RAV4--improving gas mileage?

I have a 2001 RAV4 (I'm the original owner) that currently has 25,000
miles on it. It's a 5-speed stick, 4x4, L-series. I have all the
normal maintenance stuff done on time, the gas I use is the octane
recommended in the owner's manual, and--if I may say so myself--I'm an
excellent driver. I'm happy with the mileage it's getting, but I'd like
to improve it anyway. I'd appreciate tips on things I can do, or have
done, to make it even more fuel-efficient. Kindly keep in mind that I
am not mechanically-inclined and therefore don't know what might be
added/changed to accomplish this.

--

Unless you're a hemorrhoid, get off my ass (bumper sticker)
[url]http://www.cafepress.com/saproducts.30997994[/url]

"WCJ" <nospam@bogus.fake.com> wrote in message
news:bgTRg.1212$Y24.1192@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=blue]
>I have a 2001 RAV4 (I'm the original owner) that currently has 25,000 miles
>on it. It's a 5-speed stick, 4x4, L-series. I have all the normal
>maintenance stuff done on time, the gas I use is the octane recommended in
>the owner's manual, and--if I may say so myself--I'm an excellent driver.
>I'm happy with the mileage it's getting, but I'd like to improve it anyway.
>I'd appreciate tips on things I can do, or have done, to make it even more
>fuel-efficient. Kindly keep in mind that I am not mechanically-inclined
>and therefore don't know what might be added/changed to accomplish this.[/color]

I'm generally unimpressed by any mechanical doo-dad you can bolt on to
improve mileage. The most outlandish claims such as magnets on the fuel
line to align the gas molecules (rolls eyes) are snake oil. Those that
might actually work - special air intakes etc. - do so only incrementally,
cost a lot, and any gains are modest enough to be negated by sloppy driving
habits.

You're already doing part of what you should be doing with the regular
maintenance. Keep your tires inflated correctly. Don't haul around any
more weight than you have to - keep the golf clubs at home. Look in your
manual for the shift points - speeds at which upshifting is recommended.
Accelerate gently. Anticipate traffic and signals so that you don't have to
change speed abruptly. Plan routes that eliminate stop and go driving.
Don't speed, particularly on the highway where wind resistance is highest.
If you have anything that sticks up into the air stream like a bicycle roof
rack that you don't use very often, consider removing it.
--
Mike Harris
Austin, TX

I agree that improving gas mileage with any add-on is generally
futile. Anything that isn't futile (like a new computer chip or low
flow exhaust) will generally cost a lot of money or have a trade-off.
Improving your driving habits will give the best result for the least
amount of money.

In addition to the finding the shift points mentioned in the last post,
keep your tires propperly inflated and your engine tuned up. Keeping
them inflated to the top of the recommended range will give the bes gas
mileage. Don't overinflate them or you will wear out the tread faster
in the middle of the tire. Keeping your engine tuned (adjusing timing,
installing new plugs, cap/rotor,& air filter) and replacing spark plug
wires when they exceed the max recommended resistance will keep your
mielage at its peak.

Second, when you see traffic slowing down or when you are getting off
the highway on an offramp, disengage the clutch and let the vehicle
slow naturally until you need to brake. Don't keep your foot on the gas
pedal until the last second. Whenever possible, shift into the highest
gear possible (even in the city). You will need to shift down to
accelerate, but it will save gas.

Third, don't accelerate all of the way to the speed limit when leaving
a stoplight/stop sign if you see that the next light is still red.

Simple habits like this can improve your overall gas mileage by 1 or 2
mpg depending on what your current habits are like.

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:15:03 GMT, WCJ <nospam@bogus.fake.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have a 2001 RAV4 (I'm the original owner) that currently has 25,000
>miles on it. It's a 5-speed stick, 4x4, L-series. I have all the
>normal maintenance stuff done on time, the gas I use is the octane
>recommended in the owner's manual, and--if I may say so myself--I'm an
>excellent driver. I'm happy with the mileage it's getting, but I'd like
>to improve it anyway. I'd appreciate tips on things I can do, or have
>done, to make it even more fuel-efficient. Kindly keep in mind that I
>am not mechanically-inclined and therefore don't know what might be
>added/changed to accomplish this.[/color]


Change tranny fliud with fresh 75w90 and run tires at or near max
pressure to reduce rolling resistance. Higher octane fuel will help
too. I do not use 87 octane in anything here but tractors and mowers
and a old 79 truck with 8 to 1 compression.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 01:49:13 GMT, "Richard" <rfeirste@nycap.rr.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>5w-20 oil in summer and 0W-20 oil in winter. (Mobil 1 is an excellent
>choice).[/color]


In a 2001? Not in my car. I have gotten better than 40 MPG out of some
hi mileage Tototas running 10w30 bacisally year round. Unless it gets
down to 15 or 20 below a lot, 10w30 will work fine and that little 4
bannger works hard and it needs more than 5w20 or0w20 to live a long
life at this point. I do not advocate switching to SYN oil in older
engines either.
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

"Mike Harris" <harrisremovethiswest@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:naVRg.7984$Ij.4999@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
[color=blue]
> Accelerate gently.[/color]

Yeah, but do NOT enter a 55 mph highway doing less then maybe 50 unless slow
or tight traffic REQUIRES it. That's obnoxious & dangerous.

