Low Gas Mileage

[06ROLLAS]

I Have A 2006 Corolla S That I Am Getting Approx. 19-22 Mpg With. Ive Had It At Two Dealershops That Told Me No Problem With Anything Was Found. So I Just Wanted To Get Some Info As To Whether Or Not Anybody Else Is Having This Problem. Any Input Would Be Greatly Appreciated. Thanks

[andrew7459]

I started a thread here (http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t144816.html) about the same issue - but yes, I'm having a similar problem.

[weaponrcamry]

It, also depends on the outside temperature, how you drive and where you live. I see that you live in jersey? Yea I usually go up their everynow and then(Camden). And they drive craziiiii!!!!! Anyway those roads are harsh and will effect gas mileage. How many miles in on your car anyway??

[06ROLLAS]

I Do Live In New Jersey And Yeah We May Drive A Lil Bit Quicker, Buy My Mileage Still Shouldnt Be As Bad As It Is. My Car Has Almost 15k On It Already. So I Know My Engine Is Broken In By Now. And My Oil Is Changed Every 3k, Along With My Air Filter.

[06ROLLAS]

And Also My Car Is 5 Spd. So That Is Supposed To Give Me Increased Mileage.

[Stellapr]

Have '04 Corolla 5 speed with 14000. Went on a trip from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia and when I filled my tank in Philly I noticed I got 47 mpg.

But now back in Pitts. with my city driving I average 34 mpg.

I put synthetic oil in the car. I also am a slower driver.

Diane

[ToyotaMan1281]

obviously the way you drive since you change the oil and air filter. I get 36 4 speed auto city highway combo, i dont rev past 4K unless I have to pass. So try not to rev past 4K unless you have to pass and that should help

[06ROLLAS]

I Baby My Car When I Drive It. I Try Not To Rev Past 3000. This Has Been An Ongoing Problem Since I Got The Car Last Sept. Two Dealers Both Told Me The Same Thing. But I Know What My Car Is Doing. I Have Never Broken 300 Miles To A Tank. And It Drives Me Absolutely Nuts. My Car Was Rated 35 City And 42 Highway. I Know Im Not Gonna Always Gonna Get That. But It Should Definitely Be Higher Than It Is. Id Be Satisfied If I Broke 30mpg Right About Now. But 19-21 Isnt Gonna Cut It. I Have Another Appointment Next Week At A 3rd Dealer. If They Say The Same Im Going To Toyota To Lemon This Thing.

[weaponrcamry]

What type of gas do you fill it up with? I know the are alot, I mean alot of gast stations where you live? Some put alot of water in their gas, and you gas isnt gas at all, just water. How is your spark plugs? Tire pressure? Weight in the car? Drive The speed limit

[andrew7459]

Update on my car - I've taken it to the same dealer 3 times - and they refuse to even accept the premise that the mileage is low. I'm seeing < 23mpg with suburban driving.

Last time they took the car out for a test (well, they said they did). They said they got 44mpg running at 54mph w/out a/c, 36mpg running at 52mph w/ac, and 29 mpg w/ac running at 66mph.

They said those numbers are all acceptable, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with my car. Of course, before they looked at my car the third time, the service guy tried to explain to me that something as low as 12 mpg would be acceptable.

[Flashmn]

Yeah, well.. just because a car gets "low mileage" doesnt mean theres anything wrong with it. Chances are its your driving habits.

[andrew7459]

I suppose that could be the case, but my driving habits really don't vary from car to car. And my mileage on previous cars wasn't much off from what I get on my corolla - and my previous cars were heavier, older, less fuel efficient cars, and I got about what I would expect (just under the EPA rating) from those cars.

So while I understand that driving habits are a major influence of fuel efficiency, I disagree with your assertion that the problem must be my driving style. If that were the case, then I would have seen the same problem in my previous cars. And, if anything, I drive more sedately now than I did 10 years ago.

Furthermore, the dealer's test (not my driving) showed poor highway mileage at a 66mph with a/c. I've seen more than enough posts to indicate that that is definitely on the lower end. I would argue the dealer instructed the technician to drive as gingerly as possible to show the best possible numbers so I would go away.

So, in this case, I have a difficult time accepting "driving style" as a reason for my poor fuel efficiency. Hopefully I've explained why.

[Flashmn]

You really think that the values they market the cars are done anywhere else than by laboratory calculations and very light-footed driving. If the car passes emissions and theres no CEL on, I really doubt theres anything wrong with the car.

If its too much on the wallet to drive the car, then sell the car and buy a bicycle. I'd be happy to drive with the prices over on the other side of the atlantic with a car that doesnt get much mileage, gasoline here costs roughly 1.6 USD per LITER.
I'm not attacking you, I'm just stating this in general, its getting a tad bit old that every other day theres a post where people cry how bad their cars economy is. My car possibly gets 15MPG max and with the prices here I should be the one who's crying, but I'm not.

[andrew7459]

I think you're missing my point.

In surveying the posts on this board (i.e. real world drivers with varying styles in varying conditions all over the world), it appears that a reasonable person can expect a certain level of fuel efficiency from a 2006 toyota corolla.

I am not seeing anywhere close to that mileage (not the advertised mileage, but the mileage that other drivers on this board are getting).

While that could be due to my driving style, this is the first car I've ever owned where I haven't got that "reasonable" mileage.

My conclusion, therefore, is that there must be a problem with the car. It sounds like you're asserting that the problem is with ME (either a problem with my driving style, or my perceiving there to be a problem when there is not - "crying").

I would disagree with that, only because if the issue WAS my driving style, then I would have had the same fuel efficiency problem with every car I've ever owned, which I never had. And as for the "crying" part.. wah wah wah.

I bought the car new, it is under warranty, and I plan on having it for a long time. If there is a problem with the car, I want it identified and fixed. I don't want it to snowball into a bigger problem.

Furthermore, it is especially frustrating to me that the problem appears to be with the fuel efficiency, because that was one of the primary reasons I purchased this car. In the US, Toyota advertises that they have 10 models (or whatever) that get 30 mpg or better - the Corolla being one of them.

And I'd love to ride my bike to work - there's just no safe route between here and where I work!

[Flashmn]

Few things that negatively affect mileage:
City driving - lots of stop and go traffic, lots of acceleration and idling
Hilly terrain - more stress on the engine thus more wasted gas
High altitude - although modern ecu's have barometric compensation, they in alot of cases will use more gasoline at high altitudes, plus you're gonna have to give more throttle due to thinner air.

Then theres the modifications that give bad mileage:
wide tires, spoilers and ground effects. You'd think that a "big mouth" bumper has less air resistance, wrong, a stock bumper allows for the air to go to the sides, its not the bumper that has aerodynamic resistance its the stuff behind it.
In general all performance mods decrease mileage.
Skiracks and rood racks in general give alot of resistance and reduce alot of mileage.

Gasoline grade also reduces mileage. low octane reduces timing = less power = you have to use more throttle for the same power = more wasted gasoline = less mileage.

Thats just a few tips.