I bought a used 2001 RX300 and I am not happy with its gas milage. According to the documentation it claims to get 23 miles per gallon on the highway, but the car mileage computer shows around 17mpg (55mph) and I am using 92 octane gas. Should I go to the dealer to check my car or it this normal?
Thank you in advance!

 

But are your driving it on the highway.

I used to live in the DC Area and I was getting rougly what you are getting, but after some highway trips, it would average about 23.5. When I did more city driving about 19.7.

That MPG tool takes all averages, not just your highway.

Incidentally, here in Mexico City, I average about 13.5, but then think about what you know about this city and you will realize 1) I do mostly city driving, 2) I am about 1.5 miles high in elevation.

Fill up with some Chevron or buy some Techron. I was getting 10.5 MPG when I first came here, and found out my injectors were a little clogged.

 

Thank you for reply! I am driving on highway. So far I learned that I have to change air filter and follow your advice - clean injectors with Techron. I'll try it!

Thanks.

 

lk,

Don't forget that the computer can display current and average fuel efficiency. If you are looking at the average, be sure to reset it back to 0 while you are at highway speeds, if you want to try and get a more accurate reading. Otherwise, the average mpg will be for all city and highway driving.

 

Keep in mind how you drive (your acceleration, deceleration tecniques) makes the difference in being under the piblished average or over. You can easily see the difference by driving with the trip computer set to "Current MPG" (not Avg.). One will see that when accelerating, the MPG will be in single digits. This alone can make the difference. Try to accelerate from a stop by never hitting the single digits. One will easily beat the published numbers.

Also, clean your injectors - good advice Lexmexico!

 

Also make sure your tire pressures are correct. I run the pressures in my IS about 3 lbs. higher than recommended and that seems to help.

 

On my 99 RX, I have 235-70-16 Michelin Cross Terrains. I run 35 on the rears and 32 in the front, and it seems to get much better mileage and not as hard going over speed bumps.

 

The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns

 

Hope this never happen to my RX300.
I put new tires (Yokohama), new airfilter, added fluid for cleaning injection system to the gas tank. Will see
if my mpg will change.

 

what kind of yoko's did you put on your rx?...i'm looking at geolandar ht-s 051...any info would be helpful...thx...Rob

 

I bought "P225/70SR-16 Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051" from www.tirerack.com
I paid $75 for each tire. I like these tires, they are very quiet on the highway and good in the heavy rain with speed about 60 mph. I don't know about snow conditions, but I am sure they will be perfect! You can read reviews on that website about all tires from people. Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S G051 had the best reviews and parameters.
P.S. Service on this website is awesome and delivery is fast!

 

thx...how is the ride and cornering?...i checked out the info on the tirerack and the reviews...as you know, it's a new tire and the number of reviews is small compared to others -- including the Michelin cross terrains...and most of the reviewers had "true" trucks -- nothing in the class of the RX...any other info would be great...Rob

 

Well.. I am not a big specialist to talk about cornering, I think it is between good and very good :-)
I 've got good recomendations from the guy who was working for many years with tires. All his cars have Yokohamas. One of them is Jeep Grand Cherokee with Yokos and last winter (we had a lot of snow) they showed the best performance. Plus price $75 per tire - awesome!

Cheers!

 

thx...TOTALLY agree on the price...and i think they look cooler than the others, too; including the michelin cross terrains...here's a couple pages from a Japan site i found of the yokohama geolandars...(also love the "skirting" on this car)...enjoy...Rob

www.ne.jp/asahi/kumetsu/harrier/geo/geo1.html
www.ne.jp/asahi/kumetsu/harrier/geo/geo2.html

 

Yes, it looks nice. Haven't seen this "skirting" over here.
I know that you can buy it from Japan, shipment will be expencive.
www.japanparts.com.