Delighted to break the 50 MPG barrier!

[STC]

Hi everyone,

I just filled my tank! I’m thrilled to say that I was able to make 53 MPG on my Yaris, being only my ninth fill. :biggrin:

I decided to take my vehicle on a work trip instead of renting a car last week. The trip was from State College, PA to Reading, PA to Hershey, PA to Harrisburg, PA and back to State College. Total for the trip encompassed nearly 400 miles. All driving was on the Interstate and State Roads, except when I reached each city destination. Driving was between 50-60MPH on the Interstate and 40-50MPH on US, State, and Rural Roads. Average temperature for the two day trip was 72F day and 55F night.

It was very nice to take the long glides into Reading on SR 183. The road was like a big roller coaster for 20 miles. Driving back from Potters Mill, PA to ‘Happy Valley’, US 322 seemed like an even deeper roller coaster. On the Interstate I was able to take long glides using DFCO, but had to also glide throwing it into neutral in order to maintain my speed. I used the A/C in short cycles, 5 minutes for each hour of driving and none in the evening going home from Harrisburg. My luggage and equipment weighed in at around 100lbs. Before the trip, I increased my tire pressure to 38psi.

All in all, it was a great trip… the Yaris out-performed its FE expectations. Now I can go back a drive like I did on my first tank fill… LOL! :smile:

Cheers!

Gas Tank mile increments (non-ethanol gas used):
1st Bar drop (8/8) > 120 mi (120)
2nd Bar drop (7/8) > 69 mi (189)
3rd Bar drop (3/4) > 70 mi (259)
4th Bar drop (5/8) > 71 mi (330)
5th Bar drop (1/2) > 70 mi (400)
6th Bar drop (3/8) > 64 mi (464)
7th Bar drop (1/4) > 70 mi (534)
8th Bar drop (1/8) > 04 mi (538) [Slow Flashing]

Tank total : 538 miles
Fuel used: 10.148 gallons
MPG: 53.015

[Revsson]

Congratulations! :clap:
The best I have gotten so far is just under 48. I guess I need to think about
a Scanguage II and watch my tire pressures or something.

[BailOut]

Woot! :clap:

You are officially the 5th person to pull off a 50+ MPG tank with the 1.5L Yaris. :smile:

[sickpuppy1]

Congrats! I still havent broke the 40 barrier, but I also cant bring myself to do the 55-60 on the interstate either, and I know thats a big part of it.Good job though.

[STC]

Thanks guys! :smile:

I think what helped was maintaining my MPH speed between 47 and 52 for around 3/4 of the trip. This MPH zone is between 2,000 and 2,300 RPM (5th gear) in my car. I think this is the magic numbers for FE because of the lower RPM and lower wind resistance when it comes down to your MPH speed?

I used half neutral glides and half DFCO glides. Practically all my neutral glides were on the long grades of Interstate I-78 towards Allentown, PA. The section was great for this.... I was able to maintain my speed at around 55 MPH down the grade. On all off ramps short glides, I used DFCO to come to a stop. I also used DFCO on all the rural, state, and US roads...

I would not label myself as a hypermiler. Maybe a 'novice hypermiler'! LOL!

I do know I will be picking up either Scanguage II or Ecometer in the near future. Does anyone know if SGII can give you an average MPH speed in a trip? I would guestimate my average speed for the trip (highway) was around 50 MPH...

Cheers!

[landrym28]

Congratulations! I've broken 40mpg a few times, but nowhere near 50! :thumbsup:

[Zaphod]

Thanks guys! :smile:

I think what helped was maintaining my MPH speed between 47 and 52 for around 3/4 of the trip. This MPH zone is between 2,000 and 2,300 RPM (5th gear) in my car. I think this is the magic numbers for FE because of the lower RPM and lower wind resistance when it comes down to your MPH speed?

I used half neutral glides and half DFCO glides. Practically all my neutral glides were on the long grades of Interstate I-78 towards Allentown, PA. The section was great for this.... I was able to maintain my speed at around 55 MPH down the grade. On all off ramps short glides, I used DFCO to come to a stop. I also used DFCO on all the rural, state, and US roads...

