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

[DanTMWTMP]

if u stop and go....and drive around locally....14-15 sounds right....but if u drive around the highway/freeway...then something's wrong...

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: 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

Yes, it certainly would. Do not use Premium unless the manual says so, you're robbing yourself of power, MPG, and wallet weight.

That, coulped with using the A/C, could be 2-3, maybe 4MPG... it's still on the low side though..

I would do as suggested and disconnect the battery for a night.

 

[NickE]

My 320i auto (again, BMW straight 6 engine) gives around 37 on motorways, averages (over a month) 26 overall in mixed driving. This is running on Super unleaded (98 RON); I get less mpg using 95 RON.

 

[gwlam12]

i got 16 on my last tank in my solara while driving through the hills of san diego. i bet its the hills that got to me. i get 26 on the highway though.

 

[TechnoKid]

You should check your tire pressure. A 5psi difference can make a 10% difference on your MPG.

 

[vegetation]

Could be normal. Try doing a test tank without running the AC at all. I'll bet it bumps up a few notches. If not, then you got serious problems.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Millennium
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...

LOL, exactly what I was thinking. If I had to sue a car company over a lemon car, I probably wouldn't buy from them in the future.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Millennium
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...

LOL, exactly what I was thinking. If I had to sue a car company over a lemon car, I probably wouldn't buy from them in the future.

Also, isn't the same Camry that had electrical demons awhile ago?

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Millennium
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...

LOL, exactly what I was thinking. If I had to sue a car company over a lemon car, I probably wouldn't buy from them in the future.

Also, isn't the same Camry that had electrical demons awhile ago?

Yeah read the whole post if you want to know the outcome of the electrical problems.

As for me buying another Toyota after having to sue them well I just figured the last car was just a fluke, You know they say toyotas are very reliable so I thought it couldn't happen again. I was wrong

I am not picky, The last car I had the airbag light keep going off, Thats a safety issue EVEN toyota admitted to it. They would replace the sensor, the connector, the airbag but they could not fix the problem. I had my car in service 10+ times before I just got sick of it.

Maybe my family has some kind of curse with toyota I don't know

Also too who ever said I should disconnect the battery overnight to reset the computer, I've had so many problems with the electrical side of my car But now its working great so I don't want to mess with anything electrical.

Bottomline is I guess if the manual says I should get 20 in the city and thats under optimal conditions I guess if I get 14-15 its normal I do live in So CAL, Plus I put 91 octane.

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: Epoman

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Millennium
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...

LOL, exactly what I was thinking. If I had to sue a car company over a lemon car, I probably wouldn't buy from them in the future.

Also, isn't the same Camry that had electrical demons awhile ago?

Yeah read the whole post if you want to know the outcome of the electrical problems.

As for me buying another Toyota after having to sue them well I just figured the last car was just a fluke, You know they say toyotas are very reliable so I thought it couldn't happen again. I was wrong

I am not picky, The last car I had the airbag light keep going off, Thats a safety issue EVEN toyota admitted to it. They would replace the sensor, the connector, the airbag but they could not fix the problem. I had my car in service 10+ times before I just got sick of it.

Maybe my family has some kind of curse with toyota I don't know

Also too who ever said I should disconnect the battery overnight to reset the computer, I've had so many problems with the electrical side of my car But now its working great so I don't want to mess with anything electrical.

Bottomline is I guess if the manual says I should get 20 in the city and thats under optimal conditions I guess if I get 14-15 its normal I do live in So CAL, Plus I put 91 octane.

Does the manual say to put in 91 octane? It is very difficult to get a dealer to deal with a gas mileage problem.

 

[Rogue]

Hmmm... my 2002 Stratus Sedan averages over 26mpg city/highway combined. I just hit 36000 miles and I'd have to say that up until about 25k miles or so, I was averaging 23mpg. It's a V-6 2.7L I think. That doesn't sound right.

 

[isekii]

15 mpg doesn't seem to unreasonable.

I get about 18ish-20 ish and I barely run the AC. I do have lead foot tho.


If you have a lead foot, and you have the AC all day long then 15mpg sounds reasonable.

