Fuel Economy

[argylesocks]

Originally Posted by palsan

Real world results are normally worse than the manufacturer spec sheet, yet you are reporting BETTER results than the 100% hwy numbers. How is that possible?

my BEST tank was 44.2mpg (US). this was a full tank which included a drive to Vermont with my girlfriend, my bike/wheels on the back & all my gear in the car.

I drove 58-60mph the whole way & coasted in neutral down every hill.

This summer i was consistently getting 40-42mpg without too much effort other than keep my highway speeds to 60mph & coasting when i could.

Lately, due to cold weather, warm-ups, & some faster speeds, i have been more in the 38-40mpg range... still acceptable :)

[swng]

Under very very favorable conditions, I guess it may be possible to get better than published fuel economy. However, with the traffic conditions that I have to go through daily, I won't even think about it.

[gonzo452001]

yes US gallons totaly stock except for the scan gauge there was about a 150mile trip on that tank also and i hardly ever drive over 60mph and alone most of the driving got 42.5 on the first tank use sunoco 87 regular gas i am real happy with the car

[spkrman]

over a 400 mile trip, and some 30-40 miles of city driving... 36.6 mpg. driving conservatively, motor only has ~1600 miles on it, 1600 after the trip that is.

[swng]

Originally Posted by spkrman

over a 400 mile trip, and some 30-40 miles of city driving... 36.6 mpg. driving conservatively, motor only has ~1600 miles on it, 1600 after the trip that is.

You drive a lot!
Congratulations on the improvments made over what you reported the last time!
The long trip and the conservative driving style must have helped.

[spkrman]

Originally Posted by swng

You drive a lot!
Congratulations on the improvments made over what you reported the last time!
The long trip and the conservative driving style must have helped.

yep, mileage is also improving as motor continues to break in, first tank was approx 32mpg driving conservatively.

The past few weeks have been sorta abnormal - lots more driving than usual. Even though i've done over 1500 miles in the last week, its more than likely that I won't go over 12k over the next year. Although, a trip to NY is coming up... 1600 more miles lol.

[keesue]

My first tank was actually 35.8/mpg and the second tank is 35.9/mpg. This is with two people car-commuting with me, 90% freeway, 65mph average with some inevitable stop and go. I am completely amazed at this. This is coming from a car that averaged 19/mpg and which required premium fuel. The savings is tremendous. I am pleased to say the least.

[tds12]

First 4000 miles 39.5 MPG. Manual transmission. 80% highway, 60 MPH.
Follow other vehicles when possible...My scanguage indicates up to 10 MGP improvement when following a large truck (6 car lengths).

[swng]

Originally Posted by tds12

........Follow other vehicles when possible...My scanguage indicates up to 10 MGP improvement when following a large truck (6 car lengths).

This is very useful information for people who are without the benefit of a scanguage/trip computer like me.
Thanks for sharing!

[spkrman]

now we'll have a forum of semi tailgaters... :)

[swng]

What a quick mind and good sense of humor!
Surely we have to drive safely. In fact, following a truck can reduce drag but following too closely may also render it difficult to judge the traffic conditions ahead, which may lead to abrupt stopping and heavy braking (if not an accident) and thus waste of fuel. I am sure the member who just shared his experience never intended to recommend following too closely. I think he just mentioned his scangauge observatons for academic interest. IMHO, we should always keep at least a two-second distance from the car in front. An even longer distance should be in order in unfavorable conditions.
This thread is useful because of all of you who contribute to it. Please visit and post frequently.

[BMGYaris]

yea, i have read somewhere somethinga bout a car length for ever 10 mph, but whatever. Anyway, we should all write mythbusters. It would be interesting to see exactly what distances behind a big truck change mpg and how much per distance. My initial thoughts are that if you drive far enough behind the truck to have decent visibility, then there wouldnt be too much advantage as the wind would have...i dont know..repositioned?:) anyway, lets send some emails to mythubusters with this one.

[spkrman]

it would also be uncomfortable for the truck driver to have a lil car that he probably can't see behind him. Maybe the biggest gain in MPG you can get is a CB radio? :)

[swng]

Just for academic discussion, and don't do it a home. Professionals do agree that following a big truck in front can save fuel. Please read this review (to save time, please go direct to the paragraphs under the sub-heading "Fuel economy run"):

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/jo...&model=E-Class

Here is a quotation from that web page:

"We used a different strategy when we got on the highway, though. We sought to draft behind large vehicles—in actuality, tucking closely behind a pickup truck towing a camper, and later getting behind a semi. But this meant we couldn't see much ahead of us, and we were required to match the speed of the bigger vehicle directly in front."

Note in particular that there are comments about the disadvantages of so doing in the same paragraph. For daily driving, I suggest safety first.

More discussions in this and other aspects of fuel economy are welcome, friends!

[ECHOKnight2000]

I read that following a truck closely you can coast but its very ideal conditions, meaning the draft of the truck pulls the car of course bigger cars it would be harder but for the sake of the Yaris...obviously this is dangerous. There is a point where the truck's draft creates a turbulance so the car is shaking, sort of like a jet stream (not saying it is just a comparison). Sorry I'm not to knowledgable on the techincal words. Anyway you have to follow really close and for the sake of mpg, no not worth it, you're asking for trouble or a death sentence. Just my .02

[tds12]

You don't need to be real close to see a difference in the scanguage MPG. 6-10 lengths. This is way farther back than typical freeway driving in Seattle.
Also it doesn't have to be a large truck any vehicle that disturbs the air in front of the Yaris. Larger vehicles work better but it is a noticable decrease following any vehicle.

[spkrman]

scanguage is definitely on my list of things to get... now a very long and expensive list!

[nsmitchell]

Holding steady at 31mpg. I am not really driving for mileage. Lots of lights, lots of stomping on the gas. ;) I am still waiting to take a good long road trip to check out maximum mileage. Hopefully around 40 something.