Best way to eco-drive an automatic - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Tygen1 · 07-13-2009, 10:43 PM

My TCC doesn't lock until I'm past 40mph.

Christ · 07-13-2009, 10:44 PM

Mine locks at 38-40MPH, depending on throttle position, it can go all the way up to never.

99LeCouch · 07-13-2009, 10:55 PM

Ahh. Mine's pretty aggressive about locking up.

I'll have to try accelerating at a good clip to 30 tomorrow on the longer stretches of my all-city commute and see what numbers I get. I usually accelerate at a leisurely pace, ~1500-1700 RPM tops. Breaking 25 LOD and 2000 RPM on the SG, anyone?

Tygen1 · 07-14-2009, 12:08 PM

I usually accellerate between 2000-2500 rpm and about 25 on the TPS, haven't looked at LOD yet. Just got the SG last night though

Just kinda obseving what my usual drive results in. I noticed I pull about 25mpg on the 10 second pulses and between 200 and 500mpg on the coasts usually lasting more than double or triple the pulse. This is on the uncalibrated SG, I'm sure it's reading high right now because it's showing about 60mpg cruising at 55mph (however it's nice to think that might be true)

skyl4rk · 07-14-2009, 01:15 PM

Cruise control is a good tool with an automatic. I find the sweet spot for a 3.8 liter Dodge Caravan to be about 42 to 44mph, just fast enough to keep it in highest gear. On hills, I disengage cruise control to just get over the hill and coast down. I have not tried putting it in neutral on the way down, it seems to freewheel pretty good on downhills as long as you turn off cruise control.

newhavenpatriot · 10-12-2009, 12:06 AM

I've gotten the best mileage with my automatic so far just by going real easy on the gas pedal. Try to look far ahead and if you see a red light and stopped cars, get your foot off the gas and coast up to it (if no one's behind you).

Keep your RPMs as low as possible, especially going uphill. If there are no cars behind me, I listen to the engine and back off of the gas pedal to try to keep the RPMs low without the transmission downshifting and screwing up my plan. Then, if it downshifts and puts my RPMs through the roof, I swear at myself for not learning stick shift and buying one. Lol. If someone's behind me, though, I just accelerate enough to match the speed limit. And I won't coast down a hill and break the speed limit for an extended period of time, because I don't believe in going over the speed limit to get better mileage.

That being said, I won't drive below the speed limit and hold people up, either. That's the biggest problem for me... there's so much traffic in Connecticut and someone's always behind me, so I can't really experiment too much with all this coasting and what not, and I can't drive 55 on the 65 mph speed limit highway that's near my house, cause people drive 70-80 on it and I'd die before too long. I guess my only hope is fixing my aerodynamics somehow.

Christ · 10-12-2009, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newhavenpatriot

I've gotten the best mileage with my automatic so far just by going real easy on the gas pedal. Try to look far ahead and if you see a red light and stopped cars, get your foot off the gas and coast up to it (if no one's behind you).

Keep your RPMs as low as possible, especially going uphill. I always want to step on the gas to get it to maintain speed, but I listen to the engine and back off of the gas pedal if I think it's going to downshift. That is, if no cars are behind me. If someone's behind me, I accelerate enough to match the speed limit. And I won't coast down a hill, because I don't believe in breaking the speed limit to get better mileage.

That being said, I won't drive below the speed limit and hold people up, either. That's the biggest problem for me... there's so much traffic in Connecticut and someone's always behind me, so I can't really experiment too much with all this coasting and what not, and I can't drive 55 on the 65 mph speed limit highway that's near my house, cause people drive 70-80 on it and I'd die before too long. I guess my only hope is fixing my aerodynamics somehow.

newhavenpatriot · 10-12-2009, 12:48 AM

You think I'm kidding... people drive like their gas pedals are super-glued to the floor around here!

Christ · 10-12-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newhavenpatriot

You think I'm kidding... people drive like their gas pedals are super-glued to the floor around here!

I don't think you're kidding, I think you're misinformed. Slower is Safer, and NHTSA and other organizations have conducted many studies to prove it, several times over.

I know how people drive in CT... I've been through there several times going between NYC and Boston, Mass. (Both of which are far worse, I might add.)

Of all of the states up that way, I prefer NH, honestly. No insurance laws, and no state tax.

orange4boy · 10-13-2009, 02:06 PM

Torque converter lockup switch.

Turns your auto into a manumatic. Takes some getting used to but the benefits are there. Just getting data together now. These are used for towing where the auto can overheat, the TCC lock switch overrides the ECT and lets you lock up on demand. Mine took ten minutes to wire. I can lock up at any time (RPM permitting) in any gear except first.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tch-10028.html

Also on Toyotas (and possibly other cars) there is a kickdown cable which should be tightened to give faster shifting and higher fluid pressure. Reduces wear on the tranny and (I think) a more secure TCC lock.

The Free Mod Series - Part I Quicker Transmission Shifting - Toyota Forums :: Toyota Nation