‘How to Get 100 MPG In Any Vehicle:’ Mechanic Starts a Toyota Yaris. Then He Pops the Hood
"Look at that."
A viral video of a Toyota Yaris’ engine has some people amazed by Toyota’s reliability—and others simply amazed.
Miles Kurth (@mileskurth) recently posted a Facebook Reel of a Toyota Yaris running on just one of its four cylinders.
Kurth’s video begins with him walking towards the Yaris with its hood popped open. The engine rattles loudly in the clip.
As he approached, you can see that three of the ignition coils aren’t plugged in, and the Yaris is running on a single cylinder.
“Did y’all know the Yaris can run on one [expletive] cylinder?” Kurth says. “Look at that.”
He picks up three of the cables meant to connect to the other ignition coils, demonstrating that they are indeed unplugged.
A text overlay on the post reads, “How to get 100 MPG in any car 101.”
A Feature, Not a Bug?
As unbelievable as his video may seem, Kurth isn’t the only one to document a similar experience with a Toyota.
A member of an Alltrac forum asked for help because their 1990 Toyota Celica was running on one cylinder, and they couldn’t figure out how to get the other three to fire.
After many attempts and posts about those attempts to fix the issue, the Celica owner said they figured it out: they’d placed the spark plugs in the wrong sequence.
“The plug wires were in the wrong order the whole time. I hooked them up according to the firing order instead of just going 1 through 4 like any normal intelligent person would do,” they wrote.
Engine Simplicity
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Toyota’s reliability is well documented.
EngineCrux.com writes, “When it comes to automotive reliability, few brands can hold a candle to Toyota. Known for their durability and longevity, Toyota engines have built a reputation that resonates with car owners worldwide.”
The outlet says the key to this fortitude is rooted in the “simplicity” of Toyota’s engineering philosophy.
“Many of their most reliable engines feature straightforward designs that minimize the number of components,” it reports. “This not only reduces the likelihood of failure but also makes repairs more manageable for mechanics and DIY enthusiasts alike.”
The brand’s decision to implement incremental upgrades and improvements, rather than make drastic changes, has helped contribute to its reputation for dependability.
Consumer Reports has consistently ranked Toyota and its luxury counterpart, Lexus, as two of the most dependable auto manufacturers in the world.
Can a Car Run on One Cylinder?
Others online have also discussed the problems that occur when they run an engine with compromised cylinders. People on a Reddit cars thread cited power loss, unpleasant driving, and long-term engine damage.
Kurth’s assertion that the Yaris running on one cylinder would get improved gas mileage is tongue-in-cheek.
As the car blog Small World Auto Repair notes, automakers design smaller engines to use less fuel. Having fewer cylinders means they displace less air and fuel mixture during combustion. Ultimately, the outlet says “this can lead to lower fuel consumption.”
Because the Yaris is powering fewer cylinders, less air is being displaced, and the combustion cycle is using less gasoline.
However, just because an engine is smaller doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to burn less gasoline. Auto manufacturers use technology like turbocharging to boost engine performance whilst maintaining fuel efficiency.
On a practical note, if even one of the cylinders in your engine is misfiring, you should address it immediately. Failing to do so can lead to decreased performance, rough idling, and increased emissions. It can also cause long-term engine damage.
‘0-60 in 3 Days’
Kurth’s post inspired many comments touting Toyotas’ longevity.
One person said of the Yaris, “It will still serve your family for 3 generations.”
Someone else quipped, “Now just switch to another cylinder every 100,000 miles and you’re good bro.”
Another joked, “It's a toyota, it'll run on no cylinder.”
Others pointed out that the Yaris might run on one cylinder, but it won’t run fast.
“0-60 in 3 days,” one remarked.
“Did you know that it can run the quarter mile in 5 to 7 business days,” another commented.
One person cautioned against firing an engine with inoperable cylinders.
“Until it catches fire from all that fuel building in the catalytic converter,” they wrote. “Ask me how I know.”
Motor1 has reached out to Kurth via Facebook comment and direct message for further information. We'll be sure to update this if he responds.
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