Is my gas mileage normal?

[Novice_cardude]

Okay, my Camry is the first ... car i've ever owned, or driven regularly. I grew up driving big tanks. '88 Ford Club Wagon, '89 F-150, '99 Astro... I kinda got used to bad gas mileage.

Right now I only drive maybe 2 miles a day. 1 mile to school, 1 mile back. When i was driving that Chevy Astro I got maybe 12 MPG, because the engine didn't have time to warm up.

Today I filled up and calculated my gas mileage. I'm getting 22 mpg. 5spd, 4cyl... I don't know if that's normal or bad. Situation is, my car doesn't have time to warm up before I turn off the ignition. I even worry that i'm going to be killing batteries left and right because they don't get much of a chance to charge.

I'm thinking of just taking 'er out for a drive ... a long drive ... about every week to stretch her tires and get everything moving all nice. (That would be a chore eh? do nothing but drive for about an hour. )

Anyway, taking into account my extremely short trip, am I getting normal mileage or what?

[95WhiteCamry]

yea, that's actually pretty good for a gen 3 model that doesn't warm up much. i guess you do all city driving and no highway then?

also, its a good idea to take the car out for a drive once to make sure everything is nice and warm. once a week sounds about right. what's the milage on the car? you done any maintenance to it?

and lastly, congrats on finding one in a manual transmission =)

[touringcamry]

If you're doing all or mostly city driving, 22MPG sounds about right.

[604-Mico]

22MPG is the standard for a i4?

I get 20MPG consistently on my v6

??

[HoboJoe]

Originally Posted by 604-Mico

22MPG is the standard for a i4?

I get 20MPG consistently on my v6

??

Me too. I average about 22ish (V6) in all city driving in the Camry with the 3vz-fe.
Get about 9mpg in the Lincoln.

[Novice_cardude]

chances are you two are driving more than 1 mile before turning the engine off again.

As for maintainence, all i've had to do is put new rear struts in. The timing belt was changed at 60k, new fuel filter and all that. I have all the maintainence records from the previous owner. It is overdue for another tune up, plugs, wires, etc. And I plan on flushing the coolant because it's lookin really dark and brownish.

Oh yeah, all the people at work were needling me for driving what they call a grandma car (they drive mostly mustangs and trucks). I calmly countered by saying "How many Camrys have you seen with 5spds?" Of course they said they don't exist, so I had to show them my car.

Always gets quite a reaction when you tell someone you drive a family sedan with a 5spd.

I do love the way this car drives though.

Thanks for the fast replies. I am going to take her out a little more often. Make her feel special, maybe buy her some 89 octane as a Valentine's day gift.

[Tom 2000]

22 MPG isn't bad.

If it's only 1 mile each way, why don't you just ride a bike, especially on a sunny day? It can't be that cold in Texas now.

The short trip is hard on the car as it prematurely ages the oil and can accelerate corrosion in the exhaust system.

[Novice_cardude]

I am going to start riding my bike on warmer days, except I am taking a painting class, and I have to bring all the stuff with me each day. That isn't really possible on a bike. However that is only a 2 day a week class.

[TriumphGT6]

With such a short trip, more frequent oil changes would be a good idea. I would recommend using a heavy duty oil filter w/ a good dino oil, like Castrol or Valvoline, and change every 1500 miles if that's the only workout that car gets.

You're getting pretty good gas mileage for that car. My mom gets about 22 - 25 driving purely city in her 98 4cyl Auto.

HoboJoe - Good to see a fellow Lincoln owner on the forum. You have a Mark or a Continental?

GT6

[neusdrof1]

What is good mileage for someone who drives mostly on the freeway for a 98 camry v4?

[newbie212]

It's an Inline 4 not a v4....

[RedPhoenix]

i get 20... consistently too, but i do lots of short driving and constantly pushing it to 3-4k rpms off the light or off a turn. i dont let it warm up either, dont have time but i do when i have time...

im going to have to change my driving habits soon.

[toyotacamry1]

I am getting about 26 mpg in mixed highway/city driving. This is mostly because i drive like a grandma and coast in neutral at every oppurtunity. I drive 25 miles a trip to school.

[neusdrof1]

I heard cruising in neutral messes up your transmission. Am I wrong?

yeah yeah its inline (i'm a newb)

[toyotacamry1]

I have a manual so it ain't no thing.