Also, you are dancing around and almost saying the exact same thing as I am. Look, it is obvious that the more you press the gas the more gas you waste. That applies to any gear or even at a stand still rev. You are missing the point; the injectors are OFF when your engine is braking for you, period. Now, anything in between idling, which is the minimum amount of throttle the computer applies so that your engine will not shut off and WOT is a lot of grey, we know. Having said that, when you are accelerating for instance in 5th, there will not be a slightest difference in acceleration after a certain point no matter how much gas you are pressing. Lets designate that point as 30% throttle for instance. Anywhere between idle and 30% throttle you will feel the difference in your car's pull. After this point however, while you are wasting more gas and putting tremendous amount of pressure on your internals (what you may refer to as load) that's where you'll notice a "negligible" difference in acceleration. This is also more pronounced when the RPMs are in the lower ranges. That's why I said: "pressing the gas harder than your car is able to accelerate at 1.5RPM is also to be avoided."

 

Damn blackberry didn't post my last post...0but yes, we are basically in agreement. The only thing I disagreed with was a statement you made that RPM's and MPG are directly related. It is, only when speed is constant. Efficiency is a function of RPM, speed, load(weight and hill grade), and throttle, which I take you would agree with.

 

 

Please source this as I have never heard that 3-4K is optimal for fuel efficiency.

 

Shift before 3k. Inflate tires to anything under 44 PSI. I use 40 PSI myself. Drive smart. Coast in gear as much as possible. Downshift appropriately... don't stress the engine and waste gas by trying to floor it at low RPMs, especially in overdrive gears.

Avoid turning on the AC compressor during acceleration. Only during cruise and engine braking.

Be smart. Be aware of traffic around so and take signals and plan ahead so that you can effectively, safely, and courteously change lanes to avoid people who are slowing down in front of you to turn or for whatever reason they are slowing down.

In addition, use cruise control whenever possible, even on local roads if safe to do so. However, always be ready to brake immediately. Even if it looks "safe"... this is often when most serious accidents occur - when people thought there was "no one else on the road."

55 MPH @ 2500 RPM (5th gear, level ground, stock 17" wheels and tires) is supposed to be a very efficient combo. Try setting cruise to that whenever possible.

And the most obvious tip - don't drive if you don't have to!.

Oh and also, one last thing - remember that engine efficiency does not always correlate to fuel efficiency!

 

shifting at 3000 is basiclly at the speed the manual states except for 4th to 5th
1 to 2 or 2 to 1 15 mph
2 to 3 or 3 to 2 25 mph
3 to 4 or 4 to 3 40 mph

 

Using my Scangauge II and the "up-to-the-second" MPG setting, I've found that throttle position is the greatest factor that changes mileage. In 5th gear at any speed, I will drop to <10mpg when I mash the throttle. For me, the lightest touch on the throttle always yields the best mileage.

 

The manual states to shift at 2.5k RPM for a good balance of economy and acceleration.

 

where in the manual does it say that? i looked but i didn't see it

 

I couldnt find it either, maybe I am going crazy. But 3k is still a bit too high if you want to save fuel.

 

Well, the manual doesn't go by RPM, it goes by speed. I prefer RPM.

Anyway, though, I usually shift by ear/timing (used to shift by tach, but now I'm used ot it), and I decided to look at the speedo just for the hell of it.

Turns out I shift EXACTLY at toyota's recommended shift points without even realizing it!



Anyway, yea... I usually shift at 2.5k-3k, usually never over 3k in "normal" driving.

However, I do take 2nd up all the way to 3k because otherwise, it will drop below 2k once you shift to third. I never accelerate if I'm under 2k.

Thus, that's why we all recommend 2.5k as your shift point. It pretty much matches up with Toyota's recommend speed points.

(This assumes you have stock tires/wheels or at least the same size and similar weight)

 

We had this same discussion on www.cleanmpg.com -

http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/fuel-...fuel-6649.html

You will not damage the tC since it is able to be flat-towed.

 

That is one crazy forum.

 

Lol those guys are extreme - however I've been getting 42+ mpg on my tank this week - so I can't complain much!

 

In short can you explain to us what you are doing?

Also, does it require driving at extremely slow speeds?

 

i have an MT... and i hate when all the AT cars are accelerating faster than me.... of course im not talking about race, or anything like that.. it happens to me every day almost at every redlights... ppl with AT car drives like idiots!!!!! lets say: the speed limit is 45.. there is 2 lane next to me and usually almost everyone accelerating to 45-50mph in 12 sec ( i just said a number.....) and they ahead of me with two car..and i upshift every gear around 3k rpm.. im not pressing the pedal to the metal, im just driving normaly and of course i catch them up 10 sec after.. so why is that good for them to accelerate so fast so early???????????
i dont get it!!!!!

and btw its not good to shift to early... why? because u are accelerating.. and in higher gear and in low rpm u have to press the pedal harder to catch up with everyone.. more u press the peda= more the valves are open = u wasting gas!!!!!!!
dont shift too early.. dont shift to late.. usually i shift around 3k.. im not saying this is the best for my wallet... maybe it would be better if i shift 2500... who knows.. i dont really watch my odometer every time i shift.. i just shift when i fell my car needs it... and usually its around 3-3.5k rpm...

btw we cant compare it... i have headers, exhaust, etc.. i got less power in lower rpm-s.. i think it means my car gonna struggle more in high gear and low rpm's than yours.. who has stock car....


1) shift between 2.5-3.5 k!!! whatever is best for your car..
2) no downshifts before u stop!!!!!!!! if u slow down because someone made a turn and u are in 4th gear and u should be in secound then downshift!!!! but if u see the lights turn to red or if u see a STOP sign and u are in 4, 5 gear.. do not downshift.. just press the brake until ur car starts to struggle.. learn that point and before that point depress the clutch then put it from 5th gear to neutral... or first gear.


why is it better than just putting the car in neutral and just roll up to the lights or stop sign??? i dont know.. they said this is how u should do it.. this is how the new cars works.. etc.....

oh and if u have to wait more than a minute ( train of whatever) shut your engine!

 

This is the problem with manuals... We either drive too slow trying to save gas, and are the last ones out of the light, OR we're the first ones to the next stop light since we have so much fun shifting.

I live in LA, commute 22 miles through the worst feeway here, and I still find myself pressing the gas harder just because I want to shift.

With autos, you do not need to practice throttle control, so most people just mash it off the line out of habit. In a manual, we'll start pitching and diving, bobbing up and down if we're not smooth on the throttle...

 

Wait...so when stopping you're not suppose to down shift?

What the heck?

 

i down shift when i have to slow down quickly other then that i put it in neutral and just let it roll. it's how my pops taught me

 

I leave my car in 5th all the time. It just takes me 10 mins to get to 60mph