Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Strange...have the refiners changed the gas formulation perhaps??
Does Toyota have black or matte versions of the rings? Or has anyone out there tried anything that has worked? So many people I talk to who have the Matrix or Vibe say it can be very irritating to deal with.
It proves out the fix I made for speedo noise it works (see message #825).
I think thaw the MTBE stuff lowers mpg, although Gas Co denies that.
My '89 Corolla mpg did not vary much until the MTBE came around in the early 90's.
I still get about 28 mpg (EPA was 27/30) with the 1.6 carb, at I think 90hp.
Vibe gets me 27 in the same commute (EPA = 28/33)
1.8 FI with 130hp.
I'm trying to stay below 75mph on the highway in the next few tanks to see if it goes up.
Also noted that the RPM's goes from 2500 to 2200 to 2000 from 75mph to 65mph to 55mph.
Technically, I should see a 5mpg increase if I drive closer to 55mph, but that will never happen...
the '89 weighed about 400 pounds less, and had a lower profile for better aerodynamics, so it had advantages in the fuel economy game that the Vibe/Matrix doesn't have.
suzysubaru: I never use the hatch door, always use the glass window, so I don't know about that, but you can "tip" the driver's seat bottom back and forward, so it might help to tip the front higher - this will bend your leg more and have the effect of moving the pedals "further away".
Of course, I am 5'9" and have no problem even with the seat tipped forward.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
In regards to the mileage issue, my mechanic offered this suggestion, the catalytic converter may be getting clogged up do to it's inability to properly handle the sulfur content. If this is the case then the engine has to work harder do to blockage in the exhaust line. Just a thought.
Thinking about buying the Honda Civic.
Not only is the new sensor they put in a more sensitive receptor, but the programming is changed to allow more time after an ambient light change before activating the lights.
The short version: it works really well, and has fixed this problem! The dealer needed three days to get the new sensor from a regional warehouse - the local was out of stock - but then it only needed a half hour to install. And it was free.
Check it out!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
does it work well at 2:00PM on a partly cloudy day with the sensor block?
What is TSB number?
A link would be nice.
75 mph, RPM = 2900
65 mph, RPM = 2600
55 mph, RMP = 2200
since the engine is spinning less, that should correlate to less gas used.
Therefore, from 75 to 65, (2900-2600)/2900 = 10.3% more mpg.
From 75 to 55, should be about 24% more
So if avg 27 mpg at 75, should get 29.7mpg at 65; and 33 mpg at 55.
Now this would be perfect if not for stop and go.
For Business ppl, this is "fixed". For Engineers, Stop and Go can be considered a "bias".
But the more highway you do, closer to these speeds, you should attain these mpg - in a perfect world.
FOR YOU STINKERS -
I have been seeing BP signs in the NY area that states their gas have lower Sulfer content in 40 cities - but I do not use them - yet.
Any opinions on bp?
I am sorry, but this unfortunately does not take into account other factors such as load, grade, wind resistance, etc. In fact, the relationship is not linear at all, so that your mileage may drop a very little bit from 55 to 65 mph, but then drop a whole lot more from 65 to 75.
On the TSB issue, this was all told to me at the dealership, so I have no on-line link. I am waiting to get the final paperwork in the mail, at which time I may or may not be able to confirm the part numbers previously posted here by someone else who had this done. However, it really does work - consult your dealer.
It works at any time of day, even on bright sunny days, which as you folks who have had this annoying problem will know, is the worst kind of day for this problem.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
If you drive the same road over and over, the physical parameters (road grade, wind resistance etc) should be accounted for in the reading of the tach.
The numbers I listed were on a relatively flat highway road at night - road friction and wind resistance should be accounted for in the tach, as this is real world.
In our typical highway driving range, you should experience about a 10% mileage increase if you drop 10mph.
Now factor in your city/highway mix accordingly.
If 20% of time (not miles) are on local roads, then you should only get 10% better 80% of the time ==> 0.1 x 0.08 = 8% better mpg for each 10 mph drop.
Any Mech Engineer or Physics guy here who can offer a thought?
So yes, the engine takes less gas per HOUR but not necessarily per MILE.
If your formula was correct, the closer RPM to zero the higher the MPG. Obviously not true or all the cars would be cruising at 0.1 RPM to save fuel (783000 mpg according to your calculation).
Acctually, the physical fuel efficiency of the 1zz-fe engine itself is the highest at the 3000 RPM, but you save gas at lower RPM and speed because of lower air resistance and lower energy losses in the drivetrain and tires.
Where can I get info like that?
Good points - I was looking for something to think about.
Let's relate to a bicycle, one of the most efficient vehicles around.
Pump too fast - get tired real fast.
Go too fast - wind slows you down + wind effect
Go too slow - get sleepy
Go just right - do best? (3000 RPM's?)
Where am I going with this?
All physical parameters will be reflected in the RPM, wind, wheel other friction type forces.
So in the highway range of 55 to 75, you should experience the best mileage around the range where the engine and gearing is best tuned for.
Luzer: at highway speeds, it is not only the engine and gearing match-up, but also the aerodynamics of the particular vehicle that dictate A LOT what the curve of decreasing fuel efficiency will be as the speed increases.
As a general trend, a car that has no problem going 140 mph will have lower fuel economy throughout its powerband, but it will drop very slowly as highway speeds increase.
A car that is pushing it just to get to 80-90 mph probably gets much better mileage at lower speeds, but it begins to drop pretty dramatically as soon as you get over 55 mph.
That is JUST A TREND, not a hard-and-fast rule.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
More importantly, it notes on the paperwork that "service bulletin EL007-02/replace relay" was performed.
So I guess this is the number of the TSB for this twilight sensor problem.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
service and noted that engine oil was half a quarter low. Last time I changed oil was almost
6 months ago ( I drove little, less than 3000 miles in these 6 months).
My question is, was that missing half quarter oil an indication of some engine problem, or was
it simply because the engine was still hot? Thanks for any help on this.
Also check under your car and see if a regular old leak has developed, making an oily patch on the ground where you park.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Check it yourself once it's changed and note the level. Check it periodically.
IMO, you should not have lost 1/2 quart oil in your scenario.
2 problems though -
1) an annoying loud click coming somewhere from glove compartment area every time I switch head lights on/off
2) sun visor on driver side, when lowered, touches back view mirror. I can not beleive it.
Does anyone else noticed 1 and 2 above? I can live with 1 (though it's kind of unexpected from brand new toyota) but 2 is absolutely crazy...
2 Is your rear view mirror misplaced on the windshield? Does it touch the passenger's sun visor too?
I have had my 2001 LE for almost 2 yrs now and I'm happy to report NO PROBLEMS whatsoever - today I filled up and was pleased to find out that I got 32.7 mpg on my last tank of gas - this is all city driving and I have the 4-speed auto tranny - I love my car and do not regret my decision to purchase it at all! I have to confess that I love the new styling of the 2003, but my car has been flawless so far so I really cannot complain about that -
4 runner has a telescoping wheel, I wonder if they are interchangeable?
Anyone else notice this or know what might be causing it?
the diff between sound levels radio vs CD is simply the signal level of the CD. Some CDs are recorded louder than others, some faint faraway staions on the radio will consequently sound quieter.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
the engineer who desinged the pedel and wheel placement must have been built like a monkey- short legs and long arms!
yes there is a toyota OEM alarm system. for canadian models, OEM system cost over C$600. the aftermarket i chose cost me C$280 taxes included! it can do everything the OEM system can do!