help not getting more than 29mpg

[gray09S-hatch]

I dont uderstand i cant get better than 29mpg in my 09 at hatch ? Its a mix of hwy and city, and i just took a 400 hwy trip and at 80-85mph most of they way i got 29mpg also

[daf62757]

80-85 and you are getting 29 MPG? Do you not see the problem here? Try dropping your speed to 70 and then report back. I think you mileage will improve.

[why?]

Slow down. I always get above the 36 mpg numbers, but I also almost never hit 60mph.

City driving kills gas mileage, the best advice i can give there is accelerate slowly. Drive like you cannot hit the brakes, so you have to always be able to coast to a stop. This forum has a ton of info on how to get great gas mileage, and it really all comes down to how you choose to drive, and what you feel comfortable doing. There are people that turn there car off and coast on the highway. the Pulse and Glide method using that will get tremendous gas mileage, yet to me is insanely stupid to do on a highway with any traffic at all. Yet you can also coast with the car in gear, the Yaris stops gas flow if the engine is above 1500 rpms, which can also help save some fuel.

Coasting while in nuetral though gets better gas mileage, but people on the fuel economy forums seem to think you need to be willing to coast and lose 20 mph+ for it to be worth it. Not sure if that much mph loss is needed.

[thebarber]

Ya...80/85mph is your problem

[Spidermandud]

^agreed. 70mph should be about as fast as you go in one of these bad boys.

[marcus]

i think one of the reason car need to do break in period is for the computer to adjust to slow driving pattern which take close to 1k km for computer to get use to therefore car provides better mpg average.... but i could be wrong..

[Revsson]

How many miles on the car? What is your tire pressure? Clean air filter?
There are a lot of factors that could come into play.
One of my former co-workers has an AT, and he usually got better than that.
Most of his commute was highway. I would have to say I doubt he ever went
80, but perhaps 70 mph at times. My best gas mileage was one summer with the AC
on and doing 45 mph in the construction zone on the highway. So, I would say that
speed does affect your gas mileage.

[OTA'sTOY]

^+1 i do mostly city stop n go and i average 32/gal

[Sparcoboy]

I drive 85-90 mph daily and easily get 40mpg so that shouldn't be the real reason for your low mpgs. My onboard computer says I'm using about 5l when driving at this speed so that should even average 47mpg! I drive a diesel so a gas might be a bit worse but it ain't that much a difference.

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by Sparcoboy

I drive 85-90 mph daily and easily get 40mpg so that shouldn't be the real reason for your low mpgs. My onboard computer says I'm using about 5l when driving at this speed so that should even average 47mpg! I drive a diesel so a gas might be a bit worse but it ain't that much a difference.

Whole different car....country...standards. You are talking apples and oranges.

[Sparcoboy]

Originally Posted by daf62757

Whole different car....country...standards. You are talking apples and oranges.

In the US you should be able to get lower mpg's since you have a lot less traffic and much less bends and turns :)

[Spidermandud]

Originally Posted by Sparcoboy

In the US you should be able to get lower mpg's since you have a lot less traffic and much less bends and turns :)

Yea, and our high octane here is your low octane there.

I think.

[randeez]

yup, slow it down is really all you can do. i do anywhere from 800-1500 miles a week- the only constant i have is my 100mile round trip commute to office most days. try to keep it around 70mph which still is a little to fast for max mpg- but you about get ran off the road going that slow on the highway/turnpike down here. i'm starting to average around 40mpg consistantly, worst was about 33mpg, best was about 43mpg.

[Sparcoboy]

Originally Posted by Spidermandud

Yea, and our high octane here is your low octane there.

I think.

Agreed, the lowest here is 95 :D

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by Sparcoboy

In the US you should be able to get lower mpg's since you have a lot less traffic and much less bends and turns :)

I am guessing you mean higher MPG. But I was referring to our different safety, emissions equipment, and larger engines. In Europe you can get the diesel and also 1.0 and 1.3 engines. We only have the 1.5. That is what I meant by different. Also, we have a lot of construction and freight trucks to deal with. I just drove back from Chicago and you can't maintain a set speed for too long without an 18 wheeler cutting you off and forcing you to drop your speed or speed up to beat them.

[Spidermandud]

^YEAH.

[*MAD DOG*]

Originally Posted by gray09S-hatch

I dont uderstand i cant get better than 29mpg in my 09 at hatch ? Its a mix of hwy and city, and i just took a 400 hwy trip and at 80-85mph most of they way i got 29mpg also

There is a thing called "wind resistance". Even if you can't see it, it exists. Any speed over 55mph and your really using a lot more fuel for little gain. Drop your speed to the posted speed limit and check back in. Also make sure your tires are at the correct pressure, nearer to the maximum side creates less friction.

[Sparcoboy]

Originally Posted by daf62757

I am guessing you mean higher MPG. But I was referring to our different safety, emissions equipment, and larger engines. In Europe you can get the diesel and also 1.0 and 1.3 engines. We only have the 1.5. That is what I meant by different. Also, we have a lot of construction and freight trucks to deal with. I just drove back from Chicago and you can't maintain a set speed for too long without an 18 wheeler cutting you off and forcing you to drop your speed or speed up to beat them.

Yeah, I meant higher mpg's. I'm used to talking l/100km and then less is better

About the 18-wheelers, be happy they aren't all limited to 55mph, then they are always the slow ones cutting you off on the highway.