City MPG better than Hwy??? REALLY?

[myrav497]

Hello and thanks for reading my post. As the title says my city mpg is better than our hwy mpg. This might get lengthy but please hang with me. We purchased the Rav last January from a elderly woman and the vehicle sat for awhile. It is a 97 auto awd with 97k miles when purchased. It currently has 107k miles. We put new tires on it, changed plugs and wires, flushed fluids, (engine, brake, and radiator fluids.) It has the sticker saying the timing belt has been replaced. Our mechanic, a master mechanic from toyota now with his own shop looked the vehicle over and thought that was all it needed. So we've been driving it and it had a high idle several months back and the mechanic looked it over and cleaned the IAC and throttle body, problem solved. The vehicle has no codes seems to drive out fine. The tires are inflated properly. So, driving style you say... the wife and I are very conservative drivers. We don't race from stop light to stop light, don't mash on it entering the freeways and brake easy too. So... I'm stumped, from what I've reseached this should get 19 city and 23 hwy but we get 19-20 city and 20 hwy. No extra weight in vehicle either. Seems odd to me, we was really wanting to travel in this vehicle but not getting only 20mpg. Again, sorry so lengthy. Thank you for your time and look forward to everyones advice.

[JuneBug]

If there is an overdrive off button on the shift lever, check to make sure it's not pushed in. This would disable your overdrive gear and would mean your engine is revving too much on the highway. Normally this would light up an OD OFF light on the dash.

[dtalk]

I will try to help, your model 1997 has I think a ECT button. It will show a light on your gauge, if you have this it will give more horsepower but burn up more gas. Also you have Overdrive button on this model to and using that will save you gas when you speed over 35 miles per hour ( most people don't use OD on the highways and some do) Anyways look up ECT and maybe that will help.

[myrav497]

I am familiar with both the ECT and the overdrive buttons. I run with the overdrive on and the ECT off. Running 65 it is reving at about 2500 and at 70 is about 2800. I had an 04 tacoma prerunner with the v6 and I could get 20 on the highway, so when we got the Rav I thought surely it would get better. I just really watch my fuel mileage and hate to think we can't drive this for family trips and this is as good as it gets when I read others getting 24-26 on the highway.

[03rav4inPA]

I tend to notice in my 4.2 (a 2.0L like yours) that when i keep it under 70mph i see a good difference between city/hwy. When I'm cruising 80+ however, not a major difference. A complete week of city and complete week of highway is about a 25 mile difference

[myrav497]

I also replied to the post titled "checking timing" a few post down. I was wondering if the timing belt when replaced could've been done wrong. I would think it would run bad and I don't think it does. There is a bit of whinning coming from the timing belt area. I just don't know. And I also deal with the funny fuel gauge. Fill it up and 30 miles later its already down to the 3/4 mark. I hate that as well. We fill up when the low fuel light comes on and it takes about 13 to 13.5 gallons. Just fueled up and went 270 miles and it took 13.25 gallons. Coming out to only 20.38 mpg. 85% highway. Frustrating.

[JuneBug]

Originally Posted by myrav497

We fill up when the low fuel light comes on and it takes about 13 to 13.5 gallons. Just fueled up and went 270 miles and it took 13.25 gallons. Coming out to only 20.38 mpg. 85% highway. Frustrating.

That's messed up! When I drive 65 on the highway, the engine runs at about 1800 RPM and I get 28 MPG! And that's with the V6!!!

[dtalk]

Originally Posted by myrav497

I am familiar with both the ECT and the overdrive buttons. I run with the overdrive on and the ECT off. Running 65 it is reving at about 2500 and at 70 is about 2800. I had an 04 tacoma prerunner with the v6 and I could get 20 on the highway, so when we got the Rav I thought surely it would get better. I just really watch my fuel mileage and hate to think we can't drive this for family trips and this is as good as it gets when I read others getting 24-26 on the highway.

Wow,2500 rpms at 65 is a little high. I wondering if you can tell that your trans is shifting into your 4gear or even the overdrive? What you are telling us makes me think your trans is stuck in 2nd gear. I would have your mechanic check your tranny.

[myrav497]

Hey JuneBug and dtalk, thanks for the replies. I've thought the same thing, that it seems high. If I hit 70 the rpm guage is one mark from 3k. And I watch the rpm guauge drop when I feel it shift. I'm pretty sure its hitting all the gears and hitting OD. I wonder if its different on the 4.1 gen. But yes at 70 she is wound pretty tight. What the heck do I do to check into it, cause like I said I'm pretty sure its shifting correctly.

[03rav4inPA]

Originally Posted by myrav497

I also replied to the post titled "checking timing" a few post down. I was wondering if the timing belt when replaced could've been done wrong. I would think it would run bad and I don't think it does. There is a bit of whinning coming from the timing belt area. I just don't know. And I also deal with the funny fuel gauge. Fill it up and 30 miles later its already down to the 3/4 mark. I hate that as well. We fill up when the low fuel light comes on and it takes about 13 to 13.5 gallons. Just fueled up and went 270 miles and it took 13.25 gallons. Coming out to only 20.38 mpg. 85% highway. Frustrating.

You really should be getting 300-325. Something is off...