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Yes, Timmush - I believe that is correct based on several fairly long test drives of several 2007 4-cylinder AT's of that model and year. I did somewhat better (~25 mpg), but that was pretty much pure freeway, flat as pancake, straight, no wind. In my opinion, a 22 mpg in 20 mile drives, even if freeway, does not indicate a malfunction.
Timmush,
On the other hand my wife drives her 2004 4cyl AT back and forth to work almost exclusively and the fuel mileage is 25-26 mpg everytime. The trip is 7.1 miles one way with 5.2 miles freeway. The time is 15 minutes start to stop with five lights to deal with. It used to be 24-25 mpg when the car was new, but now 25-26 mpg at the 35,000 mile mark. This same car gets 35-36 mpg on road trips at a CC of 72 mph.
We do not warm the car up at all before driving it, keep the tires at 35 psi and use 5w-30 oil.
Some things that will affect your mileage are...The ethanol content of the fuel, your wheel alignment, rolling resistance of your tires, the variation in the manufacturing of your engine and transmission, the calibration of the O2 sensor, your driving style, the dragging of your brakes, viscosities of all your fluids, the outside temperature, etc.
But if I had to prioritize them, the top three would be the total trip length and traffic conditions, the outside temperature and your driving style...in that order.
Want to have some fun? Try a full tank of gas worth of driving while making it a goal to never use your brakes at all. Of course you can never get to 'never' and you will frustrate a small number of drivers who wonder why you are beginning to slow so far in advance of a red light, but with some practice you can raise your city mpg by 3 mpg. When I have the patience I have raised my 25-26 mpg city driving to 29-30 mpg by trying never to hit a red light and having to re-accelerate from 0mph anymore than absolutely necessary.
Drem
Timmush, my 07 4cyl Camry consistently gets 24-26 mpg on short trips back and forth to work. My 05 4cyl Camry consistently got 23-25 mpg on those same short trips. I define a short trip as my 3 mile commute to work, never above 45mph.
Your numbers for short trips appear to be consistent with mine.
35 mpg is a highway mileage figure. Myself, I've easily gotten that highway number on an 05 Camry automatic 4 cylinder as well as my current 07 Camry 4 cylinder.
V6 or 4 cylinder? I had a 1994 V6 LE and it got that sort of mileage around on on short trips. 30-31 mpg on the highway.
It has been the 4 cylinders which have been quoted as getting some of the exceptional highway mileage, like my 05 LE and 07 CE.
#8 405.6mi @ 75mph 12.85 = 31.564 <--- last nite 01/27 some rain.
No matter how slow i go, i cant seem to hit 41 mpg, perhaps in the summer...
Later
Caaz
P.s. I'd be glad to take anybody with me who wants to witness my mileage
Went 75 mpg all cruise,m we were having Santana winds, which are about 60 mph if you've never heard of them before....
203.5 miles 7.2ga = 28.26 mpg
P.S. Troy??....do the newer 4 cyl have more horsepower than my 03?, Possibly thats why there's an mpg difference. I'm thinking i will rent a new body style camry and try a trip with it just to see.
Obviously i'm not the only person that gets high Mpg, or better yet....has Learned how to achieve high Mpg, because you do have to practice. I'd also like to know what some of your prior mpgs are Troylikesbikes
Later
Caaz
I think there is a couple of HP difference between 03's and 07's, but it isn't alot, and didn't seem to effect the EPA stickers I saw at the time. No more than 3 or 5 HP I think. The switch occurred in 05 if I recall correctly.
I have a complete breakdown on 2 big trips on my 05 auto and 07 manual ( same motors, different body styles ) but I can't get the silly columns to line up right and it makes it terrible to try and read. I'm still working on it.
Later
Caaz
This is a long post, so skip to the bottom for the results if you are interested in the answer and not data and commentary.
For starters, I began this exercise with the following given: In my opinion, my 05 LE auto and my 07 CE stick get the same highway fuel mileage under the same circumstances. This was my opinion based on general impressions and use of these cars, the 05 I put some 25,000 miles on, I've got about 9,000 on the CE.
To prove or disprove this idea, I collected all information from two trips from both cars, when they were new ( less than 10,000 miles ).
