Baja gas mileage improvements

[Caaron]

I have a 2006 Baja Turbo and was averaging about 18.8 mpg on premium fuel since I bought it. That was combined city and highway driving year around as a heavy-footed, kind of aggressive driver. Recently I've tried improving my mileage just to see what I'd get if I drove 'normally'. I did a full tank driving no more than 64mph highway, pretty much the speed limit everywhere else and without jackrabbit starts or my habitual passing the slow guys (I became one of the slow guys). I also used my cruise control as much as possible and removed the luggage bars from the top to reduce wind resistance (amazing how much quieter it runs now). The result was 22.8 average mpg and an increase in range of about 60 miles per tankful. I don't know if I'm going to continue driving that conservatively but it certainly was an improvement.

I was wondering your experiences with gas mileage and also whether anyone with a Baja Turbo has used less than the highest grade (over 90octane) gas in their tank.

Chuck

[bulwnkl]

I get in the low 20s all the time with my '05 A/T. I also normally use 88-octane. Runs fine; no negative effects. Keep in mind, though, that I'm at almost 5,000 ft. That makes a difference. If I KNOW I'm going to be towing or something other than just driving to work and back, I'll put in 90 or 93.

[Evanism]

I'm getting a reliable 27 MPG doing mostly highway. I get just over 28 if I'm ONLY highway. Taking off the roof rails got me an extra 1 MPG.

[davecoon13]

I recently returned from a road trip where I averaged 26MPG Highway with my 03 sport--I did not want a turbo cause I wanted decent MPG. I wonder if my Ozzbros cover helped the mileage? I was heavily loaded down, so the weight could have hurt me, but I am very pleased--no crew cab pickup can get 26MPG....

[Emsanon]

I thought having an N/A would mean better gas mileage but I can't even hit 20 MPG. HAHA! But, I also have the roof racks, sport lights, and a hard bed cover. Could that affect the mileage that much?

[Caaron]

The roof rack and sport lights are probably costing you 1-2mpg. Do what I did--try a full tank driving as conservatively as possible, using cruise control as much as possible, staying at the speed limit, accelerating slowly, etc. and see what the best mileage is that you can get. Even with the lights and rack you'll probably see 21-22mpg in mixed city and highway driving. Once you've done that you can either return to your old driving habits or do something in between (which is what I'm doing now). At least you'll know what the car is capable of doing.

Chuck

I thought having an N/A would mean better gas mileage but I can't even hit 20 MPG. HAHA! But, I also have the roof racks, sport lights, and a hard bed cover. Could that affect the mileage that much?

[davecoon13]

I don't have sport lights, but I actually have a 3rd bar on my roof rack. Someone on NASIOC Baja forum gave it away.