es30000000

I have a 2000 es300, I get on average 3-340 miles per tank during the summer months of the year which averages out to be about 22mpg. But right around December I started to get significantly worse gas mileage. Just filled up tonight and on my last tank I averaged 13.6 mpg I usually let the car warm up 5 minutes when its cold, don't use the heat excessively, no abrupt stopping, and I'm not a lead foot whatsoever. I rarely accelerate over 3250 rpms, and never over 4k. Also have no check engine lights and the car is running and feeling great. What could be the cause in this drastic decrease in gas mileage?

hypervish

Winter gas has a negative effect on mpg's. But, nothing as drastic as what your experiencing.
How's the air filter? Is the driving all in the city, with traffic?

es30000000

New filter, fresh oil, everything is up to par, or so it seems. Probly 65/35 city-highway driving but its the same as in the summer. Also no snow really this year so no wheel spinning.

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Bah, ignore it. Difference in gas, weather, tire design/pressure, ice buildup, so many things. Its part of living in a place with winters.

I get my MPG's all over in the winter. My last tank was ~220miles...

mdbrown

Assuming no MIL and that it's running nice and smooth then not much you can do. You can stop letting it warm up for 5 minutes though, that's not helping. With heated O2 sensors the car goes into closed loop in less than a minute and will reach operating temp quicker by driving rather than sitting. Heater shouldn't make any difference in fuel mileage (just turn off the A/C... I do).

Winter mileage can drop for a number of reasons. Cold air is more dense and so requires more fuel to keep the mixture correct. Winter fuel is typically more heavily oxygenated to reduce emissions (at least here in the states) and that just aggravates the situation. None of this is enough to explain your mileage if it's correct. I'd check again to be sure. My 2k ES300 is a little overdue for plugs and a throttle body cleaning but it's getting much better mileage then that. Of course, it doesn't get nearly as cold here.

97'ES

+1... same here

mkeeney

How long have you had the car? If this is not your first winter with it then you know what to expect, and with something so far from ordinary, "ignore it" is never the answer. While I would expect a decrease in the winter, yours seems pretty drastic. If your mileage has suddenly dropped it indicates a problem. It could be something like a fuel leak that you need to get corrected immediately.

After you check for fuel leaks, the next thing I would do is an accurate mileage calculation. I don't know what method you're using, but you should reset your trip meter every time you fill up and use the miles you drove on that tank divided by the actual number of gallons you put in to fill it up to calculate the mileage. If you're already doing that and you're really getting 13.6 mpg, something is wrong, and getting it fixed will save you a lot of gas money in the next few months.

BDSL

I have a 97 ES300 with +250k miles. I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where it does get cold in the winter. During the summer, I get 29-30mpg. In the winter, I get 24-25mpg.

I hope you are not idling the engine to warm it up. It wastes gas.

es30000000

I have had the car for two winters now but it was my dads the previous 5 or so years. It has 221k on it and get as much 25 mpg in the summer but the past 2 winters have been like this. But there is no fuel leaks and no apparent issues, just happens in the winter. That is how I calculate mileage, not sure that there is even any other way to do it...? It's just bad in the winter and I was wondering how others winters are.. I got 222.1 miles on my last tank and filled it up with 16.2 gallons.

BDSL

If you are truly getting 13.7mpg, there is something wrong.
Either you can't drive or parts need to be replaced.
Fluids, spark plugs, check engine light, seized brake caliper, etc.....

97'ES

These cars get **** mileage if you live in a very cold area especially if you have a heavy foot. My car was meticulously maintained. Sometimes ignore it is the only answer. I got about 14 mpg in the winter and 19-20 in the summer about 60/40 around town. If you can drive like a 70 year old man and get 20+ in these cars more power to you. I never could...

01LEXPL

iTrader: (10)

Yup! I can't drive it slow... and mostly in the city for me [since its a small city].

es30000000

Well if I couldn't drive, I don't think the gas mileage would even be at question..
But I really don't think anything is wrong, everything is up to date and well maintained besides it needs a new timing belt. Think I'll just ignore it as it happened last year and it goes back to normal in the summer.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I usually get 23 mpg during the summer spring and fall, but in winter i get 19 or 18. But thats with snow tires and a ski rack. Your car also faces a lot more rolling resistance with snow on the ground, something to take account of.

Hayk

iTrader: (1)

Maybe your CEL is broken and you are actually driving around with faulty O2 sensors?