Need some driving tips

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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 07:57 PM
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Need some driving tips

hey guyz,

I need some tips on how to save as much gas as possible. Unfortunately I drive mostly city which kills my MPG, but that's life. I need some tips as too how to get the best mileage out of my car. Gas is becoming too expensive, and as a result of my lead foot, I'm finding myself at the pumps every other day. During this time of year, I leave the A/C set to off, and leave it running around 24 degrees celcius, and have the fan blowing through the top vents, and the foot vents. Anyhow, what kind of stuff should I do to save gas? ie; not reaching a certain RPM's off the line, letting off the gas?

let me know guys.

BTW when you guys do alllllll city driving, how many km/miles do you guys generally get? I'm talking until the light comes on.

thanks
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 08:01 PM
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Keeping the rpm ranges below 2k or 3k saves you tons of gass. That's the only thing I can think of. Oh yeah, don't drive it hard but you probably don't :p so hope this helps
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 08:05 PM
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is there any possible way to gunn the car without sucking gas??? maybe not using SS mode, and simply punching the gas 3/4 the way down and holding it down there? will that drink gas?

btw to all you guys with TL-S, do you find your gauge bounces around quite a bit? I find that sometimes I shut off the car with a full tank (the needle is on the F line) and when I come back and start her up, the needle is 2 notches below?

anyone have this too? Sometimes taking a sharp left turn, or simply shutting the car off, and starting it up again will put the needle back to full. do you guyz have this too?
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 08:17 PM
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Originally posted by sc354
is there any possible way to gunn the car without sucking gas??? maybe not using SS mode, and simply punching the gas 3/4 the way down and holding it down there? will that drink gas?
Um no.

Theres no way to gun the engine, and not have it suck up more gas. If you want to save gas, avoid traffic, and pretend there is a raw egg inbetween your foot and the gas pedal. Keep the car in tune, and those tires properly infalted, but driving style is going to make the biggest difference.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 08:19 PM
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when you see a stop sign at the next block dont bother pushing it......and i used to drive 100% city was gettin about 12 MPG cuz i was stepping on it pretty bad......but if you dont gun it and drive normally you should get around 16-17 mpg
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:06 PM
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what should I keep my tires inflated too??? I find that the recommended 32 PSI is way to soft, I usually run the fronts at 37-38 and the backs to 34-36, is this too inflated?

will having the tire too inflated decrease mileage?
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:12 PM
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Originally posted by sc354
what should I keep my tires inflated too??? I find that the recommended 32 PSI is way to soft, I usually run the fronts at 37-38 and the backs to 34-36, is this too inflated?

will having the tire too inflated decrease mileage?
i run my tires at 40. to much will wear your tires faster not decrease your milage. the less air the softer the ride but you will also get uneaven wear and worse milage. where your at is fine. the only way to save gas (increase your milage) is not step on the gas!!!!!!!!! nothing more than 1/4 1/2 throtle. THAT MEANS NO GUNNING IT
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:18 PM
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I should have bought a Tercel!!! no gunning, this TL wants to be gunned.

Honestly though guys, i tried this method a couple months ago, I actually drove like a grandmother for one full tank of gas. Not only did I find my car getting 300km at the half way mark (100 km more then now), I found that when I started gunning it again, the car felt faster. I know this is 100% Psychological, but you will feel like the car goes so much faster since you're no longer exposed to flooring it as often. Try it once guys, you'll see what I mean.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:29 PM
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Synthetic oil on your next oil change was not mentioned yet but that's always a way to reduce internal friction.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:31 PM
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yah I'm going sometime this week to have my Acura oil drained, and am gonna put some Mobil 1 synthetic racing oil (5W-30). Anyone here recommended 0W-30 for the winter???
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:33 PM
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0w30 is ok so is 5w30 mobil 1. thats what im running here in wisconsin.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:34 PM
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so what would you recommend. The temperature doesn't drop below -15C in toronto, so is the 0W-30 really required???

if not, I'll run 5W-30 all year round.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:45 PM
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it gets -10 F or more here in wisconsin in the winter and i have never had a issue with 5w30, ive even had 10w30. i would say 5w30 and you will be fine!
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 09:47 PM
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Originally posted by fsttyms1
it gets -10 F or more here in wisconsin in the winter and i have never had a issue with 5w30, ive even had 10w30. i would say 5w30 and you will be fine!
yah i don't wanna start messing around with types of oil. I'm just gonna switch to synthetic once and for all.

at that time I'm also dropping in the K&N filter in. Hopefully I'll seen an improvement in gas mileage/performance.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:11 PM
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by sc354
is there any possible way to gunn the car without sucking gas???

