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Toyota Camry Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers

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

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


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#817 of 856
Re: TCH 08 with 23 MPG? is normal [mra605] by cdn_tch
Dec 21, 2008 (8:34 am)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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.
#824 of 856
Re: Real gas saving [orly1] by larsb
Feb 03, 2009 (2:54 pm)
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Replying to: orly1 (Feb 03, 2009 11:44 am)

Well, first of all, one cannot successfully "SUE" an auto manufacturer for having a car that does not meet EPA estimates. It's not a guarantee. It's an ESTIMATE.
 
And the only way a suit like that would ever succeed is, FIRST, if you could prove that Toyota or the EPA "lied" on a test result- and that could NEVER be proven.
 
Another required portion of a successful suit would be to have ZERO CARS of that type which could achieve EPA "estimates" and that also could never be done. An automaker is never going to sell a car of which zero numbers of that car can achieve EPA estimates.
 
The most you can hope for, if you have an issue with your car in particular, is to get it declared a "lemon" by an arbitrator. That would require that your dealer and Toyota would have to certify that YES, your car's HSD system is working properly and YES, it is not capable of performing proper hybrid propulsion, which would mean the car IS a lemon.
 
The problem with that is that if indeed all the hybrid components ARE performing up to spec, then the CAR WILL INDEED be able to achieve EPA results under at least SOME circumstances.
 
I'm almost certain that no one has ever successfully had a hybrid car declared a Lemon because it was not meeting miles per hour requirements.

 
So what can I do to help you, you ask?
 
First, you should try to find a knowledgeable hypermiler in your area and let them test your car. There are many, MANY variables that go into achieving maximum MPG out of a hybrid car:
 
Tire pressure.
Length of trip.
Oil type.
Tire specifications.
Driving style.
Temperature during trip.
Road conditions.
Weather.
 
I've got a story for you. A couple of years ago (maybe 3) I had a local couple contact me and say, "We can't get good mileage out of our Honda Civic Hybrid, and we located you on the Internet and was wondering if you could help?"
 
I met them at a local mall. First thing I noticed: They had replaced the OEM tires and rims with low profile tires and custom (heavy) chrome wheels. This immediately meant that they were losing a ton of MPG right there.
 
I also noticed that their driving style was completely wrong - they were leadfoots, or at least, they liked to quickly accelerate up to "slightly above the speed limit" as a normal course of affairs.
 
I gave them the tips I could, and showed them that with a slightly modified driving style, they could improve their MPG. But those tires knocked 3-5 MPG off their chances right away.
 
From experience, I can tell you that the Toyota HSD technology in the TCH is very sound, and very effective when used properly. My personal lifetime average is around 34.1 MPG after 41,000 miles. GH.com has at least 50 owners with as much as 40+ mpg average.
 
If your car cannot at least 34 MPG when tested by a local hypermiler, then there is something wrong with the car and Toyota should repair it.
 
Good luck, and keep us posted.
#825 of 856
Re: Real gas saving [cdn_tch] by orly1
Feb 03, 2009 (3:55 pm)
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Feb 03, 2009 2:37 pm)

thanks cdn tch for the information,
 
re: driving optimally (i've already considered some or most of these things)
 
live in ohio, car in heated apartment garage. rarely use "internal car heater", just front/rear defroster without fan. i turn these off at stops so AS can engage. (otherwise car will stay at 0 MPG)
 
as far as ICE working until car heats up - far left dial is past "blue zone" almost immediately (few blocks) and stays almost in middle for the rest of trip. shouldn't that mean TCH is at operating temp?
 
MID and dial show battery mode or EV mode engaged, but yes mostly ICE mode.
 
5 - 10 MPG variations are acceptable for some drivers, but i bought my TCH expecting very close to EPA estimate (1-2 deviation) and a return on my 29K investment. forums like these with thousands of "meets and exceeds EPA" posts were also an influence - including non-paid endorsements by media.
 
whenever someone posts like me here, it seems they get a few responses like those i have received and then nothing....
 
at least there is a moderator and i hope NOT to suffer the verbal abuse that is rampant on the john true v.s honda site.
 
thanks,
#826 of 856
Re: Real gas saving [orly1] by cdn_tch
Feb 03, 2009 (4:32 pm)
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Replying to: orly1 (Feb 03, 2009 3:55 pm)

as far as ICE working until car heats up - far left dial is past "blue zone" almost immediately (few blocks) and stays almost in middle for the rest of trip. shouldn't that mean TCH is at operating temp?
 
On another forum, someone recently posted that while it looks like it is at full operating temps, it is still about 20C less than during the summer (70C vs 90C).
 
You say your TCH is 7 months old, what was your mileage in the first couple of months?
 
Overall, I think you will see your averages start going up with the outside temps in a few months.

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