Extremely bad gas mileage? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Go4shoped · 04-17-2006, 12:27 AM

I have a 4cyl 97 camry and im getting 13mpg...
WTF?!?!

How could i get such bad milage? I have an intake on the way so im hoping that will help a little bit.

And i do have a lead foot but it rarely comes out. I swear i was getting better mileage in my tacoma.

05Cam-Weasel · 04-17-2006, 12:40 AM

leak somewhere? possibly get that checked out b/c that is horrible you should be getting 20-25 or something around there

ToyotaToday · 04-17-2006, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go4shoped

I have a 4cyl 97 camry and im getting 13mpg...
WTF?!?!

How could i get such bad milage? I have an intake on the way so im hoping that will help a little bit.

And i do have a lead foot but it rarely comes out. I swear i was getting better mileage in my tacoma.

Your poor gas mileage was it gradual or all of a sudden one day it dropped? There must be a leak or something serious, even if the car has not been maintained for years it wont get 13 mpg. 13 mpg is something you would get on V8 on a big truck (and an older truck, not the newer ones).

Go4shoped · 04-17-2006, 09:25 AM

all of a sudden.
i know what you mean about the trucks. my friend has a hemi ram and is getting 14mpg. Thats an extra 3.5L and 1mpg! wtf?

project92camry · 04-17-2006, 12:58 PM

any engine code ?

DrXenon · 04-17-2006, 01:52 PM

One would normally suspect A/F sensors, but that would normally throw a code. Try jacking up the front end and see if the wheels spin freely in neutral - a binding brake won't throw a code.

Go4shoped · 04-17-2006, 05:00 PM

no codes. but i do have a binding brake as well as sqeaky ones. Thats how i can tell, my bakes squeak while driving no foot on brake.

But i still dont think that would cause it to be that bad.

scdtrd · 04-17-2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go4shoped

no codes. but i do have a binding brake as well as sqeaky ones. Thats how i can tell, my bakes squeak while driving no foot on brake.

But i still dont think that would cause it to be that bad.

O2 Sensor, Broken Injector(s), extermely clogged / bad air filter, TPS out of calibration, Clogged or defective muffler, etc....

ALL of those SHOULD toss a CEL your way, MAYBE the CEL light is out.... I dunno.

Also, if something has tripped the CEL, to limp mode, then power would be way off and sluggish.

In any case, I would take to a Toyota dealership and have them run a diagosis...

IMHO...
SCDTRD

leasaunce · 04-17-2006, 08:39 PM

get it service??? maybe that would help....

ToyotaToday · 04-17-2006, 09:02 PM

A broken sensor would not cause such a big difference in gas mileage.

Go4shoped · 04-17-2006, 09:29 PM

i have pretty bad low end. it doesnt kick until 3-4krpm's.

does that help any?

Mike Gerber · 04-18-2006, 05:02 PM

A defective thermostat, stuck in the open position, could decrease your MPG. The engine could not be warming up to normal operating temperature, thereby running a richer than normal mixture. I would change it if it's original and you have more than 75000 to 100,000 miles on the car. Also, a defective coolant temperature sensor (Toyota calls it an ECT sensor), always sending a signal to the ECM that the engine is cold (when it is not), could also decrease MPG. Again your engine will be running a richer than normal mixture. You can check the coolant temperature sensor with a DVM and the specs from any manual. Finally, that dragging brake can effect the MPG more than you think.

Mike