I would not label myself as a hypermiler. Maybe a 'novice hypermiler'! LOL!

I do know I will be picking up either Scanguage II or Ecometer in the near future. Does anyone know if SGII can give you an average MPH speed in a trip? I would guestimate my average speed for the trip (highway) was around 50 MPH...

Cheers!

That's how I did it, just keeping it between 45 and 60 with a lot of neutral gliding to pick up speed going down these hills.

I really think just keeping the engine at optimum temperature helped a lot too.

I know some people would get impatient with traveling so slow, but to me it actually helped to keep me busy for the long trip.

[talnlnky]

don't know if i'll be able to break 50 this year, but its warming up, and my tanks are getting better. 2 tanks ago was 41, last tank was 43.4, and so far scanguage puts me at just under 45mpg on this tank. Unfortunately, due to me changing careers in 1 month, I'll be on the road a decent amount doing city driving (probation officer) so my mpg's will probably go down due to sitting at lights. Last year I was aiming to break 47 or 48, can't remember which... came very close tho.

[Yaris Hilton]

Mileage is what it is. It's interesting to track, and to see if you can be more efficient with what you're doing, but I just can't see getting obsessed with reaching specific numeric goals. I'm happy with my in-town, mostly 8 mile commutes averaging between 34-38 MPG. Beats what I used to get pre-Yaris!

[smell my finger]

Nice,
I am in the 40's alot, but havn't gotten 50 on a tank yet. The short trips kill me, I think I need to take a nice long trip and I will get it.

[STC]

smell my finger: For this tank, I'm back to my normal daily driving route(s). The shorter driving lengths kill me too! I drive a little over 30 miles round trip a work day, approximately 10-12 miles of it city driving. My present mileage log compared to last logs shows I'll probably be in the mid-forties range when all is done. Long trips compared to short trips really do make a difference... :biggrin:

Yaris Hilton: Yep... mileage is what it is. For me it is fun tracking what my Yaris can do. Now that I know it can reach 50+, I'm satisfied. I'm very fortunate that my driving environment is more rural than city. Averaging mid-forties sure makes my last vehicle's (Pontiac Sunfire) FE look horrible... :wink:

[Yaris Hilton]

A Yaris is pretty hard to beat for mileage, other things being equal.

[STC]

The Pontiac Sunfire, 2.2L 5-speed I had was rated @ 37 miles to the gallon highway... higher than the Yaris. I feathered it and drove it conservatively on the highway... I never got over 41 MPG on it.

Yaris FE - FTW... :bow:

[sickpuppy1]

I just broke the 40 barrier last week, but I have to admit I dont try THAT hard to maximize. But still, hitting 40.5 made me just a bit giddy,lol. This weekend we went from sw of KC to St louis for a concert (Styx, Foreigner and Kansas) and graduation of a buds son. We were running quite late and ended up doing close to 80 with the AC on almost all the way there.Then around town driving and headed back. Expecting the worst, I was surprised to find 38.8 mpg for that tank. Cant imagine how good it would have been if I drove a bit more sane....

[Falconeer]

Guys, I am NOT being able to go above the 30-31 mpg mark... Any tips??

I think these factors might be affecting the ride:
1. Fuel is 95 Octane grade (the cheapest available here).
2. Engine is 1.3L
3. Ambient temps are always about 45 Deg Plus in this season.
4. AC is usually on but when I get 32 mpg I am doing mostly freeway without AC (AC on for 30% of time)
5. I ride alone with no luggage.
6. Tires are at 38 psi.

Any ideas??
Could fuel density be an issue?

[Yaris Hilton]

That 95 octane gas is equivalent to what's labeled 87 in the U.S. What the car's made for, and it should be fine. That's not outstandingly bad mileage. If you're like most drivers who stand on the accelerator and stand on the brake, it's pretty average I'd say. People who're getting 50 MPG are NOT average drivers!

[STC]

Guys, I am NOT being able to go above the 30-31 mpg mark... Any tips??

