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HighlanderGeneral discussion forum for the Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid.
This is a discussion thread titled "Highlander Gas Mileage, Tips & Octane", within the Highlander forum, part of the SUV Forums category.
Oh, and tried some premium juice on the Highlander v6 (3.3L) ... and she loves it! Engine's a lot more rev-happy and passing power is a lot more noticeable... I'm just not too sure why it has to downshift from 5th to 3rd to do it (usually doing 80kmh to 140kmh passing runs)
What I don't get is why the same engine used in Lexus cars will carry the 91 required fuel octane while Toyota leaves them at 87...
Fuel economy for mine isnt that great.. usually in the 14L - 15L per 100km range.. but then again it's 15km daily trips in the city during the weekdays then maybe 150kms on the highways over the weekends. The variation isnt that bad actually... my other car could vary its fuel economy from 8.8L/100km to 13L/100km depending on temperature and load
10 days into a new 2005 Highlander v6 4x4 w/3rd row seat --- I and my kids like everything except that my first tank got 240 miles @14mpg - as I drive I can practically see the fuel guage move.. Yikes!
Admittedly this is early (now about 320 miles), but there seems to be a problem here as I'm driving like there's an egg under the gas pedal.
I see there are other people experiencing poor mileage.
It feels like there is a drag when I let off the gas, like there is no glide. (The parking brake is off, thank you.) Sometimes that feeling is not there. Is there a transmission thinggy that can be adjusted or will break in??
I spoke up right away with the dealer (cust. svc rep.) and their response was to watch the mileage and after a few more tanks call again if there is no improvement. The service desk guy said if no engine lights, no problems. (boy, there's a mechanic!)
Seems to be a real range of fuel economy people from this thread experience. Isn't there something more substantial than octane going on here?
I have 38,000 miles and get about 19-20. Don't blame Toyota, it's the antequated EPA calculations. Every car advertises more than it gets because all cars are measured against EPA standards. As a rule of thumb, reduce the car's advertised MPG by 20% and you'll get a "real" number. This applies to any car.
10 days into a new 2005 Highlander v6 4x4 w/3rd row seat --- I and my kids like everything except that my first tank got 240 miles @14mpg - as I drive I can practically see the fuel guage move.. Yikes!
Like Presto stated, do not expect to get the mileage you see advertised.
That is especially true when you live in a variable weather climate.
My Highlander has about 9700 miles on it. I've noticed an improvement in MPG just by using 89 octane instead of 87. Gas prices in the Chicago area are outrageous, like California. I won't pay for 93 octane to go into the car.
You'll also notice a BIG decrease in MPG during the winter months. That's a fact of life. Cars burn more gasoline in winter than summer. The Chemical Engineers I work with can explain it more but suffice it to say that the engine works harder in winter.
I'm getting around 17mpg in mixed city & highway driving (mostly city).
Chicago's FLAT, though. No hills to speak of which may impede MPG too.
I guess we've been fortunate, but on an '05 V6 2WD, 2 seats, we have consistently gotten about 20 in local driving, 25 on a routine 175 mile trip we make. 4000 miles on it now, we use Premium. EPA on that model says 19/25 so we are pleased. The local driving is non-city, the trip is half 2-lane, half 4 lane and the trip computer on another car says we average about 54 MPH when we drive that one--probably about the same in the Highlander since we push the limits a little.
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Jim
'06 Avalon Limited
'06 Lexus RX 400h
My 6cyl Ltd has been running fine on regular fuel. I'm averaging around 21.5 mpg in mixed driving, and maybe 0.5 to 1 mpg better on all-highway trips.
But now that summer is here and I'm using the AC pretty much all the time, I notice a definite loss of power in passing. I've switched to mid grade (89) and the power has improved noticeably. Too early to tell for sure, but it looks like a little improvement in mpg as well.
I got 18mpg on my most recent trip, all hwy. I don't expect to past 20mpg. In our highlander you can definately feel the power difference between 87oct and 92oct. It feels like having headers on with higher oct.
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JBA Headers, Costum Exhaust, ASP U/D Pulley, Centric Crossdrilled & Slotted Fr Rotors, LSD, IS Kit, Manik SS Steps, HID Headlights & Fogs, Pacer Tailgate LED Light Bar, Blacked Out Headlight & corners, LED tail lights
A couple people have said, "Don't blame toyota", and "it's the EPA who does the testing, not Toyota". This actually isn't true. The EPA doesn't have the resources to test every car, and instead relies on the manufacturers to perform the testing using a standard loop (I think they run a dyno-like test using a predetermined sequence of acceleration, etc.). This was described on some news magazine show a few months ago, maybe 20/20.
So, aside from an unrealistic test loop, it would be possible for a particular car maker, or maybe all of them, to fudge the numbers a bit.
I don't know if this will help much, but I have 3,200 on my 2005 HL V6. I recently changed the stock air filter to a K&N air filter. Gasoline is 89 octane and mileage went from 18 MPG to 19 MPG (60% highway travel). Looking to change the muffler to TRD or Aero Turbines to boost the mileage to 20 or 21 MPG. I am also looking at adding a tankfull of 91 octane every third week to see if there is a significant change in performance due to higher octane. This is the vehicle the entire family drives if we go anywhere together (our other vehicle is a 2000 Chevy Tahoe) and I used to drive a 1998 Honda Prelude that required 91 octane premium gas just to start!!
I just yesterday finally used up the "freebie" tank of gas supplied from the dealership. I didn't expect great m.p.g. readings as it was used about 80% in city driving situations.It returned a dissapointing 15.7 m.p.g. I'm sure with more break-in miles and some trips on the interstate,20-22 m.p.g. should be possible.I'm running 87 octane "regular" gas. Love the smoooooth ride and good acceleration from those 230 h.p.
If you like the acceleration from 87 octane gas you should try premium. The highlander accelerates much faster using premium fuel. (2004+ model years with the V6, 3.3 liter engine)
Personally I use 87 octane to save money and with my conservative driving style my mixed freeway/city mileage is about 22mpg. However, I do miss the days when I had premium fuel in the tank (that was only last summer when I was more of a lead foot, and before gas prices shot up by more then 50 cents a gallon).
I've only got about 325 miles on it so far.Once it's around 1,000 miles,and has had an oil change,off to the drags it goes! I'll run some premium fuel for the track.Hope to see mid to low 16s @ 85 + m.p.h.
I just hit 2000 miles yesterday in my 2005 2wd 4 cylinder and have only been getting about 20-21 mpg. However this has been all short trip (no highway) and its been in the 90s here so all air.
I fully expect to get 25-28 on the highway if I ever do a trip!
mpg gotta get better
I'm sure with more break-in miles and some trips on the interstate,20-22 m.p.g. should be possible.I'm running 87 octane "regular" gas. Love the smoooooth ride and good acceleration from those 230 h.p. 
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