MPG Dropped significantly

SoCaltaco65 gas prices suck out there

 

I don't mind the higher fuel prices, beside that shell is always higher, Long travel Tacoma 4x4 with 33"s too.

 

What's your secret to getting such good mpg's? I drive like a grandma in a 4cyl and only manage about 20.

 

Drive smart, stay on top of maintenance, check tire pressure weekly, keep rpms under 2-2.2k and a few other gadgets.

Climate plays a big part as well, here in SoCal it rarely gets below 40.

 

Rub in how nice the weather is over there. I guess you guys get much more ideal driving conditions.

 

Ya but we pay for it as you know.

 

Must have had a pretty good tail wind (or drafting) to get that kind of MPG!

I use to have an STi and for a 4 banger, it only got about 13-15mpg's as well. I remember on the forum one guy got like 32mpg out of his by drafting (like within feet) a semi for almost the entire tank of gas!

As for price, you americans always crack me up. Price of gas here in BC is $1.33/L which works out to about $5 per galon!

 

nope, Daily Driver 35 miles each way, 75% Hwy, one of my test trucks is getting 31-33MPG but is a stock 2wd.

 

Price here this morning was $3.25 a gallon. I wish I could go back 10 years to when it was around a $1 a gallon give or take.

 

Each way down hill right?

Are those MPG figures pretty consistant or was that a one off?

During that 35mile commute, are you all by yourself on the highway or running close together in a group?

And what do you mean by "test truck"?

Because I don't get it....

 

I'll let you decide

 

What's your tire pressure set at? Do you run premium? I drive and maintain under 2k RPMS as best I can since reading how people manage to get high gas mileage and it hasn't made a difference.

I'm lucky to get 280 miles out of a tank while maintaining 55mph-60mph when I'm on a highway with no other cars for a few hours, which is a pretty drastic difference from 420+ miles. What other gadgets?

Thanks

 

I maintain 40+ PSI, gadgets are in test phase on road in 2 test vehicles, if I meet all the requirements by the state it will be granted an E.O. # and most likely be 50state legal. Vehicles in testing are 09 2wd, 06 4x4 and my DD 2011. The newer vehicles are a bit harder to work around firmware/encryption.

 

Ah-ha, you're playing with the ECU parameters I assume.

I know from my time with the STi that fine tuning timing, a/f ratios, etc. you can make a big difference. It's called the Cobb AccessPort. Plug and play with various off the shelf "maps". However, you can also take it to a tuner who will fine tune it even more.

If our trucks run really fuel rich, I can see big savings in MPG by leaning it out...

Have you been dino testing your results as well to see HP & TQ changes?

 

is this a 4 cylinder engine 2wd that is getting 33mpg?

 

Of course, but true evaluation is real world driving not WOT.

 

nvrmind

 

Wow thank you for all of the insight! I suppose I'll chalk this one up to cold weather--I didn't think that it would have such an effect on the MPG, but it's been a ridiculously cold winter here in Ohio.

 

Cold weather plays a very big part in friction, there are a number of studies done by the US and independent centers that show the effects on MPG.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

 

I was getting really bad mileage too, and couldn't figure it out. Then the computer threw a P0102 code, which meant I checked a couple things. First is the MAF sensor. Get some cleaner, and clean it well. Don't use a rag, I used a Q-Tip to wipe it down, then shot it with more cleaner, and let it sit. Then I checked the EFI-2 fuse in the under hood fuse box. It didn't look bad, but I replaced it anyways. Two tanks later, and I'm getting much better mileage, probably a jump from the 12 MPG I was getting to around 17. I haven't gassed up again to check yet, but those two things made a huge difference for me. It's also been -20*C here for a week-and-a-half, so that doesn't really help mileage either. I also use 89 grade gas.