Ok, so I'm a little geeky. I've written down my mileage after every single tank since I bought the car. You can call me a miser, but that's why I bought the car along with the fact that I can put huge radio control planes in it. Started off getting 30-32mpg. Then I got a scan gauge, back in the day when it was a big huge brick. In fact I think I was the first or second person on the forum to even discuss the scan gauge. Anyhow, after that my mileage went up to 35mpg. I was more aware of driving habits, but I still wasn't trying to max out my mileage or anything. So now after watching some people report they're awesome results I figured it was my turn. My goal started out to try and get 40mpg which I thought would be near impossible. But 4.5gallons into my journey I might set my sights a tad higher!

So it's still winter, I've got a five speed, studded tires on 185/65 15 at 38psi give or take, running 87 octane (duh of course), I've pulled off the snorkel to the airbox, put in a K&N drop in filter, and emptied the toaster of some of the loose crumbs that collect under the seats and in the back. Got my scan gauge in plain view, and I'm off on PROJECT COASTER TOASTER! :loser:

So I'm 4.5gallons into my tank and I'm at 198miles. Ya baby 44mpg so far! Now I'm sure many of you are assuming that I am holding up traffic or have found some forever downhill course. That isn't the case. Yes sometimes I'm below the speed limit, but I'm not holding up traffic at all so far and in fact, being that I am in city/suburb traffic, I typically keep up with the flow nicely. Someone might go around me, but I end up passing them later or right behind them at a light as I coast to a stop. When I'm at a light longer than 20seconds or so I'm shutting the engine off. (Note, I'm not in gridlock like somepeople have to deal with)
Now will I do this forver the rest of my life, NO. Is it fun right now, YES!
So wish me luck.
Oh and thanks to ICE4ROG for the inspiration...
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=165660&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0

and BoxOffice for sharing his mod to the airbox
http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=166146&highlight=

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture018.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture008.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture011.jpg

I have that name on two sites also:( I always wanted to change it here - anyway good lucj=k on your journey. I'm also really close to getting there. I think today I can crack 400. If I do I'll take a picture.

Those studded tires may actually be helping you. Harder rubber roles better - LRR tires.

You should get a engine block heater. You will see a 10-15% increase right away. Engine warm up kills our XB's

Actually right now while I'm house sitting I have access to a garage at night so I'm good to go. I used to park in my garage all the time until I bought a restored '65 VW bug.

I got 40mpg on the way to work today and thats usually the toughest part of the day. Hopefully I can get through this tank before it snows. Might snow in the next couple days.

I think the MPG killer is getting the car back up to speed after a stop...

Awesome! Keep us posted!

I think the MPG killer is getting the car back up to speed after a stop...I agree. I've been playing around with starting off techniques. Ideally I would not stop but just slowly roll so that I can start from 2nd gear while rolling 5-10mph. But when I do have to start from a complete stop I usually accelerate moderatly brisk shifting between 2-3k rpm. I try to get into 5th gear as soon as possible. So usually depending on wether or not it's a flat road, I go 1st gear, 2nd, 3rd-- then 5th. I've heard people complain that 1st and 2nd eat gas but they are short geared and therfore help you get up to speed quickly so you can coast.

You guys are going to make me cry. I'm trying to be fuel efficient - not obsessive or obnoxious, just efficient - and I typically get a bit above 32 mpg per tank. And that's calibrated. By the odo, that comes out to a bit above 30.

I'm wondering if part of my problem is not accelerating fast enough. Can't fiddle with when I shift, though - I've got an auto.

268 miles and still rolling. The needle shows just under 1/2 tank and the scan gauge says 6gallons even used. I didn't top the tank off completely just till the pump clicks off and so from what I've heard I won't actually have 6 gallons left but probably a gallon less so 5 maybe? The most I've ever put in is about just under 11gallons so this will be new territory for me. I might have to take a gas can with me just in case on the last drive.

