Terrible MPG LS 500: 15MPG???
10-01-18 | 03:17 PM
#31
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 894
Likes: 253
From: califronia
Thank you for sharing your experience. Mine is back to 15-16mpg range again, 70% city. It has 4000 miles now, is it still considered break-in period? What can I do to improve?
to improve the gas mileage
the factors are throttle response
eco setting instead of normal
no A/C or high temp a/c to cut down on compressor use
the 15 or 16 mpg will not change with 70% or 60% city, the car will get 15 mpg in normal driving around town for short distances
one other factor shell 93 v power or 91 on west coast will get better mpg than chevron or costco
good luck
to improve the gas mileage
the factors are throttle response
eco setting instead of normal
no A/C or high temp a/c to cut down on compressor use
the 15 or 16 mpg will not change with 70% or 60% city, the car will get 15 mpg in normal driving around town for short distances
one other factor shell 93 v power or 91 on west coast will get better mpg than chevron or costco
good luck
10-02-18 | 01:34 PM
#34
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,846
Likes: 115
From: Sacramento, CA
The LS 460 only keeps "last mode used" for Eco, Comfort, or Normal. Sport/Sport+ will revert to Normal at the next engine start. Interesting thread about the LS 500 MPG. I expected better MPG improvements when Lexus went to the 3.5L TT V6 for the LS. I am sure the LS 500 is an exhilarating ride though. Enjoy!
10-02-18 | 09:00 PM
#35
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 37
Likes: 16
From: CA
I bought this used at 2500 miles. When I got it, it showed 14.7 mpg, I thought that was something unusual. I drove 500 miles from San Diego to San Francisco and got 27 mpg average 78mph.
Now back to home, we drive a mixed city and highway, for this new tank (chevron) about 50/50 City/highway, I watched the mpg kept dropping, all the way to now 15.3 mpg. This is beyond miserable. I would expect it to be around 22-23.
Anyone else experienced such a terrible mpg? Could something be terribly wrong and caused it? What should I check?
Thank you in advance for sharing your information.
Now back to home, we drive a mixed city and highway, for this new tank (chevron) about 50/50 City/highway, I watched the mpg kept dropping, all the way to now 15.3 mpg. This is beyond miserable. I would expect it to be around 22-23.
Anyone else experienced such a terrible mpg? Could something be terribly wrong and caused it? What should I check?
Thank you in advance for sharing your information.
05-07-19 | 06:47 PM
#36
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 5
From: FL
I bought the car brand new, using 91 Costco gas. 4600 miles on odometer. Average speed for me is 16mph since I bought it. I dont use the highway at all and drive to work with a ton of lights. I use sports mode about 50% of the time and drive relatively aggressive. The consumption is 12.9mpg.
You guys bought a powerful responsive car and are talking about driving in eco mode and mpg. seriously??? Forget eco mode. All about having fun driving and I don't care about mpg.
You guys bought a powerful responsive car and are talking about driving in eco mode and mpg. seriously??? Forget eco mode. All about having fun driving and I don't care about mpg.
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05-08-19 | 04:25 AM
#37
I bought this used at 2500 miles. When I got it, it showed 14.7 mpg, I thought that was something unusual. I drove 500 miles from San Diego to San Francisco and got 27 mpg average 78mph.
Now back to home, we drive a mixed city and highway, for this new tank (chevron) about 50/50 City/highway, I watched the mpg kept dropping, all the way to now 15.3 mpg. This is beyond miserable. I would expect it to be around 22-23.
Anyone else experienced such a terrible mpg? Could something be terribly wrong and caused it? What should I check?
Thank you in advance for sharing your information.
Now back to home, we drive a mixed city and highway, for this new tank (chevron) about 50/50 City/highway, I watched the mpg kept dropping, all the way to now 15.3 mpg. This is beyond miserable. I would expect it to be around 22-23.
Anyone else experienced such a terrible mpg? Could something be terribly wrong and caused it? What should I check?
Thank you in advance for sharing your information.
05-08-19 | 10:55 AM
#39
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 43
Likes: 5
From: MA
I get 20MPG for driving 90% highway(semi spirited driving) during weekdays and 90% city during weekends. I have seen 22-24MPG if I am 100% on highway and is just cruising.
If any week I am primarily doing city driving, it changes to 16-18MPG range.
In my driving style I don't see much of a difference in normal vs sport driving.
My previous GS350 was more consistently at 24MPG. and was around 18-20 range if primarily doing city driving.
Hope this helps.
