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Toyota Highlander Hybrid Driving Tips & Tricks

428 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2009 at 6:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV


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#41 of 428
Addendum on tire pressure check by mmreid
Aug 20, 2005 (6:59 am)
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Hmmm - checking tire pressure we discovered one was 31, one was 33, one 34 and one 34 1/2. . .first time we ever checked it. . .have no idea what this would or could have done. Anyone? Making them all 32.
 
mmreid
#42 of 428
Re: Addendum on tire pressure check [mmreid] by discussion1
Aug 20, 2005 (9:54 am)
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Replying to: mmreid (Aug 20, 2005 6:59 am)

The manual says VDIM will not work correctly with uneven tire pressure, so it is important to check the tires regularly. Still can't believe Toyota did not include tire pressure monitoring in this car! We notice this car drives really smooth and plush at 32 PSI even on dirt trails. It is stiffer at 35 PSI on all surfaces. We have not paid attention to mileage impact die to tire pressure change.
 
For those who take this car off pavement onto dirt trails where there may be jagged rocks, you may want to consider increasing pressure to 35 PSI or change to tougher truck tires.
 
We visited Mt. Shasta (CA) base camp for a day hike and lost a tire on the seemingly flat and easy dirt trail. Lucky thing was we reached the trail head and parked before it went flat. Our best guess is that at 32 PSI, the sidewall bulges out and reaches too low for dirt tracks. The Goodyear Integra seems to have weak sidewall so at the right angle and right pressure, a well embedded sharp rock on the road surface can puncture or cut the bulging, low reaching side wall.
 
At 35 PSI, the sidewall bulges significantly less so there is less chance (still possible!) of a rock embedded in the road surface cutting the sidewall. Of course, if you get too close to one portruding from the side, that is a different story.
#43 of 428
Re: Addendum on tire pressure check [discussion1] by gazguzler
Aug 20, 2005 (1:40 pm)
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Replying to: discussion1 (Aug 20, 2005 9:54 am)

Higher tire pressure easier to pop. Plus, if ever stuck lower pressure ussually gets you out, particularly in sand.
#44 of 428
Re: Addendum on tire pressure check [gazguzler] by discussion1
Aug 20, 2005 (10:10 pm)
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Replying to: gazguzler (Aug 20, 2005 1:40 pm)

Absolutely no sand track for this vehicle , not confident that it can get out. Even if it can, afraid the rear motor will burn out. Sure hope these tires do not pop on our next trip out into the woods, we want to run them down some before getting new truck tires.
#45 of 428
Re: Addendum on tire pressure check [discussion1] by johnnyroaster
Aug 29, 2005 (9:22 pm)
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Replying to: discussion1 (Aug 20, 2005 10:10 pm)

I have taken my HH onto the sand. I can not say I have been tracking in the Mojave, but it did well on a remote stretch on Cape Cod. I have a pass to drive on Nauset beach in Orlean/Chatham MA and the HH did great. I did notice I had to take the tires down to about 10 instead of the 18 with my old Suburban. Most of the trails are pretty well established two track but there are a few spots that got completely washed out last winter and are really loose. I would not feel comfortable taking the HH out into any serious sand but for the 15 mile round trip at Nauset it did great.
#46 of 428
Re: HH review [discussion1] by sparklemahn
Aug 21, 2005 (3:38 pm)
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I drove a Subaru Outback VDC Wagon (6 cylinder 3 liter), and this vehicle BLOWS that one away in all categories except road handling, which is because Subaru is lower to ground and 500 lbs. lighter. Still, the Hylander Hybrid Limited 4 WD-i is very nice indeed! A 4230 pounder that gets 24 mpg in the first 500 miles of mostly in-town driving ! It holds the road great, although it's hard getting used to the bulging sidewalls at exactly 32 lbs. pressure. You can't please everyone though. I read in the manual that if you live in a country that "allows" you to drive at 100 mph and higher, fill up the tires to 35 psi. I may split the difference and go for 33.5 all around. Thing I really like is this vehicle has the same engine specs as the Lexus 400h for around 10 thousand $ less. The only difference I've been able to find besides Lexus' luxury interior items is that according to one reviewer, the Lexus handles better; the suspension must be tuned differently. It is a few inches longer and around 100 lbs. heavier. Perhaps that will be my next Hybrid!
#47 of 428
Re: HH review [sparklemahn] by waltrde
Aug 21, 2005 (7:16 pm)
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Replying to: sparklemahn (Aug 21, 2005 3:38 pm)

I believe that the 32 psi recommendation is low, very low. Toyota seems to have been recommending low tire pressures in order to soften the ride in a lot of their vehicles. This is true for many manufacturers. The problem is that handling, fuel economy, tire wear and safety all suffer when tires are under inflated. Toyota's recommended pressure for the 01-03 Prius resulted is such poor tire wear on the OEM tires that they extended the tire warranty. People were getting less than 20,000 miles on 36,000 rated tires.
 
I know for the 2001-2003 Prius, if you maintain the Toyota recommended pressure, you see classic signs of underinflation wear. Pump them up 5 psi and handling and wear improve dramatically, and you get a bit stiffer ride. I run my 2001 Prius 9 psi above Toyota's recommendation (8 psi below the maximum allowable pressure) and get record tire wear on the OEM tires (over 36,000 miles). I'm close to that with the 04 Prius. I'm running the HH at 38 psi, with an improvement in handling and steering stability with each vehicle.
#48 of 428
Re: HH review [waltrde] by ulev
Aug 22, 2005 (12:19 am)
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Replying to: waltrde (Aug 21, 2005 7:16 pm)

Interesting.
 
Aside rom a stiffer ride, do you see any mileage improvement with higher pressure ?
#49 of 428
Re: HH review [ulev] by waltrde
Aug 22, 2005 (6:09 pm)
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Replying to: ulev (Aug 22, 2005 12:19 am)

I did on the 1st Prius. I pumped up the Highlander and second Prius the day after I got each one.
#50 of 428
BALT2NYC by gazguzler
Aug 21, 2005 (2:16 pm)
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By the way, I got 32MPG from baltimore to NYC. I was trying but other times I'd have to drive fast or accelerate (so this wasn't for the record books). So, this car can do reasonably well . . . but it's not easy.
 
The type of driving I had to do should be done by the cruise control. It take a lot of attention and not to the road. I can pretty much feel when the engine kicks in and back off now but I wish the computer could do this on its own.

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