Hi Guys, Just bought 2011 Lexus 450H and very disappointed with gas mileage. My first tank averaged just shy of 18 MPG; second tank averaged something similar or maybe even less. It's in the service for diagnostics test.... I live is fairly flat area and wondering why i would average such a low gas mileage. Not convinced that dealer would come back and tell me any good news. I maybe stuck with this .....any ideas on how to improve?

ECO mode is turned on......

thanks,
Bonty

 

hi Bonty, welcome to the club.

There could be many reasons for the low gas mileage. Some can be the result of the hybrid powertrain's characteristics and others are your driving habits.

First the car: Driving short trips really make for bad gas mileage. when the engine is cold, the car will run like a gas model Rx and therefore will get somewhere in the teens. Once the engine warms you, you will then balance out that gas mileage. However, if you are consistently making short trips then you are not giving the engine enough time to warm out and allow it to fully utilize the hybrid powertrain.

Then there are your habits. If your concern is with gas mileage, then you will constantly have to monitor the power meter, have your nav on the fuel consumption screen, and also watch the roads so that you dont brake for no reason. I can usually get my RX in the 27mpg range but when my better half drives, the car averages around 23 (and this is in relatively warm climate region).

I have a previous post about how to fully utilize the hybrid powertrain here.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/6006673-post18.html

another trick I do is to turn on EV mode at stop lights. you can then use electricity to power up to 27mph (which is the most inefficient range of a gas engine) and then it will automatically turn off the mode when you are past that.

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hyb...g-on-450h.html

 

Thanks RSXF for taking the time to reply to my request. We live in a very flat area, temperatures in 40's and 50's this time of the year. Therefore, there is no reason why I should be getting 18 MPG. Putting 91 octane gas, eco mode turned on, gradual accelaration, etc. I am having the lexus guys look at it. I should be getting at least mid to high 20's. I will let you guys know what they find out in the next day or two.

thanks,
Bonty

 

Thanks JimH2. I looked at thread and amazed to see how many folks are actually getting mileage close to published 30MPG in city. I need to figure what's going on with my car.... hopefully, the service guys diagnose and find something ... Bonty

 

You should be getting more than 18 for sure in your climate conditions. I have kept track of my mileage (calculated after each fillup) since new in October. I have averaged 25.2 MPG (city + highway use) for the 1st 2,000 miles (mine is a 2010 450h). It has been a mild winter here (between 30's - 50's temperatures). I have not used the ECO mode yet. You should calculate the MPG by hand vs. relying on the vehicles figure to see how close it is also.

 

I also wonder if there are some small differences associated with gasoline formulations per State/Areas. In Oregon, our gas has the 10 % ethanol mix added. In my other cars, that leads to a loss of 1 + MPG (~ 5 % less efficient in energy).

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/GFM...soline_Map.pdf

 

I don't think I could make my car get that low of MPGs no matter how I drive.

I am always over 30 mpg but I don't drive aggressive but I don't let the grass grow under my tires either. I do have the ability at several gas stations to get ethanol free gas.

Something has got to be off.

Bob

 

I just returned from a road trip where I put 4000 miles on the car. I noticed dramatic differences in mileage between tanks. On one tank I too received 19 mpg. I bought that tank just outside of Dallas in Rockwall. I believe it was gas with a high portion of ethanol.
I live in Denver and I am averaging round 31 mpg in my daily commute to work. In this commute I do not get to speeds above 55. I added an extra 2 pounds of air pressure to my tires which helps. (35 for 33 recommended.) Recently the temp has been 0 degrees. I noticed my tire pressure dropped from 35 to 31. My mileage has dropped from 31 to 27.5. I see the gas engine is on more to warm the battery and compartment. I have not tried turning on the EVO mode when at a stop light but planned too.

 

Tank three for mine, running premium now with evo on. It's showing 26.4.

 

How long are you letting it warm up before you drive the car?

 

Billy
Hybrids don't have a warm up period, just don't floor it from cold start.

 

Cruiter ,if you are in a very cold place (Ma) that drive might be letting the car warm up (warm inside the car)with the auto start or starting the car and letting it warm up before getting in and driving off in it and low mpg would be the cost of doing this all the time would it not? That was why I ask . For us in Ga or in my case LA (lower Alabama) we would just get in and drive but for those with all that snow on the ground I do not know if they would or would not

 

I glanced at the on-line manual and found these two paragraphs. To me they say two different things, but for myself I always warm up the car in winter. Even if I have the climate control in auto at a moderate cabin temperature, I can hear the engine changing changing tones and speeds as it "warms up". I prefer the engine, transmission and whatever else warmed up before I take off. Old habits die hard, especially if below zero.

 

modern cars need not be warmed up at all. When its cold out, I just warm it up for 10 seconds and then take off. If you drive easy for the first 5 minutes, everything should be fine.