I think these factors might be affecting the ride:
1. Fuel is 95 Octane grade (the cheapest available here).
2. Engine is 1.3L
3. Ambient temps are always about 45 Deg Plus in this season.
4. AC is usually on but when I get 32 mpg I am doing mostly freeway without AC (AC on for 30% of time)
5. I ride alone with no luggage.
6. Tires are at 38 psi.

Any ideas??
Could fuel density be an issue?

That would be about average for Yaris here in the USA. The factors you listed would have some affect on your MPG's. I know hot temperature is better than cold temperature for better mileage FE.

You did not mention driving style and other environmental conditions? This I believe is everything for getting higher gas mileage. Important factors are...

1. What speed do you maintain on highway and city driving?
2. Flat vs mountain terrain travel?
3. Duration and miles/kilometers of travel? Short or long travel?
4. Slow start vs fast start?
5. Breaking glides and neutral glides?
6. Average RPM during drive and travel?

These are just some of the driving styles and environment conditions that would have an affect on your mileage.

I would like to mention that here in my State, I'm fortunate enough to be able to get non-ethanol gas... :smile: Average is around 3 MPG better than ethanol gas...

Cheers!

[jambo101]

That 120 miles on the first bar is impressive,i usually drive easy enough to consistently get 40-45mpg but i can do no better than about 70 miles or 130kms on that first bar:iono:

[Yaris Hilton]

There's an awful lot of variability in the amount of fuel to burn off till the first bar goes off, depending on whether you stop filling when the pump clicks off the first time (as Toyota recommends), at the second clickoff as I do hoping to optimize consistency of filling, or fill it to the very top as some people do (which is not advisable as it may flood the vapor recovery canisters with fuel.) So mileage till the first bar goes off isn't a good thing to compare.

[STC]

^ Yes :smile:

Average of all my gas fills (10) for the first bar dropping is 95.1 miles. The first two fills by me were: 70 mi and 88 mi. The dealer fill prior was: 62 miles. I would assume the dealer stopped filling when the pump clicked off the first time? For those first two, I actually filled over around .300 to .500 of a gallon. Every fill since then I let the pump click off... wait around 30 seconds and fill exactly .100 of a gallon more. Funny thing? By filling my gas tank less after the first click than the first two, I'm getting higher first bar reads! This is primarily because I drastically changed my driving style... Presently, on this fill my bar dropped at 109 miles.

The 120 mi high value? I can only attribute it to the all Highway (Interstate) driving right from the beginning of that fill and ideal neutral and DFCO glides used...

Cheers!

[jhsouders]

I have not broken the 50mpg mark for tank, i get 50mpg plenty often on trips around town or to school though.

I have a scangauge II and I deliver pizza for a living. One day, i averaged 52mpg delivering pizza, it was a nice and warm day. Man, you really gotta work the coasting in neutral and the DFCO for those mpg's in the city.

I can almost get better MPG's in the city than on the highway. Depending on the weather, temp and if the engine is warmed up.

I just took a trip from portland to eugene, or. keeping it at about 70mph down the interstate, got about 46mpg, so that wasnt bad. It was really flat and i have noticed i get better mileage on the hilly terrain.

[STC]

I can almost get better MPG's in the city than on the highway. Depending on the weather, temp and if the engine is warmed up.

I just took a trip from portland to eugene, or. keeping it at about 70mph down the interstate, got about 46mpg, so that wasnt bad. It was really flat and i have noticed i get better mileage on the hilly terrain.

For me there is a good 6-8 mile difference with city combined vs straight highway driving.

Yeah... hilly terrain seems to be the ticket for better gas mileage. If you dropped your speed from 70mph to 55mph on your trip to Eugene, I bet you would of possibly broken 50mpg... :smile:

[Falconeer]

That would be about average for Yaris here in the USA. The factors you listed would have some affect on your MPG's. I know hot temperature is better than cold temperature for better mileage FE.

You did not mention driving style and other environmental conditions? This I believe is everything for getting higher gas mileage. Important factors are...

