Will I get my increase in MPG at 5000 miles?

[YarisOwnersDad]

Hi, Yaris Buddies.

My 09 Yaris Sedan with an automatic transmission got her first oil change today at 4700 miles on the odometer. Many folks here in the forums have stated that their MPG picked up appreciably at 5000 miles.

I'm awfully happy with my 37.8 overall MPG average for the entire three months that I have owned the car, but if it wants to go up, hey, it won't hurt my feelings. :thumbup:

I'll let everyone know how it goes over the next few tanks.

Tom

[Yaris Hilton]

I'm approaching 4500. I'll be very surprised if there's a big change.

[jambo101]

The biggest change will happen when you change your driving habits to feel comfortable at lower throttle applications.

[MadMax]

I saw my MPG go up a couple of points at 5K...

[RedRide]

A general rule of thumb for all automotive engines is that max fuel economy is reached at about 10k miles and goes down very slowly after that.

[aca72]

The biggest change will happen when you change your driving habits to feel comfortable at lower throttle applications.

I strongly agree with this statement.

Your mpg scores are acceptable. It beats the posted EPA FE for the Yaris.

[supmet]

I would expect a slight increase after the first oil change, but nothing drastic

[talnlnky]

The biggest change will happen when you change your driving habits to feel comfortable at lower throttle applications.

Agreed... The kys is to accelerate to speed, then back off slightly on the pedal just enough to maintain the speed. It's easy to do if you have a scanguage, a little harder without one. That alone probably saves me 15-20% in efficiency.

For driving on roads other than highways I limit my throttle position when accelerating to 23 as best as I can. As soon as I reach cruising speed I back off as much as I can (determined by terrain, speed, and wind). If driving 40-45mph I can usually back down to 20 on the throttle. If doing 35-40 18 or 19.

I just changed my drive route to work... doing 55-65 on a highway hardly allowed me to get much over 40mpg.... Now i'm doing non-highway which ranges from 20-40mph with stoplights every 1/3mile and been getting 45-50mpg (though it takes 5-10 minutes longer).

I figure if I drive to & from work on this route everyday for a whole tank... my tank avg should go up 2-5mpg. which would save me approximately 1 gallon of gas every 400miles.


habbits over wear in... I think wear in may have gained me 1-2mpg. Synthetic oil 1mpg max...and habbits have probably given me upwards of 5+mpgs.

First few tanks were 35-36mpg (winter)
highest tank was 45.5
Usual tank last summer was 43
Usual tank in the winter was 37-38
I'm hoping my next full tank will be around 46.

[2009Toyotoad]

Don't know much about "habbits." Can I find them in a parts and accessory catalog?

Jambo101 said it correctly. The rest is crystal balls and Harry Potter spells. Enjoy life beyond adding 50 miles between fill-ups.

[YarisOwnersDad]

Yeah, Peeps, I know driving habits and driving conditions are the biggest factors, no argument there, but I have heard from several people here in Yaris World that their mileage picked up appreciably at about 5000 miles on the odometer. Maybe they unknowingly did change their driving habits, and that was the reason for the increased MPG. I was assuming that nothing had changed about how they drove, because that's what it sounded like to me from the way they said it.

Tomster

[YarisOwnersDad]

I'm beginning to think there really is something to the "magic" at 5000 miles.

I just got 39.2 MPG on my last tank of gas, which was the first tank run out with all the miles coming after the car had reached the 5K milestone. Not a huge improvement, but an improvement none the less, if it holds up over the next few fill-ups.

Tom

[YarisOwnersDad]

OK, I guess it "ain't gonna happen." I was excited about the 39.2 tank, but the next tank fell off to 37.8.

I don't believe whatever happened that gave so many other folks a nice little boost in MPG when their cars reached the 5000 mile mark on the odometer is going to happen for me. I am at a little over 6000 miles now.

