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I have a 2007 Yaris with just over 10000 miles on it. It is a daily commuter vehicle I drive approximately 75 each way 5 days a week. The 1st 15-20 miles are winding country roads and the rest is all highway. I have tried adding acetone 4 oz per 10 gallons as I was tolt this helps with the gas mileage. I get about 39 mpg without a/c and 34-35 with a/c. These were with me driving 80-82. I have since slowed down to speed limit and am waiting to see what that does for my mpg.

I would appreciate hearing any suggestions the group might have to help me increase my mpg.

Welcome to CleanMPG!

Driving the speed limit as opposed to 80-82 will definitely help.
Are you using the mpg display that's in the Prius?
If not, check your owner's manual for any needed information on activating it.

Check your tire pressure and increase if needed.
What "the book" says is not necessarily best.
For background information on that, see the "Articles" section here at CleanMPG.

In "Articles", see "Beating the EPA..." by Wayne Gerdes (Xcel) and "External Factors Affecting Mileage... " by tarabell: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3168.
Both have good notes on tire pressure, plus other topics.

By the time you're done reading those two articles you'll probably have much of your mpg improvement path laid out in front of you.

Bruce it is a Yaris not a prius. Does this change anything?

Bruce it is a Yaris not a prius. Does this change anything?

Yes - this fact makes me appear, um, less than brilliant. :o

Anyway, I suspect the Yaris doesn't have a built in mpg display. Worth a look in the owners manual though, and worth a search or two on whatever Yaris message boards you can find. For some cars there's a "hack" where you can use a specific combination of control inputs to make the display available.

A continuous, real time mpg display is a terrific thing if you have it available. Any car '96 or later can use a ScanGauge to show mpg; there are links on this site for getting one.

Otherwise, I think what I wrote earlier should be useful for nearly any car or small truck.

Nope no built in mpg. It may have been an option but I went with the cheapest one made. I have to roll my windows up and down. My 8 year old asked me what those knobs were when he first got in it. :)

...I have to roll my windows up and down. My 8 year old asked me what those knobs were when he first got in it. :)

Manual dexterity training and excercise devices. :)

Manual dexterity training and excercise devices. :)

Wax on. Wax off.

-Gren

Hi Korbynlehr:

___First let me welcome you to CleanMPG! I do not remember seeing you in the forums until today so hello :)

___Your Yaris is good for quite a bit more but like you have seen already, 80 + is not going to do much other then to throw fuel out the window in her like its free :(

___Like we try and do for everyone here, get your setup completed including pressing up your tires, proper oil and level in the crankcase and purchase an SG-II as soon as you can. The techniques just add to the list. For the best result, a Type A personality needs to be dealt with immediately. After that, start with the basics. Slowing down, anticipating lights, using your brakes a lot less. Once you have seen results of the basics, you may become hungry enough to take on the more advanced techniques. Go slow, have fun and be safe over and above all else. The gains will come soon enough with the big numbers following if you are willing :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

What do you mean by "proper oil and level in the crankcase"? I mean I understand what is written but should the level in the crankcase be different than what is on the dipstick? Is synthetic the only way to go? BTW, how often does everyone change their oil on here?

Hi, Korbynlehr!

You should use the lowest viscosity oil specified in your user manual -- lower viscosity means less drag on engine components allowing more efficient transfer of energy. Otherwise known as improved fuel economy. ;) As for the level, just make sure it is mid way between the low and high marks on the dipstick when you check. You do not want it overfilled.

No, synthetic is not the only way to go. It certainly can help but I've been able to pull some startling numbers out of my Elantra just using regular old dino oil. I change mine religiously at 3,000mi intervals but if you do decide to go with synthetic you may be safe with a longer change interval. Just be sure the oil filter is replaced every time the oil is changed. You want things flowing as smoothly as possible in there.

So what does everyone say about the manufacturers recommendation on the toyota to change the oil every 5000 instead of 3000?

If that is what they recommend that's what I'd do. Oils are a good bit better than they used to be in terms of wear characteristics. I've been in the habit of 3K intervals for a good many years and Hyundai does recommend that interval still -- but I wouldn't be surprised in the least to find that I could go longer between changes (based on oil analysis).