How Can I Get Even Better Mileage Out of My Hybrid Camry?
If you want to cut down on your gasoline usage, purchasing a hybrid vehicle such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid is a good start. The 2010 model, for example, will net you on average about 34 miles per gallon, and a full tank should let you travel more than 500 miles, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Simply owning the Camry, however, is not enough to guarantee you this performance level. You'll also need to perform regular maintenance and adjust your driving techniques to optimize your Camry's gas mileage.
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Instructions
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Adjust your driving routes. While you might be used to looking for a direct freeway route that gets you to your destination without stopping, your hybrid Camry will get its best mileage in stop-and-go traffic. When you're stopped at a traffic light, for example, your battery takes over the power supply job from the fuel tank. If most of your driving involves zipping along a highway, however, your fuel tank is doing most of the work.
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Slow down. As with most cars, fuel efficiency in your Camry will begin to decrease significantly once you go faster than 55 mph. A general rule of thumb is that you will lose 10 percent of your fuel efficiency for every 5 mph you travel over that level.
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Follow your Camry's suggested maintenance schedule. Ask for thinner motor oils when it's time for an oil change. Use your Camry's Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System, if it's included in your model, to ensure that the tire pressure stays within the levels recommended by your manual. Proper tire pressure can improve your fuel economy by about 3.3 percent.
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Practice driving techniques that maximize fuel economy, known as "hypermiling." These include avoiding using brakes and coasting to a stop whenever possible, avoiding hard braking and acceleration, and using your Camry's cruise control feature.
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Crack a window when it gets hot in lieu of turning on the air conditioning. Using air conditioning can cut the fuel economy of a hybrid by 15 percent or more.
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Keep your car parked during harsh winter weather. Your Camry will need more power to run when the temperature is below freezing. Wintry conditions such as high winds, snow and ice also will increase air resistance, making your Camry less fuel efficient.
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Tips & Warnings
Your Camry might need a few months of use before reaching its maximum fuel-efficiency capabilities. Don't get frustrated if you aren't hitting your gas mileage goals when you first begin driving it.
Some suggest hypermiling techniques will improve your gas mileage but are potentially dangerous in terms of driving safety. For example, some hypermilers advocate shutting off your engine and coasting to a stop in neutral. This, however, might cause you to lose control of your car.
Over-inflating your tires will improve your Camry's fuel efficiency, but it also will cause your tires to wear out more quickly.
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