LOL
sorry mang but that's just too funny! don't we all wish for that.

why dya feel the need to gun it? aint toronto a pretty congested town? no point if your stuck in stop-n-go traffic everyday.

or maybe start filling up with esso more so you can swipe your esso extra card so you can win their free gas for a year contest :p
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:13 PM
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how funny would it be if the fine print said "Free gas for a year, except on TL's cause they suck gas".

btw I do fill up at Esso. I use all my points for a car wash every 8-10 days.
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Old Nov 3, 2003 | 10:50 PM
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Does a Vacuum gauge (standard eqpt on BMW) work on fuel injected cars? It did wonders for me years ago but those were carburated engines. I ran a twin side-draft Weber 44mm carb which is equivalent to a 4-barrel and with the vacuum gauge, I managed to get decent mileage, all I did was keep the needle high. Any opinions?

Also Jeff, if you go to Esso washes, don't they have rails? What about the clearcoat on your rims. I heard those rails and TL-S rims don't go well together.
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 09:09 AM
  #18  
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Originally posted by vicman17
Does a Vacuum gauge (standard eqpt on BMW) work on fuel injected cars? It did wonders for me years ago but those were carburated engines. I ran a twin side-draft Weber 44mm carb which is equivalent to a 4-barrel and with the vacuum gauge, I managed to get decent mileage, all I did was keep the needle high. Any opinions?

Also Jeff, if you go to Esso washes, don't they have rails? What about the clearcoat on your rims. I heard those rails and TL-S rims don't go well together.
I have no clue if they have rails. I usually only get the regular wash. The protection one is the wash that includes the tire blaster. So I think I'm in the clear. I'll probably not be going there anymore since I found a detailing place near my house that does a wash and dry for 10 bux.
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 09:32 AM
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so what kind of milage do you get from a tank? i usually average 350 mixed miles to a tank
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 09:39 AM
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it all depends. I've been gunning it too often so it's hard to tell. I'll let you guys know in the next couple of weeks.

thanks guyz.
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 10:05 AM
  #21  
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back to the tire inflation. You guys have it at 37-40 on a cold tire??? That's way too much!! it should be at 40's after driving it around for a while. Maybe I'm wrong but I would like to see what everyone keeps their tire pressure at. my summers at set to 38 and my winters at 34-35. I never put more air in the front then the back. Should I?
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 10:56 AM
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I`ve found that after 32 years of driving, The pedal on the right, the more you press it, the more gas you use.
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 11:56 AM
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I try to keep the RPM's below 3,000. I usually get about 260 miles b4 the light comes on.
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 01:17 PM
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Originally posted by sc354
btw to all you guys with TL-S, do you find your gauge bounces around quite a bit? I find that sometimes I shut off the car with a full tank (the needle is on the F line) and when I come back and start her up, the needle is 2 notches below?

anyone have this too? Sometimes taking a sharp left turn, or simply shutting the car off, and starting it up again will put the needle back to full. do you guyz have this too?

I was just telling my girlfriend the same thing yesterday... I think someone is stealing my gas ..... That's my only explaination at this time...
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 04:22 PM
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gas = liquid fun

if i wanted to get good gas milage i would have bought a prius or insight. the gas is worth every penny when i hear that vtec growl
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 05:15 PM
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used to set my tires to 36psi all around and got 13-14L/100km. brought the pressure back down to 33psi cuz i didn't like the bumpiness. haven't checked my fuel economy yet.
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 06:09 PM
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Originally posted by Black-n-Tan
gas = liquid fun

that's exactly why i get ****ty gas mileage. I try to drive normally for like 10 min, and both myself and the car are both dying to gunn it, so I let myself go, and gunn it.

