Some questions - 98 Camry

[hugo]

Got 98 Camry - 54K. While checking - everything looked good, now after abit driving it - getting 18 mpg on it (checked with 3 full tank fill-ups) - which is kinda low I think - even with 100% suburbs driving (some stop signs and some lengths at 60mph). So started looking around - air filter brand new, checked spark plugs - found Platinum +4 installed - clean, nice - nothing special, oils just changed, nothing bad from exhaust. What bothered me a bit is when I open engine oil cap can get light gas smell - this is normal? What else to check? O2 sensor? One before cathalytic or the one after? Or both? Any other ideas? Sorry, not very strong in cars - better in electronics

[98CamryLE]

Where are you? Sometimes climate and temp can really do bad things to gas mileage. I live in Wisconsin, and usually get about 25mpg, but when it gets really cold, my mileage dips down to about 18mpg. It was really cold here the week before Christmas, and when I filled up a few days ago, I figured out that I got about 18.5mpg.

[hugo]

Chicago subs...
Yes, it was one cold week, but since November climate was ok, and still was 18mpg nailed...hmmm

Sorry, 4cyl...

[jhbhatia]

you didn't say if your a i4 or a v6. City driving camry gives lousy milage. I get 240 from a tank of premium gas in city driving on my v6 camry. Dearler maintained (all tranny flushes, sparks, timing, ignition wires changed with OEM parts) and i'm only at 72K miles. At best, i'd say get your EFI service done and don't forget to add that fuel injector cleaner every 3K miles in your gas tank. Other than that, i think your getting what others are getting for city driving...I've had domestics in the past, city driving the EAT up the gas big time, count your blessings its a toyota!

[LWF]

check ur tire pressure, low tire pressure gives bad mileages........

[00SolaraV6]

Errr.. the 4-cylinder 98 LE here is barely under 1/2 tank after 300 miles. Get 500+ miles every single tank, mix of city and highway. It is so ridiculous, I know.

106k miles.

[500KCamry]

Dittp 00SolaraV6,

My 500K km 95 I4 still get 900 km on a tank in the summer 25C average. In Winter -20C average it drops quite a bit, probably to about 700 km or 750km. These are highway.

I just got a 50K km 2001 V6 and noted that it might get 700K in the winter -20C (highway). Have to see what it's like when it warms up. But I was impressed with it in the city, the mileage seemed much better than I expected.

It's weird and almost opposite of what I would have imagined. I thought the 01 V6 did better in the city that the 95 I4. Whereas on the highway, it seemed the 95 I4 did much better than the 01 V6.

I drive pretty conservately, slow acceleration/stopping, about 100-110 km/hr on the highway (60 mph).

[95camguy]

i just got over 29 mpg on a 450 mile round trip from RI to NH in my 95 1mz-fe on premium fuel.

[LWF]

holy sh!t, 900km per tank??? how big is ur gas tank??? how can you get that?? any special tricks???

the best i've ever got is 640km b4 the lite just come on, it was 70%city n 25% highway.........

[wormhole]

best i ever got was 41 mpg going cross country. If all highway i get around 580 miles on a tank but around town as of lat about 20 mpg

[LWF]

will get better mileage if i put those MSD ignition thing in my car or change spark plug wires????Theorically, it should, since it will make big enough spark to burn all the oil in there, n the spark plug wires will reduce the resistance vs, the OEM one, but i am not sure.........

[00SolaraV6]

I've actually been pretty fascinated by the outstanding consistent gas mileage the Camry provides. The other car, a 99 Accord four-cylinder, does great sometimes and other times it sucks. The big difference is, as far as I know, the difference in the way we drive the Camry and the Accord. The Camry just feels good to cruise at 55. It's a relaxing, easy-going kind of car that is treated easily. The Accord feels like it is sitting still at 55 and it doesn't feel right until 80. That has a lot to do with it, but nevertheless, the Camry gets better mileage (but is also weaker) and its tank is 1.4 gallons bigger so it has a longer range.

I say get the car in question in this thread checked out. It should be doing much better.

[95camguy]

Originally Posted by 00SolaraV6

I say get the car in question in this thread checked out. It should be doing much better.

^^^^agreed

[hugo]

Thanks for input!
I'll try couple things and if that doesn't improve, will go for a checkup