New daily...mpg is depressing (2006 3.3L V6 Toyota Highlander limited AWD)

[slowmover]

Mom had to get by with a seven liter 345-HP V8 wagon some of my school years. Later my first car. 10-mpg.

But we walked or biked to school. There’s your problem. Start ‘em early. Uphill north ways.

[litesong]

Originally Posted by malibuguy

...16.86mpg...

Five decades ago, I had a car that got 16MPG. Over 600 miles, the car produced almost a half ton of carbon dioxide. The other day, I drove 600 miles in a car getting 41MPG, over 4000 & 3000 foot mountain passes & an up & down plain, 2300 feet in elevation....... & saved 30% of a ton of carbon dioxide from being formed.
Of course, in 600,000 or 1.2 million miles of driving....... 300 tons or 600 tons of carbon dioxide would be saved.

[malibuguy]

last tank with smooth driving i got 19.11mpg with an indicated 19.8, so it seems the factory readout is sightly ambitious.

thats much better. today i switched out the most likely, dino 5w30 to a full synthetic 5w20 and aired up the tires from 32 to 38psi.

i can already tell it rolls better as for some lights im able to let off a bit earlier to coast and not lose as much momentum

ride is noticeably rougher but not like my little cars. Its about the most id want in this. poor wifey still gets a bit of motion sickness

drove over a 100miles on this new tank, including driving up into some mountains tonight. factory readout alarmingly says 21.8mpg. considering all grades i had to climb and traffic preventing good coasting Im surprised. the rest of the tank will be my usual commute so we will see.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by malibuguy

drove over a 100miles on this new tank, including driving up into some mountains tonight. factory readout alarmingly says 21.8mpg. considering all grades i had to climb and traffic preventing good coasting Im surprised. the rest of the tank will be my usual commute so we will see.

I guess I never really said what my point was with the information on my wife's CRV. These things are aerodynamic bricks with all wheel drive. Gas mileage can't help but suck, especially in around town stop/go driving.

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by malibuguy

Bought an 06 3.3v6 highlander limited awd to haul my daughter around in lavish luxury and room for stuff

First tank...16.86mpg...thats mostly short trip, ac use.

My yaris with pretty much same exact driving would get 39-41.

Yeesh. This is going to be an adjustment

that is worse then my 6.0l V8 25MPG combined..

.34 Cd same as mine should have gotten the hybrid version

[slowmover]

AWD is needed when the county sheriffs department needs the same or similar.

[litesong]

Originally Posted by wdb

..... aerodynamic bricks.....

The 1960's joke about the military F-4 fighter plane: Since the F-4 flies, it was proof, if you give a brick enough power, it will fly.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by litesong

The 1960's joke about the military F-4 fighter plane: Since the F-4 flies, it was proof, if you give a brick enough power, it will fly.

Awesome at the air shows the short time they were used by the Angels. The SOUND was revelatory. You heard that coming and it was time to be three provinces away.

Only thing close to that has been near flyby plus acceleration out by Dyess in Abilene with B1’s (wow!). (See YouTube for supersonic).

That same era of the Phantom — the scandal about the FB-111 — well, there’s a junk man on IH30 NE of Dallas has one sitting out by the road. Can’t ever get over that sight. An Aardvark in the front yard.

.

[litesong]

Originally Posted by slowmover

.a junk man.....has.....An Aardvark in the front yard.

I heard a story when the USSR collapsed into chaos, some enterprising russians were able to wheel a Mig-29(?) out to the highway & roll it down the road, hoping some rich dude would pay them a few hundred (thousand?) dollars. Whether true or not, it is true that the U.S. bought 17 Mig-29s from what existed as russian gov't, so the planes weren't sold to Iran.

[hayden55]

My best guess would be 55 psi tires, ebay lowering springs, roof rack delete, underbody choroplast (if you are into that sort of thing), and for the best for last....
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