It was tough to try to continue to get my average up today since we had a very slight dusting of snow today and the roads are glare ice so definetly had to slow down on corners a bit and couldn't hold as much momentum, but turned out ok as I still increased my tank aveerage to 44.8mpg. I can't wait to see what it ends up being, but at the same time I can't wait to drive a little more normal so that I can test how taking the snorkel improves throttle responce. Tommorow will be a true test because I know morning traffic will suck with the slick roads. Will have to plan a back up route. :silly:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture019.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture020.jpg

Wow...who needs a Prius? Our little cars do great on mileage and there is plenty of proof on our site. Granted heat and cold sap our mileage, but it does the same to everyone. I have been very pleased with my mileage (32-35) Can't wait to see your final result!

Wow...who needs a Prius? Our little cars do great on mileage and there is plenty of proof on our site. Granted heat and cold sap our mileage, but it does the same to everyone. I have been very pleased with my mileage (32-35) Can't wait to see your final result!

I'm sure I'd get about the same in a Prius driving normal. I certainly can't keep this up every tank though, but it's been a great challenge which makes it fun. I remember getting my free oil change a few months ago and there was a guy with a Prius waiting on his car as well. I asked him what kind of mileage he was getting. I was ready to hear 45-55 since it was below zero regularly for a couple weeks and when he told me 35-40mph I was shocked. He then asked what I was getting which was 35mpg at the time when I wasn't trying to max economy. I felt bad though so I just told him I was getting 30 since I didn't want to rain on his parade. I'd still want a prius if I could afford one but just can't justify the price at this point. I can buy allot of gas for 7k dollars. I'm sure if I did get a prius I'd be doing some mods and going the 100mpg club.

BTW did decent on the way to work this morning in traffic. 42mpg for the trip which just brought my tank ave down to 44.7

Geeky? Hardly (or maybe I just am, too..). I think the results you're getting are awesome.
Gotta get me one of those ScanGauges, too!

Ok update...
Drive home after work was great, got 49mpg, hit about 6 stops lights too. Then went driving around town and ran a few errands.
Up to 351 miles so far. Tank ave. around 45-46mpg. Getting anxious as the gas needle is sitting just under the 1/4 tank. :nails:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture022.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture021.jpg

You are officially a hypermiler! I want video of you driving... especially from a stop!

yeah! video or ban!! :) hehhee .. this is exciting! :)

All I can say is WOW!!! the best I've ever done on a tank is 35.XXX 319.1 miles on 9.0xx gallons. But that was averaging 70mph with about 6 starts from 10-70 on an on-ramp, and hitting triple digits once

... Drive home after work was great, got 49mpg, hit about 6 stops lights too. Then went driving around town and ran a few errands....
The ScanGuage does not show an accurate picture of short term mpg.
Do not believe 49 mpg for driving home with stoplights followed by driving around town doing errands.
I do have a ScanGuage in my 5-speed xB: http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/vintagefortytwo/xB%20ScanGuage/
but I don't rely on it for short trip mileage calcuations.
I have gotten 42 mpg twice, by dividing the gallons into the miles -- for a large fill up. This was for holding a steady indicataed 60 mph for 250 miles. Twice. And 60 mph "indicated" on the speedo is a true 56 mph on the ScanGuage. If 250 miles at a steady 56 mpg is what it takes to get 42 mpg, you did not really get 49 mpg around town.
Similarly, our Buick LeSabre has an electronic info display, and its calculation of short trip mpg is not supported by basic division of gallons into miles at each fill up.

Ok update...
Drive home after work was great, got 49mpg, hit about 6 stops lights too. Then went driving around town and ran a few errands.
Up to 351 miles so far. Tank ave. around 45-46mpg. Getting anxious as the gas needle is sitting just under the 1/4 tank. :nails:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture022.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture021.jpg

I thought I'd add mine to the collection:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t78/mustangfeverrr/DSC02313.jpg

akxb what kind of oil you running in the crankcase and trans?? regular or sythetic?

Regular. 5w30, I still have one more free oil change left at the dealer. So what ever Toyota puts in. I was considering switching to synthetic after that but of course that's a huge controvery in and of itself. Haven't decided.

lol yes it is a controvercy me and the guys at work toss it back and forth. i get mobil one at cost so i was going to make the switch as soon as i get about 10k on my box. making the switch to see if i can get a few more mpg.

