What are your tricks? - Page 3 - Toyota Yaris Forums

Mikeb Yaris · 10-20-2008, 12:14 PM

Just calclulated it again...must have hit the wrong button cause I actually got 43 this weekend....I'm better than I thought! lol

natethegreat38 · 10-20-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeb Yaris

My "Tricks"

1) Look for every opportunity to take your foot off the accelerator (DFCO)

2) Tires @ max pressure (44psi)

3) Drive Speed Limit or slightly under

4) Shut off engine at construction zone lights (long lights)

5) Put AT in N at short lights (idle w/o load)

6) Back off accelerator while attempting to maintain constant speed (attempting "Hang Time" w/o scangauge)

7) Cycle AC off and on - on for the shortest period of time necessary to be comfortable

8) Avoid drive throughs like the plague

Currently averaging just under 42 mpg - high tank 43, low (first tank 38).

One thing I observed - driving for best mileage is very difficult on roads you aren't familiar with. We took a trip this past weekend through missouri hills and I was in a constant state of mpg panic! I was trying to DWL, but I think I failed. Yielded 41. I had hoped for much higher considering the amount of highway miles on this trip! :(

I asked this before the hack - when do you cross over from "cautious driver" into "hyper-miler"?

I'm not one to tell people what to do, but you may want to re-consider inflating your tires to the max pressure; sure you'll get better MPG, but you will wear your tires prematurely down the center of the tread and will have to replace them much sooner than normal. By having to purchase tires sooner, you will be eliminating all the savings that you have accumulated. Just my $0.02

Mikeb Yaris · 10-20-2008, 12:48 PM

"I'm not one to tell people what to do, but you may want to re-consider inflating your tires to the max pressure; sure you'll get better MPG, but you will wear your tires prematurely down the center of the tread and will have to replace them much sooner than normal."

I've seen that argued for folks who go over max on the sidewall. Understand I am still within the limit set by the tire manufacturer. I think it was on cleanmpg that I read a big argument on this topic, so, as a non-expert, I'll only say that from my perspective it is yet arguable either way. I'll watch it, since the tires are obviously brand new, and report if I see any excessive / uneven wear.

natethegreat38 · 10-20-2008, 01:06 PM

Yeah, please keep me informed! :)

I work for Yokohama Tire and see this time after time. With good intentions of getting the good gas mileage, people over-inflate their tires to the max pressure listed on the sidewall and wear the tires out early, then call to complain that the tires wore out early. I would be interested to know if your tires yield a different result.

Mikeb Yaris · 10-20-2008, 01:23 PM

It should be easy enough to spot, I would think. I pay pretty close attention to tire wear and my wife is a real tire wear hawk - insisting that I replace tires much earlier than I would on my own. I do a little over 1,000 miles per month, so it may take a few, but uneven wear on brand new tires should be a no-brainer.

Mikeb Yaris · 10-20-2008, 01:24 PM

P.S. Of course, my own experience won't prove anything to anybody but me! lol Results not typical and mileage may vary yaknow.

natethegreat38 · 10-20-2008, 01:26 PM

haha!

Sodium Duck · 10-20-2008, 01:33 PM

Since you're in the tire business --

If a person does run at the max sidewall rating, would you still honor some kind of warranty? Technically, nothing wrong was done by the consumer. If you don't want them to run it at 44psi, then reprint your tires with say 35psi on the side.

aca72 · 10-20-2008, 02:09 PM

Try this: Remove your junk from the trunk. If you are daring enough, remove the spare tire.

natethegreat38 · 10-20-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

Since you're in the tire business --

If a person does run at the max sidewall rating, would you still honor some kind of warranty? Technically, nothing wrong was done by the consumer. If you don't want them to run it at 44psi, then reprint your tires with say 35psi on the side.

Sodium,
This is a valid question that we get often. Proper air pressure has already been calculated and is provided by the vehicle manufacturer on the door placard. This calculated pressure takes into consideration vehicle weight, and load capacities of the tire.

The max inflation pressure on the sidewall of the tire is there as reference if you are planning on completely loading your vehicle with passengers and cargo.

Technically the person is doing something wrong: they are not keeping the tires properly inflated- and "properly inflated" will vary; if you are a sales rep and work out of your car and you have it full of product, then you would be properly inflated if you put max inflation. If you drive your car to school, work, etc... and usually keep just a few belongings in the car then you would be properly inflated if you inflate to door placard.

