RickC5

On trips back-and-forth to town (12 miles away) to shop, we average 25-27 mpg. On a recent 2000 mile trip to Southern Kalifornia, we averaged 29-31 mpg UNTIL we got to LA, when we drove lots of surface streets with lots of lights and freeway speeds were almost always 75-80 mph unless traffic was stopped. Anyway, our mileage dropped to 21-22 while in LA. I've never seen it so low. On the way home, it jumped back up to 29-31 mpg.

IMHO, 10% ethanol = 10% worse mileage.

BTW- We use regular gas consistently.

Macklin

Wow! I would not accept 16 mpg under any circumstances. That needs to be checked as something is amiss.

I have averaged 24+ mpg in town over the last 6 years on mid grade fuel. That's computer read out that is typically 1 to 1.5 inflated. I do always coast as much as I can and especially like the previous comment about Lexus overestimating mpg while coasting.

RyanC

iTrader: (1)

BTW- I just noticed the OP, Macklin and myself are all from VA. I'm normally driving in the Sterling / Herndon / Reston area (Lots of Algonkian Parkway and Fairfax County Parkway) if you're from the area - it may give you an indication of my daily commute.

If you're in that same area - 16mpg is probably really off - and I'd definitely check out tire pressure and try gas from somewhere else - and if all else fails, try to go to the dealership. Which dealership do you use?

lipappy

RyanC, I'm in Tysons but I work in Falls Church City. My commute, and pretty much what I'm basing the 16 mpg on, is a 10 minute ride on a small two-lane road that gets backed up, as it is a main access road to our nearest metro stop. When I'm not on this road commuting, I'm doing small roads in and around Tysons and McLean. So I guess a lot of my driving is crawling and bumper-to-bumper, except that I'm not on a highway. I talked to the dealer (Pohanka) and the service guy said the 16 mpg doesn't sound too unreasonable. I'm going to have them check out the car at my first maintenance in October.

SW17LS

Remember than when you're stopped, your MPG is 0. So when the computer is working an average, its computing that time at 0 into the overall average which hurts the number.

There's city driving, and then theres Northern VA driving. People who don't live here don't get it lol, its not suburban driving traffic light to traffic light. Its driving when you are literally stopped 70% of the time on surface streets.

RyanC

iTrader: (1)

Makes sense - part of the issue too maybe that most of your driving is when the car hasn't fully warmed up on such a short commute and with that - you may not be getting the optimal mpg rating.

If you have very low mileage on your 2012, it is also possible that the car will get better gas mileage as the engine breaks in. In some cars, the car will continue to get better gas mileage over the first 10k miles.

I would still check your tire pressure though. In the ES350, unfortunately the car does not tell you the air pressure, it only shows the Low Pressure Warning light to tell you when the air pressure is low (I don't know the exact number but typically it is going to be around a 5-8psi drop). On average, even just a 3psi drop in tire pressure can impact your gas mileage.

RickC5

Yes, yes, & yes. If you're not running 35 lbs. of tire pressure already, do so ASAP. It will actually help your mileage. I run 35 consistently on all our cars.

LexBob2

The two dealerships that I use for service both inflate tires to 35 psi even though Lexus recommends less. I run 34-35 psi too.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

At 35lb,you lose smooth ride quality,though.I go 31 a pound over the door tag reading and still average 23 combo driving.Over 30 on the highway at 75 MPH.

SW17LS

Yeah I think the car rides poorly on 35 PSI. I bought the car for the ride.

I run 31 and I get 23 comb/city, 30 hwy.

Macklin

OH my how true! Been there done that and know exactly what you mean. I hate having to drive to NorVA. I'm in VA Beach and even hop up onto the freeway for local trips as often as I can.

I take back what I said about the 16 being way off. Still sounds low though.

Joeb427

iTrader: (1)

Same here!

lipappy

Thanks for the comments, guys. I'll check my tire pressure this evening and let you know if adding more makes a substantial difference.

bobsobi

I lived in Arlington back in the 80s, and I remember gridlock on the secondaries in and around Springfield Saturday mornings!

16 mpg sounds like a reasonable average for the horror that is local NoVA traffic.

lipappy

Yes, the more I think about my driving experiences here, the more confident I feel that 16 mpg is normal. If I'm not sitting in traffic, I'm sitting at a red light, stop sign or in a fast food drive-thru line.