New guy with a Camry
 

So I recently bought a 99 Camry to save gas(had an 04 Ram that got 15mpg) it had 81k miles on it I was averaging 30 to 31 mpg and was pleased but as I have been reading this blog I see I can do much better my goal is to reach 40mpg. The car has just broken 91k miles I have replaced drive belts and the air filter with a k&n and now I average 33-34 mpg I've a small list of future mods/alterations

Get rid of unnecessary weight
Air up tires to max psi
Get a scan gauge
Lighter wheels
LRR tires

currently have 14 steel wheels with 195/70r14 tires should I stay with that size but in an aluminum wheel and LRR tire? or go bigger?

thwelcome!
Great Start!

tires: there are Many GOOD threads on tire size or upsizing. (not the wheel, just the tire)
Give them a read then come back w/ questions.

but the short answer is upsizing is worth 2mpg for me.

Thanks for your reply can you give me your previous tire size to current tire size ? The reason I was thinking about staying with 14s is to keep weight down but if I go to say a 15 or 16 there is more selection and the resale is higher since most cars can't use 14s

Please make sure you do a search....it is more important to understand the concept thanto get 'an answer'. (taller tires)

2002 Q45 Sport: 245/45/18 stock rim went to 245/50/18 stock rim
2006 Sportage FWD EX: 235/60/16 stock rim to 235/70/16

both improved mpgs anf lower rpm at cruise.

look at what 15 came on the camry.
but again, and I cant say this enough....search. there is more to learn than just a size. there is a current 'taller tire' thread.

Welcome to ecomodder.

You've already doubled your MPG / halved your fuel consumption by going to the Camry - that's a very good start.

You could be surprised by the weight of 15" or 16" "light alloy" wheels though.
The scale doesn't always agree with the "light" claim in light alloys ...

If you want to go that route for fuel saving, check first if the alloys + tire are indeed - significantly - lighter than the steelies + tyre.

While it is an eco-mod, it's one where you'd normally never or hardly ever recoup the costs.

Buying or adding stuff to a car to improve resale value, generally never returns what you put in in the first place ;)

Getting better Low Rolling Resistance tyres will help your MPG though - but at a price (new tyres).
As used tyres are of low value, it's often more economical to keep them than to replace them before they are worn - it also takes oil to make new tyres.

If they fit, put Prius wheels and tires on your Camry. but I would not throw away the tires on the car unless they are worn out or damaged.

regards
Mech

I will read up on the tires for sure. I won't replace till next year. What I was saying about the wheels is if I sell my car I would put stock wheels back on. I want different wheels for look so might as well get lighter ones and maybe those Michelin defenders my wife has put 25k on them and you can't tell it so to me it would be more economical to buy those. Thanks for all the replies. Yeah I need to look at the Prius wheels and see

update: I have dropped some weight from the car, removed the passenger wiper,and aired tires to max psi. Thinking about a belly pan alternator delete a/c delete now if I do that I won't physically remove them I would simply remove that belt. On my Camry one belt runs a/c and alternator and one runs p/s so that would be simple. I might wait till fall before I do that

Sounds like you're on the right track! The power steering delete is a great one because on older belt-driven models like yours, you are always pumping power steering fluid whether you're using it or not. Newer cars (like mine) have an electric motor instead.

Probably not a bad choice... I think that the parasitic loss from your belts is probably a goodly amount. That said, I must confess to using a/c pretty consistently in summer. I have found with my Ultragauge that I lose ~4 MPG on the highway with it on, which on hot days is worth it for me. Your results will definitely vary, as mine is electric. There are those who go without a/c (and more power to them), but I refuse to.

I do no a/c to a certain point. The other day the heat index was 105 and I had to turn it on. That's why I want to wait till fall so I know I won't need a/c at all

p/s belt is off and I have taken off the mud flaps!