Ultimately, Yokohama honors the warranty depending on an inspection done at an authorized retailer. If you took your tires to one of our dealers and they see uneven wear of any kind (under-inflated, over-inflated, alignment, etc...), they know that it will not be covered under warranty. Now, keep in mind that I am only talking about a drastic difference between tread depths. If you take your tire in for inspection and there is only 1/32" difference between the center of the tread and the rest of the tread, then that's really no big deal. If there is like 3/32" or more, then we have a problem...

Bob_VT · 10-20-2008, 03:46 PM

My yaris seems to get better mpg on mid-grade gas.

Try it out for at least 2 or 3 tankfulls and I think you will find that out...... at least I did. I figure it is worth the extra 80-90 cents per tank.

AznGouki · 10-20-2008, 04:13 PM

Spare tire delete on first day. I'm gonna have to check my tire pressure to see if I'm good. I don't have AC on my car, but keep my fan on 1 and heat max(most of the time). I'm sure mpg is not affect by very much at all.

Sodium Duck · 10-20-2008, 08:41 PM

Some people have pulled out their rear seats. Weighs in around 100 pounds, if that interests you Azn.

Mikeb Yaris · 10-20-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

Some people have pulled out their rear seats. Weighs in around 100 pounds, if that interests you Azn.

In that case, I'm going on a diet and not allowing my wife to ride with me!

GeneW · 10-21-2008, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

These are my tricks and things I do currently:

-Coast as much as possible (DFCO)
-Drive 55MPH on the highway
-Coast to stop signs and lights
-Slowly and smoothly accelerate during starts
-No A/C or heater use yet (waiting till winter)
-Windows cracked open about an inch to prevent fogging
-Monitor fuel consumption religiously
-Try to drive as close to 50MPH as possible when not on highway (within reason)
-Turn car off as soon as I come to my destination, then do everything else (put in park, put windows up, etc.)
-Let car idle only for 30 seconds to warm up, otherwise none

I can't think of anything else. Let's get this FE section bumpin'!

Get a Scangauge. Gives great feedback for your habits.

The heater does not affect mileage. The A/C does affect mileage.

I will not over inflate my tires. Too damn many potholes around here.

If I do not go above 60mph, do not accelerate like an aggressive driver and use DFCO I can routinely beat the EPA estimates for the Yaris. If I'm opportunistic, use pulse and glide and am careful I've made it to 42mpg.

Warmup is usually only necessary when its below 45 Fahrenheit (about 7 Celsius) and to me is only really necessary if you have an AT. I think MTs only require gentle operation for the first few miles. ATs have some issues with clearances and fluid viscosity that only a proper thirty second warmup can address.

BTW NEVER coast with an AT without the motor on. You're ruin the tranny over time.

Gene

eTiMaGo · 10-21-2008, 05:02 AM

I like to use some hypermiling tricks, but without going the whole hog...

1) DFCO as much as possible
2) As little AC as possible (but it is the tropics here and we get some HOT days...). Only really use it when I have other people in the car, their comfort is important to me.
3) Shut down engine and coast to red lights. Most traffic lights here have a handy countdown display on them, so it's easy to calculate if it's worth it to turn the engine , or even just time yourself to arrive when it turns green, so you don't even need to stop.
4) Shut down engine at other occasions like rolling down an incline to a toll booth, rolling up to my parking spot in front of the house/office, etc
5) I do try to drive at a reasonable speed without holding traffic up. Usually normal road traffic is about 40MPH, and I rarely go over 65MPH on the highway, unless I am really in a hurry!

This translates to an average of 33MPG, compared to sub-30 when I drove without much thought to economy... Kinda low, I know, but most of my trips are pretty short.

Sodium Duck · 10-21-2008, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneW

BTW NEVER coast with an AT without the motor on. You're ruin the tranny over time.

Gene

Good point to make. I believe everyone had agreed before that doing this was bad because with the car off the transmission would stop being oiled. Deffinetelly a no-no!

Woody_Woodchuck · 10-21-2008, 08:14 AM

I have a Scan Gauge and it definitely has helped me to increase mileage. My commute has lots of hills and long slopes. The slopes are long but not steep enough to turn the car off and the hills are too short and steep to make it worth while. Also lots of traffic in the area so I can not fall more than 10 mph below the posted limit or I back up traffic and feel it is unsafe. Made it harder for me to find what is working for max mileage. I’m now getting 44 MPG US tanks and lifetime average (3,100 miles) is 43.15 MPG US.

