As you might see from these forums, many of the characteristics of high mileage achievers driving techniques might not be available to all drivers.
Driving on a flat road at 65 degrees temperature for 40 minute drives might prove the optimal factors, but that doesn't help someone in a hilly cold area with a short commute.

 

I just got back from a road trip where I got 40 driving basically 65. I did have to use some tricks of increasing speed slightly (5 MPH) down hills and easing off slightly (5 MPH) up hills. We were using the break-in oil so I suspect we could have gotten a little better after the car is broken in and using 0W-20 oil. We did keep the A/C on. All in all we were quite satisfied with the ride and the mileage.

Chuck

 

I agree with those who say you don't want to run out of gas and damage your fuel pump. However, if you look at the database you can see that there is 16 gallons useable gas in your gas tank. If you carefully monitor your MFD every trip, you will know how accurate it is against the pump. I did this for 6 months before I attempted 700 miles and knew that I would not run out of gas. The telling feature for me was that the MFD was showing 47 mpg for the tank.

You do the math, but I was well over 700 miles when I filled up.

In order to exceed 45 mpg on a tank, you need a lot of things to happen. Good weather has been mentioned. I like 70-80F, relatively flat terrain. Keep plenty of air in the tires (I use 40 psig). I also use cruise control and set it to 62 miles per hour on the freeway. I also do not use A/C at that temperature.

It would be difficult to get that mileage with a fully loaded car since weight also works against you. I use my car to commute to work alone and so do not have the weight issue.

As far as targetting 650 miles on a tank. I can get that anytime unless I go to the mountains. I have over 10 tanks which exceeded 650 miles. The key is to target high FE.

 

I believe we would be close to 700 miles. We just drive easily and try to use EV as much as possible. I do not let the car go below 1/4 tank. Don't want to worry about the fuel pump cooling, etc. I have been using Shell, Phillips 66, BP fuel, better tier gasolines. (check the tier gasolines here in the forums)We get better milage the less fuel we have because of weight issues I imagine. We are averaging about 41-41.5 with under 4000 miles. We have some hills in our area which hurts. Alot of the FE depends on how long of a drive you have also. It's 20 miles for us to get to any shopping areas. That gives the car time to warm up.

 

On my last tank I got my best ever mpg with the TCH. Using the calculator I got 54.4 mpg refilling at the same pump I filled at the last time. Lots more highway driving at 45 miles per hour with easy takeoffs and coasting to red lights.

When possible on level and slight downgrade highways, I would drive at 40, 41 and 42 mpg. Putting the car into the electric mode when the mpg indicator shows 60. This was also my highest total miles on a tank at 599. I still had a 1/4 tank left.

Near 8 to 10 of this high mpg was due to the high desert elevation here at 4400 feet. (thinner air, less wind resistance) The humidity here is near always 20%. It is very dry here, especially in Southern New Mexico.

I give more driving details over on the Hybrid Mileage Database. Click the Camry icon at the top then my car's name.......White Lightning. Place your mouse over the word [more] for the details.

I done wore myself out on this tank. I'm going back to more normal driving so I may drop 5 mpg or more on my next tank.

I been driving gas powered cars for high gas mileage for 45 years. The TCH threw me for many months. The car is now 10 months old. Much of the credit goes to those here in the forms telling their methods of improving gas mileage. Thanks to all for your help.

 

One more thought about getting 700 miles on a tank. You must be willing to drive past the point the tank says empty. On my TCH, I have found that E corresponds to 14.5 gallons. A number of drivers have reported getting 16 gallons out of a tank. I can verify that I have as well. So when you reach E, you have 1.5 gallons of useable fuel left. On a normal trip, I can always drive at least 60 miles after reaching E. That will get you to 700 miles, if you are getting 45 or more mpg.

 

I'm happy with 500. My other car (a pickup truck) has never got more than about 250 miles out of a tank.

The absolute distance per tank really doesn't matter, as long as it's far enough so that I don't have to refuel at inconvenient times and places.

 

Now that I have my new driving habits more or less down pat I am averaging about 40 MPG on my second tank, I still feel I would only get 650 miles at best, and I am SUPER happy about it!

 

I'll tell you what...I hit 748 miles two tanks ago, and when I refilled, I put in 19.2 gallons of gas. I kept that receipt to show my friends because no one thought I could run that many miles and the car held that much fuel. I have gone over 700 miles 3 times in the first 3 months of ownership. The tank average is right around 41.5 per. Frankly, it's hard to tell when the car is actually going to run out of gas. I heard that the record for highest miles on a tank was 757 or so. I am pretty sure with my driving technique, I can surpass that number. Granted, if you have a lead foot, don't try to set any records. I am very conservative, so I stretch my miles accordingly.

-D

 

Dsan79- I am trying hard to wrap my head around this one....Getting a huge number of miles is one thing..although I drive very conseratively and don't think I could do that...but the manual says the fuel tank is 17.2 gallons...how did you get 19.2 in there!?!?!?