If any week I am primarily doing city driving, it changes to 16-18MPG range.
In my driving style I don't see much of a difference in normal vs sport driving.
My previous GS350 was more consistently at 24MPG. and was around 18-20 range if primarily doing city driving.
Hope this helps.
05-12-19 | 01:24 PM
#41
Driver
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 113
Likes: 2
From: CA
Having owned a LS460 and a previous generation Cayenne Turbo, I can tell you that San Francisco is a killer for fuel economy. On the highway I was getting 27+ mpg on the Cayenne Turbo but closer to 13-14 mpg in the city with just normal stop and go in sunset/richmond.
05-25-19 | 10:23 PM
#42
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 34
Likes: 5
From: CA
7500 miles later my average mpg increased to 19.8. However I can’t quantify the local vs highway. It’s definitely better than the terrible 14-15. I did add marvel oil a few times. Maybe it helps?
05-27-19 | 02:18 PM
#43
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: TX
LS 500 Requires a Gentle Foot
I think oldcajun had the right idea when he said:
My first impression when I got the LS 500 was that it got worse mileage than my LS 460 or my LS 400 for the same routes, gas and driving style. In theory, the V-6 should be able to do better but, what I have found in practice is, those thirsty turbos are just waiting to put a big hole in your tank if you are the least aggressive in your driving. My LS 460 V-8 mileage was less sensitive to aggressive driving than the LS 500. It is also true that the LS 500 will do better than the LS 460 on the road with highway driving and cruise control so you aren't tickling the turbos.
I get about 17 MPG on regular gas around town using the Eco mode and radar cruise. Premium (what the sticker was based on) will increase my mileage by ~2 MPG but that does not make up for the price markup for premium in Dallas. I find the Eco mode is just fine with the transmission smoothly shifting up into the tall gears to safe fuel.
The LS 500 is a great car.
"It seems to be a common complaint that turbocharged engines have problems meeting the EPA ratings in normal driving, particularly in town. Just a little bit of aggressive driving will result in high fuel consumption when the turbo boost kicks in. This issue is not unique to the LS500."
My first impression when I got the LS 500 was that it got worse mileage than my LS 460 or my LS 400 for the same routes, gas and driving style. In theory, the V-6 should be able to do better but, what I have found in practice is, those thirsty turbos are just waiting to put a big hole in your tank if you are the least aggressive in your driving. My LS 460 V-8 mileage was less sensitive to aggressive driving than the LS 500. It is also true that the LS 500 will do better than the LS 460 on the road with highway driving and cruise control so you aren't tickling the turbos.
I get about 17 MPG on regular gas around town using the Eco mode and radar cruise. Premium (what the sticker was based on) will increase my mileage by ~2 MPG but that does not make up for the price markup for premium in Dallas. I find the Eco mode is just fine with the transmission smoothly shifting up into the tall gears to safe fuel.
The LS 500 is a great car.
05-30-19 | 06:34 AM
#44
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
From: Pennsylvania
I have a RWD F-Sport LS 500 and I average at about +/- 20 mpg driving mostly on Normal mode. If I use Sport+ mode very often this drops to around 17 mpg or slightly less. Fuel wise, all these numbers are while using Shell 95 octane V-power mostly. I mostly drive in city (+/- 80%) with some highway drive.
The best ever consumption I manged to achive was +/- 35 mpg while driving at 84 mph (cruise control) for 3 hours in a long straight empty 4 lane road, so literally I didn't accelerate or decelerate even once at this strech of road. I was using 98 octane fuel in this particular event.
The best ever consumption I manged to achive was +/- 35 mpg while driving at 84 mph (cruise control) for 3 hours in a long straight empty 4 lane road, so literally I didn't accelerate or decelerate even once at this strech of road. I was using 98 octane fuel in this particular event.
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aypues (06-11-19)
05-30-19 | 06:40 AM
#45
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 13
Likes: 3
From: Pennsylvania
I bought the car brand new, using 91 Costco gas. 4600 miles on odometer. Average speed for me is 16mph since I bought it. I dont use the highway at all and drive to work with a ton of lights. I use sports mode about 50% of the time and drive relatively aggressive. The consumption is 12.9mpg.
You guys bought a powerful responsive car and are talking about driving in eco mode and mpg. seriously??? Forget eco mode. All about having fun driving and I don't care about mpg.
You guys bought a powerful responsive car and are talking about driving in eco mode and mpg. seriously??? Forget eco mode. All about having fun driving and I don't care about mpg.
The following users liked this post:
BuyingLX (07-03-21)