We should save our rants for the evening after a couple beers instead of in the morning before coffee
MPG
- Thread starter Rochemsam
- Start date
I find the advice to drive differently somewhat troubling. Sure don't floor it all the time, etc. but beyond that I drive based on road and traffic conditions not gas mileage.
In my 4Runner that meant on an urban 50 mph road I needed 1/3-1/2 throttle to move with traffic when getting up to speed. My LC will do the same with only 1/8-1/4 at least that is how it feels, these are obviously not scientific measurements.
My 4Runner was bad on gas, probably 15 mpg combined. My 1958 is much better in the low 20s. But my point is don't take some of the advice to crawl along or glide to a stop or you will be an annoyance on the road!
In my 4Runner that meant on an urban 50 mph road I needed 1/3-1/2 throttle to move with traffic when getting up to speed. My LC will do the same with only 1/8-1/4 at least that is how it feels, these are obviously not scientific measurements
. My 4Runner was bad on gas, probably 15 mpg combined. My 1958 is much better in the low 20s. But my point is don't take some of the advice to crawl along or glide to a stop or you will be an annoyance on the road!
Sure. I don’t plan to drive like an mpg extremist either.
But the EPA City test does employ an extremely conservative driving style. And a number of forum members (but not me) have complained because they are not achieving the posted city and / or combined rating. It is those individuals who should drive differently (or accept that their results will not match the rating).
But the EPA City test does employ an extremely conservative driving style. And a number of forum members (but not me) have complained because they are not achieving the posted city and / or combined rating. It is those individuals who should drive differently (or accept that their results will not match the rating).
And I do think where are driving makes a huge difference. If I go One Direction with many more hills, it doesn’t matter how many decent I take the minute I start climbing the next hill. My gas mileage goes down and doesn’t ever seem to truly recover compared to hanging a right & take another route with way more level flatter roads I have been seeing an increase of mileage every single time
I get what you’re saying- my son had a 2020 Toyota Camry and right off the bat brand new, It was getting 31 MPG. Falling right within what was stated on the sticker. Then in July bought my son a brand new 2024 Toyota 4Runner and once again right out of the gates it was 17 to 19 and most of the time 18 MPG’s for the first 1200 miles that I drove it to break it in properly. Which is again, just as the sticker stated. So many people can get mad, but I think it is appropriate to think that you should get somewhere near the stated MPG on the sticker. I was very disappointed with the LCMPG (but had no intentions of getting rid of it, just rather live with it because I love
my LC )but I have seen them improving. I have learned how to drive it. I do watch my gauges and I do fill it up with 93 octane. I do notice a huge difference on where I drive verses how I drive in general. Good luck -everybody has the right to be happy or sad about something with the LC. I understand your disappointment. I do hope yours improves. As many of ours have.So in the spirit of giving more information. I have an LC FE. It still has its original stock things including roof rack and its original tire wheel combo. I don’t really see a big difference with AC use or no use. I have some trouble in town with stopping and going I have the most trouble with climbing hills. It sucks it all the way down and it takes forever just to gain even one MPG back when I’m descending. If there is any kind of an incline whatsoever, my gas mileage struggles. As soon as I am on a country road with no real traffic and I am able to drive anywhere between 40 and 60 miles an hour, and the roads are fairly flat my MPG have done nothing but climb. I’ve been very excited to see how they have been climbing since I bought my car in July. I now have just a little over 2000 miles on it and did do an oil change at 1200 miles. I do use all 93 octane. Hopefully this is helpful to someone. I do try to watch my MPG line, the white one even more than my max gages. That seems to have helped me and kind of “taught me “my foot feed and how to drive. I truly do feel like most of my MPG have come from the terrain. Again everything on mine is stock.
The articles are a decade old but still relevant:
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a1927016/mpg-or-performance-its-trade-turbos/
The Miles per Gallon Gap - Consumer Reports Magazine
https://www.autoweek.com/news/a1927016/mpg-or-performance-its-trade-turbos/
The Miles per Gallon Gap - Consumer Reports Magazine
Here’s a visualization of a 7-minute city/residential drive where I am absolutely trying my best to hypermile. (Just did 4 of them in a row and was thinking of you all 
averaged probably 11mph maybe!)
averaged probably 11mph maybe!)I am assuming you fill up your LC with premium gas?