This is a great thread ak! I like your sense of balance...its not like you're gonna do this for the rest of your life, you just want to know what your car can do, and all the info you give us just goes into one big ocean of relative information that we can all draw on to see what works best for each one of us! Keep us posted ak. Thanks!

was going to go to bed and update in the morning, but heck might as well post it now!

****FINAL RESULTS*** So I broke past 400 miles today and realized I want to possibly get on the highway this weekend and maybe go snowboarding, so I figured I wouldn't try to empty the tank down but just stop after today. Now keep in mind, it's still below freezing out, I still have the snow tires with studs which do add quite a bit of rolling resistance. So here are the results of this tank.... drum roll please...... :pray:

438.6 miles....... and it only took 9.5gallons!! >46mpg!<
Finally got to fill up and first thing I had to do was accelerate hard! :P Then driving home after filling up I figured I'd use my stop watch and estimate 0-60mph with the snorkel off and k&n filter now that I'm done trying to get 40+mpg, and of course 11seconds 0-60still.. lol Funny thing is that I did that several times on the way home and still managed to get a trip of 40mpg without really trying as hard. All this mileage driving has recalibrated my foot or something, of course it was late and no one was on the road.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture023.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c212/aerobatics/coaster/Picture026.jpg

Maybe I'll try this again once in the summer time. I'm sure given the mileage I was getting and the fuel I used I can break past 500miles in a tank, but for now I think I will drive a little back to normal, which for me averages about 35mpg.

... Drive home after work was great, got 49mpg, hit about 6 stops lights too. Then went driving around town and ran a few errands....
The ScanGuage does not show an accurate picture of short term mpg.
Do not believe 49 mpg for driving home with stoplights followed by driving around town doing errands.
I do have a ScanGuage in my 5-speed xB: http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f280/vintagefortytwo/xB%20ScanGuage/
but I don't rely on it for short trip mileage calcuations.
I have gotten 42 mpg twice, by dividing the gallons into the miles -- for a large fill up. This was for holding a steady indicataed 60 mph for 250 miles. Twice. And 60 mph "indicated" on the speedo is a true 56 mph on the ScanGuage. If 250 miles at a steady 56 mpg is what it takes to get 42 mpg, you did not really get 49 mpg around town.
Similarly, our Buick LeSabre has an electronic info display, and its calculation of short trip mpg is not supported by basic division of gallons into miles at each fill up.

If you saw how much I planned my routes and the way I was driving you'd understand. I was usually taking the "long way" home. Most of the time I wasn't in the peak of rush hour. Also Anchorgae isn't a huge city. I wasn't even getting past 50 miles per hour. For my car I found the sweet spot to be around 35-40mph in fifth gear just enough gas to hold speed. So I picked routes that would allow me to maintain speed without too much variance. Roundabouts rule! Also the engine was shut off at stop lights if I knew I was going to sit more than a few seconds. But most of the time I looked way ahead and would ajust speed so as not to have to catch lights. Also many of the roads had mild rolling hills which let me coast allot. I think I've seen a few others here that have gotten similar results. The thing is, I can't do this day in and day out, but it was a fun quest. The scan gauge is very accurate when set up and verified correctly. I've filled up the tank of my car 43 times since I've owned it, and about 40 of those was with the scan gauge and I have a log book where I've kept track and verified each tank. You put me on the highway at 55mph, I'll stuggle to get above 37mpg. It's the techinique in city driving that makes the biggest difference. Whew... looking forward to just driving for awhile and relaxing.

dang i wonder how much more you would get running amsoil instead of whatever toyota uses. nice work

dang i wonder how much more you would get running amsoil instead of whatever toyota uses. nice work
My guess is it would make a very small difference.
I wonder what I could get if I didnt have studded tires and no cold starts at work.

In the summers however I usually get more highway miles driving out to the radio control flying field. Plus in the summer if I'm not carrying a plane and it's not raining, I'll be getting either 15-20mpg in my high performance classic VW, or 50mpg on my motorcycle.