- Tires to 40 psi – I think the ride really sucks at 44+ psi
- No extra crap in the car (I do still have the jack and spare!)
- Gentle accelerations
- DFCO or coasting to lights, stop signs and turns
- Anticipate stops and turns
- Gain momentum on down hill stretches
- Lose momentum on the up hill stretches
- Lots of distance between the car in front
- Speed depends on traffic flow; keep from 10 over to 10 under the limit

I tried DFCO on the short, steep hills and I now accelerate on the downhill and decelerate on the up hills. Pulse and Glide using gravity! On the long highway slopes I’m finding the speed I need to be at when starting up to make it to the top w/out going more than 10 MPH below the speed limit. Example: On one slope if I am at 62 mph I can make the 1.5 mile slope getting a constant 40 mpg (scangauge) and be at 55 mph by the top. If I start at 60 or 59 mph I will be going less than 55 mph and feel I have to accelerate (getting 30 – 32 mpg readings) to be at a safe speed, therefore getting worse overall mileage.

I found that on my 45 mph speed limit back road section I get better mileage going 50 mph average than I do at 40 or 45 mph.

On the long slight downhill highway slopes I accelerate gently to the needed speed for the next hill. This may take all of the mile or two downhill or only a short portion of it. Experimentation helped me find out which worked better.

I do expect there are techniques to get me better mileage on my commute. I am still experimenting. Voodoo22 is going down with his PALTRY 50 MPG TANKS!!!

10-20-2008, 01:06 PM	#40
natethegreat38 Party like a Barack star Drives: '08 LB MT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali Posts: 288	Yeah, please keep me informed! :) I work for Yokohama Tire and see this time after time. With good intentions of getting the good gas mileage, people over-inflate their tires to the max pressure listed on the sidewall and wear the tires out early, then call to complain that the tires wore out early. I would be interested to know if your tires yield a different result. __________________ i don't feel like creating another signature, yet. Give it another week...

10-20-2008, 01:26 PM	#43
natethegreat38 Party like a Barack star Drives: '08 LB MT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali Posts: 288	haha! __________________ i don't feel like creating another signature, yet. Give it another week...

10-20-2008, 01:33 PM	#44
Sodium Duck ╚══════════RN Drives: 2008 Liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Western Mass. Posts: 999	Since you're in the tire business -- If a person does run at the max sidewall rating, would you still honor some kind of warranty? Technically, nothing wrong was done by the consumer. If you don't want them to run it at 44psi, then reprint your tires with say 35psi on the side. __________________ 42.88

10-20-2008, 02:09 PM	#45
aca72 Drives: '07 Yaris S Sedan M5 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 208	Try this: Remove your junk from the trunk. If you are daring enough, remove the spare tire. __________________

10-20-2008, 03:46 PM	#47
Bob_VT View User's Garage Drives: 08 Yaris LB Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,704	My yaris seems to get better mpg on mid-grade gas. Try it out for at least 2 or 3 tankfulls and I think you will find that out...... at least I did. I figure it is worth the extra 80-90 cents per tank. __________________ some people are little slinkies. . . . .they are really good for nothing. . . .but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. Come to the DARKSIDE..... We have candy

10-20-2008, 12:14 PM	#37
Mikeb Yaris Drives: 08 Sedan Base Auto/PWR BLK Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 58	Just calclulated it again...must have hit the wrong button cause I actually got 43 this weekend....I'm better than I thought! lol

10-20-2008, 12:48 PM	#39
Mikeb Yaris Drives: 08 Sedan Base Auto/PWR BLK Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 58	"I'm not one to tell people what to do, but you may want to re-consider inflating your tires to the max pressure; sure you'll get better MPG, but you will wear your tires prematurely down the center of the tread and will have to replace them much sooner than normal." I've seen that argued for folks who go over max on the sidewall. Understand I am still within the limit set by the tire manufacturer. I think it was on cleanmpg that I read a big argument on this topic, so, as a non-expert, I'll only say that from my perspective it is yet arguable either way. I'll watch it, since the tires are obviously brand new, and report if I see any excessive / uneven wear.

