I'm lucky, only have about 5 miles each way. With my new TCH I should only fill my tank up once a month!

 

25....feet from the bedroom to the office. I do have to watch that sharp curb on the stairway!

So a hybrid is a waste on me, and that helps to explain how I cannot get tanks over about 39mpg. Of course, I cannot get over 41mpg even on trips either, which ticks me off.

 

My guess is it's the area you drive in. I get 47 mpg with highway driving with the cruise set at 65 mph. I get over 48 mpg driving the 8 miles to town and then some city traffic. I don't drive like any gas car when in town. The Michelin Energy tires are aired to 40 psi cold. I use 87 octane gas listed on the http://www.toptiergas.com/ site. click Retailers at the bottom of the page for the list.

 

rburt07,

Yes, that is partially it. I live in central NC, which is hilly. But, I recently drove to Myrtle Beach SC, and that route it relatively flat. I still got only 41mpg, and that was without air on. The tank average showed 43 for quite some time, but after the round trip, was down to 41mpg.

It is my theory that some individual cars are better than others. It is NOT me, since I follow all the techniques listed in this forum for stretching out mileage, including tires set to 42psi, and exclusively Shell gas (a Top Tier retailer). Of course, the Toyota dealer is going to laugh in my face if I complain about getting 41mpg on the highway instead of 47.

 

Your right, the hills are very hard to deal with for good gas mileage. Easing off some going uphill and slightly speed up on the downhill side helps but can get boring.

I think more than some individual cars being better than others. I feel it's more the humidity, terrain and elevation where we live that affects the gas mileage.

This last few weeks I have got some of my best ever gas mileage. With the warmer air, it seems the batteries are easier to charge and are slower to drain.

I have been watching the temperatures here in southern new mexico where I live. It been 75 to 78 degrees daily with low winds. At night about 8 or 9 o'clock when we drive home from town it's usually 65 to 68 degrees. I'm sure this is helping my combined gas mileage.

Check and see if you get your better gas mileage when the temperatures are in the mid 70's or higher. I think were in good shape up till we have kick on the air conditioning when it really warms up.

 

The elevation should make a difference too. Remember the higher the elevation the lower the oxygen.

 

The thinner air here in the desert is at 4400 feet. Less air seems to be less wind resistance on the car. The higher elevation also means dryer air. The humidity is usually very low at 20% during the day and slightly higher on Summer nights.

I got my very best gas mileage at 42 mpg. I was driving a new 92 Chevy Cavalier (4-cyl, auto, 60 with cruise) at the time while on a summer vacation. I was on I-40 headed west from Amarillo to Flagstaff.

Amarillo 3005 Ft, Albuquerque 4999 Ft, Flagstaff 6932 Ft, or 4978 feet average elevation.

 

18 miles each way to work...about 30 mins each way, no highways...

 

less than 1 mile.