fuel economy is concerned. I have tried a tank of 91 Octane fuel (Chevron) and also noticed that the motor sounded a little quieter. That could just be due to psychological or other reasons though. I have just switched to Shell 87 and the car does not seem to have become more noisy.

[marcus]

try opening your window and driving right beside a wall and accelerate..the wall will revert the noise back to you...on regular youll hear a kinna like knockin on the engine noise only during acceleration if you dont then ur car is fine.. still trying to find out if its due to the timing chain..but it does go away on 89 octane gas.. so mostlikely its either timing too advance or the antiknock sensor not working properly..

Originally Posted by swng

Your mpg numbers are improving every tank Marcus. I will be interested to know how does your car perform after switching back to regular gas as far as fuel economy is concerned. I have tried a tank of 91 Octane fuel (Chevron) and also noticed that the motor sounded a little quieter. That could just be due to psychological or other reasons though. I have just switched to Shell 87 and the car does not seem to have become more noisy.

[swng]

Originally Posted by marcus

try opening your window and driving right beside a wall and accelerate..the wall will revert the noise back to you...on regular youll hear a kinna like knockin on the engine noise only during acceleration if you dont then ur car is fine.. still trying to find out if its due to the timing chain..but it does go away on 89 octane gas.. so mostlikely its either timing too advance or the antiknock sensor not working properly..

Tried that but not much difference heard. Will listen more carefully when the surrounding is quiet. Meanwhile, may be you would like to consider eTiMaGo's suggestion (Post #1214) i.e. ask Toyota to check it out for you to see if there is a problem. I am no expert but I think the car's computer (aka ECU) should be able to adjust ignition timing to suit different fuel octane numbers. Our Yari are designed to run on regular fuel anyway. Still grateful that you have brought this subject up for discussion and wish you best of luck!
You know, when all are equal, we may as well hang on to regular fuel for economy.

[marcus]

ill bring it in tomorrow..

Originally Posted by swng

Tried that but not much difference heard. Will listen more carefully when the surrounding is quiet. Meanwhile, may be you would like to consider eTiMaGo's suggestion (Post #1214) i.e. ask Toyota to check it out for you to see if there is a problem. I am no expert but I think the car's computer (aka ECU) should be able to adjust ignition timing to suit different fuel octane numbers. Our Yari are designed to run on regular fuel anyway. Still grateful that you have brought this subject up for discussion and wish you best of luck!
You know, when all are equal, we may as well hang on to regular fuel for economy.

[uncleyaris]

hey all, on my last tank 38.254 litres to fill drove 626.30 km. I think that calculate to 46.27 mpg, or 6.10 litres per 100km. Not bad!!!!!

[swng]

Originally Posted by uncleyaris

hey all, on my last tank 38.254 litres to fill drove 626.30 km. I think that calculate to 46.27 mpg, or 6.10 litres per 100km. Not bad!!!!!

Good numbers uncle! Lots of highway driving?

[Ah Yum]

Originally Posted by uncleyaris

hey all, on my last tank 38.254 litres to fill drove 626.30 km. I think that calculate to 46.27 mpg, or 6.10 litres per 100km. Not bad!!!!!

That's better than 38 MPG US, overall I'm around there too.

[nsmitchell]

35.8MPG mostly city. Gas is going up all the time. I'm so glad I drive a Yaris. I asked my wife last nite if we could sell our Odyssey and get a Fit. She said "Hell No!", but I had to ask.

BTW - May 24, 2007 was our 10 year anniversary!

[marcus]

happy anniversy .. try to explain to her how much she will be saving by getting rid of the odessy...keep discussion positive and and turn outs for her own benefit... works for my wife..hehehehe great luck!

Originally Posted by nsmitchell

35.8MPG mostly city. Gas is going up all the time. I'm so glad I drive a Yaris. I asked my wife last nite if we could sell our Odyssey and get a Fit. She said "Hell No!", but I had to ask.

BTW - May 24, 2007 was our 10 year anniversary!

[swng]

Originally Posted by nsmitchell

35.8MPG mostly city. Gas is going up all the time. I'm so glad I drive a Yaris. I asked my wife last nite if we could sell our Odyssey and get a Fit. She said "Hell No!", but I had to ask.

BTW - May 24, 2007 was our 10 year anniversary!

Happy belated anniversary and BTW great mpg for city driving!

[eTiMaGo]

if it really does sound that bad, it certainly does not sound normal and your friendly neighborhood Toyota service center will be better equipped to help you

[uncleyaris]

no, but 5th gear and 60km/hr

[swng]

Originally Posted by uncleyaris

no, but 5th gear and 60km/hr

Noted with thanks.

[swng]

Just saw your gaslog at GasSaver.org Ah Yum (Post #1222). You know a lot of practical fuel saving techniques and your results are good. Please post more here.

[Ah Yum]

Originally Posted by swng

Just saw your gaslog at GasSaver.org Ah Yum (Post #1222). You know a lot of practical fuel saving techniques and your results are good. Please post more here.

Thanks for your kind words. But I'm afraid some of the hypermiler's ways are too controversial to be discussed in public.

I wouldn't feel too bad to about 30 MPG around town. If commited to save on gas, anyone could simply drive less. If I take lots of 40 MPG two-minute trips while you make 30 MPG on longer commutes but bike or walk at other times, we might still be comparable in overall fuel usage.

[swng]

Originally Posted by Ah Yum

Thanks for your kind words. But I'm afraid some of the hypermiler's ways are too controversial to be discussed in public.

I wouldn't feel too bad to about 30 MPG around town. If commited to save on gas, anyone could simply drive less. If I take lots of 40 MPG two-minute trips while you make 30 MPG on longer commutes but bike or walk at other times, we might still be comparable in overall fuel usage.

Thanks for the response! Got the message. Makes very good sense to me. I am very impressed by your pragmatic, balanced, and down to earth attitude toward this subject. Also, I fully understand that hyermiling is a subject very different from basic day to day fuel economy. That is why I have edited the subject of Post #1 of this thread to "Fuel Economy in General". I regret that I have not been able to change the name of this thread accordingly. You know, I did use the word "practical" in Post #1223.

I am glad that the Yaris is a fuel economical car in its own right and almost everybody who pays attention to responsible driving can achieve a reasonably good level of F.E. with it.

Though inevitably a few (certainly not all) very exotic hypermiling techniques may give rise to some safety, legal, environmental, warranty and wear and tear concerns of a varying degree, I still think that it is good to know that such techniques exist. It is up to the good sense of individuals whether to try them. For me, I bought the Yaris for its good F.E., amongst other things such as comfort, flexibility, resale value, ease of driving/parking, and of course, reliability.

I am personally addicted to achieving good F.E. but will not give up comfort and relaxed driving to achieve the last little bit of fuel saving.

For academic interest, I still try to know more about not only the easy/practical but also the advanced/exotic fuel saving techniques, though I for sure will not put every one of them to actual use.

Please post more here.