2003 Camry V6 XLE Getting 15 Miles per Gallon???? UPDATE UPDATE

[Epoman]

My car is getting about 14-15 miles per gallon, Is that right? the sticker says 20 is about average in the City
The car has been only getting about 14-15 MPG since I bought it NEW. Now it has 2300 miles on it so the breakin period is over.

I DO drive with the AC on ALL THE TIME I have not turned it off since I bought the car, Would that make that much of a difference?

It just seems kinda low too me. Please don't say to it to the dealer, Its a long story If you read my previous car post you will know what I mean.

Anyway tell me your guys milage BUT, Actual no guesses please only reply if you keep an eye on that sort of thing by checking your mileage every time you fill up, Plus your car needs to be a V6 too like mine.

I really don't need to hear how your getting 60MPG in your saturn or civic.

Thanks.

UPDATE!!!!!!

OK I took the car on the highway today drove all the way to San Diego from L.A. I was on empty. So I filled the tank up and I was getting up to 31 MPG according to the computer, it varied from 24 - 27 MPG on average, I drove under 70 most of the way WITH the AC turn up Full Blast !!! AND I put 91 Octane :beer:

Total I put just under 200 miles on the car (To and from plus driving around in old town San Diego) Now I'm home and my computer (in the car) says 26.1 MPG AVG. Not BAD I'm thrilled considering I thought there was a problem with me getting 15 in the city.

Plus the freeway to san diego has some Hills to deal with so I think my car is all right after all :beer:

Also when I put gas I did check the tires for inflation they were cool.

Also I called toyota they verified that the XLE v6 its recommened that you use 91 octane.

PLUS They said in a busy city and if you take small trips 15 MPG is reasonable for the v6.

So everything FINALLY seems to be OK with my CAR

 

[ElFenix]

wait a few thousand more miles... if you're at 10K and still getting that then its excessive

 

[Syringer]

Your car is suffering from lead foot tendencies. Ease up on the gas a bit.

And yes, AC can decrease your mileage..

 

[Mill]

Which transmission do you have? Nevermind, auto only in the 6 cylinder. Well, the AC is a factor of course, but I also wonder how hard you are driving it.

The EPA rating is really under optimum conditions, but I still think 15MPG is below average. How many total miles are you getting out of a tank?

 

[Ryan]

Well, my 200sx gets from 29-32mpg in the city

My older maxima would get 17 mpg in the city while driving (I used to always drive wiht the AC on too), but i noticed if I flogged the gas petal more than usual, I would get 15mpg. It just all depends on how you drive the car.

Anyhow - did your electrical problems ever get worked out with the dealership?

 

[0roo0roo]

sounds absurd, somethings very wrong unless your flooring ALL the time. ac doesn't do much.

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Well, my 200sx gets from 29-32mpg in the city

My older maxima would get 17 mpg in the city while driving (I used to always drive wiht the AC on too), but i noticed if I flogged the gas petal more than usual, I would get 15mpg. It just all depends on how you drive the car.

Anyhow - did your electrical problems ever get worked out with the dealership?

Wow you remember about my problems, Well after 26 days in service (TOTAL) They took it to the factory I recieved my car back 2 weeks ago, and it has been running PERFECT, Toyota will NOT say what they did supposedlly they do not have to say what they did (It was TOYOTA not a dealer) But word is they replaced the main computer but will not admit it.

As for my lemon law case I never started it because my attorney said a demand letter will not work since toyota is taking such a strong stance that the car had NO problems and it would have to go to court and cost ME $$$

Toyota is being a prick with me because I sued them in 98' a lemon corolla I bought and I won so now there pissed.

But All I wanted is my car working fine which it now is. Except for the mileage.

 

[Ryan]

Well, it's good that they took the initiative to find out what was wrong with your car. The probably had it examined by some of the engineers who designed the car to figure out what was wrong (IE - it's probably happening to other customers too).

Try driving around for a few days without your AC on and see what the difference is...

 

[freebee]

15 in the city, stop and go, with AC on is about right. Think about how long it actually takes you to drive a mile in the city...it suddenly becomes much clearer.

Driving in stop and go traffic (rush hour+delays) in NYC means it takes me about 1 hour to move 5-6 miles. LIE same thing between the van wyck and cross island (construction+traffic). So getting 15 is not unreasonable.

Take a highway estimate (non-stop 1 full tank of gas...several if possible) and see if you get in the 25 and up range. If so, the mileage you are experiencing is normal.

 

[brtspears2]

I got a V6 engine in my Malibu. I get about 23 mpg. I try to accelerate slowly, less than 2.5K in normal situations, less than 3K when merging onto freeways. I try to come to "rolling stops" at stoplights, as in slow down enough to time the light, so you dont come to a complete stop and have to start up again. Just don't try to be in a hurry and save the extra 30 seconds a day.

