2004 rav4 4wd and mileage?
#1
2004 rav4 4wd and mileage?
have had my 2004 Rav4 automatic 4wd for about a week now. I am very happy with it except for one thing: the mileage seems very bad. I have just begun to to keep track of it, but my guess is that it is getting about 15 miles to the gallon. This is with daily mostly highway driving. Is this normal for the 4wd Rav 4, or maybe part of the "break-in" period? Should I talk to the dealer about it, and if so, can the idle or anything else in the engine be adjusted or is the engine already set in its gas consumption?
Thanks,
Mitchellfox@comcast.net
Thanks,
Mitchellfox@comcast.net
#2
Contributing Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 4,690
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sounds abit fishy to me...
Straight from Toyota.com....
Mileage Estimates (mpg city/highway)
2WD 4WD
Manual 24/30 21/26
Automatic 24/28 22/27
Looks like you should be getting anywhere between 21-27...
Straight from Toyota.com....
Mileage Estimates (mpg city/highway)
2WD 4WD
Manual 24/30 21/26
Automatic 24/28 22/27
Looks like you should be getting anywhere between 21-27...
#3
Contributing Member
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 8,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is going to sound like a stupid question but I have to ask - you're not driving in 4WD are you? Also, where are you? Cold weather will affect your mileage as well... not as drastically as you're seeing but it could be a whole bunch of things that are adding up together...
Tire pressure, driving styles, etc...
Tire pressure, driving styles, etc...
#4
Not a stupid question, because mine might be even stupider. I think it's really awd; tehre are no controls or anything in the masnual about selecting that function in the rav 4.
#5
Contributing Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by mfox
Not a stupid question, because mine might be even stupider. I think it's really awd; tehre are no controls or anything in the masnual about selecting that function in the rav 4.
Not a stupid question, because mine might be even stupider. I think it's really awd; tehre are no controls or anything in the masnual about selecting that function in the rav 4.
Last edited by cabbage; 02-08-2004 at 06:17 AM.
#6
Gas tank is 14.8 gallons. It is cold weather now in February near Philadelphia. I have only begun to record mileage; I am only on my second tank of gas. However, I can almost see the needle go down as I am driving. I am driving mostly highway, 50 - 65mph, only about 15 miles per day. From eyeballing the tank so far and knowing how far i have driven, i have done rough calculations that come out to 15 mpg. That is scary. I don't know how much time and energy i have for a long fight with the dealer about it. my 2 questions to everybody might be these:
1. Is there a lemon law for leased cars, like mine is? How much time and energy will this require? Should I just return it now, if possible (it's been one week and a day so far I've had it) ans shop around again?
2. If it is low mileage, is there anything the dealer can do to try to fix it (adjust the idle, which seems pretty high to me, do a computer or fuel mixture tweak, etc., or is that set in tone already)?
Thanks
1. Is there a lemon law for leased cars, like mine is? How much time and energy will this require? Should I just return it now, if possible (it's been one week and a day so far I've had it) ans shop around again?
2. If it is low mileage, is there anything the dealer can do to try to fix it (adjust the idle, which seems pretty high to me, do a computer or fuel mixture tweak, etc., or is that set in tone already)?
Thanks
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Toronto
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would wait a few weeks and atleast 1000-1200 miles to allow the engine to break in .Usually the first few tanks on a new engine are your worst gas mileage. The cold weather is another factor in your MPG.On my 4runner with frequent cold starts my gas mileage drops 5-7 MPG. I usually get about 21-23 MPG with my 2.7 L .
Trending Topics
#8
Registered User
My mom has about 10k on her 2003 and I swear she never has to put gas in that thing.
Lowest tank was 18 doing city only.
Best was 27 and change after hitting lots of highway cruising for longer distance errands.
It is AWD, no on or off.
Lowest tank was 18 doing city only.
Best was 27 and change after hitting lots of highway cruising for longer distance errands.
It is AWD, no on or off.
#9
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by mfox
Gas tank is 14.8 gallons. It is cold weather now in February near Philadelphia. I have only begun to record mileage; I am only on my second tank of gas. However, I can almost see the needle go down as I am driving. I am driving mostly highway, 50 - 65mph, only about 15 miles per day. From eyeballing the tank so far and knowing how far i have driven, i have done rough calculations that come out to 15 mpg. That is scary.
