This is Why I Love My Manual Tranny

Having spent years (decades) rubbing shoulders with the design engineers, you can believe what you will, but such beliefs have no basis in reality.

 

I am not sure what post your are referring too, but from my experience with engineers, most fail to have any concept of reality when it comes to functional design...

 

Gotcha beat in an auto. Driving the speed limit. 55-65. Depending on section of road. Computer is kinda bullshit though, generally average 21 in my fuel log.

 

Did you ever ask one of them point blank if the gear ratio was chosen exclusively for mpg? And was it targeted for EPA highway test?

I'm not questioning your experience. I'm just interested in your insights.


ETA:
My Tacoma runs around 2600 rpm at 75 mph. An automatic would be turning about 1900 if it can hold 6th.

You don't think dropping those rpms down 400-500 at that speed would help mpg?

 

In my career I've worked for Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Chrysler, and all three have (or at least had) HIGHLY competent engineers. By that I mean, not only did they have the book smarts, they were also dynamic thinkers and automotive enthusiasts. Yes, there were a few folks in the ranks who where too linear in their thinking to be of any real value (IMHO), but the bulk of the folks I worked with, both in the design and the forensic spaces, were worth what they were being paid.

 

My computer ends up being pretty accurate - usually within a few tenths. I've noticed that overfilling the tank (filling the filler neck) will fudge the numbers a bit, interestingly enough.

But what I really want to know about are those red needles - are those stock on one of the trims??

 

I've got everyone beat. This is what happens when you fill up on top of a mountain and coast to the bottom.

 

Had it as high as 60mpg before. This time filled up and jumped on the interstate to head into the city for an errand, by the next fill up my average will be 21ish with my normal commute/running around.

Base model ‘21 SR with the SX package…didn’t know they didn’t come in red on other trims.

 

Well. Mercedes had Maybach. Without him, we would all be sitting on horses talking about how much of a failure the auto car turned out to be.

 

Can you elaborate on this last part? Why does the auto TC slip but not manual?

 

You folks need to post the trip summary displayed once the vehicle is turned off. These pics of real time fuel economy after topping off the tank are pretty useless.

 

Because the programming of the automatic transmissions make the torque converter unlock under certain conditions. Manual transmission clutches don't unlock unless the driver presses the clutch pedal.

 

In a '17 DCLB SR5. I drive like an old man but usually see ~22-23mpg in the summer and 20-21 in the winter.


I always reset trip A at fill up so simple math validates the 25+mpg for the tank.

 

Can confirm what @Torquemado says here...same thing happened to me when I got my 2017 a few years back. Couldn't believe my luck with the gas mileage! That is until I discovered that somewhere along the line my truck was set to record mpg in imperial gallons vice US gallons. Came back down to reality real quick once I reset it to US gallons.

 

Man if I'm really pulling 13 MPIG that is no bueno lol

 

Haha! Yeah, no bueno at all...

I really hope that some of the sweet numbers being posted in here aren't due to their trucks recording in imperial gallons. If the numbers are with US gallons, then great for them and I'm super jealous!

 

All this talk of MT ratios and why they are the way they are.. smart guys know better. Yup.
Ok, so tell me why in the hell I need a reverse ratio this high?
Y'all think that was a smart idea? Maybe that guy was being overpaid, no?
/rant

 

Lol. I've never seen the inside of the gear box, but the only thing I can think of is that a bigger gear just wouldn't fit. That ratio just plain sucks.

 

Mine is usually 20-21 to work and 24-25 when I get home. Must be more climbing to than fro. Still averages 21-22 per tank with summer tires. Snow tires it was 17-18.

 

Filled up the truck today 392.6 Miles, 18.50 Gallons, = 21.22 MPG which slso matches the display.