kennymacks

Lobux, I recognize that you are a well respected member of this forum, but please don't accuse me of blatantly deceiving people. I read about the efficiency of having secondary port injection on the 2011 and thought it was a new feature.

I stand corrected about the port injection being new, OK? I hope I haven't caused too much damage to this forum by trying to contribute and making a mistake. I think I'll just remain a reader instead of a writer.

darrelld

I noticed this bump in 2011 epa ratings as well. So far it seems no one knows for sure why the increase in ratings.

Judging by the amount of increase it could be the IS350 is getting Toyotas new
Valvematic technology promised in 2007.

http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/07/0612.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHNXbGGvOdc

soupdawg

my window sticker thing says in small print under the mpg rating that most drivers will see 21-29 mpg range. when i go from southern to northern cali im usually getting 27-29 mpg the entire trip. i guess they found most people getting around 28 mpg and thus change the rating.

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

They can't just change it based on what "most people" say.

The number on the window is the result of testing done (by the car maker) according to EPA guidelines.

As I said earlier, they switched to thinner oil. That's almost certainly the reason the numbers went up.

darrelld

According the Mobil, the most oil viscosity could improve fuel economy is 2%. The 2011 jumped by more than 10%. Could be a combination of the oil Viscosity and Valvematic to result in the improvements.

"*Based on 20 MPG, $3/gal gasoline and a potential 2% fuel economy improvement (based on a comparison versus those grades most commonly used). Actual savings are dependent upon vehicle/engine type, outside temperature, driving conditions and your current engine oil viscosity."
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...l_1_0W-20.aspx

Valvematic is supposed to also bump HP ratings by up to 10%, that would make the 3.5L around 330hp similar to the Infiniti G37. You would think at least the improved EPA rating would be worth a mention somewhere in the marketing material.

Toymota

What about reprogramming the automatic shift points and the throttle mappings? Has anyone driven a 2011 to see?

Kurtz

iTrader: (1)

The fact they've made no changes to the listed HP (but did to the listed MPG) suggests to me they didn't change anything at all about the engine.

Mobil 1 has a vested interest in not overstating what the lower viscosity oil can do...

While Lexus can self-report their EPA MPG test results and insure they get the most optimal result possible with the lower viscosity oil.

(and the fact that the "new" figures are now closer to both what the original IS350 mpg ratings were, and more in line with real world results, makes me think they just went conservative when they first re-rated with the new EPA test, and now they've figure out how to "optimize" the testing results, plus whatever the lighter oil gave em too).

Leander311

iTrader: (2)

Did anyone ever learn a more definite answer to this question? It would seem someone at Toyota/Lexus should know and would be proud to share why... Esp given the significant 10% change. The truck ads go on for days for a 5% change, so what gives here??

kevhitch

I have an 07 IS350 and I just pulled out the window sticker and it says the averages are 21 and 28. Maybe I'm missing something here...