Yaris approaching 50mpg life time average

[redyaris]

Number 5 in the 90 day gas car class, and a very good chance of being able to keep above 50 mpg for the winter which will keep me on the path to life time 50 mpg. The next few winter months will result in a slow decline from 5th until next spring. If I am able to do some more aero-mods I may be able to see 70 mpg per tank and maybe even 70 mpg 90 day average next summer...

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by redyaris

Number 5 in the 90 day gas car class, and a very good chance of being able to keep above 50 mpg for the winter which will keep me on the path to life time 50 mpg. The next few winter months will result in a slow decline from 5th until next spring. If I am able to do some more aero-mods I may be able to see 70 mpg per tank and maybe even 70 mpg 90 day average next summer...

Very nice! Did you have the block heater last winter, or is your confidence borne maybe by your more recent improvements in driving technique?

BTW, you might have caught me on the top vehicles list if not for weather and my alternator optional mod.

[redyaris]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

Very nice! Did you have the block heater last winter, or is your confidence borne maybe by your more recent improvements in driving technique?

BTW, you might have caught me on the top vehicles list if not for weather and my alternator optional mod.

In Canada, even though block heaters are still optional on most new cars almost everybody has one. I have had one on the Yaris from the beginning. What I have changed is the temperature I start plugging it in, before I started at -20*C now I start at +5*C and have it on a timer for about 90 minutes before starting. At around -3*C the coolent temp at startup is +40*C. This winter I plan to add a 2 - 4 amp smart-charger to the system, this may help a bit, but a steady decline in mpg is unavoidable.

The confidence is due to new driving technique.

There is alway next summer ...

[redyaris]

The big decline [10 mpg] has begun, from 60 mpg down to 50 mpg what is amusing is that what to most people is great fuel economy is not good enough for me.