Definitely the driving style will play a huge bit into MPG. I'm coming from (and still have) my BRZ and 3-series. I don't drive like a nut, but I ain't grandma, either. Carrying that driving style over to the LC, I'm getting 18.7 after 12 tanks (post break-in). On paper, it's doing the same mileage (as in exactly 18.7; 4-yr average) as my now-sold '11 E63 AMG with its whopping 6.2 M156.
But somehow - because I love how the power is delivered and how the rest of the truck is equally nice - I don't seem to mind this type of mpg this time around.
18.7MPG and loving it!
But somehow - because I love how the power is delivered and how the rest of the truck is equally nice - I don't seem to mind this type of mpg this time around.
18.7MPG and loving it!
I have a LC, LC w/Premium. 18" wheels, stock. I filled up with 91 and live in Downtown LA - lots of stop and go's at lights, traffic, etc.
First tank drove like an absolute grandma, eco-mode. I avg'd 20, dash was showing 18.5. Second tank I drove a little heavier, normal mode - hit 18.5, dash was showing 17 (second tank was almost all highway miles to and from san diego going 85)
Does anyone live in LA? I'm dealing with traffic lights roughly every 100-500 ft, so I'd assume if I lived in the country it would be way better.
First tank drove like an absolute grandma, eco-mode. I avg'd 20, dash was showing 18.5. Second tank I drove a little heavier, normal mode - hit 18.5, dash was showing 17 (second tank was almost all highway miles to and from san diego going 85)
Does anyone live in LA? I'm dealing with traffic lights roughly every 100-500 ft, so I'd assume if I lived in the country it would be way better.
I have the LC LC Prem. with stock 18" tires, no roof crossbars. LC has been in "normal" mode entire time running 91 octane. I have never reset the MPG average. I live at 9000ft. and must drive 25 miles to town which is downhill the whole trip. Conversely, it's 2500ft. uphill back home. I've only used A/C once - since it's always cool where I live. I drive with spirit - let's say.
At @ 500 miles I'm getting 24.6 MPG.
At @ 500 miles I'm getting 24.6 MPG.
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That's exactly what my 8 minute commute looks like both ways. Horrible to start and steadily increases. Does efficiency improve as the engine warms up?Here’s a visualization of a 7-minute city/residential drive where I am absolutely trying my best to hypermile. (Just did 4 of them in a row and was thinking of you all
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- Sep 22, 2023
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I live in Greater LA, not the downtown core, but I do a lot of stop and go city driving. There have been some flashes of brilliance, but for the most part I'm about where you are when I'm running errands.
I notice my mileage improves after 6 or 7 miles. It's been pretty good on the highway. It's still better than my LX.
It's not that the gas mileage doesn't matter to me, but I've just decided to enjoy the car and peak out of curiosity every now and again.
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Ha - without this thread and the 20 other ones just like it, I'm not sure I'd be paying that close of attention to it. But since my hunt/purchase focus is over, it's something else to stay interested in! and I'm with you on just enjoying the ride!
The catalytic converter has to get to a certain, pretty high, temperature in order to do its job. As a result, the engine will run continuously until the cat gets up to that temp.
Short drives, therefore, make minimal (or no) use of the hybrid system because the engine needs to run continuously. That has a much greater impact on mileage in full hybrids (like the Prius, etc) but does have some effect on mpgs in "mild hybrids" like the LC.
Ah that is super helpful to know and understand... thx
I feel the same. The purported 23/25 mpg was one of the key factors in my decision to buy this vehicle. Had I known I'd only get 16 mpg, I would have probably gone with the Lexus GX550 or the Defender.
And before people chime in with the "you should study manufacturer's test method blah blah blah"...I never expected to get 23/25. However, I think my expectation of around 20 combined city/highway is not unrealistic.
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I'll wait until my mpgs level off before I call Toyota this or that. With 21 tanks and no change to my driving style, each month's average is better than the last. 18.4 in August, 19.3 in September and 20.1 in October so far. I have no illusions this will go to Prius levels, but I suspect it's going to be good enough, all things considered.
I don’t know what you’re doing but 16mpg is well below what this truck is capable of. If you’re solely doing city driving then I hate to break it to you but you bought the wrong tool for the job.
For reference, I spend about 60% highway, 30% city, 10% off road, and average 23mpg between the three. For the size of the vehicle that’s pretty good, though premium fuel is a bit of a souring point
