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Toyota Camry Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers

856 messages,  Last post on Nov 22, 2009 at 8:38 AM

You are in the Toyota Camry Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)


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#814 of 856
Re: TCH 08 with 23 MPG? is normal [mra605] by cdn_tch
Dec 20, 2008 (6:44 pm)
Reply

Replying to: mra605 (Dec 20, 2008 5:18 pm)

Welcome to the TCH camp!
 
To all 3 questions the answer is yes it is normal, but let me add some explanations...
 
1) When it gets cold outside you will have a noticable drop in MPG. Several reasons are true for non hybrids as well. a) Winter gas, has less BTU per gallon than summer gas and this is due to air quality requirements made of the refineries. b) a small change happens because the gas pumps are 'normalized' to give you the equivalent volume as if the fuel was at ~70 F (check the pump next time and you should see it in very fine print) c) all vehicles are programmed to reduce emissions first, improve mileage second. This really hits us as not only does the gas engine (ICE) need to be at operating temp, but so does the catalytic converter. By needing to get and stay at a certain temperature, the ECU will run the engine far longer before it hits mode 4 (the mode where the TCH will run in EV mode) and then it will run again if the ECU senses that the engine or catalytic converter have cooled off.
 
2) the temperature that you select on the controls is a target for the ambient temperature in the cabin. So when you want to warm up the cabin from an unheated 30F to 69F, the car will push out as much heat as it can to try and get the cabin air to 69F.
 
3) This could be a fault with the system, or a piece of insulation in front of the microphone or it could be that your voice or enounciation is not within the programmed parameters of the voice command system. This is one where if the system is working correctly, you will have to learn to say what the system wants to hear.
#815 of 856
Re: TCH MPG Drop During Extreme Heat [snaab93se1] by mra605
Dec 20, 2008 (9:13 pm)
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Replying to: snaab93se1 (Aug 09, 2008 7:36 am)

I am in Chicago area and in winter time now I am getting only 23 mpg ! I took it to the dealer 3-4 times where they insist that it is normal since heater has to be on!
The most I saw was 34-36!
 
What should I do now? The dealer insists on system check being normal!
#816 of 856
Re: TCH 08 with 23 MPG? is normal [cdn_tch] by mra605
Dec 20, 2008 (9:39 pm)
Reply

Replying to: cdn_tch (Dec 20, 2008 6:44 pm)

Thanks for your prompt reply.
 
I am now wondering how come since 06, no TCH owner encountered such a drop in mpg and always managed to get higher BTU fuel during winter time!
 
Also, the Voice command is a real joke! I have had the manager fumble a few times "Hitlering" the command center and finally succeeding in one isolated telephone number entry! He definitely knows the right enounciation and knows exactly what to say and how to say it - the way the system wants to hear! He indeed took his time convincing me how mine was better than that of other couples' system where he just had spent couple hours trying to make it work!
#817 of 856
Re: TCH 08 with 23 MPG? is normal [mra605] by cdn_tch
Dec 21, 2008 (8:34 am)
Reply

Replying to: mra605 (Dec 20, 2008 9:39 pm)

I am now wondering how come since 06, no TCH owner encountered such a drop in mpg and always managed to get higher BTU fuel during winter time!
 
No, we all feel the hurt of winter, see this thread at GreenHybrid "Thwunk! Temp drops...and so does my gas mileage. " to make you feel a bit better that you are not alone...
 
With the voice command... I can't say that I am a fan of it either but it does work for me, but it is particular in how you 'talk' to it. A slower monotone helps the recognition.
#818 of 856
Re: TCH MPG Drop During Extreme Heat [mra605] by nkaizer
Dec 22, 2008 (7:25 am)
Reply

Replying to: mra605 (Dec 20, 2008 9:13 pm)

Tip: If you do not want the heater to decrease mileage in the winter, upon starting, shut the heater off until the ICE develops heat on its on through normal driving. Then put the heater on. Hey, you want play the mileage game, there's a price to pay.
#819 of 856
Re: TCH MPG Drop During Extreme Heat [mra605] by larsb
Dec 22, 2008 (8:03 am)
Reply

Replying to: mra605 (Dec 20, 2008 9:13 pm)

Cold weather is hard on the hybrid system. Takes longer to warmup and the hybrid drivetrain only works best at optimum operating temps.
 
Look around at yearly posts on this forum for tips.
#820 of 856
Real gas saving by hymango
Feb 01, 2009 (6:03 am)
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I'm new here but does the computer take into account gas savings when the eng. is shut off at red lights,stop signs etc.
#821 of 856
Re: Real gas saving [hymango] by larsb
Feb 02, 2009 (6:15 am)
Reply

Replying to: hymango (Feb 01, 2009 6:03 am)

Yes.
#822 of 856
Re: Real gas saving [larsb] by orly1
Feb 03, 2009 (11:44 am)
Reply

Replying to: larsb (Feb 02, 2009 6:15 am)

larsb, you have a lot of posts i love camry and toyota in general - except i'm having same problem as mra605 dec 20, 2008, real world LOW MPG with my 7 month old TCH.
 
i'm also being told by dealer and toyota customer service that vehicle is "running as it should". my MID displays 26-28 MPG ave.
 
i've read a lot on this forum and others and honestly; who in their right mind would pay the extra cost of a TCH if they didn't expect to get EPA estimates or very close to it? to say to mra605 or any one else getting 5-10 MPG less than EPA estimate for TCH that it is "normal" is insulting.
 
i am beginning to think these forums are biased/edited (to include only the most glowing reviews). OR toyota is ignoring a very real issue which is a high concern for certain TCH owners.
 
this post is not targeted at larsb; simply a reply to last post relating to most recent LOW MPG post (mra605).
 
i'm convinced i am driving TCH optimally.
 
QUESTION REMAINS: does this forum contain ANY posts where people have had low TCH MPG and the issue was resolved by toyota?
 
there was one case where a honda hybrid owner sued over less than EPA - anyone know the outcome?
 
thanks
#823 of 856
Re: Real gas saving [orly1] by cdn_tch
Feb 03, 2009 (2:37 pm)
Reply

Replying to: orly1 (Feb 03, 2009 11:44 am)

orly1, please tell us what part of the country you live in because the weather does matter to the overall mileage of any vehicle. As I said in post #814, there are many factors in play when it comes to mileage.
 
If you live in a cold(er) climate, the effects are real.
 - If it is cold outside, the ICE needs to run longer before it gets to operating temps that permit mode 3 and mode 4 operation. Worse, once the ICE shuts off, it starts to cool and eventually will need to restart just to keep itself at the proper temps. Since it is cold, you also have the internal heater on. That heat is from the coolant circulating in the block. As you take that heat and blow it inside the cabin, it needs to be replaced by the ICE running.
 - short trips also hurt. In the summer, my ICE is at operating temp within a few blocks, now in the winter I'm pulling into my parking spot and the engine will finally turn off when stopped (6mi)
 
My last 2 tank averages were 21.5 & 24.6 mpg, In the summer my averages were around 40. In my Explorer, the summer average was ~18mpg, winter it was ~10.
 
The 5-10 mpg less than EPA IS normal in cold(er) climates. It is a result of regulations (emissions over mileage) and physics. Please don't feel insulted by it, it just is that way.

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