10-20-2008, 01:23 PM	#41
Mikeb Yaris Drives: 08 Sedan Base Auto/PWR BLK Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 58	It should be easy enough to spot, I would think. I pay pretty close attention to tire wear and my wife is a real tire wear hawk - insisting that I replace tires much earlier than I would on my own. I do a little over 1,000 miles per month, so it may take a few, but uneven wear on brand new tires should be a no-brainer.

10-20-2008, 01:24 PM	#42
Mikeb Yaris Drives: 08 Sedan Base Auto/PWR BLK Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 58	P.S. Of course, my own experience won't prove anything to anybody but me! lol Results not typical and mileage may vary yaknow.

10-20-2008, 04:13 PM	#48
AznGouki Metsu Drives: NCP91 ; E36 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 154	Spare tire delete on first day. I'm gonna have to check my tire pressure to see if I'm good. I don't have AC on my car, but keep my fan on 1 and heat max(most of the time). I'm sure mpg is not affect by very much at all. __________________

10-20-2008, 08:41 PM	#49
Sodium Duck ╚══════════RN Drives: 2008 Liftback Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Western Mass. Posts: 999	Some people have pulled out their rear seats. Weighs in around 100 pounds, if that interests you Azn. __________________ 42.88

10-21-2008, 05:02 AM	#52
eTiMaGo vroom vroom View User's Garage Drives: lil red 5-door Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangkok, Thailand Posts: 7,744	I like to use some hypermiling tricks, but without going the whole hog... 1) DFCO as much as possible 2) As little AC as possible (but it is the tropics here and we get some HOT days...). Only really use it when I have other people in the car, their comfort is important to me. 3) Shut down engine and coast to red lights. Most traffic lights here have a handy countdown display on them, so it's easy to calculate if it's worth it to turn the engine , or even just time yourself to arrive when it turns green, so you don't even need to stop. 4) Shut down engine at other occasions like rolling down an incline to a toll booth, rolling up to my parking spot in front of the house/office, etc 5) I do try to drive at a reasonable speed without holding traffic up. Usually normal road traffic is about 40MPH, and I rarely go over 65MPH on the highway, unless I am really in a hurry! This translates to an average of 33MPG, compared to sub-30 when I drove without much thought to economy... Kinda low, I know, but most of my trips are pretty short. __________________ The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish. - Robert Jackson Bye bye 1NZ...

10-21-2008, 08:14 AM	#54
Woody_Woodchuck Drives: 2008 Yaris LB 5M Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 64	Experiment and see what works best I have a Scan Gauge and it definitely has helped me to increase mileage. My commute has lots of hills and long slopes. The slopes are long but not steep enough to turn the car off and the hills are too short and steep to make it worth while. Also lots of traffic in the area so I can not fall more than 10 mph below the posted limit or I back up traffic and feel it is unsafe. Made it harder for me to find what is working for max mileage. I’m now getting 44 MPG US tanks and lifetime average (3,100 miles) is 43.15 MPG US. - Tires to 40 psi – I think the ride really sucks at 44+ psi - No extra crap in the car (I do still have the jack and spare!) - Gentle accelerations - DFCO or coasting to lights, stop signs and turns - Anticipate stops and turns - Gain momentum on down hill stretches - Lose momentum on the up hill stretches - Lots of distance between the car in front - Speed depends on traffic flow; keep from 10 over to 10 under the limit I tried DFCO on the short, steep hills and I now accelerate on the downhill and decelerate on the up hills. Pulse and Glide using gravity! On the long highway slopes I’m finding the speed I need to be at when starting up to make it to the top w/out going more than 10 MPH below the speed limit. Example: On one slope if I am at 62 mph I can make the 1.5 mile slope getting a constant 40 mpg (scangauge) and be at 55 mph by the top. If I start at 60 or 59 mph I will be going less than 55 mph and feel I have to accelerate (getting 30 – 32 mpg readings) to be at a safe speed, therefore getting worse overall mileage. I found that on my 45 mph speed limit back road section I get better mileage going 50 mph average than I do at 40 or 45 mph. On the long slight downhill highway slopes I accelerate gently to the needed speed for the next hill. This may take all of the mile or two downhill or only a short portion of it. Experimentation helped me find out which worked better. I do expect there are techniques to get me better mileage on my commute. I am still experimenting. Voodoo22 is going down with his PALTRY 50 MPG TANKS!!!