How Low Can You Go
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 72
Likes: 12
From: Ontario
How Low Can You Go
Been looking at my fuel consumption lately and the reading I'm getting from the onboard computer is approx 13.7 mpg? Couple of possibilites:
1) I drive like an animal.
Really, I don't think I drive like an animal. I drive in a spirited fashion, sport manual 60% to 80% of the time, sport + manual 20%, occasional automatic in sport mode.
2) There is something wrong with the engine in my car.
Is it possible one of my injectors is stuck open?
Anyone else dipping into the 13 mpg tank after tank? I only use premium 91 gas. My car is at approx 19,000 km or 11,800 miles and is my daily commuter.
Also I'm experiencing significant engine oil consumption. Currently I'm seeing the following consumption:
0.8 L per 1000 km or
0.84 q per 621 mi
Also currently undergoing engine oil consumption tests with a Lexus dealer to investigate this problem.
wolfman
1) I drive like an animal.
Really, I don't think I drive like an animal. I drive in a spirited fashion, sport manual 60% to 80% of the time, sport + manual 20%, occasional automatic in sport mode.
2) There is something wrong with the engine in my car.
Is it possible one of my injectors is stuck open?
Anyone else dipping into the 13 mpg tank after tank? I only use premium 91 gas. My car is at approx 19,000 km or 11,800 miles and is my daily commuter.
Also I'm experiencing significant engine oil consumption. Currently I'm seeing the following consumption:
0.8 L per 1000 km or
0.84 q per 621 mi
Also currently undergoing engine oil consumption tests with a Lexus dealer to investigate this problem.
wolfman
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 57
Likes: 8
From: New York
I get the same avg mileage during everyday driving conditions since it mostly consists of local areas with stop/go. I frequently make 200mile roadtrips where I avg 22-25 depending on traffic situation. It's more so about how low and to keep the revs which is through consistent speed/gear. On the highway, the engine is humming along smoothly at 2k rpm around 80mph which will yield much better mpg results then stop/go at 30-40mph.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 26
Likes: 3
From: California
The lowest i've gone is in the 15's, and that was mostly in stop and go city driving with maybe 20% freeway. My absolute best was 32.5 mpg over 200 miles cruising on the freeway with cruise control on, while in eco mode! I think you are in the's 13's mostly because you are in manual mode. The car doesn't shift down up to a higher gear at low RPMs which means you are burning more gas due to higher RPMs. As for the reason, I suspect it is because of the torque converter lockup that happens in sport and sport+ modes once you pass 2k RPM?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 26
Likes: 3
From: California
Basically if you are in 2nd gear, and your torque converter has already locked up (I think around 2.2k or so) it won't let you manually shift to third until a certain rpm limit the ensure that it stays locked up. In normal driving the car shifts as fast as possible, keeping the RPMs low, but in manual mode with sport and sport plus, it doesn't let you drop the RPMs below the threshold for the lockup in the lower gears. I am no expert in this, however that is the only explanation I have, and I could very well be wrong as to why it doesn't let you do that.
Trending Topics
I believe sport and sport plus also have the most aggressive Ecu mapping, which advances timing and adjusts afr . Regardless of manual mode or auto, these modes will inherently use more fuel. You can't advance timing safety without fuel.
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Lexus/Toyotas With The LEAST 5-Year Depreciation
Joe Kucinski
Lexus LC500 Convertible Auction: A Preview of Rising Values?
Brett Foote
GX 550 vs TX 550: Best 3-Row Luxury Lexus Family Hauler
Michael S. Palmer
9 Best Lexus Models You Can Buy for Half Price (And 1 You Shouldn't!)
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus NX Buyer's Guide: Models, Features, Prices & More!
Brett Foote
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 407
Likes: 28
From: California
Been looking at my fuel consumption lately and the reading I'm getting from the onboard computer is approx 13.7 mpg? Couple of possibilites:
1) I drive like an animal.
Really, I don't think I drive like an animal. I drive in a spirited fashion, sport manual 60% to 80% of the time, sport + manual 20%, occasional automatic in sport mode.
2) There is something wrong with the engine in my car.
Is it possible one of my injectors is stuck open?
Anyone else dipping into the 13 mpg tank after tank? I only use premium 91 gas. My car is at approx 19,000 km or 11,800 miles and is my daily commuter.
Also I'm experiencing significant engine oil consumption. Currently I'm seeing the following consumption:
0.8 L per 1000 km or
0.84 q per 621 mi
Also currently undergoing engine oil consumption tests with a Lexus dealer to investigate this problem.
wolfman
1) I drive like an animal.
Really, I don't think I drive like an animal. I drive in a spirited fashion, sport manual 60% to 80% of the time, sport + manual 20%, occasional automatic in sport mode.
2) There is something wrong with the engine in my car.
Is it possible one of my injectors is stuck open?
Anyone else dipping into the 13 mpg tank after tank? I only use premium 91 gas. My car is at approx 19,000 km or 11,800 miles and is my daily commuter.
Also I'm experiencing significant engine oil consumption. Currently I'm seeing the following consumption:
0.8 L per 1000 km or
0.84 q per 621 mi
Also currently undergoing engine oil consumption tests with a Lexus dealer to investigate this problem.
wolfman
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,634
Likes: 254
From: CA
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 510
Likes: 50
From: MD
Try seafoam for BG MOA in your gas tank. This should help with the injector issue. I'd reset your ecu, just remove the negative battery terminal over night then reinstall. See if the same exists. Likewise, if you don't have the TSB for the fuel pump, get it. It's an enhancement of the stock tune.
Good luck
-JB
Good luck
-JB
Sounds like the engine was babied too much on break-in and the rings aren't sealing for crap. Poor fuel efficiency and high oil consumption are commonly from rings that never got broken in fully.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 302
Likes: 63
From: PA
that mpg does seem very low compared to what I get. I drive in Sport usually as throttle response in normal is unbearable. Try driving along and using the paddles while in full automatic. The car will do what you ask and then in very short order, start racing back to 8th gear, even if you are still playing around. Now, if you move the stick over to full manual, you will hold those gears a lot longer. The auto is programmed to race to the top and save gas, your brain is not. I suspect you know all of this though. Your results seem unusually low as even in full maniac mode I can't get it that bad.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post