Gas tank is 14.8 gallons. It is cold weather now in February near Philadelphia. I have only begun to record mileage; I am only on my second tank of gas. However, I can almost see the needle go down as I am driving. I am driving mostly highway, 50 - 65mph, only about 15 miles per day. From eyeballing the tank so far and knowing how far i have driven, i have done rough calculations that come out to 15 mpg. That is scary.
The gas gauge on the 4Runner had me wondering, too, until I used the odometer method -- gas mileage was much better in reality.
#10
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Boise, Idaho, USA
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here's how to calculate your true mileage:
The next time you go to a gas station, fill up the tank completely.
While you're at the gas station, reset your trip odometer to 0.0 miles.
Drive around for a week or so until you're almost empty, then go to a gas station and fill up the tank completely again. Be sure to get a paper receipt to see the number of gallons that you bought.
While you're at the gas station, divide your new odometer reading by the number of gallons you just put into the car.
For example, if you drove 349 miles and bought 17.4 gallons of gas, calculate 349 / 17.4 = 20 miles per gallon.
The next time you go to a gas station, fill up the tank completely.
While you're at the gas station, reset your trip odometer to 0.0 miles.
Drive around for a week or so until you're almost empty, then go to a gas station and fill up the tank completely again. Be sure to get a paper receipt to see the number of gallons that you bought.
While you're at the gas station, divide your new odometer reading by the number of gallons you just put into the car.
For example, if you drove 349 miles and bought 17.4 gallons of gas, calculate 349 / 17.4 = 20 miles per gallon.
#11
Contributing Member
Ditto the tips here. Don't underestimate the effects of tire pressures, although it's more likely yours are overinflated from the dealership, not underinflated. Check them after sitting overnight. Factory +3 is usually a good ballpark figure to start with.
Also, you might have oxygenated fuel in your area. Oxy fuels are EPA mandated for some areas during the colder times of year. Fuel economy takes around a 10% hit then.
I think it's mostly your average trip length compounded by the cold temps. After break-in, you might consider changing engine oil to a synthetic. It's worth a little extra fuel economy and should help durability since your oil barely comes up to operating temp given your short hops.
Also, you might have oxygenated fuel in your area. Oxy fuels are EPA mandated for some areas during the colder times of year. Fuel economy takes around a 10% hit then.
I think it's mostly your average trip length compounded by the cold temps. After break-in, you might consider changing engine oil to a synthetic. It's worth a little extra fuel economy and should help durability since your oil barely comes up to operating temp given your short hops.
#12
Registered User
Originally posted by mfox
Gas tank is 14.8 gallons. It is cold weather now in February near Philadelphia. I have only begun to record mileage; I am only on my second tank of gas. However, I can almost see the needle go down as I am driving. I am driving mostly highway, 50 - 65mph, only about 15 miles per day.
Gas tank is 14.8 gallons. It is cold weather now in February near Philadelphia. I have only begun to record mileage; I am only on my second tank of gas. However, I can almost see the needle go down as I am driving. I am driving mostly highway, 50 - 65mph, only about 15 miles per day.
Now your in a cold climate like myself, expect to loose 1-4 mpg on every gallon and anywhere from 20-70mpg on a tank of gas depending on how you drive, these are just my numbers but my calculations and the computer in the truck they match, soon as it warms up and they switch to summer blends with the gas my range changes from 340miles to 370-380 both my 4Runner and ES300 suffer from diminished gas mileage in cold weather.
Another thing you drive 15 miles a day, parking outside makes the engine even colder, cold engines use way more gas.
EPA gas mileage is determined useing methods 50 years ago, they should be updated but when they determine what each vehicle acheives they do them in perfect conditions for the highest numbers while grandma drives
The owners manual says gas mileage varies from vehicle to vehicle, owner to owner, and conditions.
Take it on the highway and drive for 400 miles you should get 24+mpg
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mountains outside of Boulder
Posts: 613
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by mfox
From eyeballing the tank so far and knowing how far i have driven, i have done rough calculations that come out to 15 mpg.
From eyeballing the tank so far and knowing how far i have driven, i have done rough calculations that come out to 15 mpg.
also, don't worry about gas milage until you have about 2000-3000 miles on the engine. you need to wait until things break in before milage improves. my brother noticed a 50% increase in milage on his new GTI from the time it was new until he has 5000 miles on it.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Ilovemountains
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners
0
09-15-2015 04:17 AM
Highlander Giant
General Vehicle Related Topics (Non Year Related)
0
09-08-2015 06:46 PM