Going up hills :(

[Chocobo87]

I went to Vegas this weekend and was thinking to myself what could I do to my car to make it gas efficient while having enough power to go up hill, but the only thing I could think of is a super charger.

I averaged 36 MPG going to Vegas while gunning it up hill and cruising around 80 MPH. The up hills kills it because it is only a 4 speed and it will drop a gear to match the climb.

Would headers be enough? Maybe a cone air filter? Suggestions! :D

I kind of want to stay away from exhausts because I don't want to worry about smog after the 6 years have passed. :(

[Nicfin]

The 80MPH is not helping either.

[beebosaur]

you're upset about 36 mpg? that sounds about right. i got 34 on my drive to vegas a couple months ago. but the 80mph definitely isn't helping. i cruise freeway at about 70 and average 32/33 on a weekly basis. that's with mixed driving too btw.

[WeeYari]

I'd happily take 36 mpg and never look back.

My lifetime average is currently 30.93 mpg. Personal best was 38.52 and worst was 24.24 mpg. That just goes to show how much this little engine can be affected by weather, load, driving habits and conditions.

[LA Yaris]

Originally Posted by Chocobo87

I went to Vegas this weekend and was thinking to myself what could I do to my car to make it gas efficient while having enough power to go up hill, but the only thing I could think of is a super charger.

I averaged 36 MPG going to Vegas while gunning it up hill and cruising around 80 MPH. The up hills kills it because it is only a 4 speed and it will drop a gear to match the climb.

Would headers be enough? Maybe a cone air filter? Suggestions! :D

I kind of want to stay away from exhausts because I don't want to worry about smog after the 6 years have passed. :(

Try a cone air filter, I recommend a K&N. When I drive up to victorville I do about 85-95mph up that hill..

[why?]

strip out everything you don't use. turbo would be more efficient than a supercharger, especially if you get a small one and keep it low boost. But really try lighter everything and bolt ons.

[Chocobo87]

Originally Posted by LA Yaris

Try a cone air filter, I recommend a K&N. When I drive up to victorville I do about 85-95mph up that hill..

Nice! I searched which ones there are and they have dual ones and flat cones ovals. I am confused which one to get.

Could you link me a good one? Will previous models work for the 2012?

Thanks

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by WeeYari

I'd happily take 36 mpg and never look back.

My lifetime average is currently 30.93 mpg. Personal best was 38.52 and worst was 24.24 mpg. That just goes to show how much this little engine can be affected by weather, load, driving habits and conditions.

That's just about what I get with my corolla, I'd expect a bit more from a yaris.

[Chocobo87]

Would lowering my car get better gas mileage too?

[KCALB SIRAY]

Plastic Dipsticks might work

[fnkngrv]

What you really need to be doing is calculating expenses to perform modifications to get better FE during those type of conditions to see when you would see the return and then start saving money. The 80mph is of course going to make a huge difference over going a lesser speed. I am like you however and have been happy getting 34/35mpg at 80/85mph.

A turbo COULD possibly net you mpg gains with low boost however the cost for a tuned installation will be at minimum 3k roughly and that is with you performing the installation. You would also want to tune it for 87 octane to save you some green and you wouldn't lose much HP/torque if tuned properly. Getting tuned properly requires going to a reputable shop which is going to cost you anywhere between 500-1k unless you have a great hook-up. So if you factor that in you would have to perform a true cost analysis and frankly I would figure that you would be making a lot of those trips to "pay off" the turbo installation.

I am neither suggesting nor disputing a turbo or S/C install, just making you aware of things to think about. I can tell you that lowering the car for me didn't seem to make a difference in mpg for the most part with exception to windy trips since the car doesn't get thrown around and easy and therefore probably doesn't work as hard. Having my AFE netted me it seemed about 2/3mpg increase, but then again that is with very conservative driving which in all honesty once you make a "performance" modification you don't tend to drive conservatively very often. You have to be pretty disciplined.

Not sure if my info helps or hinders...you decide.

[Chocobo87]

Originally Posted by fnkngrv

What you really need to be doing is calculating expenses to perform modifications to get better FE during those type of conditions to see when you would see the return and then start saving money. The 80mph is of course going to make a huge difference over going a lesser speed. I am like you however and have been happy getting 34/35mpg at 80/85mph.

A turbo COULD possibly net you mpg gains with low boost however the cost for a tuned installation will be at minimum 3k roughly and that is with you performing the installation. You would also want to tune it for 87 octane to save you some green and you wouldn't lose much HP/torque if tuned properly. Getting tuned properly requires going to a reputable shop which is going to cost you anywhere between 500-1k unless you have a great hook-up. So if you factor that in you would have to perform a true cost analysis and frankly I would figure that you would be making a lot of those trips to "pay off" the turbo installation.

I am neither suggesting nor disputing a turbo or S/C install, just making you aware of things to think about. I can tell you that lowering the car for me didn't seem to make a difference in mpg for the most part with exception to windy trips since the car doesn't get thrown around and easy and therefore probably doesn't work as hard. Having my AFE netted me it seemed about 2/3mpg increase, but then again that is with very conservative driving which in all honesty once you make a "performance" modification you don't tend to drive conservatively very often. You have to be pretty disciplined.

Not sure if my info helps or hinders...you decide.

Yeah I like the idea of just getting the air filter cone, but I don't know if that will make a big difference :(

[fnkngrv]

Originally Posted by Chocobo87

Yeah I like the idea of just getting the air filter cone, but I don't know if that will make a big difference :(

Most likely not, but that is just MHO.

[broody]

Originally Posted by jayeh

That's just about what I get with my corolla, I'd expect a bit more from a yaris.

The Corolla probably revs lower on the highway. And the Yaris pushes you to drive faster, not the Corolla.

[WeeYari]

Originally Posted by broody

the Yaris pushes you to drive faster, not the Corolla.

[why?]

the corolla actually use to be rated higher on the highway than the Yaris.

Just a filter won't help gas mileage, an entire intake, such as the aFe one, does seem to.

[jayeh]

Originally Posted by broody

And the Yaris pushes you to drive faster, not the Corolla.

How so? I'm curious.

I wish we could get the 1.4L diesel or the 1.0 gas engines.

[nemelek]

Saving 2 mpg on a trip to Vegas for the Yaris is about $5.