- #447 of 626
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Re: 2008 Avalon Linited gas mileage [doug3030]
by tkevinc1
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Aug 20, 2008 (4:13 am)
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Replying to: doug3030 (Aug 16, 2008 1:46 pm)
On a recent business trip to FL I tracked my mileage doing both a calculation as well as taking the number provided by the car. I drove the first 230 miles on a highway with a 65 mph limit and a full tank. The car said 32.1. I stopped for lunch and filled back up. The calculation was 32.3. I drove the next 280 miles on I-95 between 70 and 80 mph. The car indicated 33.8 and the calculation was 33.2. Both fill ups were with 10% ethanol as clearly labeled on the pump. Not only did the car get 32 mpg+ on 10% ethanol but contrary to popular logic it got better mileage above 70 mph. Go figure.
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- #448 of 626
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Re: 2008 Avalon Linited gas mileage [tkevinc1]
by fin
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Aug 20, 2008 (6:27 am)
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Replying to: tkevinc1 (Aug 20, 2008 4:13 am)
Go figure: The variation in mpg is due to something other than the fuel. Alcohol has less heat energy than gasoline per pound so mileage must be reduced when pump gas is diluted with ethanol. This is basic carbon chemistry and has nothing to do with the car or the trip. Also, a vehicle travelling at a higher speed uses significantly more energy (based on the standard ABC power formula) to maintain that speed. The difference between 60 and 65 mph is about 25% so going to 75 is... wow..... The point here is that actual mpg can be difficult to determine due to a variety of factors such as putting gas in a tank and thinking it's full, odometer error, etc.
But at 32+ mpg... that's great! Who cares about exact speed or fuel composition... 
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- #449 of 626
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Re: Avalon going away? [mackabee]
by geo123
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Aug 20, 2008 (8:29 am)
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Replying to: mackabee (Jul 18, 2008 8:46 pm)
Mack,
Any more thoughts on the replacement of the Avalon? Maybe in 2010? It seems that the 2009 will be like the 2008 except the VSC will be standard from looking at some of the SE dealers inventory.
Thanks,
George
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- #450 of 626
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Re: 2008 Avalon Linited gas mileage [tkevinc1]
by tfelton
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Aug 20, 2008 (11:38 am)
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Replying to: tkevinc1 (Aug 20, 2008 4:13 am)
Just to jump in here with my 2 cents;, a couple of months ago we drove to Utah in an '08 Avalon Ltd. I did a test. From Hot Springs, AR to Shawnee, OK (just east of OK City) I did the speed limit (75 on I40 in OK) and coming back from El Reno, OK (just west of OK City) to Hot Springs, AR, I did 5 miles under the speed limit. Neither way was there any traffic to speak of. I got better mileage at the speed limit: 31.3 vs 30.8 at 5 miles below. Of course this is very unscientific and there are a lot of variables and I don't know if I was using anything with ethanol; all though, in Hot Springs it was Valero and in El Reno it was Murphy (Wal-Mart). As far as the overall trip is concerned we drove for 10 days, 4 days of which was city driving and 2 days of mountain driving in CO. That gave us an overall of 29.8 mpg. Also, when I fill up I squeeze in as much as I can.
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- #451 of 626
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Re: 2008 Avalon Linited gas mileage [tfelton]
by aus1
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Aug 21, 2008 (4:01 am)
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Replying to: tfelton (Aug 20, 2008 11:38 am)
After reading the posted mileage, I feel pretty good. On a recent 290 mi trip at 60mph with no a/c, I got 37 mpg.
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- #452 of 626
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Re: Avalon going away? [geo123]
by mackabee
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Aug 24, 2008 (9:18 pm)
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Replying to: geo123 (Aug 20, 2008 8:29 am)
Haven't heard anymore on it. As soon as I find something out I'll let you guys know.
PS, we are keeping the Solara convertible. The hardtop is gone after 08.
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- #453 of 626
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Re: Avalon going away? [mackabee]
by tjc78
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Aug 25, 2008 (3:49 am)
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Replying to: mackabee (Aug 24, 2008 9:18 pm)
Mack.. is the Solara getting the 3.5?
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- #454 of 626
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08 Key-in-Fob buttons
by rdearmore
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Aug 25, 2008 (10:56 am)
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Just bought a near new 08 XLS... One of my key fobs has two buttons missing..anyone had that problem and where can I find just the buttons, covers, what ever you want to call them?
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- #455 of 626
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Re: 08 Key-in-Fob buttons [rdearmore]
by davidb4775
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Aug 25, 2008 (11:59 am)
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Replying to: rdearmore (Aug 25, 2008 10:56 am)
If its a new car, seems it might be covered under warranty. Obviously, there is a defect.
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- #456 of 626
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by dfurnier
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Aug 25, 2008 (2:36 pm)
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" Also, when I fill up I squeeze in as much as I can."
I believe squeezing in more is not a good idea. It heats up, expands, and leaks out. That's something I learned many years ago. Don't know if it's still true.
"it got better mileage above 70 mph"
Not sure, but it seemed to me, that we got better mileage at 70ish than we did at lower speeds.
"I read somewhere that it costs more to make the ethanol than the benefit if any we get from it"
According to Popular Science, at best it's 1 unit of energy in to generate 1.1 units out.
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