But if I drive like a madman, or somehow get high octane fuel (beats me, cheap fuel works best), my fuel economy suffers. On a long trip, I can get 31mpg, at 75mph with A/C on.

 

[Eli]

Hmmmmm... That is pretty strange.

Does the car seem normal overall?

Anyway.. I would also guess that you've got the leadfoot. Try and drive really ... grandma-like.. and see if your milage improves.

If not.. Hmmm...

Take a long highway drive and see what your milage is.

 

[Mill]

Wait a second. You had a Lemon Toyota before, bought another one, got the shaft again with an electrical problem, and now you are having MPG issues? Either you are too picky or probably shouldn't have bought another Toyota...

 

[FrustratedUser]

15mpg from a 3 liter V6, or is it bigger?

That really is bad.
My 3.8 liter V6 gets around 20-23mpg city and 28-29 highway.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
15mpg from a 3 liter V6, or is it bigger?

That really is bad.
My 3.8 liter V6 gets around 20-23mpg city and 28-29 highway.

do you have your ac on 24/7 ?

 

[freebee]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
15mpg from a 3 liter V6, or is it bigger?

That really is bad.
My 3.8 liter V6 gets around 20-23mpg city and 28-29 highway.

do you have your ac on 24/7 ?

I'm assuming its the 3.8 from GM....those are some of the best v6s in the world. Powerful, fuel-efficent and have served reliaably for generations. When supercharged, they even make great engines for sports sedans.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: freebee

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
15mpg from a 3 liter V6, or is it bigger?

That really is bad.
My 3.8 liter V6 gets around 20-23mpg city and 28-29 highway.

do you have your ac on 24/7 ?

I'm assuming its the 3.8 from GM....those are some of the best v6s in the world. Powerful, fuel-efficent and have served reliaably for generations. When supercharged, they even make great engines for sports sedans.

Yes it's the GM V6 and yes I have the AC on 24/7. AZ requires that most part of the year.

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: Eli
Hmmmmm... That is pretty strange.

Does the car seem normal overall?

Anyway.. I would also guess that you've got the leadfoot. Try and drive really ... grandma-like.. and see if your milage improves.

If not.. Hmmm...

Take a long highway drive and see what your milage is.

Yeah Now except for the milage issue the car is running Like a DREAM runs perfect.

I guess I have a lead foot but my wife does most of the driving and she drives like a old lady going to church

If I go on a long drive (a tank full) what speed is optimum ? I usually drive 70-80 on the highway (Freeway).

I put 91 octane (Calif) no more 92 in most places is So CAL.

 

[luvya]

that's sounds about right especially taking AC and local driving into consideration..

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
15mpg from a 3 liter V6, or is it bigger?

That really is bad.
My 3.8 liter V6 gets around 20-23mpg city and 28-29 highway.

And you got these numbers from actually checking everytime you fill up and dividing? miles/gallons

 

[IamElectro]

Just a couple of suggestions.

Check the owners manual 91 octane may be to much some manufacturers design thier engines to run better on the lower octance gas. My Moms Sebring got better mileage on 87 than 91 22-25 city versus 18-20 w/ 2.7 v6

A/c could affect it but not that much.

You mentioned that you thought they replaced the computer. You may want to try disconnecting the battery overnight then reconnecting it. This should reset the computer and give it a chance to recalibrate itself.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
15mpg from a 3 liter V6, or is it bigger?

That really is bad.
My 3.8 liter V6 gets around 20-23mpg city and 28-29 highway.

And you got these numbers from actually checking everytime you fill up and dividing? miles/gallons

Not every time but often enough to have consistent and reliable numbers.

 

[bolido2000]

Did u check your tires' pressure? If you floor the car all the time I would guess 15mpg sounds reasonable. I get 22mpg in mostly city driving in my Maxima.

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: IamElectro
Just a couple of suggestions.

Check the owners manual 91 octane may be to much some manufacturers design thier engines to run better on the lower octance gas. My Moms Sebring got better mileage on 87 than 91 22-25 city versus 18-20 w/ 2.7 v6

A/c could affect it but not that much.

You mentioned that you thought they replaced the computer. You may want to try disconnecting the battery overnight then reconnecting it. This should reset the computer and give it a chance to recalibrate itself.

Does anyone else think the octane of the gas would affect the mileage?

Also just so everyone knows the manuals says I should get 20 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: freebee

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
15mpg from a 3 liter V6, or is it bigger?

That really is bad.
My 3.8 liter V6 gets around 20-23mpg city and 28-29 highway.

do you have your ac on 24/7 ?

I'm assuming its the 3.8 from GM....those are some of the best v6s in the world. Powerful, fuel-efficent and have served reliaably for generations. When supercharged, they even make great engines for sports sedans.

They are good motors. I've got the supercharged variant and get about 21 mpg in the city.

 

[flood]

I've got a 735i
3.5L straight 6
auto w/AC on most of the time these days.

24mpg on the freeway and 12-18mpg in the city (seattle traffic :roll