There often seems to be an active thread here in the 3rd Gen forum about fuel mileage and how much everyone gets per gallon, what kind of fuel to use, tire pressure, etc.
I thought it might be useful and interesting to read what others are doing to get that last little bit of mileage out of their gallon of gas. Let's assume you maintain your car and it's running optimally. What can we do to improve mileage?
Here, in no particular order, are some of the things I do that make up "Tom in Tacoma's Hypermileage Tricks":
- Don't Brake - If you leave a little extra distance between you and the car ahead you can coast for a while longer before you absolutely have to brake. Most people will step on the gas and quickly thereafter step on the brakes, turning that gas they just used into heat from the brake friction. Quite often I won't have to touch the brakes at all before the car ahead once again moves on.
- Try Not To Stop - Even if you're only moving a foot per second, you'll save on fuel if you don't have to come to a complete stop before moving out again. This ties in with the 'Don't Brake' tip above.
- Alignment - Get your wheels aligned!
- Tires - Some tires are designed to improve your gas mileage. Go ask the tire guy or Google it.
- Tire pressure - Make sure your tires are properly inflated. I settled in on 32psi all the way around. If you have your car serviced by someone else - double check the air pressure afterwards, you'll be surprised how often they screw it up.
- Drive With A Feather - Once you're up to speed, drive as if you're pushing on the gas pedal with a feather. The car will accelerate even if you barely press on the pedal. If you press on it to accelerate only to have to take the foot back off the pedal (or even brake!) you just turned your expensive gas into heat for nothing.
- Keep Your Windows Shut - It's all about aerodynamics. The car will slip through the air better with the windows shut.
- Get Rid Of The Junk - An empty car weighs less! (DUH)
- Hilly County - Of course - coast downhill! But just before you crest the hill, get off the gas and let momentum carry you over the to downhill side. If you time it right you won't lose any speed.
- Don't Warm It Up - There's no need to warm up your car by letting it idle in the mornings. After idleing for 20-seconds the oil is getting circulated throughout the engine. Go ahead and start driving slowly and let the rest of the car warm up slowly as you drive. Remember, this is the time when your car is getting it's worst mileage - no jackrabbit starts! The fewer cold-starts the better for mileage and the life of your engine.
- Keep It Warm - A car that's garage kept will come up to operating temperature sooner.
Reply 1 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
Keep the electrical demand to a minimum. The more electricity you draw while driving, such as plugged in devices like cell phones, GPS units, computers, etc., or same or similar devices built-in to your vehicle all draw electricity which puts a load on your alternator and ultimately reduces mileage by several percent.
Reply 2 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
Leave extra distance from the car in front so that when you absolutely have to brake, you open up your driver's door in order to use air resistance to slow down your car (passenger is a plus) enough so that when you brake it is from a slightly lower speed saving you a few drops of gas. Or if that is not enough carry a large metal stick, while the driver's door is open, press and hold firmly against the ground for added braking (you can also use your left foot).
But seriously I think you covered everything lol.
Reply 3 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
+1 on warming up the engine. I read in a thread that when you are not moving you get 0 MPG.
Reply 4 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
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Originally Posted by pmesfun 
+1 on warming up the engine. I read in a thread that when you are not moving you get 0 MPG.
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I suppose I keep myself entertained by seeing how much mileage I can get. I suppose a side benefit is I'm minimizing wear and tear on the engine, the tranny, tires and the brakes. I gotta do something to keep myself entertained on my long daily commute!
Reply 5 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
Here's an example of what I'm talking about. This morning I stopped at a gas station (ARCO - cheapest gas I could find) and filled the tank. Got on the freeway about 2-miles from the gas station and drove through some stop-and-go traffic as well as quite a bit of 70-mph (+/-) miles.
By using the 'coast as much as possible while keeping up with the flow of traffic' and 'Don't use the brakes' that I discribed above here's the results:
A couple of things I'd like to point out; when you hypermile over a period of time the cruising range adjusts - 432 miles on this tank as an example, This mileage is the result of mixed driving on I-5, I-405 and Hwy 520 (if you're familiar with the Seattle area)(for the record, Seattle has the 10th worst traffic in the country).
So, there's my proof. What you got?
Reply 6 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
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Originally Posted by Tom in Tacoma
Here's an example of what I'm talking about. This morning I stopped at a gas station (ARCO - cheapest gas I could find) and filled the tank. Got on the freeway about 2-miles from the gas station and drove through some stop-and-go traffic as well as quite a bit of 70-mph (+/-) miles.
By using the 'coast as much as possible while keeping up with the flow of traffic' and 'Don't use the brakes' that I discribed above here's the results: A couple of things I'd like to point out; when you hypermile over a period of time the cruising range adjusts - 432 miles on this tank as an example, This mileage is the result of mixed driving on I-5, I-405 and Hwy 520 (if you're familiar with the Seattle area)(for the record, Seattle has the 10th worst traffic in the country). So, there's my proof. What you got? |
"After refueling" 33.4mpg, does it mean your last tank avg 33.4? from the computer
"Cruising Range" does it mean the last crusing range or is your CURRENT cruising range before the tank is empty?
Cruise
"Average Speed", "Distance" means since the last refuel?
Reply 7 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
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Originally Posted by grandpapa
Tom, I have a hard time understanding this screen. I don't even know what it's for so I never bother to look. Please explain/correct me
"After refueling" 33.4mpg, does it mean your last tank avg 33.4? from the computer "Cruising Range" does it mean the last crusing range or is your CURRENT cruising range before the tank is empty? Cruise "Average Speed", "Distance" means since the last refuel? |
- After refueling = shows the miles per gallon achieved since last refuel
- Cruising Range = distance to empty
Cruise
- Average Speed = Average speed since the car was last started
- Cruising Range = distance to empty
That help?
Reply 8 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
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Originally Posted by Tom in Tacoma
Here's the breakdown:
- After refueling = shows the miles per gallon achieved since last refuel - Cruising Range = distance to empty Cruise - Average Speed = Average speed since the car was last started - Cruising Range = distance to empty That help? |
Cruise, Distance = probably means total distance since last refuel?
That lead to another question. Do you do a manual reset everytime after refuel? I just use the old pen/paper method to track my mpg
Reply 9 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
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Originally Posted by grandpapa
OK, Consumption, cruising rage = Distance to empty, now make sense since our sienna use DTE
Cruise, Distance = probably means total distance since last refuel? That lead to another question. Do you do a manual reset everytime after refuel? I just use the old pen/paper method to track my mpg |
Cruise, Distance is the distance traveled since the engine was last started.
Consumption numbers reset automatically after refueling, Cruise numbers reset when you start the engine. It's all done without finger-pokes.
Reply 10 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
Now I am disapointted!!
My "After Refueling" shows 20.3mpg and "cruising range" is only 272!
What's up with that?
Reply 11 : Fuel Mileage Tips and Tricks
Since I tend to hypermile a lot, right after refueling the cruising range will climb with each refill up to the point of 430-miles.
Grandpapa - you just gotta start coasting more and press the gas pedal with a feather!
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