That's great. It's easy to do the rest and get the full benefit by cleaning your MAF sensor, clean your throttle body and change your air filter. I saw a marked improvement in idle smoothness when I did clean the MAF sensor.

 

Thanks! Any self to-do for cleaning the MAF sensor? Does it need lexus dealer service?

 

This link should help. Definitely a DIY project. Just be very careful not to damage the internal wire sensors. One senses air flow, the other air temperature. Looking at $200 if you damage it, but using the CRC spray you really shouldn't hurt it. Little short bursts to clean. No need to drown it. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-cleaning.html

 

What octane do you run? That`s what I used to get three years ago. It has since dropped off for some reason. And I cleaned my maf, good air filter etc.

 

I always put in premium which is 92 or 93 depending on gas stations.

 

Good News!! My theory re; the fuel causing low millage is correct! I got fuel at a Shell station a little farther than where I live. And farther from where I usually purchase my fuel, and now my millage is 19.0 combined driving. (Premium) must be the stations where I usually purchase my fuel from.

 

Something I have mentioned on several occasions here. Over the years I have found that certain cars like certain brands of fuel or will dislike certain brands of fuel.

Give it a couple of tanks in a row to see where it goes to make sure it was not a one time fluke.

 

The 28 mpg that i got on highway was from 87 octane - the most economical fuel. for some reason, my car dislikes expensive fuel that returns lower mpg.

 

I just wish we had a few stations here with no friggin Ethanol in it. Last year I found a station with pure gas, and I had terrific power and mpg`s on that gas. This Government sucks!!

 

Any of these stations close?
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=PA

 

Could be worse, we have the crappy's gas in the US in California...Mileage always goes up when I fill in Nevada....

 

Thanks for posting this. I do check this list every so often. The Allentown location is the closest to me. But it looks like it only has the 87 octane in Ethanol free.

 

Was getting 16.5-17 MPG mixed city and a bit of highway driving and just got my air filter changed which now im doing 23 mpg... BIG DIFFERENCE

2004 Lexus RX330 FWD

 

On tire pressure: not all tires are alike, and so, the same tire pressure for all would be a big mistake. Compounds vary, sidewall strength varies, and tread profile on the road will vary. So, use my 85% rule: check the sidewall and see what the maximum allowed air pressure is for the tire, multiply it by .85 and set you tire pressure to that. Then watch your tires for abnormal wear and adjust as necessary. Center wearing too fast? Over-inflation. Outside tread wearing too fast? Under-inflation. Even wear across the tread? Ahhhh, Priceless!

For example, the tires on my RX330 are rated for max pressure of 40 psi. .85 time 40 equals 34; on long trips I'd up the pressure to 36 for better gas mileage and cooler running tires while at freeway speeds for extended periods of time.

My GS400 now sports Michelin Pilot Sport A/S rated at max pressure of 51. .85 times 51 is about 43 psi. and on a long drive to Dallas I upped the pressure to 46. Great running, good gas mileage, smooth ride, and tire wear is normal across the tread. :<) "Your mileage may vary."

 

Excellent info. Thank you!!