40 mpg ?? Tell us how you do it ! - Page 2

EugeneC · #16 (**permalink**) 08-09-2007, 09:34 PM

LOL TCH,

I can't imagine going through all of those gyrations just to get a few extra mpg. I drive the living crap out of my Prius and still average 45 or so and 47 on trips. I recently come back from a 3500 mile trip and averaged 47.06 measured and that was at interstate speeds between 75 and 80 with the AC on 100% of the time. If you are familiar at all with Ca. we have several long hot and steep grades in the area, one from Las Vegas to Baker Ca. , I pull that hill in the left lane at 80 just to stay reasonably close to the speed limit, I have touched 86 just to prove a point and there was still some left. The battery is down to showing no charge left 2/3 of the way up and the Prius keeps right on chugging at 80 on the engine alone. All this and I still average 47 on the road or better. Of course, I am not saying you are supposed to get Prius mileage with a Camry but if I owned the car I would enjoy the extra mileage afforded by the hybrid system and forget about opening the door and pushing with my foot. JMO

About batteries, with reference to climbing and worrying about battery run down, in a word, don't! The car is designed on the concept of what goes up must come down. Use the battery for climbing as much as you need to, that's what it's there for. When you descend on the otherside, the battery will recover by the time you have reached the bottom of the hill and the regenerative brakes will help do it all free of charge with no mileage deficit from the climb. The computer keeps the battery from charging over 75% and discharging to less than 45%. The battery has a very easy life. You won't hurt it.
I drove like you do for about the first two weeks of my Prius ownership. As I recall I got about 52 mpg measured. Then I started driving the car normally, it was much much better, a little less mileage but still great mileage.

rtb3rd · #17 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 08:21 PM

Wow. I perceive that being the owner of a TCH is going to give new significance to the oft used phrase: "It's not the destination - it's the journey!"

9phil9 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-30-2007, 02:13 PM

Another easy to do mod, that will help increase mileage, while using the air conditioning, is to insulate the cold pipe that goes from the compressor to the evaporator inside the car.
This tube is mostly aluminum its full length, and keeping it from absorbing the engine compartment heat, goes a long way towards minimizing the time the compressor is working.

LifeTech · #19 (**permalink**) 09-30-2007, 02:23 PM

That's an old trick I was told.

Will that truly help me with my Non Hybrid HL.

Any help me please, I cannot afford to use my HL anymore It gets such poor MPG. I even tried all different grades of fuel.

My current MPG #'s are 17/27/21 (city/hwy/combined). Please help me.

Is there away to make my HL a hybrid? I think someone tried this??

LT

PS, I just love these new SMILEY Gifs.

TUNDRA786 · #20 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 04:43 PM

Ungrateful SOB's. Try 10mpg!!!

JK the Camry Hybrids are NICE! A freind has one and i like the quite ride. He gets like 33mpg or so. Didnt realize people were getting 40+.

dunebuggy73 · #21 (**permalink**) 11-11-2007, 07:20 PM

I drive my wife's camry when she is deployed wherever and my last tank was at 38 mpg. I don't pamper the camry and it is a split of half around town and interstate 40 miles a day. I drop our 2 yr old off at day care when she is gone. I drive it like any other other car. My usual vehicle is either an 05 Tundra or my beater 89 prelude. I have no rhyme or reason but I am impressed. The same route in my DC tundra gives, at best, 13 mpg. Just drive it and find what works. I love the 38 mpg, but i also love the Tundra and its accel.

Jer · #22 (**permalink**) 11-11-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunebuggy73

I drive my wife's camry when she is deployed wherever and my last tank was at 38 mpg. I don't pamper the camry and it is a split of half around town and interstate 40 miles a day. I drop our 2 yr old off at day care when she is gone. I drive it like any other other car. My usual vehicle is either an 05 Tundra or my beater 89 prelude. I have no rhyme or reason but I am impressed. The same route in my DC tundra gives, at best, 13 mpg. Just drive it and find what works. I love the 38 mpg, but i also love the Tundra and its accel.

I would be surprised if my DC Tundra was faster than my TCH. I have my Tundra for hauling stuff but other than that... I would have a couple TCH's in my garage probably.

ag4ever · #23 (**permalink**) 11-13-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUNDRA786

Ungrateful SOB's. Try 10mpg!!!
&lifier;nbsp;
JK the Camry Hybrids are NICE! A freind has one and i like the quite ride. He gets like 33mpg or so. Didnt realize people were getting 40+.

Wow 10 MPG?

I have a 5.7 4x4 crewmax tundra, and when I really beat on it, I still get 14 MPG.

I still put way more miles on the Camry since 38 MPG beats 14 MPG any day of the week.

There are days I want to drive the truck, and there are days I want to drive the car. I am lucky that I don't have to worry about the cost of gas and can drive either if I want to.

toyo_tundun · #24 (**permalink**) 12-15-2007, 07:49 PM

wow, i didnt realize that the camry hybrid was only rated to get 40mpgs. we have a 96 camry v6 that can get up to 33 mps on the highway, but usually around 29-31mpgs, as driving on CA highways is always done at break-neck speeds. and my mom's 07 camry v6 got 32.1mpgs on her last trip out to visit me. and that includes driving through the grapevine(CA mountains) and she usually averages 75 mph for the entire 250 mile trip. I was amazed. almost made me wish i had gotten the same car instead of my truck... ALMOST.

and i have gotten up to 23.5 mpgs on my truck averaging 72 mph. ive read all these suggestions, but i must disagree on the changing of speeds depending on grades, feathering the pedal, etc. i alway pick a speed and stick with it, same with my mom. i find that changing speeds constantly hurts my fuel consumption badly so i avoid sitting behind annoying highway drivers that are constantly speeding up and slowing down. i would assume that it would be the same for you guys. when you're on the highway, stick the speedo at 75 or 65 or whatever is comfortable for you. and try your best not to vary your speed by more than 2 mph +/- of that speed, unless you are passing. i guarantee that will help.

PenguinOffRoad · #25 (**permalink**) 12-15-2007, 08:06 PM

Maybe the Fred Flintstone mod?

Just cut a huge hole in the driver's floorboard and wear some running shoes...

Jer · #26 (**permalink**) 12-16-2007, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyo_tundun

wow, i didnt realize that the camry hybrid was only rated to get 40mpgs. we have a 96 camry v6 that can get up to 33 mps on the highway, but usually around 29-31mpgs, as driving on CA highways is always done at break-neck speeds. and my mom's 07 camry v6 got 32.1mpgs on her last trip out to visit me.

Are either of these 268hp and capable of 0-60 in 7 seconds? I didn't think so.

It's funny how people are like 'you would be better getting a 4cyl' which is true if I wanted 4cyl power. The acceleration of this Hybrid is great though. It's not just a 40mpg car it's a 40mpg car that performs like a V8 (The 4.2L V8 Audi this TCH replaced was 300hp and got 17mpg) and saves on gas money. Best of both worlds IMO.