Well, I've had the car about 3 weeks now, and I feel as though I'm getting to understand the behaviour and sounds of my black box after putting on about 1,000 miles. [Present odometer reads 54,635]

Baby Steps:
I have just finished changing the oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plugs as follows:

Oil
From Valvoline Dino Oil (assumed by oil filter installed)
To: Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W-30

Oil Filter
From: Valvoline
To: NAPA Gold

Air Filter
From: No Name
To: NAPA
** Big Side goes DOWN, right? **

Spark Plugs
From NGK resistor
To: NGK Iridium IX ( BKR5EIX-11)

INITIAL OBSERVATION:
WOW!
What a difference in the sound of the idling engine. :D

76 mile Test Drive later this afternoon. ;)
-Report to follow.

 

Well, the rough idle and hesitation has all but disappeared. Seems like a different car now. :D

DRIVING THE AUTOMATIC
Acceleration is still nothing to write home about, but after the removing the ECM fuse for ten minutes (as suggested by another member), I found the automatic shift points have changed more to my liking and that the shift from second to Third/O-D is much less delayed. :D

 

Interesting. Where is the ECM fuse located?

 

Its in the fuse box, in the engine compartment (drivers side). There is a map on the inside of the cover which tells you where it is.

Its also in your owners manual.

 

after a couple hundred miles on the NGKs I noticed that the engine was getting some rough idle again. ... did you notice that at all or was it smooth sailing so far?

 

put synthetic in the tranny and you'll really see a difference.

 

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...ight=ecu+reset

 

He has an auto for wich there is no approved synthetic available for yet. The Toyota Tech IV fluid is a synthetic blend and prolly just needs to be changed.

 

POOP!

 

OKAY!
Just traveled 172 miles
Fuel Burned: 4.87 gallons (topped off at pump)

That = 35.3 MPG !!!!!

Notes:
- Automatic Transmission
- Tires (stock size) at 31 PSI


YEAH, BABY! :D

 

Congrats! What kinda mpgs were you getting? The new plugs helped raise mine about 1-2 mpgs and about another 1-2 with the Mobil 1.

 

wow. nice gains!
i think i have a lead foot. i get less than 30 consistently.

 

I was getting a max of 32 mpg before the changes.