Mileage experiment on my '86 4Runner 4x4

[abeagler]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(divide @ Jun 9 2006, 10:07 AM) [snapback]268545[/snapback]</div>

On another note, has anyone noticed that they feel much more relaxed when driving slower? There must be a lot of stress involved with keeping up. I felt much more like a human being when I finally made it home.
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I think this has been the most important benefit for me of getting a Prius. I've always been impatient on the road, and I didn't like it, but that seemed to be just how I was. Now consciously driving more slowly has calmed me behind the wheel. The mpg is just a side benefit

[clintd555]

Very interesting findings! It would be nice if car manufactors will impliment auto-stop/start on all gas cars. There's really no reason why the engine should be on at traffic lights or coasting when the A/C isn't on.

Hmmm I wonder if I can get 45 MPG out of my Jetta if I drove it like a prius.

[keydiver]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(divide @ Jun 8 2006, 10:48 PM) [snapback]268414[/snapback]</div>

Has anyone else tried this in a conventional auto? If so, did you see a comparable increase in mileage?[/b]

A few weeks ago I flew up to PA on business, and to visit some friends and family. My best friend loaned me his wife's car, an older Mazda 626. She complained that it was only getting 22-24 mpg. Well, I found myself driving it much the same as the Prius has retrained me: at the speed limit, or up to 5 mph over, slowing down and coasting early up to red lights, no jackrabbit starts, not following too close, even a liitle drafting on the turnpike. I put over 800 miles on her car in 5 days, and got 30 MPG every time I filled up!
She wasn't exactly happy. She told me I was a hazzard for driving so slow.

[Soylent]

Nice truck! Here's my 86 4Runner:


Was a Colorado truck all its life, now its in Miami

[divide]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(keydiver @ Jun 9 2006, 09:42 AM) [snapback]268612[/snapback]</div>

A few weeks ago I flew up to PA on business, and to visit some friends and family. My best friend loaned me his wife's car, an older Mazda 626. She complained that it was only getting 22-24 mpg. Well, I found myself driving it much the same as the Prius has retrained me: at the speed limit, or up to 5 mph over, slowing down and coasting early up to red lights, no jackrabbit starts, not following too close, even a liitle drafting on the turnpike. I put over 800 miles on her car in 5 days, and got 30 MPG every time I filled up!
She wasn't exactly happy. She told me I was a hazzard for driving so slow.
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Isn't it amazing that simply driving less aggressively nets a 50% increase in efficiency?

[singingtiger]

Here is another high altitude 4-runner set of data. On a family reunion trip from Colorado to Jackson Hole/Yellowstone/Tetons Wyoming our 4-runner constantly obtained 30-33 mpg with lots of people and baggage inside. Yes used all techniques mentioned, except turning off engine. We special ordered our 4-runner with only four cylinders and smallest sized wheels. Slow up the mountains but coasting down balanced.

Congrats on new Prius order and you made an excellent color choice--driftwood. Now comes the really fun driving taking advantage of all the hypermileage techniques awailable using the Prius.


And if you want to see all four green leaf cars on the MFD during five minute intervals, just drive it down Pikes Peak and with lots of coasting and light traffic you might be able to see the entire 30 minutes at 100 mpg!

Enjoy

[Drift Motion]

thats just a "good" way of drving althought i think turnin off the car while coasting is quiet dangerous, i remembered that sometimes the brake will go when the car is off, not just the power steering

[rockmon1&#33;]

Good to know you findings. We use our '97 4Runner for jaunts to our place in Lake City from Kansas City. It's seen the top of the contenental divide several times and frequent trips to Telluride. I did a test similar to yours and realized 28 mpg.
I want to know when the Hybrid 4Runner will make it here... 2008?

Anyone that knows about this, please post.

Thanks!



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skruse @ Jun 9 2006, 08:45 AM) [snapback]268544[/snapback]</div>

I had a 1991 Toyota 4Runner (4 cylinder, 5-speed stick) that I drove for 16 years and put 200,000 mi on. I consistently earned between 23 and 30 mpg by using many of the techniques you describe (except turning the engine off when idling). Good going and enjoy!

Also using synthetic oil improves fuel economy and helps the vehicle last longer. I very much appreciated and enjoyed our 4Runner, but have almost tripled fuel economy with the Prius.
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