New daily...mpg is depressing (2006 3.3L V6 Toyota Highlander limited AWD)

[Shaneajanderson]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

My wife all city in a 2011 T&C gets 18.5-20mpg a tank and she doesn't even try, even using the remote start all the time to let it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I have hit 29.5mpg on a long trip once keeping the speeds around 60. Do you have that "eco" button on the dash that changes timing and shift points? May be worth a try.

If it's an older one they did much worse on fuel, the 3.6 plus VVT is a very efficient engine

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Shaneajanderson

If it's an older one they did much worse on fuel, the 3.6 plus VVT is a very efficient engine

Ours is a 2011 and has the 3.6, theirs is a 2014. I agree the 3.6 pentstar is the best v6 dodge ever made, I think better than anybody's standard naturally aspirated v6. Now it's in everything from Jeep's new Gladiator to midsize Chrysler 200s, to full size pickups, and Challengers. One of the most interesting things to me is how at the last refresh, they decided to stay away from direct injection. I like the idea of direct injection but I'm not sure long term it doesn't add problems, and future emission rules may require adding exhaust particulate filters on direct injected gas motors. I always take simple, inexpensive, and long lasting, over minor gains in power or economy.

[Shaneajanderson]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Ours is a 2011 and has the 3.6, theirs is a 2014. I agree the 3.6 pentstar is the best v6 dodge ever made, I think better than anybody's standard naturally aspirated v6. Now it's in everything from Jeep's new Gladiator to midsize Chrysler 200s, to full size pickups, and Challengers. One of the most interesting things to me is how at the last refresh, they decided to stay away from direct injection. I like the idea of direct injection but I'm not sure long term it doesn't add problems, and future emission rules may require adding exhaust particulate filters on direct injected gas motors. I always take simple, inexpensive, and long lasting, over minor gains in power or economy.

I'm with you on simple. We had a 2012 town and country (our third dodge van, first was an 02 Caravan, then an 07 T&C). At just shy of 100k miles we had an intermittent transmission code, random stalling, random jumps into limp mode, all kinds of interior body panel issues, increasing suspension noise, starting to have power door problems, power window problems, a power lock that didn't work, horrible wind noise and the fuel economy was tanking.

I got rid of that van finally and now we have an 07 Odyssey. With 160k miles the odyssey drives like new, is incredibly quiet, and rides smoother than any luxury car I've driven. Honestly at this point Dodge and it's subsidiaries are pretty much dead to me, unless I were to get a cummins pickup, but honestly I'd rather get an old 7.3 Ford than deal with the troubles that come with owning a Dodge.

[Fat Charlie]

At risk of turning this into an RT body thread, our 2011 minivan just had its original cylinder head replaced- the flawed design made it over 200k in our van before failing. Got a new compressor and (other famous failure) rear evap done at the same time.

The kicker to getting the AC fixed? My daughter thought the AC in my Fit was broken, too. No, honey, I just don't use it.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Didn't we already get one thread off topic on minivan discussion?

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

My wife all city in a 2011 T&C gets 18.5-20mpg a tank and she doesn't even try, even using the remote start all the time to let it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I have hit 29.5mpg on a long trip once keeping the speeds around 60. Do you have that "eco" button on the dash that changes timing and shift points? May be worth a try.

She does, and I always leave it lit (it’s not always lit when I get home, I doubt she pushes it) It it indeed the 3.6 Pentastar, and at cruise I have likewise found it to be a really efficient powertrain. Since it’s Independence Day, I thought i’d share a little story:

We live in Texas, but she has family in western NY whom she visits during our kids’ summer vacay. The first summer we owned the van, I parked my rig at a company lot in PA and she picked me up, letting me drive down to DC for ID4.

That drive from Harrisburg to DC was a 36mpg run, according to the FCD, using a/c the whole way; but obeying the PSL exactly, on CC.

The van itself is capable of great FE, my wife is just admittedly in no way concerned with it.

After all, it’s a 4600lb box. I always improve her numbers when I’m home and doing drop off duties.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by malibuguy

Bought an 06 3.3v6 highlander limited awd to haul my daughter around in lavish luxury and room for stuff

First tank...16.86mpg...thats mostly short trip, ac use.

My yaris with pretty much same exact driving would get 39-41.

Yeesh. This is going to be an adjustment

My wife's 2011 CRV gets 20-ish in suburban/rural/errand driving. She could care less about trying things to improve it other than trading it in on something else. When I drive it I can coax a couple more MPGs without doing anything other than being smoother. That said, even when trying pretty hard on highway trips I can only eke out 26MPG or so. It's deeply unimpressive.

I would think that a vehicle with the CRV's specs should easily and routinely get upper 20's or better. I'm told the newer CRV's actually do get those kinds of numbers.

[MetroMPG]

Luckily gas is cheap these days! (In the U.S.A.)

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by wdb

I would think that a vehicle with the CRV's specs should easily and routinely get upper 20's or better. I'm told the newer CRV's actually do get those kinds of numbers.

My dad drives newer CRVs as demo cars from work ('14-'17) and gets 29-35 mpg on them, depending on what tires are on the car. He isn't a hypermiler.

[malibuguy]

CRV is a big yawn from me. they seem nice, the few ive driven have been less then inspiring.

Its disturbing how good this thing drives. Im used to caravans, of all generations. this drives like an audi in comparison.

So far still indicating 20+ on this tank with just easy driving. Im about to do an oil change tomorrow ( i have no idea what they have in it) and Ill pump the tires up a little.