1. What speed do you maintain on highway and city driving?
2. Flat vs mountain terrain travel?
3. Duration and miles/kilometers of travel? Short or long travel?
4. Slow start vs fast start?
5. Breaking glides and neutral glides?
6. Average RPM during drive and travel?

Cheers!

The terrain is flat. On freeways Imaintain 140 kmph. The legal limit is 160 kmph, but that is too much for fuel and this car's stability in winds. But I do touch 160 rarely on it though.
Mostly I drive city and maintain 80-90 kmph
I start slow rather than start with a jerk. I used to do that for years though, till I got this car. I am still trying to be easy with the accelerator pedal.
I dont do neutral glides, unless on freeways. I prefer that extra engine help in braking.
No clue on rpm... still saving for the scan gauge II!

[Yaris Hilton]

140 Km/H is about 86 MPH. Mileage is way down at that speed. You're not going to see "hypermiler" mileage if you go over about 90 Km/H or 55 MPH. Maximum mileage in steady state, no-wind, flat driving conditions will be seen at around 35 MPH in most cars. Get above about 100 Km/hr and the fuel consumption starts rising steeply.

[Billiam]

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=XcWd2f1sg5s&feature=channel

[Falconeer]

Okay, my next major trip this Thursday, I am doing 90Kmph. Not touching 100 to see how it does.

Thanks all!

[Yarrris-Wench]

Awesome Awesome!! The last time I really checked and payed attention hard, I got 51 out of my little pirate ship. :)

[STC]

Well, yesterday I filled up my gas tank for the first time since the last tank I got 50+ miles. Results where pretty much what I expected!

The driving was 60hwy and 40city – rural to small city. No long trips:
481 tank / 10.205 gal = 47.133 mpg

I’m consistent with averaging 45 – 47 mpg (a tank) with my normal driving routine. Long highway trips make a big difference of 5 to 7 mpg more. Hopefully, I can take a long trip soon.

On a side note:
I have been filling up my gas tank for the last two times with Shell RBOB Oxygenated gas - No Ethanol. The reason is this particular gas station uses proprietary detergents in their gas – premium branded gas, not to mention any ethanol... a 2 to 3% on average better mileage. That is a plus... :smile: When I went there yesterday, I immediately noticed, "May Contain up to 10% Ethanol" sticker on their pumps! Ughhh! I spoke with the attendant and he said the company finally made the switch to ethanol last week. They no longer can buy the local RBOB gas from CS Meyers, Inc here in State College, PA. :frown: They had to purchase through Shell. Shell Corporation told them they had to change. So, I then drove across town to the unbranded gas station that I have always been buying from. Fortunately, they still purchase from CS Meyers, Inc. The sign still says NO ETHANOL... Thank God!

On further research, I found out that Clearfield, PA (Central PA) is building an ethanol fuel plant? I don't know... :confused: There is a strong push to use ethanol here in Central PA. Practically all gas stations are using ethanol. The Shell Station decided to take the subsidy. So, now there are only two gas stations left in this area... soon they will break-down and go the ethanol way... it’s too lucrative not to change. No doubt!

Thanks to “jhsouders” who place the pure-gas.org link on another thread! Good info to find ethanol-free gas stations in the US and Canada:
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp

Cheers!



Gas station sign I fill-up at:

[Yaris Hilton]

I don't trust the pure-gas.org list. I suspect a lot of those stations just don't have the ethanol stickers posted. Anyway, I don't mind burning E10. 3.4% less energy volumetrically just means you have to take that into account if comparing mileage of the two blends. Pre-ethanol gas since the late '90s had oxygenates in it at about a 2% oxygen level, just a bit less than E10, meaning the energy loss from "pure" gasoline was just a bit less than with E10 as well. Ethanol is not worse for our cars than MTBE or other "oxygenates." It's silly to make a big issue out of avoiding it as a consumer. As public policy, it's stupid to grow corn and make fuel out of it.

