Hi,

I thought it may be interesting to share my personal experience in my 4WD HiHy with balancing the desire to conserve fuel and the desire to goose those 268 horses. Perhaps it may be helpful for those considering purchasing a SUV hybrid.

I've read a lot of discussions where folks have either squeezed every last bit of granny-driving FE, getting 29 mpg... and those that have enjoyed the full glory of the HiHy's power, getting 22 mpg. However, I believe there is a middle ground (as evidenced by the overall average in the database of ~25 mpg) where you can enjoy both aspects of this SUV.

So, for example, at the beginning of last weekend my EM showed that I had a current FE of 28.3 mpg, with about 1/2 of the tank left. That FE was achieved, obviously by "gentle-foot" driving commuting to work every day along an expressway.

However, for the weekend I had to drive up to the city as Mr. chauffeur with a total of four adult passengers. For that, I cranked up the A/C and drove between 70-80 mph... so about an average of 75 mph. In the city, there was a lot of steep hills (climbs and descents). I basically drove the SUV "normally" without a care in the world for FE. Of course, that showed. At the end of the round-trip the EM reported that my cumulative FE for that tank dropped from 28.3 mpg to 26.4 mpg.

Nevertheless, over the ensuing work week, I was able to recover that lost ground within 3 work days using again "gentle-foot" driving mostly along expressways, and the FE reading for the EM climbed back to 27.1 mpg (and that's averaged over the entire tank!). When I finally filled up, my manual calculations showed that my average FE for the tank was 26.9 mpg.

So, at least for me, I get to have my cake and eat it too...

-Han-

 

hi han


good for you!!! we are still getting 22.7mpg -because we only have now 194 miles on the vehicle. why? taking it on the highway will not improve your gas mileage since its on almost all gas anyways. However, the 27mpg typical mpg on the highway improves your overall mpg rating.

so im going to do my own test. I am going to drive my 98 ford escort exactly the way these hyper milers do with our highanders, and see if in fact it just improves the mileage exactly the same. Granny driving, coasting, shutting off the engine at stop lights, the whole nine yards.

In other words, why not just keep your gas car and improve your driving habits to get better gas mileage if thats what its all about. Why spend 40k on a hybrid if you REALLY expect to somehow come out ahead of the game in saved gas? It aint gonna happen. ........

i am like you. I love the highlander and i am not going to lose sleep if i dont get anywhere near the EPA.

why not just enjoy the fact we are contributing fewer emissions , and the great 268hp SUV with 20+ city mpg real world to boot!!!

 

Welcome

While I drive to maximize FE, I do not let that be the overriding factor. If it is hot out, I will use the AC. I will keep a reasonable speed based on traffic around me (granted it will be in the right lane vs. the left lane). Life is to enjoy, not agonize over trivial matters. That said, I will strive for personal bests in FE whenever possible. Its the challenge..............

Quite a conundrum. I agree with your statement ....have your cake and eat it too........

 

Just keep in mind that it does take some practice to get the mileage up, and it's best to start with the easy stuff first as you are learning. Most people don't go out and hit 40% above EPA on their first try. If you are serious about this test, first make sure you have some good baseline data driving normally. (Several tanks would be better than just one.)

Then, the simple and easy stuff should be applied: Keep your speed at or below the limit, accelerate as gently as you can, shift relatively early if you have a manual, and anticipate your stops so that your foot comes off the gas pedal as early as possible. I would call that "Phase 1" driving.

"Phase 2" comes after you get settled in to the "Phase 1" stuff, which is nothing more than toned-down normal driving. If this is a change, you should be able to measure your gains in FE already. The next step is to add techniques such as Driving With the Load, neutral costing, and eventually Forced Auto Stop (keying off) in that order.

The often-heard claim that these techniques will always end in disaster are grossly overstated, IMO. But I do think it's safe to say that one should use caution since this "off normal" behavior could be distracting to a relative novice. (Eventually it becomes automatic, but it takes some time.) That's why I wouldn't worry about "Phase 2" it at first, and I wouldn't start it all at once.

"Phase 3" is practice, which never ends. Even the ridiculously experienced pros learn a new thing from time to time.

Good luck if you really choose to give this experiment a shot. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the results if you keep at it.

Tim

 

brick



thanks bud. I appreciate the advice. I will try it. We dont drive around much period, so i dont know how long it will take to break in the highlander engine.



i try to take it on the highway once a month just to help break her in .

As far as the escort goes, i am more than interested to find out if driving a normal gas car the 'hypermiler way' will in fact increase the FE the same amount as it does the hybrids.

 

guys

i have an update.

we took the highlander to orlando today -was about 170 miles round trip. We found putting her into cruise at 65miles per hour, we BEAT THE EPA . We were averaging 32mpg!!!!! this now puts my total up to 24.7 and rising!!!!

we found that going 60 mph on cruise , we started getting 36-38mpg -but the speed limit in florida is 70 , so its too slow to be fair to the other motorists. We found going 70 on cruise put us down to 23mpg , so 65 is good for everyone involved!!!!

 

WOW!!!!!!! I can hardly wait until July when we drive down to the house in Florida. I will be waiting for any other ideas you come up with. Even getting 30MPG highway would be neat. I can live with driving 65.

 

john

thanks -but i wish we were getting mileage like you are

Florida is great because its TOTALLY flat , and the ice works very well in tandem with the EV.

I think WE should be learning off of YOU -so we can get better than EPA for our entire mileage.

How do you get such good mileage all told?????

 

He's got fewer than 900 miles on his car, all of it in warm weather. Give him a good PA winter to kill his lifetime MPG.

 

foo

good point. I too live in florida -but used to live in OHIO , , so i know how you feel!!!

but what comes around goes around...........we down here have to use air conditioning 9 months of the year or swelter to death. I put the air on low , but use it all the time. Its getting to 90 now but anything over 80 or so you need air conditioning, which entails mid march to some time in december!!!!!