I can't stop, it's an illness!!!

the TL Lover's Illness I guess!!!
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Old Nov 4, 2003 | 10:35 PM
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if u r comparing ur gas mileage with a Civic, that's impossible!!!

the TL in town's MPG shoudl be aorund 20-22 mpg with A/C off all the time....

and not having the heavy foot is what all u can do~ =)
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Old Nov 5, 2003 | 01:51 AM
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just accept it man. you bought a car with a 3.2L engine producing 260hp. better than an SUV at least.
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Old Nov 5, 2003 | 07:14 AM
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is it really better then an SUV on gas? My mom drives a Ford Windstar, that's a 3.8L V6 w/ 200HP and it's hauling a hell of a lot more weight. She gets any where from 12-15L/100km in the city, which is somewhere in the 22MPG. Not too bad for a van, or a FORD for that matter. On the highway depending on who's driving, we get like 10L/100km. If I drive it with the A/C off, and the cruise set to about 70MPH, I can get a cruise range of over 900km on a tank. Don't forget guys, it's a 100L tank (with gas prices the way they are, this car is nearly unaffordable).
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Old Nov 5, 2003 | 09:16 AM
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Originally posted by sc354
is it really better then an SUV on gas? My mom drives a Ford Windstar, that's a 3.8L V6 w/ 200HP and it's hauling a hell of a lot more weight. She gets any where from 12-15L/100km in the city, which is somewhere in the 22MPG. Not too bad for a van, or a FORD for that matter. On the highway depending on who's driving, we get like 10L/100km. If I drive it with the A/C off, and the cruise set to about 70MPH, I can get a cruise range of over 900km on a tank. Don't forget guys, it's a 100L tank (with gas prices the way they are, this car is nearly unaffordable).
my TL gets 11-13L consistenly over the yr

sometimes i may get 10-12L for spring and fall...

my aunt's catera is getting 17L!!!!

so u should be happy, since TL is one of the better V6 in fuel econ out there~

i haven't seen any V6 is doing better than the TL...not even the camry...
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Old Nov 5, 2003 | 09:31 AM
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I find that hard to believe. The camry is probably one of the best selling sedan's, there is no way it gets worse mileage than the TL. I would say the TL is amongst one of the worst V6 sedan's for gas mileage. It definitely is worse then the Camry and the V6 Accord sedan.
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Old Nov 5, 2003 | 07:52 PM
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Originally posted by sc354
is it really better then an SUV on gas? My mom drives a Ford Windstar, that's a 3.8L V6 w/ 200HP and it's hauling a hell of a lot more weight. She gets any where from 12-15L/100km in the city, which is somewhere in the 22MPG. Not too bad for a van, or a FORD for that matter. On the highway depending on who's driving, we get like 10L/100km. If I drive it with the A/C off, and the cruise set to about 70MPH, I can get a cruise range of over 900km on a tank. Don't forget guys, it's a 100L tank (with gas prices the way they are, this car is nearly unaffordable).
sure why not? full-sized SUVs are heavier than a TL. a big ugly Pilot with its 3.5L 240hp V6 is rated 14L/100km and just a 3.0 X5 with 225hp I6 uses a whopping 16L/100km for city driving. so there are worse out there. if you want power then you need to feed it. you should've considered the fuel economy before you bought it if it worried you so much.
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Old Nov 5, 2003 | 10:00 PM
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Originally posted by A-Spec_Racer
I find that hard to believe. The camry is probably one of the best selling sedan's, there is no way it gets worse mileage than the TL. I would say the TL is amongst one of the worst V6 sedan's for gas mileage. It definitely is worse then the Camry and the V6 Accord sedan.
camry doesn't have the 5th gear until recently, and their DOHC engine are more gas zipping than the SOHC design

trust me, i have been measuring a lot and TL is one of the best for any 6 cyclinder cars...

look at the EPA Canada, only 7.2L on hwy!!! only Impala 3.4 V6 gets better in that~

i used to drive a Buick Regal with 3.8 V6, and it was 13-14L/100km
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Old Nov 5, 2003 | 10:03 PM
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Originally posted by dee diddy
sure why not? full-sized SUVs are heavier than a TL. a big ugly Pilot with its 3.5L 240hp V6 is rated 14L/100km and just a 3.0 X5 with 225hp I6 uses a whopping 16L/100km for city driving. so there are worse out there. if you want power then you need to feed it. you should've considered the fuel economy before you bought it if it worried you so much.
if it's rated at 14L, add 2-3L more in real world driving~

btw.......i thought nobody would care the fuel econ if u r getting a "performace oriented" car~ =P

hahahahahahahaha

don't *****, TL is already very gd in fuel econ, and pls don't compare with any 4 cyclinder cars
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Old Nov 7, 2003 | 05:09 PM
  #36  
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avoid sharpe turns and being heavy on brakes
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