A Celica's Tale.

[D.O.G.]

I’m starting this thread to track my progress as I try to reach 40 MPG in RedCelica.
It’s a 1994, 6th generation Celica with a 4 speed auto and 2.2 litre engine that’s seduced me with its alluring promise of eco-greatness.
OK, I realise it’s no Prius, but I just couldn’t help myself.

I was all set to ignore its poor FE as I’m only planning to use it for a few months as my daily commuter, but I made the mistake of fixing an engine miss at idle.
Fixing that miss won me a modest performance and FE boost … and I was hooked.

Now, after four tanks, I’m averaging 35 MPG and hungry for more.

[Ecky]

Aero mods, weight reduction, keep the speed down and plan your routes. I'm sure you can get there!

[MetroMPG]

A picture?

What's your driving environment like? Must be fairly eco-friendly to be getting 35 already.

It's fun to change cars now and again and learn how to maximize.

[Daox]

Does that auto trans have a locking converter? If it does, figuring out when it locks is going to be key to keeping MPG up.

[D.O.G.]

Originally Posted by Ecky

Aero mods, weight reduction, keep the speed down and plan your routes. I'm sure you can get there!

Aero mods - I'll fit a partial grill block as temperatures fall (winter is coming). Anything else is out, it's my wife's car.

Weight reduction - yeah, it's a fat pig, but it's my wife's car.

Speed - This must be a factor why the FE is so much better than I thought it would be. Due to road works on the motorway (20 km of my 55 km commute), the speed limit is down from 110 kph to 80 kph in two sections. It must be helping.

What's your driving environment like? Must be fairly eco-friendly to be getting 35 already.

My commute is really good. 90% highway/motorway.
My start time has changed for the worse (heavy traffic) but it could still be a lot worse.

[Ecky]

I find my fuel economy basically plateaus between 35mph and 50mph (55kph/80kph) and above that it falls off rapidly.

[D.O.G.]

I have an MPGuino that I never got around to fitting to my Datsun. I should really use it on this car.

RedCelica won't coast nearly as far as the Mazda used to in neutral. It may be just the different brand and (larger) size of tyres, but I should also check for brake drag when I find the time.

[D.O.G.]

In regards to coasting distance, I freed up the brake callipers and it’s now coasting further, although it’ll probably never match the Mazda in that regard.
There may be FE benefits from the brake work, but there’s been other issues that have made any accurate measurement difficult.

For the last three fills the fuel nozzle has been cutting off multiple times during the fill, making consistent tank level impossible (even though all three returned similar MPG numbers).
I tried a different petrol station to confirm the problem was with my car, then blew out the fuel line from evaporative canister to the tank and changed the canister for a (used) spare, as advised by a Shouty Kilmer video.
I haven’t filled up again yet, time will tell.

I fitted a vacuum gauge (because I had it already) and have mounted the MPGuino but have yet to work out the best spot to access the vss and injector pulse.

RedCelica’s three tank average is currently 37.4mpg, but it looks like this latest tank will be fairly poor. I think the last fill was a bit short and the mornings are starting to get cold.

Pete.

[D.O.G.]

As previously requested -
I finally remembered to take some photos.

[MetroMPG]

Nice.