2014 RX350, fuel efficiency

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So I don't know if this applies to anyone's but I could only run about 320 miles on full tank, does anyone have ways to improve the mpg?
 

mmcartalk

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Clear any unnecessary weight out of the cargo area.....though they're are some things, of course, you will need to keep.

Keep your tires at recommend pressures...especially in winter. Tires lose about one pound of air for every ten degree Farenheit drop in temperature.....and should be checked cold.

Accelerate and brake as smoothly and steadily as possible....and stay at moderate speeds. Jackrabbit starts and lead foots eat up gasoline.

Try to keep on level surfaces as much as possible. Hills and grades use up gas, unless you are going downhill most of the way.

Combine as many trips as possible, and when you do drive, try to run the engine long enough to get as warm as possible (short of overheating, of course). Cold starts and short trips not only use more fuel, but are hard on the engine and oil.

If you don't have to, don't carry anything on the roof. That increases air-drag, lowers gas mileage, and makes the car more unstable and tipsy in corners by adding weight on the roof and raising the center of gravity.

Use the air-conditioning as little as possible in the summertime...the compressor, if belt-driven (some are electric) adds drag to the engine and lowers MPG. The compressor, however, SHOULD be run at least once a week for a few minutes, to keep the mechanicals in it working and lubed properly...it will usually run automatically in the defrost and de-fog modes.


These steps will help, but you can't expect to get econobox-sedan mileage out of a gas-powered mid-sized AWD SUV. The RX, of course, has a higher-mileage hybrid version, but it is significantly more expensive than the regular RX350, and you would have to save a lot of gas to recover the extra $$$$$ you spend on a hybrid up front.
 
Last edited:
Messages
4
Reactions
2
Clear any unnecessary weight out of the cargo area.....though they're are some things, of course, you will need to keep.

Keep your tires at recommend pressures...especially in winter. Tires lose about one pound of air for every ten degree Farenheit drop in temperature.....and should be checked cold.

Accelerate and brake as smoothly and steadily as possible....and stay at moderate speeds. Jackrabbit starts and lead foots eat up gasoline.

Try to keep on level surfaces as much as possible. Hills and grades use up gas, unless you are going downhill most of the way.

Combine as many trips as possible, and when you do drive, try to run the engine long enough to get as warm as possible (short of overheating, of course). Cold starts and short trips not only use more fuel, but are hard on the engine and oil.

If you don't have to, don't carry anything on the roof. That increases air-drag, lowers gas mileage, and makes the car more unstable and tipsy in corners by adding weight on the roof and raising the center of gravity.

Use the air-conditioning as little as possible in the summertime...the compressor, if belt-driven (some are electric) adds drag to the engine and lowers MPG. The compressor, however, SHOULD be run at least once a week for a few minutes, to keep the mechanicals in it working and lubed properly...it will usually run automatically in the defrost and de-fog modes.


These steps will help, but you can't expect to get econobox-sedan mileage out of a gas-powered mid-sized AWD SUV. The RX, of course, has a higher-mileage hybrid version, but it is significantly more expensive than the regular RX350, and you would have to save a lot of gas to recover the extra $$$$$ you spend on a hybrid up front.

Thanks for the advice.