so i drove to Cedar Point and Back today (about 270 miles) and i killed an entire tank of gas...why is my mileage so shotty. i averaged 73 the whole trip, i have TRD CAI and TRD catback...i did fill up with 91 today before i left..any feedback would be great.

thanks

 

I used to use 93. I used it for 28,344 miles until guys on here informed
me I'm probably doing more harm than good. There's a picture. Go look at the pic in my "engine running rough" thread a few posts down. They said that the engine may not be burning the gas completely since it's not high compression or meant for anything higher than 87.

Anyway, what I came in here to tell you is to try the same thing I'm going to try. Run a can of BG 44k through it. Do some research on that stuff. Keep me
Posted. Good luck.

 

i always get a little nervous using 'cleaning additives' i have heard of it but i still get a little nervous...

 

I understand. Ive researched the hell out of this and it appears to be the real deal.

I didn't really explain why I'm using it. The unburnt gas from 93, or 91 in your case turn into carbon on your pistons. This stuff should clean it off. Anyway good luck on it.

 

i just read through your thread...some good stuff in there

 

The factory manual that came with our cars states to use octane 87. Since all you have is simple bolt ons, there's really no point in using a higher octane. As stated above, there's no point in using a higher octane unless your running boost or its recommended for your car by the manufacterer.

 

i doubt its the octane your using. and higher octanes wont hurt the motor as it is. it just wont really help.


chech your air filter (clean it or replace it), sparkplugs for odd wear or a misfire condition. tire inflation. and that try to clean your maf if all of those things fail. remember after cleaning your maf to reset your battery so your maf can remap your fuel/air.

hope it helps.

 

Check your tire pressures (way too low?).
Slow down (try the speed limit).
Use the recommended octane.
Slow down (no, seriously).
Check air filter/plugs (as mentioned).
Keep your foot off the gas (don't floor it).
Take extra crap out of car (do you have a huge, heavy audio system?).

There are only so many things that you can actually do to save gas... and it comes down to the car and you. If you're accelerating, don't do it with the pedal to the floor - you'd burn a lot right there. On the highway, you get noticeably better mileage closer to the speed limit. Make sure you are doing proper regular maintenance on it. Also if your car has a lot of extra weight in it from an audio system or whatever else, that is also burning more gas.

Beyond all of that it is possible that if you (or whoever had it first if you bought used) did not break it in properly and now that's just how your engine performs.

 

Didnt myth busters prove its better to roll the windows up and have the AC on when its comes to MPG ?

 

They tested this twice actually (b/c they got called out on the first results)... at low speeds (under 55?) it was more efficient to run with the windows down and no A/C ... but at highway speeds it was more efficient with the A/C on and windows up.

It ends up having to do with the drag created by the windows being down and at low speeds it wasn't as much of a factor compared to the A/C running...

 

Driving speeds is probably the biggest factor in our cars MPG. Unless something is wrong like misfire, dirty or clogged filter, etc. I drove to Indianapolis from my house (about 65 miles) for a week at 65mph (about 3250rpm) and got 18mpg. Next week I drove 55mph (about 2750 rpm) and got 24mpg. RPM may be a bit off but cruising at 55 vs. 65 or faster was the key for my mpg.

EDIT: At 73 you should expect lower gas milage. 5th gear overdrive fail.

 

I cruse every other weekend on a trip to Pittsburgh at 80PMH and the RPM's are at like 5 ! FTL

 

yeah its pretty ____ty...4k rpm' at only 80mph...so much drone and such poor mileage. but to the OP...if you're on a stock motor or N/A...use 87. if boosted run w.e your tuned to

 

Yeah use 87 and go slower.. Simple as that. 80 at 5k is FTL fo sho.

 

more like 4kish...5k would just be ridiculous lol

 

How about calculating the mpg instead of just saying the mileage you traveled. I have no idea how much fuel you had left in the car. You could have had 30 mpg if you only used 9 gallons of fuel in 270 mi.

 

A good point for sure.

If your light just comes on, you probably used about 10-11 gallons only. So even 27mpg isn't that awful at 10 gallons.

BTW, proper way to calculate:

1. Start by filling up your tank.
2. DO NOT TOP OFF. Stop when it clicks.
3. Reset Trip immediately.
4. Drive however until you fill up again.
5. Fill tank again - DO NOT TOP OFF.
6. Record gallons used to fill.
7. Record miles on Trip.
8. Reset Trip again.
9. Lather.
10. Rinse.
11. Repeat.

 

Above 45mph = Use A/C
Below 45mph = Roll the windows down

What kind of drive are we talking here...Uphill? Downhill?

On my drive to work from home I average around 38mpg* - downhill
On my drive to home from work I average around 18mpg* - uphill

(*thanks to Scangauge2)

 

I've posted my results before, but one more time won't hurt.

I often need to travel from Central NY, down to Philly, PA for work. I cruise at 55mph (with nothing extra in the car), heavier 18" TRD wheels/tires, and achieve around 39+mpg, strictly highway driving. You can search for the thread with more details about one of my trips, it's no BS.

Driving a mix of about 70/30 (highway/city), and using 5th gear at anything above 30mph, i get around 33-35mpg, never exceeding 55mph (which is about ~2500rpm's).

The reason most of you get horrible gas mileage, is probably because you accelerate too quickly from stops, and speed at higher than posted speed limits, let alone carry around junk in your car as dead weight.

 

Oil Change?