vipergts

Hi Folks,

Drove from VA to DE - about 200 miles. All highway driving for the most part but the 03 Ls430 could not manage anything over 23 MPG. Speed was between 60 -80mph...just cruising and never pushing the car. AC was off most of the time. Tire inflation about 33 PSI. Was NOT using Power or Snow mode. Car just had the 60K servicing done by Lexus...

I have seen many folks her talk about 26-29mpg on long highway trips. What could be the problem?

Thanks!

Viper

sojah

iTrader: (1)

well in my old gs400 those numbers were only achievable when it was set on cruise and instead of traveling 200 miles, traveling a full tank like 400 miles and 100% highway not mixed. like set on 70 mph for a whole tank i would get around 27 mpg, i'm sure my ls430 is the same, but i've yet to travel that far in it.



________________________
GO RAVENS!!!

sojah

iTrader: (1)

BTW, I get about 23 average in mixed driving (70% hghy 30% city) currently in my ls430.

DrJfrmLA

I'm averaging about 21-22 in mixed driving. I get 26-28 on the interstate (depending on speed). It may be the 6-speed transmission in my '04 and the resulting "extra low" final drive ratio accounts for what I consider pretty good mileage.

My '04 S430 Mercedes has a 7-speed transmission and it consistently averages a couple of miles better than the Lexus both in mixed driving and highway driving. Since the two are roughly the same weight and horsepower, I'll attribute the difference to the extra gear in the MRZ.

In both cases, though, the cars are driven gently with no "stop light grans prix" or more than the usual use of lower gears on the highway. Driving style has more to do with gas mileage than any other single factor, particularly in stop-and-go driving. I have (expired) competition driving licenses with two sanctioning bodies, but my street driving is mostly defensive and gentle. There are too many lunatics out there texting while driving and consumed with road rage to join in the demolition derby that usually results.

campisi

23 is low for a LS430 all highway. You got non-stock wheels?

lxus4xms

Well I drove my LS430 to Ottawa today and got 30 MPG in poor weather. Drove my RX330 back from Ottawa and got 25 MPG. Not bad at all

AlexusAnja

WHAT THE??? What is that in metrics? ha ha.

Those are some darn good numbers, and if your calculation or the onboard computer calculation is correct, you must have put on cruise control with most of your trip down hill...

Gotta love these Lexus' if you drive them right...

lxus4xms

Nope I drove it at 80K (50 MPG) easy on the pedal due to snow covered roads. The Ls always shows better numbers than the RX No cruise. For all of you southerners DO NOT use cruise in the snow or on wet pavement. I still can't understand the laser cruise anyway

KILLERGS4

did you have 4 adults in the car with luggage??? that will lead to poorer MPG, I get about 26-28 on highway myself on long distance runs... but I use distronic cruise control...

KILLERGS4

you got to use premium gas, windows up, check tire pressure, and clean air filter. you should be straight.

vipergts

Thanks for the tips - filter is 2 weeks old , windows were up, using premium gas (93 Exxon) - I think it could be due to the tire inflation and the fact I did not use Cruise Control at all - should these things be enough to rob 3-4 mpg though?

TJW98LS

iTrader: (1)

Here in Lexington, I would get 16MPG with bumper to bumper traffic in my LS400. I am driving the same in my LS430 and I'm getting 19. Not bad at all.

AlexusAnja

Cruise control is very important in fuel efficiency. It keeps the throttle steady because we may think out foot is steady at 65mph, but our foots are about as steady as buoy in the ocean during a hurricane. It's the subtle movement of our feet that decreases the efficiency. When we "think" we did a constant 65-70 mph, we probably in reality did 60-80 mph with variances all in between between stretches.

On long trips, try the cruise and you'll much better numbers.

sojah

iTrader: (1)

yeah man like alexus said cruise is very important for mpg's. i'd like to think i'm pretty good at holding one consistent speed with my foot but i get like 1.5-2 better mpg with cruise on the whole trip...

AlexusAnja

Amen to that... when my Integra's cruise was working, I could get 36 mpg on highway easily, but since the cruise went on me, I've only been able to manage about 33-34 mpg.