Only getting about 12 MPG City on 2008 I4 Camry - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

voton91 · 11-23-2008, 06:06 PM

I'm wondering if anybody had this problem before. I leased my 2008 Camry LE I4 about a year ago. Up until now the gas mileage was pretty good, usually about 20 in the city. All of a sudden I noticed that the gas gauge was going down much quicker than usual. Now im only getting about 12 mpg. I thought it might be a bad batch of gas, but I tried filling up at a different station and have teh same issue. Has anybdoy had this happen before or have any ideas about what can try?

Fobanginvtek · 11-23-2008, 06:48 PM

I dunno...not that bad..maybe try cleaning/replacing air filter. Or check your tire psi? Could help a little

DrewsCam · 11-23-2008, 07:25 PM

12 wtf, are you doing some hard driving?
Flooring it from a stop etc, alot of excess weight, low tire pressure?

MrSo0h0o · 11-23-2008, 07:29 PM

12mpg is really bad.. i have had problems with low mpg in city driving but maybe 16 mpg at the lowest.. I would def. check tire pressure, excess weight, and your right foot..

b0r1cha · 11-23-2008, 07:30 PM

jeez 12mpg is HORRIBLE. i have a v6 and once in a while ill wanna have alil fujn so ill go through a tank of gas driving with a heavy feet but still i get about 17 at the lowest.... u got major problems i think my friend.

voton91 · 11-23-2008, 07:47 PM

I dont accelerate hard or speed at all. I've checked the tire pressure, I always keep all 4 tires at 32 psi. I have maybe 20 pounds of stuff in my trunk. I'm not sure what else to check

njerald · 11-23-2008, 07:56 PM

Do you ever get out on the highway?

If you fill it up and drive 60-70 mph for 100-200 miles and don't get well over 30 mpg, then it is something major with intake/combustion buildup or your emissions systems is letting you run very rich.

You dealer can put in on a scope and check everything.

I would have to sit and idle for about 50% of my driving to get down to 12 mpg.

My lowest mpg for a tankful is 22.71 (I've had 90 fillups) but that is not true city driving with lights every block either.

MrSo0h0o · 11-23-2008, 07:56 PM

How long have you had 12mpg? I would put more air in your tires.. I usually run at 36-37 PSI. How many miles do you have? A few mpg can be alotted to the change in weather, but not that much.

voton91 · 11-23-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njerald

Do you ever get out on the highway?

If you fill it up and drive 60-70 mph for 100-200 miles and don't get well over 30 mpg, then it is something major with intake/combustion buildup or your emissions systems is letting you run very rich.

You dealer can put in on a scope and check everything.

I would have to sit and idle for about 50% of my driving to get down to 12 mpg.

My lowest mpg for a tankful is 22.71 but that is not true city driving with lights every block either.

I do get out on the highway, I used to get around 30, its been around 22 recently.

I was thinking about goind to the dealer but I'm worried about them trying to charge me some astronomical fee, they seem pretty incompetent. I'm not sure how to prove to them that I even have this issue.

njerald · 11-23-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voton91

I do get out on the highway, I used to get around 30, its been around 22 recently.

I was thinking about goind to the dealer but I'm worried about them trying to charge me some astronomical fee, they seem pretty incompetent. I'm not sure how to prove to them that I even have this issue.

Just a probe in the exhaust should show you are running rich.

Go to another dealer then.....

voton91 · 11-23-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njerald

Just a probe in the exhaust should show you are running rich.

Go to another dealer then.....

Thanks for all the help, I'll make an appointment tomorow. Should this be covered under the warranty? Im not sure what running rich means I'm not very technical with cars.

njerald · 11-23-2008, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voton91

Thanks for all the help, I'll make an appointment tomorow. Should this be covered under the warranty? Im not sure what running rich means I'm not very technical with cars.

Well unless you have a fuel leak, you have way too much fuel going out the tailpipe, whether it is at idle or off idle.

It's a little strange that you don't have a MIL (Check Engine light) showing.

Warranty? Depends on what they find is wrong.

voton91 · 11-23-2008, 08:29 PM

Assuming the issue is "running rich", would that be covered? I've only had the car for a year and have 8000 miles.

njerald · 11-23-2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voton91

Assuming the issue is "running rich", would that be covered? I've only had the car for a year and have 8000 miles.

Demand it. Ask for documentation of what they checked and what they found.

Hopefully you won't have to go to Toyota Headquarters for dealer satisfaction.

warpedrotor · 11-26-2008, 08:48 AM

If your car is leased is it really your problem?
Is it running ok?
If you are making a lot of short trips and the weather is getting colder, (New York State?) your car is running richer simply because the engine is cold and always warming up, my mileage a dropped a bit but noticable because most of our trips are 10-12 miles, the car spends the first 2-3 running rich while it warms up. As njerald suggests take it for a good drive on the highway and check your math!