The 05 Camry was an LE, stock, 4 cylinder 4AZ-FE motor if I recall correctly, 5 speed automatic transmission. The trip was from Denver to Pennsylvania, to Ocean City, back to Denver, and then back to Ohio, and then back to Denver. The trip was in June, half the time loaded with 2 adults, 2 kids and a full trunk, A/C used a majority of the time. One speed warning collected in Kansas for doing 80. A majority of the trip was interstate, and at 70+ mph.
The 07 Camry is a CE, stock, 4 cylinder 4AZ-FE motor ( same as the 05 ), 5 speed MANUAL transmission. The trip was from Denver to Pennsylvania, to Florida, to Houston, to Denver, in October. The load was 2 adults and a trunk full of stuff, minimal A/C, 1 or 2 windows down, 70+ all the time.
Here are the actual tanks, with the data arranged like this,
Odometer, Differential Mileage, Fuel Used, MPG
First, for the 05 Camry with automatic.
2504-Start
2956 - 452 - 13.84 - 32.66
3444 - 488 - 14.45 - 33.77
3823 - 379 - 10.52 - 36.03
4242 - 419 - 13.27 - 31.57
4733 - 491 - 15.19 - 32.32
4856 - 123 - 4.63 - 26.57
5260 - 404 - 11.04 - 36.59
5740 - 480 - 15.92 - 30.15
6229 - 489 - 12.92 - 37.85
6742 - 513 - 14.82 - 34.62
7112 - 370 - 12.34 - 29.98
7315 - 203 - 6.51 - 31.18
7816 - 501 - 15.09 - 33.20
8354 - 538 - 15.96 - 33.71
8828 - 474 - 12.76 - 37.15
9369 - 541 - 15.91 - 34.00
9889 - 520 - 16.19 - 32.12
Now, the 2007 CE Camry with 5 speed stick
3957 - Start
4326 - 369 - 11.20 - 32.95
4754 - 428 - 11.01 - 38.87
5119 - 365 - 10.54 - 34.63
5593 - 474 - 12.92 - 36.69
5907 - 314 - 8.94 - 35.12
6221 - 314 - 8.05 - 39.01
6608 - 387 - 12.04 - 32.14
7012 - 404 - 11.25 - 35.91
7425 - 413 - 12.68 - 32.57
7786 - 361 - 10.31 - 35.01
8115 - 329 - 10.00 - 32.90
8558 - 443 - 12.49 - 35.47
8731 - 173 - 4.57 - 37.86
Now, the statistics.
05 Camry, 7,385 miles, 221.36 gallons, 33.36 mpg
07 Camry, 4,774 miles, 136.00 gallons, 35.10 mpg
05 Camry, 2.88 mpg Standard Deviation, 2.19 mean deviation from mean mpg
07 Camry, 2.28 mpg Standard Deviation 1.81 mean deviation from mean mpg
The slightly higher spread on the 05 Camry comes from some use around town during the trip. I could have stripped that data out to be a little more fair, but it wasn't much, so I left it in, and it shows up as a 26 mpg data point.
Other issues would be fillup error, which runs approx 6.2% of a gallon/fillup the 05 and 4.9% of a gallon/fillup on the 07. The 05 trip had more A/C and a heavier overall load.
Because I don't keep speed/weather info for each tank, I can't separate out the A/C and load issues and don't really feel like coming up with a general correlation to try and compensate for the difference. So I'm just going to go with the raw data for now, and the raw data tells me I was wrong about the mileage being the same.
Yeah sure, they both get lower to upper 30's on the highway, but over long trips with consistent types of driving and the same actual driver, the newer car does better. It might only be 1 mpg or 1.5 mpg by the time you factor out the load and A/C factors, but the newer, heavier, and manual tranny Camry does better than the 05 automatic by a decent 1-2mpg.
Manuals still have an advantage in this case, although there is a difference in body style which I can't compensate for either. Unless someone has a decent Coeff Drag number expressed down to at least hundreths converted to an efficiency increase per mile or gallon which I can use to back out the differences between the two?
Your mileage may vary of course. I've only owned 3 Camrys to date, and they have been reasonably predictable.
In my 2005 Camry SE with the same engine, a 2550 mile trip in the summer yielded 27.5 mpg.
Later
Caaz
p.s. I'm really wondering if i would ever buy a camry hybrid. A few of us can ahcieve almost the same mpg as they're getting, without factoring in the 3500.00 dollar battery every 150,000 miles, plus the additional cost up front, you'd Never catch up to paying 18,000 for a new Le that i can average 35 mpg or better in.
