Advice Needed: Hypermiling a GX470

"Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna" (lukielauxd)
06/15/2015 at 02:22 • Filed to: None

Hey everyone on here, I don’t post much, but I really need help right now.

I’m back for summer and ignoring the fact my insurance is ridiculously high for the two months my dad reinstated my car insurance, he’s sold both of our V6s and replaced it with a van that I can’t navigate even if I tried. So he handed me the keys to my mom’s 2003 GX470.

I’m trying to hypermile as best as I can in city driving since my parents don’t trust me on the freeway. I’m getting around 30 miles per 1/4 of a tank. (That’s right, real scientific things being done here.) That’s equivalent to 10 miles per gallon. (OH MY GOD I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IT WAS THIS BAD UNTIL I DID THE MATH JUST NOW.)

I might take the freeway without my parents knowing tomorrow just to see if it helps. But any tips on how to save gas? Everywhere else I’ve been looking is saying like, it’s a damn truck, magic can only help so much with hypermiling the automotive equivalent of a solid lead brick.

DISCUSSION (15)

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 02:30

What’s wrong with the van?

You could try to drive like a grandma. It’ll be horribly and excruciating but you can squeeze a little bit of gas mileage out of it that way. Other than that, remove excess weight and make sure the tires are inflated correctly.

Arben72 > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 02:30

Maintance. Check the tire pressure and spark plugs. Then accelerate slowly, keep your distance, and use high quality fuel. Then ride a bike when you give up hope.

Sneaky Pete > Arben72
06/15/2015 at 02:32

+1 for ride a bike.

Can’t hypermile a tank.

Twism > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 02:32

accelerate as slow as you can, don’t go over 25, roll down all windows and shut down the fan and the A/C.

But yeah, it’s a full-size truck, so I’m not sure why you would try to hypermile it... especially if you’re driving only in the city.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > Twism
06/15/2015 at 02:35

Don’t go over 2500 RPM or 25MPH? o-o I’ve been trying to keep the revs down.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
06/15/2015 at 02:35

It’s my father’s pride and joy that he just got last year and he doesn’t want me hitting anything yet. I personally think the van is easier to drive than the SUV.

Twism > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 02:44

both, if you can help it.

make sure you’re not hauling anything useless in the back, too.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 02:44

Ah that explains it. Yeah vans are easier to drive than SUVs I’ll agree. At least with a van it isn’t plagued with outrageous front overhangs. I’ve had to drive the family Odyssey a few times for long road trips. It was miserable. The feeling of speed is a lot more different than a regular car. Then there’s the numb steering and throttle response. I despise the seating position as well. I prefer to sit in the car and being able to press on the throttle and brakes rather than sitting on top of the car and stepping on the throttle and brakes.

Dunnik > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 02:50

Well, I dunno.

Hypermileing a GX470 is like going to sea in a small boat and trying not to get wet.

Otherwise, what Twism said. Don’t use the A/C at all. You can lower windows at city speeds, since the extra aerodynamic drag won’t matter (probably won’t matter at highway, either, its such a brick haha).

Lose as much weight as possible by removing everything but your insurance docs, manual and emergency kit. Too many people have junk in the trunk and complain about gas mileage.

Accelerate gently, and remember, every time you brake that’s lost energy you will have to regain with fuel, so it pays (literally) to think ahead.

Bytemite > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 03:35

Its an SUV...it weighs as much as a tank. Some 20 lbs of junk in the trunk aint doing anything.

It also has a big ass engine that makes low end power. Revving it or not, that thing is going to guzzle.

Just dont drive it too much , its a stupid car anyway.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 04:38

Ouch, that’s pretty poor, 10MPG is about the same as Doug’s Hummer. Like everyone said, check your tyres are inflated correctly and remove excess weight. Any junk in the truck should go. Around town, drive with the windows down because at low speeds, the aerodynamic drag created by opening the windows is negligible. On the highway, obviously keep the revs low and cruise with the windows up. When going up a hill, give it a little push to get to the top and then when you come down, let off the gas to allow it to roll. Smoothness is key. If it gets hot, strip! I mean, those clothes will save you a few hundred grams...

If you’re desperate, you could even try and tape up some of the panel gaps although not much of a result may come from that. Covering up the rear wheel arches is also another possibility. If you plan on doing lots of highway miles, it might also be advisable to fit a rear spoiler. I know the Land Cruiser Prado/GX 470 came with that option. That’ll help with the airflow over that boxy rear end.

Nymphicus Hollandicus > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 05:53

Oh I know the feeling. I drive a 2005 Honda Pilot (hence my username lol) and no matter how conservatively I drive I never get over 18ish mpg. I know it’s better than your 10 but it’s terrible how I get such crap mpg, even on the highway.

Opposite Locksmith > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 08:24

My parents are more comfortable with freeways than city driving, huh

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 08:28

1) Inflate your tires. Overinflate by a PSI or two. This won’t gain you mileage, but it will KEEP your mileage consistent. Your tire can lose some air due to temp changes and potholes and it will remain in a good range. underinflated tires can sap a lot of low speed mileage

2) Buy a bottle of seafoam if your vehicle has a lot of mileage on it. Mix half a bottle to about 10-12 gallons. If you have a 20+ gallon tank, I’d pour in the whole bottle when you’re at 1/4 tank or so and then fill it up all the way. This will help clean your fuel injectors a little bit. I noticed that it helped with my fiesta after lots of road trips. I was struggling to break 30mpg on the highway, but after a bottle of seafoam I was back up to high 30s. No clue if its coincidence or not but its like 7$

Funktheduck > Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna
06/15/2015 at 09:49

10 mpg doesn’t sound right. My gf’s mom has one but a few years newer. She averages mid to high 20s on the highway. Most of her driving is around town and I don't think she would have it if it only got 10 mpg