"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:k1bSg.1577$Ka1.853@news01.roc.ny...[color=blue]
> "Mike Harris" <harrisremovethiswest@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:naVRg.7984$Ij.4999@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>[color=green]
>> Accelerate gently.[/color]
>
> Yeah, but do NOT enter a 55 mph highway doing less then maybe 50 unless
> slow or tight traffic REQUIRES it. That's obnoxious & dangerous.[/color]

That's part of route planning - a ramp with a long downgrade is preferable
to one with a short upgrade. <G>

And as one who learned to drive in Lost Angeles I concur that, regardless of
the posted speed limit one shouldn't enter a highway at anything more or
less than the speed at which traffic is already moving. Even if it requires
downshifting and flooring the accelerator to match speeds by the time the
acceleration lane ends.
--
Mike Harris
Austin, TX

"Mike Harris" <harrisremovethiswest@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:MFbSg.5231$GR.4976@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net...[color=blue]
> "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:k1bSg.1577$Ka1.853@news01.roc.ny...[color=green]
>> "Mike Harris" <harrisremovethiswest@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
>> news:naVRg.7984$Ij.4999@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
>>[color=darkred]
>>> Accelerate gently.[/color]
>>
>> Yeah, but do NOT enter a 55 mph highway doing less then maybe 50 unless
>> slow or tight traffic REQUIRES it. That's obnoxious & dangerous.[/color]
>
> That's part of route planning - a ramp with a long downgrade is preferable
> to one with a short upgrade. <G>
>
> And as one who learned to drive in Lost Angeles I concur that, regardless
> of the posted speed limit one shouldn't enter a highway at anything more
> or less than the speed at which traffic is already moving. Even if it
> requires downshifting and flooring the accelerator to match speeds by the
> time the acceleration lane ends.
> --
> Mike Harris
> Austin, TX[/color]

Violators should be fed to sharks. Which reminds me: Do you remember when
Dodge Darts were the most popular car on the road with people born before
calendars were invented? Then, it was K-cars. I think I'm seeing a new trend
for this hip age group: Subarus. Observe and see if things are the same on
the left coast.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=blue]
> I think I'm seeing a new trend
> for this hip age group: Subarus. Observe and see if things are the same on
> the left coast.[/color]

I've been passed by plenty of WRX's and STI's.

"B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:eQbSg.6622$7I1.1161@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...[color=blue]
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=green]
>> I think I'm seeing a new trend for this hip age group: Subarus. Observe
>> and see if things are the same on the left coast.[/color]
>
> I've been passed by plenty of WRX's and STI's.[/color]

I don't know which models those abbreviations refer to. But, the station
wagons seem to be big with people who look like they need to be gone over
with a feather duster.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=blue]
> "B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:eQbSg.6622$7I1.1161@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...[color=green]
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> I think I'm seeing a new trend for this hip age group: Subarus. Observe
>>> and see if things are the same on the left coast.[/color]
>> I've been passed by plenty of WRX's and STI's.[/color]
>
> I don't know which models those abbreviations refer to.[/color]

Fast Subarus, some are very fast.
[color=blue]
> But, the station
> wagons seem to be big with people who look like they need to be gone over
> with a feather duster.[/color]

It's not the car's fault. I had a 2001 Outback wagon (complete with
manual transmission) that was lots of fun to drive. Sometimes, it was
so much fun, I'm surprised I didn't hurt myself.

Where I live, the folks who smell like mothballs usually drive Volvos,
Saabs, and Mercedes sedans, not to mention Avalons, LaCrosses, and
Lincolns. The Volvos often have John Kerry and Harvard stickers on the
back.

"B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:KTcSg.8816$6S3.5941@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...[color=blue]
> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=green]
>> "B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:eQbSg.6622$7I1.1161@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...[color=darkred]
>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>> I think I'm seeing a new trend for this hip age group: Subarus. Observe
>>>> and see if things are the same on the left coast.
>>> I've been passed by plenty of WRX's and STI's.[/color]
>>
>> I don't know which models those abbreviations refer to.[/color]
>
> Fast Subarus, some are very fast.
>[color=green]
> > But, the station
>> wagons seem to be big with people who look like they need to be gone over
>> with a feather duster.[/color]
>
> It's not the car's fault.[/color]

I agree. Crown Victorias are also popular with the living dead, but firm up
the suspension and you've got a pretty rockin' vehicle. NY State Troopers
like them.

"JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:EYcSg.1590$Ka1.217@news01.roc.ny...[color=blue]
> "B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:KTcSg.8816$6S3.5941@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...[color=green]
>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> "B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eQbSg.6622$7I1.1161@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...
>>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>> I think I'm seeing a new trend for this hip age group: Subarus.
>>>>> Observe and see if things are the same on the left coast.
>>>> I've been passed by plenty of WRX's and STI's.
>>>
>>> I don't know which models those abbreviations refer to.[/color]
>>
>> Fast Subarus, some are very fast.
>>[color=darkred]
>> > But, the station
>>> wagons seem to be big with people who look like they need to be gone
>>> over with a feather duster.[/color]
>>
>> It's not the car's fault.[/color]
>
> I agree. Crown Victorias are also popular with the living dead, but firm
> up the suspension and you've got a pretty rockin' vehicle. NY State
> Troopers like them.
>[/color]
But the classic GM in house joke is:

"According to a recent poll, the average age of a Buick owner is deceased"

"tak" <takirch@frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:PkdSg.1610$ya1.1078@news02.roc.ny...[color=blue]
>
> "JoeSpareBedroom" <dishborealis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:EYcSg.1590$Ka1.217@news01.roc.ny...[color=green]
>> "B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:KTcSg.8816$6S3.5941@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...[color=darkred]
>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>> "B A R R Y" <balsapilot@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:eQbSg.6622$7I1.1161@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net...
>>>>> JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
>>>>>> I think I'm seeing a new trend for this hip age group: Subarus.
>>>>>> Observe and see if things are the same on the left coast.
>>>>> I've been passed by plenty of WRX's and STI's.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know which models those abbreviations refer to.
>>>
>>> Fast Subarus, some are very fast.
>>>
>>> > But, the station
>>>> wagons seem to be big with people who look like they need to be gone
>>>> over with a feather duster.
>>>
>>> It's not the car's fault.[/color]
>>
>> I agree. Crown Victorias are also popular with the living dead, but firm
>> up the suspension and you've got a pretty rockin' vehicle. NY State
>> Troopers like them.
>>[/color]
> But the classic GM in house joke is:
>
> "According to a recent poll, the average age of a Buick owner is deceased"
>[/color]

My son and I have been trying to hammer out a suitable plan for stopping me
from inflicting me upon the driving public at the point where it becomes "an
issue". Since old folks area capable of arguing a chicken right off the
bones, this will require deceit and trickery. I suggested he spike my coffee
with 2 shots of Jack Daniels, which should knock me out. Then, take my keys,
sell the car, and blah blah blah...

My ancient neighbor lady's got a double floodlight mounted above her garage
door. It's aimed straight out toward my bedroom, and even with shades &
curtains closed, it illuminates the room like a 60 watt bulb. She rarely
uses it, but visitors to her house regularly hit the switch by mistake and
then leave. Last time he visited, I asked her son if the lights could be
adjusted downward, as they should be anyway. He was fine with the idea, but
wanted to check with her. She comes storming out of the house, yelling at me
about how nobody has complained about this in the 50 years she's lived
there, and anyway, she never uses the light. I commented that if it was
never used, I wouldn't be asking for it to be adjusted. Then, she points to
the pole light in the yard, which has a tiny bulb and is not an issue, and
says "I am NOT turning off that light! I need a light in the yard!" Her son
mutters "oh boy..." and "Ma...we're talking about the floodlights, not the
pole light". Anyway...he borrowed a wrench from me, waited for her to nap,
and adjusted the light, which was on HIS to-do list to begin with.

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:15:03 GMT, WCJ <nospam@bogus.fake.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I have a 2001 RAV4 (I'm the original owner) that currently has 25,000
>miles on it. It's a 5-speed stick, 4x4, L-series. I have all the
>normal maintenance stuff done on time, the gas I use is the octane
>recommended in the owner's manual, and--if I may say so myself--I'm an
>excellent driver. I'm happy with the mileage it's getting, but I'd like
>to improve it anyway. I'd appreciate tips on things I can do, or have
>done, to make it even more fuel-efficient. Kindly keep in mind that I
>am not mechanically-inclined and therefore don't know what might be
>added/changed to accomplish this.[/color]


Keep your vehicle well-tuned up. Tires inflated, filters changed,
inspections, etc. You lose a little with a 4x4 and automatic
transmission, but you can gain better gas mileage with improved
driving habits. For example if you take a lot of short trips, doing
them close together helps (a warmed up engine performs better).
Driving without the A/C on helps too.