TheMuffinMan00

iTrader: (2)

So what exactly is your average MPG?

Like I said in my intro thread I am coming from honda's but it seems to me that the mpg for the Tc is VERY poor. I am getting roughly 26-28mpg mostly highway. My wifes 4cy Camry with the same 2.4 motor is getting closer to 30-32 mpg.

I am used to a small 5 speed 4cyl car easily getting 32 and with most of my hondas I was getting 34+ and that was even one of my turbo cars getting 34 if I never got in it.

STlTCHES

The tC is a very heavy car for being a 2 door... gotta remember its got a fully built frame to support the sunroof if you every were to roll over.

GQQSE13

on long trips like when i go to memphis i've gotten anywhere from 28-34; but generally get 28-30

Jon

I get 390-400 miles out of a tank consistently, never driving more than 10 miles after the light comes on. So 30-32mpg since I never use the 2 gallons of reserve fuel.

bentheswift

It's got nothing to do with weight. The tC is lighter than any Camry. The mileage problem is because the gearing sucks. It has super-short gears. You are at 3k rpm by 65mph.

How did the tC2 gain 4 highway mpg while adding 150lbs and even more displacement? It has a sixth gear that is much longer than the tC1's fifth gear, plain and simple.

FWIW, the 20/27 ratings that the EPA gave the tC are also a joke (or 20/26 for pre-07 models). It's not THAT bad. But it isn't good by any means either. My 2009 in 65k miles of driving has averaged (yes, I've logged every tank) a touch over 29 mpg. The highest tank was a bit over 34mpg. I don't do hypermiling, but I don't drive 90mph either.

Trends I've noticed:
-best mileage is always, always, always on rural 55mph highways, even curvy, mountainous ones where I can't set the cruise control.
-winter gas is good for a solid 1-2 miles per gallon hit, from October-ish to April (blends may differ in other states)
-Interstate highway mileage is never very good. Never done better than 32mpg on the interstate, sometimes less than 30 driving in So. Cal and doing 80+.
-40psi in the tires is perfectly safe and will noticeably help your mileage.

I agree that it is simply unacceptable for a ~16.0-second car to get such poor mileage. Here is a project that I hope to try soon, but I don't have a good place to get the parts at the moment: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=209870

TheMuffinMan00

iTrader: (2)

so from what you guys are saying is that 28mpg on the interstate isn't that good at all for the tc? I get no better than 22mpg if I drive in rural areas light to light. IF I am able to get on the interstate to work it's 65 the whole way and about 3 miles of stop and go lights. other than that I don't do much other driving and best i have gotten yet is 28, even shifting early and not hitting the gas more than 1/3, I haven't gotten any better than 28 mpg going to and from work. If I had the posibility of 32 like you have said I would be fine with that but I can't seem to get anywhere close to that.

rand0mher0

I'm getting about 350 to the tank.. which sucks. I've done pretty much anything to improve my gas mileage, I did a spark plug change recently, cleaned the filter on my CAI. Still averaging about the same. Almost makes me wanna get a tc2 transmission and put it in my car.

Jon

My car didn't always do 30+ mpg. What happened in the last 30k miles I don't know. But I have read a theory that over the course of 5 years, when you first buy your car the mileage is good. Then it gets worse, and finally goes back to where it was. Something about seals being fully seated by the time you get into higher mileage. I don't know how factual it is, but that seems to be what happened with my car.

I've only used fuel system cleaner once, and I have no engine mods other than a Tsudo midpipe (secondary catalytic converter delete) and a K&N drop in filter. I've never even cleaned my MAF sensor and I'm at 110k miles. I've had 4 different axle-back exhausts but I don't think they make any difference. Still on original spark plugs as well.

I'm not sure if the type of oil makes a difference but I've been using synthetic since the 4th oil change. Started off with Mobil 1 then switched to Pennzoil Platinum and now Pennzoil Ultra, changed at 5k intervals.

TheMuffinMan00

iTrader: (2)

are you using 5w20 or 0w20? I have a drop in K&N because I thought that would help but it did ZERO change to the mpg. I can see how the secondary cat delete or exhaust might help since there is less restriction but that could also make it worse.

I have a little hesitation that i've been trying to get rid of and I think that may be the culprit to the horrible mileage I am getting compared to you guys. I am going to remove the MAF and clean that and as soon as I fill up again I am putting the fuel injector cleaner in the tank. Hopefully that will help.

Jon

My car is a 2006 so it calls for 5w30. I did use 5w20 a couple of times though to see if that would make a difference but it didn't.

TheMuffinMan00

iTrader: (2)

oh ok yea mine calls for either 5 20 or 0 20 but I always use the 5

bentheswift

I did 8k miles on 0w-20 synthetic last year and could not notice an increase from the 5w-30 dino oil I normally use (except it burned 1 quart over that period, whereas thicker oil has never burned at all). Same when I switched to 70w-80 trans fluid. Exhaust and intake mods will not help mileage, that is just an internet myth, at least for EFI vehicles.

If you learn to drive frugally, you will probably be able to hit 30mpg in your commute. Coast in gear when you are coming to a stop, coast out of gear when going downhill if safe, use the brakes minimally (but safely), shift at lower rpm and spend more time in the highest gear possible. Don't be afraid to use WOT, it's the RPMs that are the MPG killer, not the throttle. Air up your tires -- this is the easiest change you can make and it will make a significant difference.