IMO....if there were such a product, why wouldn't Toyota already be using it?
I was about to say the same thing. Most of those chips/"electric superchargers (aka a small electric fan in the air intake)" are gimicks for money on ebay. Granted some chips work (from what I've seen, mostly on pickups though by tweaking engine settings on large V8's (at cost of mpg usually)), but its a HL.... how much hp do you need out of a FWD based crossover, its already one of the fastest if not the fastest in its class haha. Tires can't really grip as it is (well stock duelers H/L 400's cant). And I don't think those chips will get any more mpg out of an engine. I'm pretty sure Toyota would have squeezed as much out as possible.
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2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
Skip it, going forward before making any automotive decisions please post here, I don't mean that in a bad way but let us help you sort through the nonsense.
IMO....if there were such a product, why wouldn't Toyota already be using it?
the same reason other manfuctures arent. there are a lot of different chips our there for different vehicles. why do they make those? a lot of manufacturers are limited to what they can do, to be able to sell to the majority.
you can chip a CTD and see a huge increase. why doesnt the factory have it set that way already?
I hear you. The only reason I ask was my cousin is getting one for his Volkswagon where he claims to get better gas mileage and gain horsepower. Appreciate the heads up!
I hear you. The only reason I ask was my cousin is getting one for his Volkswagon where he claims to get better gas mileage and gain horsepower. Appreciate the heads up!
VW has a big aftermarket, for those with Diesels, Turbos, etc there might be products where they actually benefit. Toyota's, specifically our platform has very little/virtually none aftermarket support. Anything sold to improve anything via a chip (at this point and for the forseeable future) is snake oil. If I was an aftermarket company I wouldn't waste any R&D on a product for a Highlander than might sell a dozen vs. developing it for a Honda Civic where it might sell 50,000 units.
FWIW, the 2012 Highlander 4WD V6 is rated at 17/22 mpg. The city numbers are pretty much spot on, but the highways numbers...I'm consistently getting better numbers than 22. For a four hour trip, I got close to 26mpg, doing between 70 and 75.
It's all how you drive. The Highlander feels quick and does have a lot of pickup. If abused, your gas mileage tanks. We drive way to aggressively in our country. No one know the art of coasting when the see a red light ahead of them. They have to keep their foot on the gas, then hit the brakes when they really have to. Once the light turns green, they nail the throttle about halfway and darts off. Why? Do you actually get to where you ned to go faster by doing this?
IMO....if there were such a product, why wouldn't Toyota already be using it?
Because of conflicting interests.
Toyota wants to minimize warranty claims/repairs and to keep their engines lasting longer.
I'm sure others can describe in better detail how those "chips" work. Essentially, it'll adjust timing and AFR. My understanding is that by advancing the timing, you'll get more power. Leaning out the AFR, you'll save fuel. HOWEVER, you'll increase the risk of pre-ignition. Frequent pre-ignition will damage pistons/piston rings/etc.
As others have mentioned, the HL is plenty fast and by adjusting how we drive, will have a pretty big impact on fuel economy. For me, those "chips" for an HL is not worth it; I don't need it to go faster, I need it to last longer.
Cheers
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Jason W
MY03 Green RAV4: the utility vehicle
MY06 SGM Subaru WRX Wagon: power + suspension + brake upgrades + tune by Diebold Motorsports = all weather interceptor
MY12 MGM Highlander Sport: aka "The Bus"
I just bought a new FWD 2012 Highlander limited in Feb, and I have averaged 21.7 mpg in all city driving (EPA is 18/24). I haven't had a chance to take it on a trip, but was pleased to see the earlier post by ian1 that he averaged close to 26 mpg with a 4WD rated at 22 mpg hwy.
I try to anticipate red lights & coast to a stop if possible & I generally avoid fast starts & stops. Other than that, I drive normally. I have an '01 MDX AWD that is rated 17/23 & I get 16 - 17 in the city, so the Highlander is definately getting better mpg.
I am very glad I didn't pay the extra $10k (incl TT&L) for the limited Hybrid. These were in very limited supply & not being discounted as much thru Costco as the reg Highlander. My payback would have been about 9 years at $5/gallon
My bests highway have been 28.5 MPG at 65 MPH, and 26.4 at 70. IMO, with numbers like that the hybrid just isn't worth it. Besides, many need the better towing qualities of the all gas HL, and I needed the superior off-road performance with the VSC/TRAC disable capability.
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2008 Highlander Base 4WD
2002 Avalon XL
1987 Suzuki Samurai 4X4 - Treading where no Jeep can follow....
Speaking of coasting....My new '12 feels as though is does not want to coast downhill, kinda like I'm riding around in 2nd gear when my foot is off the gas. A tech told me it's normal but it bugs me and I wonder if mileage would be even slightly better if the thing would just roll downhill like every other car I've ever driven before. Anybody else notice this?
yeah, mine does it. The car likes to try and maintain a speed going downhill using automatic engine braking (only a little bit), so the driver doesn't ride the brakes. If you want to avoid it, just throw it in N and it will coast all day long, or just barely hit the gas and it will cancel the engine braking.
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2008 Black Highlander Limited FWD
Nav (with override), Rear DVD | 900+ Watt Sound System | Headlight & Fog HID Projector Retrofit | LED Interior/Puddle Lights | Rattletrap Sound Deadener | Dueler HL Alenzas 255/55R19's |Updated Modification List
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Pearl
Most of those chips/"electric superchargers (aka a small electric fan in the air intake)" are gimicks for money on ebay. Granted some chips work (from what I've seen, mostly on pickups though by tweaking engine settings on large V8's (at cost of mpg usually)), but its a HL.... how much hp do you need out of a FWD based crossover, its already one of the fastest if not the fastest in its class haha. Tires can't really grip as it is (well stock duelers H/L 400's cant). And I don't think those chips will get any more mpg out of an engine. I'm pretty sure Toyota would have squeezed as much out as possible.
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