hey, i thought i was the only one who turned it into a game.

29.7

 

Yeah....... I wanted it to be better

 

This weekend, going to family reunion, from sea level and back, over four mountain passes (all over 4k feet in height), we actually averaged in excess of 26 MPG for 710 miles of driving (computed out to 26.6). Have never seen it that high before, and it was in 85+ degree heat, with the A/C going constant. Only change we made in our 330 was airing the tires up to 32 on all four corners a while ago. And the RX performed flawlessly! 05 RX 330 AWD with right at 25k miles (well now with almost 26k miles).

 

You guys gotta let me know how you are getting 25-26 mpg... For me the best on a good day is 23 mpg but average is probably 21.5 mpg on the 3.3 liter.

 

Not sure how we managed that kind of mileage. We have consistently gotten mid 24's on the open road, even our trips over Stevens Pass, winter and summer, but this was unusual and unique. Other than running the tires at 32, which is a recent change, nothing else was obviously different.

 

I get 25-27 when I hit the freeway. I set the cruise at 70-75 and let her run. These are typically long trips on open expressways when I run from Milwaukee, WI to Cape Coral, FL and back (about 1,500 miles each way). This is burning 91 octane real gas with no ethanol. 10% ethanol drops my mileage by about a MPG so I look to fill up in the rural areas.

 

My lowest was in the 16s, with my highest being 19.1 - I know people are going to think something is wrong with my RX350, but I drive in a very aggressive manner that kills gas mileage....even my highway driving is stop-n-go rush hour traffic in Southern California. I'm extremely happy with the gas mileage I get. My BMW Z4 averages 19.2 MPG, so getting close to that on a heavier SUV is great. I'm sure if I drove less aggressive I could hit 25 or higher MPG on average.

 

My 04 330 I get about 22-24 mix city and hwy depending on the right foot. Best to date is 24.6 We have the 10% ethanol everywhere in H town.

 

Interesting jfelbab, you mentioned that you run 91 octane, I know the whole 87 or 91 octane has been debated forever (recommended vs required) but I had one Lexus Tech tell me that running 91 in our engine will save us on the extra cost by giving us higher mpgs. He said this is due to the engine not retarding its timing to avoid pinging while using 91. My next trip to the dealer I asked the head Tech and he said his wife has the same car and he tells her to put 87 and that our engines are so regulated by the onboard computer that any variance will be corrected in order to run most efficiently. He also said during high gas prices is a bad time to buy 91 because people tend to shy away from the higher octanes during $3.69 a gallon and the gas may be stale vs the 87 being turned over rapidly. I must admit I saw a slight increase in my mpg on 91 but not much to write home about.

 

BTW, I'm not suggesting my mileage is better because I burn 91 octane fuel. It may likely contribute to better mileage but I use it because that is what the owners manual recommends and doing so only adds a couple bucks to a tankful. I also perceive (subjectively) better performance and much less sulfur aroma with 91 octane in my RX330. I see a much more significant gain in mileage by using gasoline not laced with ethanol. Fortunately, in most of the areas I travel in, I can still get real gasoline.

 

I hit 25.6 today city driving...using Regular Octane. Not bad. Weird....I have been hitting 18's and then suddenly 25's. Of course, I am being nice on the gas. Had the chance to drive it because had to take it to the dealer for some work....

 

That's what I do as well: get up to freeway speed (speed limit to limit+5, typically 65-70), lock it on cruise, and sit back. I run Shell V-Power exclusively, and try hard to avoid 10% ethanol. This means, among other things, not filling up in Illinois or Minnesota if I can at all help it.

 

i see that everyone just sets it on cruise. I find myself getting better mpg when i use i own foot. The car is too eager to shift down by itself.

flintrx, it really depends on the situation. Perhaps that freeway slants downward a little bit going on one side. and perhaps there is wind that is pushing the backs of the RX. I also so a mythbusters on Discovery channel, where if you drive very very close to a larger truck, your mpg will sky rocket because it is blocking out your wind.

 

RXSF, I agree. I do better with out cruise, when the vehicle picks up speeds it does downshift more than I may care for. My older brother had taught me early about maintaining a speed, and from diving from Boston to FL several times.

In regards to octane levels, I had been told by engineers from Lexus that our vehicle will do better and get better with a higher octane rating. I run 93 in my GS, RX, and my Mazda Protégé, the Pro may not require it but I hit over thirty mpg with the A/C on on road trips, lower with lower grades.

I guess it really all comes down to the driver. The wife normally drives the RX and gets maybe 16-19 mpg, it always goes up when I start driving.

 

Located in Wisconsin, I have a 2005 RX330 AWD and have recorded the miles and gallons at every fuel stop since taking delivery on 3/1/05. To date the total average is 19.1 mpg on mostly 87 octane. This is a mix of 70% suburban and 30% highway driving. From early-July to mid-August 2005 I tried 7 tanks of 89 octane which resulted in 2.3% better mpg over 87 octane. From mid-August to mid-October 2005, I tried 8 tanks of 93 octane which resulted in 2.8% better mpg over 87 octane. In my local market the price premium for 89 octane is about 4.5%, and for 93 octane is about 8%, it seems that neither 89 nor 93 octane is cost effective. I did not see any big difference in performance using the higher octane fuel.

My best for one tank is 22.9, all highway in March of 2006 at 70 to 75 mph. My worst for one tank is 15.9 in January of 2007, all local driving in very cold weather. My driving style is usually gentle.