ceads9

I'm getting around 15 city 08 400h awd. However the car does sit while warming up and somewhat smaller drives . We live in a town of 8k people so it doesn't take long to get from place to place. That's in way below freezing weather. Seat heater on high and heat turned up. I've hit 30 on the highway in good weather but usually around 23/24 at 78 mph with wind in front and behind and 4 people .

maniax

iTrader: (3)

We're getting 14-15 mpg here in NYC too from my mom's 07 rx350. Lots of short trips. Have yet to figure out how to get better gas mileage.

neelnaik

Lexus114, is there a particular reason that you use premium fuel in your RX330? On the 330's, I believe the owner's manual actually recommends using regular. On my 04 330 awd, I have tried a few tanks of premium in it and it doesn't return any better gas mileage, but it's also a lot colder in your neck of the woods. I usually get about 16-17 mpg (average, basically all short trips, according to MID, over a full tank) during the winter and then 17-18 city during the warmer months, so 15mpg doesn't seem too unreasonable with the winter most of the country has had. Just my 2 cents.

maniax

iTrader: (3)

That's correct.

RX330 recommends regular. RX350 recommends premium.

04 RX330
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/20328.shtml

07 rx350
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/23014.shtml

RX330inFL

Not so fast... you forget Lexus made a change in 2006 for the RX330 and began requiring premium that year.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/22430.shtml

jfelbab

From the 2004 RX330 Owners manual...
In my 04 RX330 AWD, I usually got 1.5-2 better MPG using premium on the highway and saw little or no improvement in city driving. I also got another 1.5 MPG when using pure gasoline (no ethanol added). I lost around the same amount when using winter blends.

That said over 85,000 miles I never got less then 17.2 MPG. My highest MPG was 28.7 (100% HWY) and over the 85k miles I averaged 23.1 MPG.

When premium was only 20 cents a gallon more than regular, it was an economical choice as I could drive further per dollar spent. As the price differential of premium jumped to 40 cents a gallon it was not. The use of regular gas was never a problem for the RX330 engine.

What I find surprising is that in my 2014 RX350 AWD, after ten yeas of technology advances since the 2004 RX330, I still get the same MPG. I do appreciate the added power but I expected better MPG numbers than I'm seeing. The RX350 has only 3,500 miles so it may improve as it gets broken in.

RX330inFL

Your new 2014 is quite a bit heavier than the previous 2004, Jim. For day-to-day driving I doubt you will see any better numbers as it is tough getting that extra weight up to speed.

lexus114

I know my 05 RX can run on regular fuel. But it does definitely have more pep on the Premium. Why run an engine on ignition retard if you don't have to?

neelnaik

Lexus114, I see what you mean. I just never got any better mileage on premium vs regular, and I don't feel like the power running regular is lacking for day to day city driving, so it doesn't seem to be worth the extra 40-45 cents a gallon more for me.

lexus114

I understand neelnaik. But here in the North East where I live I need all the extra power I can get out of it. Or I may get tire tracks all over it from somebody running over me.

chris948

You're not definitively retarding the timing. Maybe someone could set up some diagnostic device but in the north east where it is cold, I'd like to see actual proof that it's doing anything.

lexsc4

My wife's 08 RX350 AWD uses Premium and Mobil 1 5W-30 only. Trips are usually 5-10 minutes drive to drop/pickup kids to school and run errans. She never warm up the car and idle the hell out of the car (AC or heater on) while waiting for the kids. Average 14-5 MPG every fill up. We took a trip from SF bay area to Disneyland Anaheim last Christmas and we were going 75MPH max, average around 22-24 MPG. My 08 Avalon get 26-28 going the same place / route in 2012. Anyway, at least the RX doesn't need to fill up every 2weeks. BTW, we live near San Jose, CA and it does not get that cold here.

08 RX350 AWD (wife)
08 Avalon Touring (mine)

lexus114

Summertime with A/C on it does. (on anything lower than 91 Octane)

lexsc4

My co-worker's wife has a 10 Acura MDX with the 6-speed automatic. Again all she does in pickup/drop kids and run arrans. He said the MPG is even worst than my 08 RX.

It guess that's the price of drving a 2 ton luxury SUV.

RX330inFL

Though this would be only one factor in many, you are one of only a few here at CL running the Cooper CS4 Touring tire on your RX. Am wondering if these tires are dragging your numbers down.