[STC]

I don't trust the pure-gas.org list. I suspect a lot of those stations just don't have the ethanol stickers posted. Anyway, I don't mind burning E10. 3.4% less energy volumetrically just means you have to take that into account if comparing mileage of the two blends. Pre-ethanol gas since the late '90s had oxygenates in it at about a 2% oxygen level, just a bit less than E10, meaning the energy loss from "pure" gasoline was just a bit less than with E10 as well. Ethanol is not worse for our cars than MTBE or other "oxygenates." It's silly to make a big issue out of avoiding it as a consumer. As public policy, it's stupid to grow corn and make fuel out of it.

Yes... you are correct! Caveat emptor when buying gas. In PA it is manditory by law to have a sticker posted on pumps for any amount of ethanol sold. Very stiff penalties are enforced. I feel comfortable that if I pump gas and no labels are on the pump, it is completely completely free of ethanol. For TN it's much different. Tennessee law requires a label for 1.5% or higher of ethanol. So, you could be filling gas at a station with no labels thinking your getting pure ethanol-free gas and you are actually not.

I agree that Ethanol is not worse than MTBE. This is the marketing side - the disinformation and misinformation you hear from the pro-MTBE camp. There are pros and cons on both sides.

I know only time will tell when Central PA will be all ethanol. No escaping... I will have to live with that... :smile: I also know I will have to live with paying more for corn based foods down the road... :frown:

Cheers!

[roadrunner]

Keep up the good work......it only gets easier with time.

[STC]

Keep up the good work......it only gets easier with time.

Impressive mileage average, roadrunner! :smile:

Good news that it only gets better with time... I'm excited!

I noticed you are in Perkasie, PA. What kind of driving do you do for the most part? ... rural? When I broke 50 MPG I drove a long stretch of I-78 into Reading and then to Allentown. I was using those Interstates out by your area. Great roads and grades for maximum fuel efficiency.

Cheers!

[roadrunner]

Most of my driving is to and from work. Most of the time I drive off hours, when the streets are not as crowded with cars that cause more red lights.
My commute is 20 miles each way, with rolling hills, very little flat driving.
I never use the air conditioner, even on a very hot days like today, when it was about 95. I use the brakes as little as possible.
Good new about my Yaris hatchback. I now have 42,000 miles, and still nothing has cause a problem. The last four state inspections, it needed nothing, not even a bulb or wiper blade. The car has been perfect, and very cheap to own. Even my auto insurance with State Farm is only 467/year.
Highly recommend the Yaris.

[STC]

Most of my driving is to and from work. Most of the time I drive off hours, when the streets are not as crowded with cars that cause more red lights.
My commute is 20 miles each way, with rolling hills, very little flat driving.
I never use the air conditioner, even on a very hot days like today, when it was about 95. I use the brakes as little as possible.
Good new about my Yaris hatchback. I now have 42,000 miles, and still nothing has cause a problem. The last four state inspections, it needed nothing, not even a bulb or wiper blade. The car has been perfect, and very cheap to own. Even my auto insurance with State Farm is only 467/year.
Highly recommend the Yaris.

Your driving conditions are pretty much the same as mine! My driving to and from work is 15 miles each way. Rolling hills in the big valley and mountains of Central PA. I do use A/C sometimes, but when I do it is in short intervals during travel. I use my brakes as little as possible too! Mostly engine braking to the 1,100 RPM range...

I go to work early in the morning when the lights are flashing amber. When I leave it's before rush hour (actually rush minute... LOL!) of State College.

Cheers! :smile:

[roadrunner]

Why are you living in that area? A Penn State grad?
I attended PSU years ago.

Roadrunner

[STC]

Why are you living in that area? A Penn State grad?
I attended PSU years ago.

Roadrunner

I work for the University... PSU Intercollegiate Athletics - Penn State Football!

Nope, not a Penn State grad... instead Miami! The one in Florida... don't ask :eek:

At 'The U' in 1986... I will never forget the Fiesta Bowl. I was rooting for the Nittany Lions all the way! :wink: :wink:

Oh, BTW! JoePa's contract ends in 2011... he will be 85. Will he call it quits? Will there be another contract extention? Amos Alonzo Stagg is a far way off! 2025 for... 99??? Would be nice to see that record! Football is Joe's life. Health is wealth... is everything!

Cheers! :smile: