Is anyone else getting insanely good gas milage out of their Normally Aspirated modded tC?
I just got back from Scion Invasion in Roswell, NM. I drove all the way from the Chevron there to a gas station in Weatherford, Texas (445 miles exactly, from street address to street address) on 12.30 gallons. That calculates out to 36.18 miles a gallon on the highway. I drove 55 about 2/3 of the way (stock stereo up loud, a/c on low), then a Dodge blew by me doing about 85-90 and I followed him at a distance the last 1/3 (windows down, bye bye aerodynamics.. stock stereo blasting). My fuel light came on just as I got to Weatherford, and I pulled into the first gas station I came to after my fuel light lit. I wouldn't be suprised if my mileage had hit 40 if I stuck with 55. Now, I know most people don't drive as a slow as I do on the highway (I've had my fill of tickets, thanks.. ~17-18 in 9 years), but I'm curious to see if anyone else has documented a drastic increase in mileage after adding N/A (Non-turbo/supercharger) parts. I expected mine to go down when I started modding. :p What a pleasant suprise.

 

The key here is you went 55 MPH....most people do not understand that is such a sweet spot for MPG if you can control your foot. I have hit 400 miles on 13 gallons on my tc doing a 75% 55MPH on a long run so I can believe you.

 

lol ... i don't have the self control you have to drive at that speed ... i guess that is why my mileage is nowhere near yours.

 

My Dad drove Transportation for Coca Cola Enterprises for years. He always says, "55mph on cruise control is the best possible gas milage you can get."

Awesome to know you can get such great milage out of a tC.

 

^55mph without cruise control would be even better actually.

Mods really shouldn't help your mpg much at all....probably none. Also, having your A/C on low would be just the same as having it on high. Having your radio blasting would be the same as having it low.

 

Wat kind of mod do you have? i got an exhaust and i got 29 mpg going to morongo at 85 mph

 

The ones that would make a difference are the MMW 4-2-1 header and s-pipe, Draxas exhaust, and Injen cai.

 

mine is all stock but i get great milage out of mine and i'm not the easiest on the gas pedal. i got 360 miles out of 12.8 gallons for my last tank. about 50/50 mix of city and highway.

 

Well I would think, in all honesty, AC on low would be better than on high b/c there would be less, hot, outside air blowing by the cold coils which would warm the coils and in turn require the AC pump to kick in less often to keep the coils within the certain cold sweet spot...

and as far as the alternator.. it might have to work a little less to keep the battery up to the correct volts unless, for example, it always produces 16.2 volts but the regulator in it only allows it to release 14.2 volts..

so I would think for best gas mileage

-A/C on off windows up, 55mph radio/GPS/lights off

-A/C on low windows up, 55mph radio/GPS/lights off

or me

-A/C blasting windows down, music blasting, lights blazing!!

LOL my $.02

 

I never thought of the radio causing gas mileage differences... unless you're listening to exciting music really loud, then it makes you drive faster... so I guess it can waste gas

 

turning on the radio can affect gas mileage? pleaseee explain lol.

 

that sounds kinda weird to me too :-/

 

good to know the possibilities

but driving at 55 here in socal will get u killed. =p

 

I got 40 mpg twice going to VA beach, no one believes me anyway so whatever, but i was set at 70 mph on cruise, middle of the night, no other traffic, so no stop and go. But i have a lightweight flywheel, SRI with ram air and catback custom exhaust

 

I've seen an increase in mileage lately too. I have TRD exhaust, K&N panel filter and I blocked off the intake resonator. I've been getting right around 30 mpg city/highway.

 

Not to straight up contradict you or your pops, but it actually depends on your gearing where you get better mileage, its not set in stone that 55 is the best way to drive for mileage. Not sure about the tC though, it may be 55, but it still gets decent mileage up to 70 ish, but above 75-80, buh-bye MPGs.

 

Awesome. Vindication. That's sweet that you actually hit 40. Next time I go on an extended drive, I'll STAY at 55mph and see if I can hit 40mpg. Arn't the tC's only rated at 28 highway mpg? I can't remember...

 

yep, 28 Highway for the standard and 29 for the auto
or maybe 29 standard and 30 auto, but i think its the first one

 

I think you've got it backwards. As far as EPA ratings for a car, the manual transmission pretty much always gets better mileage than the automatic transmission version of the same car.

 

In the tC's case, it is 29 manual and 30 auto. I presume the auto has a slightly longer final gear. :?