Maximizing MPG on highway

[Nick1994]

I recently bought a 97 Camry and got 23.5 mpg on my last tank of mostly city driving and traffic, not driving very efficiently. The tank before that was 29.5 mpg 3/4 highway 1/4 city and it was in the hills on the highway and I pushed it a little hard on the hills, about 70 mph most of the time. In the hills and highway, what's the best way to get the highest mpg with a car like this? What speed do you think it's "sweet spot" is? When on flat ground should I use cruise control?

It's an automatic BTW. I have a feeling that if I limp it on the highway it can get 34-35 mpg

 

[cchase]

Best mpg for most cars is right when the torque converter locks up in top gear. Whatever speed that is for your car, it will likely turn the best numbers.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Keep it at 55 or below.

 

[Ramblejam]

Do you have the car to "stage 0" condition?
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/what-is-stage-0.html

 

[Nick1994]

It goes into 4th at about 40-45, I can't drive that slow on the interstate haha.

 

[eljefino]

It would be interesting if you could consistently prove the hills gave better MPG. The whole "pumping losses" thing.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
Keep it at 55 or below.



Uh, maybe in Fl, but here you will be run over at that speed on the highway. Unfortunately

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Keep it at 55 or below.



Uh, maybe in Fl, but here you will be run over at that speed on the highway. Unfortunately

But he'll get great MPG up until the point where he gets run over.

 

[gman2304]

I drive for a living and have learned to spot someone who is trying to get the most out of a gallon of gas. They're usually driving a small hybrid or other type of small economy car which are getting good mpg's at the posted 65 or 70 mph speed limits, but are trying to squeeze more mpg's out of they're cars by going 10 mph or more under the posted speed, thus taxing the patience and tolerance of the drivers around them which is creating a potentially dangerous driving environment around them. All of this so when they get to uncle Freds house they can talk about how they got 36 mpg instead of 32 mpg, never mentioning how many peoples lives might have been endangered or the number of single finger salutes they got during the trip. They're are extremes both ways, too fast or too slow for good mpg's and safety...but the sweet spot should be the posted speed limit. Sorry about the rant....I have to go take my meds!

 

[rrguy]

Staying with the flow of traffic thats not changing speed is the best IMO. Some cars get better mpg on different Gas also. I don't think on that car you would get better mpg below 60 anyrate. Hate to say it but hard accel & last minute braking seems to eat up gas.

 

[meep]

I like gman's post. You need to go with the flow within reason, stay right when slower, etc. inside of that, my thoughts---

keep the transmission where it's locked up. if a really big hill is coming, the truly meticulous could manually drop out of OD (3rd) before the hill so it locks up in 3rd by the time you start to climb. this eliminates the pop down, delay, and then lockup, delay. Or just let it slow a little going uphill. most of the time, going a little slower up hills blends in anyway.

avoid tailgating, as you often have to bump the brakes. (and its rude).

Add 4-5PSI to the tires.

if you really want to get into it, experiment with the eco mods. put weatherstripping, or test with tape, on all unneeded seams-- hood, bumpers, fenders. remove excess weight from the vehicle. fiddle with a partial grill-block during the cold months for less drag. make sure the dust shields beneath and behind the front bumper are all intact.

i'm sure there are many, many more little tweaks. I find that it's best to develop good habits, and they pay off much more than getting radical. Don't use the A/C too much. don't accelerate hard. drive smoothly. anticipate stops. that kind of stuff...

 

[JHZR2]

Drive like there is an egg between your shoe and the pedal. Keep revs low, and practice maintaining your momentum. Avoid using the brakes.

If your tires wear out before they rot out, and your brake pads last less than 100k, you're doing something wrong.

 

[SOHCman]

In my Accord, I am just under 30mpg now that its winter with winter gas driving 70-80 on the interstate. If I take a roadtrip on one of those 55mph old highways, it jumps up to 35-37mpg with easy steady driving. Wouldnt advise that on the interstate!

 

[BISCUT]

I'm running a 95 2.2 Camry. Mine is pretty hard to get under 23MPG with a mix driving. Usually it's 23-24.5 on average. Highway running 75-80MPH on highway trips I see 28/29 and its hilly. Rolling her at 70 I get 32MPG. Pretty big difference so I'd guess the sweet spot 65-70.

Mine is running clean plugs, new wires and cap, fule pilter, and I change the PCV every year. It's like $3.00.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I've been avoiding purchasing auto trans cars lately as the T-converter unlocks when you are throttled 100% (0 fuel) and i tend to drive for eco by trying to find the min throttle opening when up to speed. I dont know why many ecu programs dont recognise that 1/16n - 1/8 throttle is not a call for accel when at steady state cruise - then i wouldnt have to hunt for min throttle opening to get high manifold vacuum.

 

[IndyIan]

Get a scanguage or Ultraguage, then you can see what's going on mileage wise instantly, plus you can read codes, voltage meter, etc.
My Focus seems to have very small sweet spot for mileage that would be hard to find without a scangauge.

 

[kam327]

Here's my MPG curve carefully developed with a Scangauge. The slower I go the better. Of course this is a dual clutch automated manual with no torque converter.

 

[Rolla07]

Keep it not over 55-60. That is your best bet. Also, synthetic oil, new pcv valve, new air filter ( i know some will argue this)
but keep up great maintenance on the car and it will add to the benefit of driving calmly in terms of improving your MPG.

 

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
It would be interesting if you could consistently prove the hills gave better MPG. The whole "pumping losses" thing.


Hills can help, usually in vehicles with big engines or not enough gearing. If it's downshifting on the hills, they're not helping.

In my Jeep, I'll get better mileage in mild hills than on flat ground, as long as I'm not gaining speed down the back side of the hills. Once the hills start getting steeper, mpg starts to drop off again.

 

[gman2304]

Kam327, At 70 mph you're getting roughly 38 mpg, at 65 mph roughly 40 mpg, and at 60 mph you're getting roughly 43 mpg. Your graph perfectly illustrates what I said in my above post. The slower you go the better mpg's you achieve...but it needs to be done with safety being the primary concern and mpg's secondary. Thanks