It looks like I can count on averaging right around 38 MPG for my commute, and that's not so bad.

Tom

[Yaris Hilton]

I turned over 5000 yesterday. I'll let you know. Haven't seen any change yet (except I hope to change the oil this afternoon.)

[SpaceShot]

I did get a small boost @5K but it was temporary. Also hard to judge if it was due to miles, oil change, summer weather, or a combination of everything.

It has taken a year of practice, a ScanGuage II, and repeatedly checking the forums, but my ave Mpg has crept up from 38 to 46. (41 or so in Winter) My best FE commute was 54, and right now I have to get pretty sloppy or anxious in the morning to have a trip in that is under 40.

Even at 38 - 40, you're still enjoying it while beating the EPA rating. (Right?)

[YarisOwnersDad]

I did get a small boost @5K but it was temporary. Also hard to judge if it was due to miles, oil change, summer weather, or a combination of everything.

It has taken a year of practice, a ScanGuage II, and repeatedly checking the forums, but my ave Mpg has crept up from 38 to 46. (41 or so in Winter) My best FE commute was 54, and right now I have to get pretty sloppy or anxious in the morning to have a trip in that is under 40.

Even at 38 - 40, you're still enjoying it while beating the EPA rating. (Right?)


Very much so. I'll take the 38 MPG, if that is what she is going to average, and be very happy with it. It beats the 28 MPG I was getting with my Cobalt.

I realize that if MPG were the ultimate goal, I could get into some of the hypermiling techniques, but I don't think I would enjoy driving that way.

Tomster

[talnlnky]

Very much so. I'll take the 38 MPG, if that is what she is going to average, and be very happy with it. It beats the 28 MPG I was getting with my Cobalt.

I realize that if MPG were the ultimate goal, I could get into some of the hypermiling techniques, but I don't think I would enjoy driving that way.

Tomster
If you can turn it into a game... it can be fun... challenge yourself to constantly get better and better mileage... tho, without a scanguage or similar mpg meter its hard to keep focused as it takes a long time to empty a tank when you can go more than 400miles on a tank.

I see hypermiling kind of like trying to lose weight.... there are no shortcuts... you can't just do it a few days a week otherwise you wont see the results you want... it has to be a lifestyle change, it's work, but, fun, and with nice satisfaction each time you fill up and think... wow... I got 4x.xx miles per gallon on that last 450miles.

[47_MasoN_47]

I need to get one of these ScanGauge II deals. My mileage for the first 2 tanks I put through it has been just over 31MPG, which apparently sucks compared to everybody else's lol.

The best place to get one on eBay?

[YarisOwnersDad]

I'll have a real good data base, if I ever start doing something to improve mileage, since I have recorded every single fill-up since I took delivery of the car when it had 103 miles on the odometer due to being driven from another dealership on a "dealer trade" to my dealership.

I kind of enjoy keeping track of MPG like that, and it is very easy to do.

Tom

[47_MasoN_47]

I keep an EEE PC with me all the time and have a running spreadsheet of each fillup - Date, Mileage, Gallons Added, Miles Driven on Last Tank, and MPG.

[talnlnky]

I need to get one of these ScanGauge II deals. My mileage for the first 2 tanks I put through it has been just over 31MPG, which apparently sucks compared to everybody else's lol.

The best place to get one on eBay?

pm caliyaris on here.... he sells them in his online store microimage.

[R2D2]

If you can turn it into a game... it can be fun... challenge yourself to constantly get better and better mileage... tho, without a scanguage or similar mpg meter its hard to keep focused as it takes a long time to empty a tank when you can go more than 400miles on a tank.

I see hypermiling kind of like trying to lose weight.... there are no shortcuts... you can't just do it a few days a week otherwise you wont see the results you want... it has to be a lifestyle change, it's work, but, fun, and with nice satisfaction each time you fill up and think... wow... I got 4x.xx miles per gallon on that last 450miles.

Well said!