This sounds exactly like many experiences, including my own, so not to worry:
To answer the question posed, I recall janderson8 - if memory serves - has a 4 cylinder LE 2000, the first year of that body type - and I think his/her car is one of the originals on my first analysis of mileage (which preceded this subforum).
There are about a dozen such camrys where I work (out of 900 employees) - including a couple 2007s - I think I've spoken to most of the owners, and the range is about 25-28 mpg - no 30's in there -and not that many 28s, and mostly 26 or so. I've rented several others, in 2006, and 2007, and took them out for a spin too. As for individual tanks, I am over 100 readings of my own, and only two individual tanks reached or exceed 30 mpg, and these were surrounded by lower numbers, so it is possible that error in refueling may have been responsible for it. That low end for pure city driving, 17-18 mpg, with a bit lower in winter, is right on the money with what I get.
When I got my 07, I took a look at the hybrid Camrys, but I knew I was buying a mostly highway travel car which occasionally has to move the entire family. The hybrid system seems to be mostly an improvement for around town anyway, so I would rather get the better price rather than good around town mileage.
If I were buying a car only for me to do highway driving, I would choose something just a bit smaller like the Corolla or Civic, to squeeze out another few mpg.
But considering the size of the Camry, I'm quite happy with its fuel mileage at highway speeds. On my next trip somehere, I'm going to try and slow down and see if I can crack 40mpg like you have.
later
Caaz
Maybe.. and i have heard that the new corolla is going to be really quiet. If so, i could def keep that posibility open.
Part of the reason I've stuck with Camrys is because of the quiet factor as well. I find that during a 30 hour drive, any little thing can make the difference between being really uncomfortable, and arriving at your final destination in reasonable shape. Noise is a deal breaker for me, anything I plan on driving across the country in a single shot has to be quiet.
Trip#9 405.6 mi 11.45 ga. = 35.42...Constant 75mph. Decent conditions a small amount of side wind. Intersting that 10mph costs me 5mpg.
Later Caaz
I have seen mileage tests at both Car & Driver and Consumer Reports that reported the same results. In my recent trip to Florida, my trip computer (on a Highlander with 3.3 liter engine) showed 2-3 mpg better at a steady 65-66 vs 71-72.
Anyway.... the results are...405.6 mi 14.6 ga = 27.78mpg My worst yet. but not surprising with the winds.
Later
Caaz
Later
Caaz
Later Caaz
I believe that my Gas milage has been affected with each transmission fix.
When I go th the dealer thay just say it's winter time.
There has to be a reason why my car is getting 15 to 18 and others are getting high 20"s?
I need suggestions on how to get toyota to fix this problem.
Any help would be appreciated.
When I go th the dealer thay just say it's winter time.
By transmission fix, are you having that "transmission flare" issue or whatever Toyota is calling it? That problem is really socking Toyota in the chops, if internet boards are to be believed.
There has to be a reason why my car is getting 15 to 18 and others are getting high 20"s?
I would think so.
I need suggestions on how to get toyota to fix this problem.
Any help would be appreciated.
I would think the first issue is getting Toyota to admit there is actually a problem. Claiming a difference in fuel mileage between yourself and others isn't good enough for Toyota, I would imagine.
I'll bet the city variation is quite a bit more. Not only does "city driving" vary greatly from city to city, driver style probably has a much greater effect. I once rode with a colleague whose speed changed constantly just driving stoplight to stoplight. We were almost always accelerating or braking. It almost made me motion sick and I never get motion sick. My guess is that her city mileage was horrible compared to most drivers. She wasn't the type to be concerned about that sort of thing so I doubt she ever checked it. Had she discovered her mileage was horrible, she probably never would have suspected her driving style because I'm sure she thought it was normal.
I have noticed my MPG change after each fix.
Getting Toyota to admit it is another problem.
I still need help!
#12 405.6 mi 12.9 ga. = 31.44 80 mph
#13 405.6 mi 13.89ga = 29.20 80 mph
interesting how the same drive, same conditions, same temp. but i always get less going against the jetstream from east to west.
Later
Caaz
next time i'll post all 13 trips so you can compare..... Im also noticing im not getting as good of mpg since even though we're not super cold like the rest of the u.s. our temps are dropping.. That makes a difference as well. Im assuming my best mpg will come in the spring... 80's 90's...before i have to start using the a/c
I don't know what my Camry would get at 75 or 80 mph. Can't bring myself to drive that fast. It's against the law 'round here...