Awesome results, ak! It'd be really interesting to see what you can do in decent weather on tires without studs!
Congrats! :clap:

Awesome results, ak! It'd be really interesting to see what you can do in decent weather on tires without studs!
Congrats! :clap:

Thanks Boxoffice. I'm sure we'll be hearing more results from you shortly as well!

Just thought I'd share this link... representing scion on the cleanmpg.com forum!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3952

Good job ak!!! You might be the first member of the 500 club! That would make you the president, lol...

Ok, thats it! I'm gonna start leaving for work a few minutes earlier and try driving NORMAL for a change...That is hard for me to do because I have a new full exhaust system (2.25" cat-back) and an intake and I love the sounds it makes!

The most I have ever gotten out of a tank was 380 miles and I put 11.7 gallons in at re-fill...

Gotta work on my driving habits, I want to hit the "400" club...I have an Auto so I don't know what the most someone has been able to get out of a tank...

Gotta work on my driving habits, I want to hit the "400" club...I have an Auto so I don't know what the most someone has been able to get out of a tank...

ICE4ROG (the post just above yours) is the guy making big mpgs with an auto - check out his thread!

^^^Ok thanks...Thats the thread I read to get your link also...Thanks for the info

Gotta work on my driving habits, I want to hit the "400" club...I have an Auto so I don't know what the most someone has been able to get out of a tank...

ICE4ROG (the post just above yours) is the guy making big mpgs with an auto - check out his thread!Thanks for the plug Box! You know whats cool? I havent taken the snorkel off yet!!! That will be a fun couple of weeks charting my mileage, keep up the good work.

My pleasure. Us "crazy-mileage-guys" have got to stick together! :rofl:

Man this last tank is taking forever to run out since my commute got a little shorter now that I'm not house sitting. I'm currently at around 415 miles and the low fuel light just came on. My scan guage did something weird and ended up resetting itself so I'm not sure where I sit. I was at about 40mpg for this tank so I think I'll at least be above that. Guess I won't know untill fill up time!

Not a best mpg tank but just thought I'd update got 41mpg on the last tank, not going to quite the extreme but just normal daily commutes to work and back and to friends' house. Did have the most miles between fillups though. 460 miles 11.1gallons. I'm sure I'll hit 500 once this summer! Oh and the summer tires were put on for the last 1/4 tank.

OMG...Ok, I have been feathering the gas, have rarely hit 3000rpm's (maybe 5 times but not for extended times, only for a second)...85% freeway driving at 65 mph (2800-2900rpm) and 15% of your regular city driving...I start off smoothly and make sure my auto is switching gears BEFORE 3000rpm's...I have 200 miles on the odometer and my guage is just startting to touch the 1/2 tank line...

I give you guys credit for getting those kind of miles out of a tank of gas...I am gingerly nursing my automatic and it is hard to stay below the 3000 rpm line...

I will update on how i do with this tank...I'm thinking high 300's...What do you think?

Mr. 500 to us, lol. Now that you put on your spring/summer tires just go for it, 500 miles would be sweet...but 460 every week would be outstanding...keep us posted ak.

Thanks, I'll give it a go, although probably not this tank since I'm only at 40mpg so far. These are all 100% city btw. I get worse on hwy. Summer time is the only time I start to get a little bit of hwy driving. Starting next month I'll see what I can do with that.

Very impressive! My first tank of gas I got just under 32 mpg. You guys have inspired me to go for more though. Of course I am very happy with that. My last ride which was a '90 chevy silverado, bagged, custom exhaust, and 18" rims only got average of 10-11 mpg.

Where can I buy a scan gaage and how much is it? Is it accurate?

I dont have one yet but here is the thread where most are buying from...From what I read through all the pages is that this scan gauge does it all and it is a VERY good price...

Click this link for info: http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=153142

Well Summer is stating and so I'm getting mostly hwy miles now. Idrive a motorcylce and a '65 bug in the summer in town and only use the xB on rainy days or drives on the hwy out to go fly RC planes.

I filled up for the first time in a month and was at 454 miles and used 11.1 gallons of fuel. Thats 41 mpg. Not bad for hwy miles I think. If I tried for another max MPG tank in the summer I think I could beat my 47. Won't happen anytime soon though.