Generic Introduction Thread Title

[5EFE]

Hi everybody. The hardest part for me and why I took so long was picking out a username. 5EFE is the engine code in the Toyota Paseo and last generation Tercel. My car is a 1997 Tercel CE 2 door 1.5 gas 5 speed, currently 201K miles. I got it last year at the height of gas prices so MPG was my top priority, as I drive 60 miles every day. It's the newest, shiniest, best mpg-ing, cleanest car I've ever owned (out of 18 or so) Best mileage I've done so far is 47.77 which strangely was at high altitude and at inconsistent high speeds. I average in the mid 40s. It's hard getting accurate mpg figures by filling up alone because in Oregon you don't pump your own gas and it depends how the attendant fills your car. I'd do it myself at my gas station, but we have questionable quality fuel. Anyway.....

mods I've done so far
removed unnecessary pieces of air intake, removed dead weight from under hood and trunk, sometimes take out the passenger seat and windshield wipers, use Mobil1 0-30 advanced fuel economy full synthetic (does that count?)

mods I'd like to do in the future
pizza pan wheel covers, fully synthetic fluids, short throw shifter, a real cold air intake, lower it about 2 inches or so, get some super skinny tires, plastic belly pan, block up lower grille area, passenger side mirror delete, fill in rear bumper, rear wheel skirts, remove antenna, Scangauge II, AC belt bypass

and finally what I'd love to do but will probably never be able to afford
port and polish the heads, reprogram the computer for lean burn, shave the engine block and shorten the connecting rods to destroke to 1.0L and lighten the car as much as possible for max mpg

Next week or so I'm going to take out the seats, tape up all the cracks and take I5 to my dad's in the dead of night, keeping it between 40 and 45, see if I can beat my record

I'll also be experimenting with different fuel additives combined with different octanes and speeds, as well as some non-ethanol tainted gas

[cfg83]

5EFE -

Welcome to EM! I think all mods count that deviate from OEM. I'd like to run below my 5W30 OEM oil, but I've read that my head gasket will leak like a sieve.

CarloSW2

[Daox]

Welcome to the site. You got a great car for mileage there. Keep up the work and let us know how it all goes.

I'd also recommend making a garage entry and mileage log here to track your progress.

[5EFE]

Originally Posted by Daox

Welcome to the site. You got a great car for mileage there. Keep up the work and let us know how it all goes.

I'd also recommend making a garage entry and mileage log here to track your progress.

Forgot to mention, I ran across your 60mpg Paseo post on Tercelonline and that was what led me here. So thanks, Daox! Your car is an inspiration for my super mpg quest.

[5EFE]

Got back a few days ago....... 57.51mpg, oh yeah. Next I'll see if I can get that number again driving 55 instead of 40.

[Daox]

Congrats! Thats some amazing mileage.

Good luck with keeping the number that high. I dunno about you, but here its starting to get cold and that can really hurt the mileage. Block heaters help negate the penalty of a cold start, but can't compensate fully unfortunately. You might want to look into getting one.

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by 5EFE

...non-ethanol tainted gas

...ha,ha! that's exactly what I thought about the gas with MTBE when it was introduced.

...Oh, and "Welcome Aboard" to the "...MPG is no object..." club. However, as someone here smarter me I rightly points out "...knowledge about what's happening..." will get you more results than "...hardware..." so, the most valuable 'tool' is probably a ScanGauge II (or something similar) to keep you informed about what's happening--as it happens--not later, AFTER it happens.