Horrible gas mileage on 2000 Camry v6? Same results after 90k service

[endervalentine]

I'm getting about 14-15mpg, I'm commuting w/ my car so it's pretty much all city driving. I recently had my car sent in for the 90k service, told the mechanic about the poor mileage and he said he couldn't find anything. Checked the O2 sensors, replaced spark plugs, etc but no red flags.

Only suggestion he had was to try the highest grade Chevron gas on the next tank and alternate that w/ the 87 grade and see if that changes anything.

And no it's not the way I drive, and I don't have the AC on.

Anything else I should check or look into?

 

[MJinZ]

Sounds about right?

You'd have to drive on the highway and compare your combined to get an idea of whether you are having real FE issues or you're just overestimating the fuel economy of a local only old V6s.

 

[jlee]

Sounds about right?

You'd have to drive on the highway and compare your combined to get an idea of whether you are having real FE issues or you're just overestimating the fuel economy of a local only old V6s.

I got better than that with my 3.4l V6 Tacoma 4x4 lifted on 33's..pretty sure he shouldn't be getting 14mpg. I didn't drive 100% city, though.

 

[MJinZ]

My V6 is rated at 19mpg city, but if I drove all City, I'm afraid I would not get 19mpg....

 

[vshah]

i get sub 20 if i'm in stop and go city traffic in my Civic.

 

[punjabiplaya]

I got 30 mpg on a tank with 99% highway. ~17 mpg when I did 80% city. So yeah.

 

[LTC8K6]

It was only rated 17 or 18 city when it was new...

 

[boomerang]

Find out who's siphoning gas from your car.

 

[vshah]

also check your tire pressure, but that won't make a giant difference

 

[reallyscrued]

If I recall correctly, that year V6 requires 87 octane or higher but higher is recommended.

Read your manual or gas cap to see if that's the case.

Otherwise,

 

[Throckmorton]

The O2 sensors could be bad even if they don't throw codes. They degrade

 

[KeithP]

According to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

The car is only rated 17 for the city. Given how the EPA numbers were calculated at the time I would say the mileage you are seeing is probably correct.

-KeithP

 

[exdeath]

Temp sensor? Transmission/torque converter?

Only way to know for sure is confirm the real world mixture with a sniffer. If the a/f is within spec, then it can only be something external like transmission problems, tires, dragging parking brake, etc.

I wouldn't worry about it. Try resetting your trip meter and driving all highway miles for a tank and see if you get 350-450 miles before doing anything else. City mileage is ass for any car.

 

[HarryLui]

You leave in San Francisco, your engine runs at idle doing 0mpg more than anything else...

 

[SparkyJJO]

City mileage is ass for any car.

Yeah except my 98 Camaro gets better city mileage than that :hmm:

Although... wait, San Fransisco, well a lot more idling time there probably so that would play a part of it.

OP - what did it used to get that you're comparing it to?

 

[Lotheron]

People assume that since it's a Toyota it should be getting 30MPG city easy. Unfortunately even Toyota has to follow the laws of thermodynamics.

 

[uclabachelor]

I'm getting about 14-15mpg, I'm commuting w/ my car so it's pretty much all city driving. I recently had my car sent in for the 90k service, told the mechanic about the poor mileage and he said he couldn't find anything. Checked the O2 sensors, replaced spark plugs, etc but no red flags.

Only suggestion he had was to try the highest grade Chevron gas on the next tank and alternate that w/ the 87 grade and see if that changes anything.

And no it's not the way I drive, and I don't have the AC on.

Anything else I should check or look into?

I know the problem. Try replacing your lead foot with a feather one.