Drem
Getting Toyota to admit it is another problem.
I still need help!
This is mainly a forum for mentioning our fuel mileage and such things, have you tried in a more general toyota forum where people have had similar problems as yours? Considering the issues with the V6 and 6sp auto, I would think others have already tackled this problem and written up their plans, results, ideas and such?
Here in Colorado the posted limit is 75mph, you can do 80mph without hassle by the revenuers, I once did Las Vegas to Denver via Flagstaff and Albequerque and my radar detector didn't go off once. I drove I95 this past fall from PA to FL and it went off every 10 miles or so. Just different driving worlds.
So, my mpg came to 32.5 -- typical for this car on highway trips, but the first time I risked running out of gas to see if I could make the magic 600-mile mark! Usually when I fill up, I only end up putting 15+ gallons at the most (550 miles driven), when the gauge reads exactly at the "E" mark, so I figured I could go another 50 miles.
BTW, my GPS indicates my odometer reads 2.3% too low, so if I put in this correction, I actually went 615 miles.
I will post photos in my CarSpace page soon.
Good job!
Excellent!! The only time I ever attempt games like that is when I've got another 5 gallons of emergency gas in the trunk...
Its nice to see that quite a few of us are able to do exactly whats expected of a solid 30+ mpg car though.
I'm trying to think up a little Camry stunt myself, if I head west from Denver, doing only 60-65 mph, I should be able to stay free of any major slowdowns for 1050 miles easy ( Reno NV ). Throw 5 gallons in the trunk, and then run the tank to fumes. Drive slow on a non windy day, 37 mpg for 18.5 gal = 680 miles?
Would I be better off heading east through Nebraska and Iowa to Chicago instead, avoiding that first big climb out of Denver to the Continental Divide? Thats about 1000 miles in distance, so there is plenty of room that way as well, but the scenery isn't near as nice.
later caaz
p.s...ive missed a few postings... will do them tommorrow a.m.
That's about my experience as well. About 2.5-2.7 gallons while I am sloshing the tank around in town, but about 1.5-1.6 gallons if I am running smooth and straight on the highway. 2004 model.
Drem
Back in Post #636 I listed consecutive strings of tank fillups in my 07. I think there are 3 of them >37 mpg or so, and I had like NO consideration for speed at all when making those runs.
I think 40mpg is possible, but it requires some things which may be far enough from "normal" driving to perhaps not be advisable. Like driving 62mph on interstates posted at 75mph. Secondary roads have too many towns which require you to slow down, downshift, then accelerate again. So a nice western interstate....with as few big cities and as low traffic as possible....62 mph....non windy day....just steady cruising for 11-12 hours....I think Caz has already done it on a 400 mile run, it ain't easy, but its doable.
#15 405.6 mi 13.85ga. = 29.28 80 mph very windy .... temp 40's
#16 405.6 mi 14.24ga = 28.48 82 mph 60 mph winds temp 60's
Will be attempting a 65mph run tommorrow, my confidence is slipping after all these 80+mph runs... i need to make sure my car still gets good mpg....lol
Later
Caaz
when im at 60 or 65...with perfect conditions...(no wind)..on 2 tanks i got 40mpg...outside temp when i did that was 70-72 degrees.
Not in the 40's like now
Later Caaz
p.s. How do i calculate my mileage?.... SImple...enter the miles...divided by gallons.= mileage.. i ALWAYS top it off until i see the gas sitting on the lip and it doesnt drop anymore....ultra consistent. takes me an extra minute, but ive always done this my whole life, was taught by my dad. Never in my life have i put the nozzle back in the pump when it clicked off...its not full yet, lol. i can get 2.2 ga. in when it clicks off
Hope this answers your questions
417.5 mi. 11.2 Ga. = 37.27 mpg A bit of side wind which hurt it a bit, but decent. warm...74 degrees. It has restored my confidence. After all those 80+mph runs and in the high 20's..i was begining to wonder
Later Caaz
What would be really interesting would be for you to drive one of the Camrys that can't seem to break 30 mpg on freeway trips to see how much is the car and how much the driver. Alas, we'll never solve that mystery.
trip#18 405.6 mi. 11.65ga. 34.81 mpg @ 75 mph. A bit breezy but not bad.
I wont bore you with more trips until we warm up a bit, then see if i can pierce 40 mpg again. once its in the 80's
Later Caaz
Drem
Later
Caaz