 

[Ladies Man]

use 87 octane unless your manual tells you otherwise

 

[isekii]

I think the V6 in the XLE requires premium.

Not too sure which engine it is.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I get 15MPG city (lowest I've ever recieved, and that was when I went drag racing), and 18 with my standard commute (60% highway) w/ the AC pumping in my Dakota, and I have a V8. My mom's '91 Cherokee w/ the 4.0 I6 gets 15 city. Though I've heard that Kia Sorentos get 13-14MPG with thier V6.

Edit: my previous car was a 200,000+ mile old Grand Prix with no major work that got 23-28MPG with a lead foot.

15 seems a bit low.

 

[Descartes]

I get a little over 20mpg in my 350Z with the AC on full blast, and I drive it like I stole it.

 

[Epoman]

Yes the manual SAYS I should put 91 or higher because of my engine type, They recommend 87 or higher BUT then they say for better perfomance I should use 91 or higher. I guess it has to do with the high compression factor.

BUT and this is a BIG BUT according to the EPA they say higher octane make NO difference in reliability or performance. And that its a waste of money. That using Regular Unleaded is fine (87 octane). SOOOO who do I believe the EPA or Toyota????

Also according to the EPA's website (fueleconomy.gov or.com) my car does not make it in the list of MOST fuel efficient cars

Honda does, I was told to buy a Honda

 

[Ladies Man]

Originally posted by: Epoman
Yes the manual SAYS I should put 91 or higher because of my engine type, They recommend 87 or higher BUT then they say for better perfomance I should use 91 or higher. I guess it has to do with the high compression factor.

BUT and this is a BIG BUT according to the EPA they say higher octane make NO difference in reliability or performance. And that its a waste of money. That using Regular Unleaded is fine (87 octane). SOOOO who do I believe the EPA or Toyota????

Also according to the EPA's website (fueleconomy.gov or.com) my car does not make it in the list of MOST fuel efficient cars

Honda does, I was told to buy a Honda

If your engine can adjust the timing and such on it's own what octane gas you put in does make a big difference. Since you manual says to use it, use it. Otherwise you could hurt the engine.
An old engine like mine, 5.0, if i put in anything higher than 87 octane it actually hurts my performance.
I get 15mpg with my big ol V8 :beer:

 

[LAUST]

20 is what it's rated for?

that really seems low

 

[Epoman]

Originally posted by: LAUST
20 is what it's rated for?

that really seems low

YEAP the sticker reads 20MPG City 28MPG Highway.

I noticed it was kinda low when I bought the car but I thought I would get at least 20

The V6 camry is not one of the most fuel efficient cars out there.

 

[dman]

Seems low, compared to my 96 V6 which still gets 23-25 in mixed driving, (auto trans). Mostly in the city though.

The 2003 has a bigger/more powerful v6 so it may not be as good on the gas.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

First of all, check your tire pressure!!! I can make a BIG difference in mileage. Second of all, don't use the A/C in city driving!! It uses more gas when you use it. Keep the sunroof/windows open. I never use AC unless I'm on the highway.

Our 99 Maxima (which requires premium and is known to drink gas) gets approx 500km (city) on a 65L tank. You should be getting much better mileage than the Maxima. Btw, in a 50/50 highway-city driving, I once reached 600km on a tank of gas!!!

 

[PricklyPete]

That is definitely low. I had a '92 Camry with V6...while a very different body style, the weight/engine hasn't changed that much. If anything you should get better gas mileage...and I usually got around 19-21 around the city and 24-26 on highway. Check to make sure there is nothing blocking the air filter.

Honestly though, try to drive lightly and give it a few k more...and let us know.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Syringer
Your car is suffering from lead foot tendencies. Ease up on the gas a bit.

And yes, AC can decrease your mileage..

My thoughts exactly. What kind of traffic do you drive in, and in what city?

I agree with another poster, that you should check out the highway mileage, and go by that. There are far too many variables in city driving.

BTW, in my deep urban 100% stop and go driving (similar to the kind of driving a taxi does), I always get a few MPG less than what the sticker says for city, no matter what car. The A/C only makes it worse.

 

[CraigRT]

first couple thousand miles are not as efficient as when it's broken in
it's common for you rmileage to be lower when the car is new