1992 Tercel, 30mpg?

Hi All,

I just measured my 1992 Tercel mileage. Turns out to be a few miles shy from
30mpg. I expect better than that from a 1500cc engine. Tires are good and
properly inflated. New Oxygen sensor, good cat. converter, new spark plugs,
good wires and rotors, new air fileter.

Am I expecting too much or what?

asm

bumbum wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hi All,
>
> I just measured my 1992 Tercel mileage. Turns out to be a few miles shy from
> 30mpg. I expect better than that from a 1500cc engine. Tires are good and
> properly inflated. New Oxygen sensor, good cat. converter, new spark plugs,
> good wires and rotors, new air fileter.
>
> Am I expecting too much or what?
>
> asm[/color]

Questions, questions, lots of questions.

Do you have a manual or automatic tranny? According to autos.msn.com, the
automatic (3-speed) was rated by EPA at 26 city / 29 highway. The 4-speed
manual was rated at 32/37 and the 5-speed manual was rated at 29/36. So
if you have an automatic tranny, your mileage is actually on par.

Is this city, highway, or mixed?

Are the new O2 sensor and plugs OEM or aftermarket? How do you know the
wires, rotor, etc. are good? Were they ever replaced?

Are the tires the correct size?

Are you a lead foot driver?

Is the weather becoming cold where you are?

All of the above will affect your mileage in some way.

>Do you have a manual or automatic tranny? According >to autos.msn.com, the[color=blue]
>automatic (3-speed) was rated by EPA at 26 city / 29 >highway. The 4-speed
>manual was rated at 32/37 and the 5-speed manual was >rated at 29/36. So
>if you have an automatic tranny, your mileage is actually >on par.[/color]


How is it that the 4 speed manual gets better highway mileage than a 5
speed????What is the point of the extra gear if it gets worse mileage?

"tanooki" <tanooki.mario@g4mail.com> wrote in message
news:S7Kdnf9V7u_wHj_eRVn-rg@giganews.com...[color=blue][color=green]
> >Do you have a manual or automatic tranny? According >to autos.msn.com,
> >the
>>automatic (3-speed) was rated by EPA at 26 city / 29 >highway. The
>>4-speed
>>manual was rated at 32/37 and the 5-speed manual was >rated at 29/36. So
>>if you have an automatic tranny, your mileage is actually >on par.[/color]
>
>
> How is it that the 4 speed manual gets better highway mileage than a 5
> speed????What is the point of the extra gear if it gets worse mileage?
>[/color]

The 4 speed could get better highway mileage if the 4th gear's ratio is such
that the engine turns at a lower RPM than the 5th gear in a 5 speed.

The point of the extra gear is usually performance, mileage, and/or selling
feature
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOT.com> wrote in message
news:b9f2e$43a2f744$44a4a10d$6059@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=blue]
>
> "tanooki" <tanooki.mario@g4mail.com> wrote in message
> news:S7Kdnf9V7u_wHj_eRVn-rg@giganews.com...[color=green][color=darkred]
>> >Do you have a manual or automatic tranny? According >to autos.msn.com,
>> >the
>>>automatic (3-speed) was rated by EPA at 26 city / 29 >highway. The
>>>4-speed
>>>manual was rated at 32/37 and the 5-speed manual was >rated at 29/36. So
>>>if you have an automatic tranny, your mileage is actually >on par.[/color]
>>
>>
>> How is it that the 4 speed manual gets better highway mileage than a 5
>> speed????What is the point of the extra gear if it gets worse mileage?
>>[/color]
>
> The 4 speed could get better highway mileage if the 4th gear's ratio is
> such that the engine turns at a lower RPM than the 5th gear in a 5 speed.
>
> The point of the extra gear is usually performance, mileage, and/or
> selling feature
> --
> Ray O
> correct the return address punctuation to reply[/color]

Either that or flog the poor thing at 70MPH.

On *all* my Toyotas, I have found that 70MPH in 5th gear gives the best fuel
economy. And believe me, I've had enough to know!

65 MPH and the mileage slips; 75 MPH and the mileage slips.

Anything under 60MPH, put it in 4th.
[color=blue]
>
>[/color]