Fuel Economy On Rav4 1996 Model?

[avonv2]

Hi I am a new member and would like to ask a simple but probably stupid question.

I have an elderly (1996) 5 door petrol RAV4 automatic which I bought about 3 months ago. I think it is a brilliant little

motor that's ideal for doing the light farm work (carrying a bit of hay up a track) and around town. However the fuel consumption is not good.

She does about 26ish mpg around the town and as it is a 2 litre automatic I thought this might be about right. When my better

half took it for a 400 mile round trip,solely on the motorway, I thought it would be better. Sadly it still did 26 mpg approx.

Allowing for its age and the automatic, surely it should get more mpg than this? If I put the extra power switch on or off it makes

no difference. Is this a normal mpg, or do I need to fiddle with something, or get it looked at??

Your advice is most appreciated

Thanks

[Golden bay NZ]

Thats about right for a Rav4, Ive owned one. Keeping a clean air filter will help.

The Rav is a good car and fun to drive, but your model is not the best for highway use

My advice?

Upgrade to the awesome 2000/2001 model Rav4 which has better economy and more power

[mystic]

My 2002 rav is the 5door model and does around 32mpg, so your is probably about right.

[bothwell_buyer]

Hello and welcome to the forum and to this section

I've owned a 3 door from new in 1994, and liked it so much, I bought another as a back-up!!!

The early 4.1 model (1994 to about 2000) was really designed to be a mild off-roader and a sporty fun machine - and it is.

However the gearing was designed as a bit of a compromise between having a first gear to allow soft off-roading then second gear as a compromise with the 5th gear on manuals being the road gear.

I don't have any experience of the automatic but guess that the same principles applied. Then we had the introduction of version 4.2 with the VVTI petrol engine and an option of a diesel engine with what is now a fair number of problems. The petrol VVTI was designed as a better fuel economy motor - the 3SFE engine had been fitted to the 4.1 model but has been about since the 1980s.

So, coupled with the gearing and the older engine design, getting around 26 to 28mpg is about normal. I now run both my RAVs with the turbo version of the same engine - essentially designed as Toyotas racing engine a good few years ago. Depending on how I drive I get about 22mpg or less.

The basic things like has it been serviced - oil changes - and so on need done. Check the spark plugs are ok and the proper ones. Check the HT leads are ok. Petrol filter is clean, the thermostat for the water coolant is ok and not sticking open... if the thermostat is stuck open the car won't heat up to its working temp and the ecu management system will run the engine as if its cold which increases the petrol consumption dramatically. Another thing to check is whether the front disc calipoers are working properly - they have a habit of seizing and so you are driving along with the front brakes binding....and you won't notice cos its 4 wheel drive. Best way to check is to jack the front of the car up and try turning the wheels...then apply the footbrake to check the wheel locks... then release the brake to see if the wheel is free agian. You will get transmission drag but its a no cost check on the calipers state.

have fun..

[avonv2]

Thanks for the replies. At least I know it's roughly correct mpg. I will try the checks mentioned and one day I will upgrade to a newer model.

Cheers

[Big Kev]

Hello and welcome to the forum and to this section

I've owned a 3 door from new in 1994, and liked it so much, I bought another as a back-up!!!

The early 4.1 model (1994 to about 2000) was really designed to be a mild off-roader and a sporty fun machine - and it is.

However the gearing was designed as a bit of a compromise between having a first gear to allow soft off-roading then second gear as a compromise with the 5th gear on manuals being the road gear.

I don't have any experience of the automatic but guess that the same principles applied. Then we had the introduction of version 4.2 with the VVTI petrol engine and an option of a diesel engine with what is now a fair number of problems. The petrol VVTI was designed as a better fuel economy motor - the 3SFE engine had been fitted to the 4.1 model but has been about since the 1980s.

So, coupled with the gearing and the older engine design, getting around 26 to 28mpg is about normal. I now run both my RAVs with the turbo version of the same engine - essentially designed as Toyotas racing engine a good few years ago. Depending on how I drive I get about 22mpg or less.

The basic things like has it been serviced - oil changes - and so on need done. Check the spark plugs are ok and the proper ones. Check the HT leads are ok. Petrol filter is clean, the thermostat for the water coolant is ok and not sticking open... if the thermostat is stuck open the car won't heat up to its working temp and the ecu management system will run the engine as if its cold which increases the petrol consumption dramatically. Another thing to check is whether the front disc calipoers are working properly - they have a habit of seizing and so you are driving along with the front brakes binding....and you won't notice cos its 4 wheel drive. Best way to check is to jack the front of the car up and try turning the wheels...then apply the footbrake to check the wheel locks... then release the brake to see if the wheel is free agian. You will get transmission drag but its a no cost check on the calipers state.

have fun..

The foregoing demonstrates why ah will NEVER get a star after ma name.....spot on educational stuff, Boffs.

Big Kev

[Golden bay NZ]

Yeh, good tutorial on the thermostat. Mine was old and stayed open on my Celica. I was getting 24mpg and when I put the new one in I got 28 to 30 mpg

[bothwell_buyer]

Hello and welcome to the forum and to this section

I've owned a 3 door from new in 1994, and liked it so much, I bought another as a back-up!!!

The early 4.1 model (1994 to about 2000) was really designed to be a mild off-roader and a sporty fun machine - and it is.

However the gearing was designed as a bit of a compromise between having a first gear to allow soft off-roading then second gear as a compromise with the 5th gear on manuals being the road gear.

I don't have any experience of the automatic but guess that the same principles applied. Then we had the introduction of version 4.2 with the VVTI petrol engine and an option of a diesel engine with what is now a fair number of problems. The petrol VVTI was designed as a better fuel economy motor - the 3SFE engine had been fitted to the 4.1 model but has been about since the 1980s.

So, coupled with the gearing and the older engine design, getting around 26 to 28mpg is about normal. I now run both my RAVs with the turbo version of the same engine - essentially designed as Toyotas racing engine a good few years ago. Depending on how I drive I get about 22mpg or less.

The basic things like has it been serviced - oil changes - and so on need done. Check the spark plugs are ok and the proper ones. Check the HT leads are ok. Petrol filter is clean, the thermostat for the water coolant is ok and not sticking open... if the thermostat is stuck open the car won't heat up to its working temp and the ecu management system will run the engine as if its cold which increases the petrol consumption dramatically. Another thing to check is whether the front disc calipoers are working properly - they have a habit of seizing and so you are driving along with the front brakes binding....and you won't notice cos its 4 wheel drive. Best way to check is to jack the front of the car up and try turning the wheels...then apply the footbrake to check the wheel locks... then release the brake to see if the wheel is free agian. You will get transmission drag but its a no cost check on the calipers state.

have fun..

The foregoing demonstrates why ah will NEVER get a star after ma name.....spot on educational stuff, Boffs.

Big Kev

:wub: :wub: ah, but, yer a star in my eyes !