Fuel Consumption & Oil Top Ups

[zipppydj]

Hi All

I'm looking for some general advice please.

The fuel consumption of my 2012 RAV4XT -R AWD 2.2 D-4D MAN (62 plate) seems a lot less than my previous two RAVS. My previous one was a 2007 RAV4XT D-4D 2.2, so same engine size. I've had the latest one from brand new (3 years in November) and it's just coming up to 26k miles.

The fuel indicator on the dash shows that I'm getting 39.9 miles to the gallon & I used to get about 48 miles to the gallon with my previous one.

I'm also having to regularly top up with oil as the low oil level light keeps coming on about every 2-3k miles. I've taken it into the dealer a couple of times and they have topped the oil up and asked me to go back after a thousand miles to see how much it's using. On both occasions they are saying it hasn't used any oil or hardly any oil. I never even had to touch the oil between services with my previous two RAVS and would have thought the newer car would be more efficient. I'm topping up with the same oil as they use, Castrol Edge Professional C3 0W 30.

It's due to go in for it's 3 year service at the end of Sept and I'm keeping a record of how many litres of fuel I'm filling up with and the mileage so that I have a manual calculation to compare with the dash. When I used to fill my previous RAV up the dash would show about 560 miles where as this one only shows about 440. I'm assuming that they have the same size fuel tank.

Is this normal? I must admit it's putting me off buying another RAV.

Any thoughts or comments please.

Many thanks.

zipppydj

[Avalon]

Ignore the trip computer and it's fuel estimations. Measure actual brimmed tanks and do it properly, the computer can easily be 5mpg out. Also ambiant air temp/journey type can make a big difference, in summer you tend to get better mpg, it's warmer and the engine warms up quicker, you also don't get the winter fuel package when you fill up.

A diesel for 9k a year is a strange choice financially but the symptoms you describe resulted in several users having engines replaced previously, Toyota admitted the issue, the car only needed to be presented back to them1k later with less liking or you explaining you had to top it up as the light came on. See link:

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/topic/132178-charliefarlies-guide-to-the-toyota-2ad-diesel-engine-and-its-issues/#entry1175067

[LeaderBob]

i have a 61 plate with similar mileage to yours. I find the fuel consumption varies hugely depending on the type of journey you are making. I get on short trips in the summer 36-37 mpg. on a recent trip to Devon achieved nearer 46 mpg.In winter mpg reduces by 2-3 mpg.

i regularly check my oil and have never yet had to top up between services.

The computer shows around 430 on refill. i would not rely on it though, its only a guide.

Cheers

Bob

[firemac]

Our previous 12-reg D-CAT auto averaged about 31mpg until I fitted the Lindop chip, when it improved to an average of 36.5. Mixed driving, mostly long commutes and some local jogging about. Oil consumption was about 3k to a pint, not bad but all our previous 4.2s, diesel and petrol, and our LCs never use/d a drop between services.

I understand that the D-CAT engine is pretty sophisticated (in engineering terms, not from a consumption perspective)and consequently has been designed with a certain amount of oil scavenging built in.

Apart from Aygos,Yari and a 4.2 D4D RAV manual, I've never found Toyotas to be particularly economical with fuel but the compensation has been that all other running costs have been acceptably low and the reliability has been excellent.

[zipppydj]

Thanks for the replies and link to Charlie's post. Interesting. As I'm comparing to my previous two RAV's, doing exactly the same journey's each day, just quite disappointed with the fuel efficiency and having to watch the oil. I'll mention the issues in Charlie's post when I take it in for the service and see what they say.

[Heidfirst]

Full disclosure - I've never owned a RAV. However, I did have a 2007 Avensis 2.2 manual Tourer & now a 2012 Avensis 2.2 manual Tourer & believe that there is quite a lot of similarity in the drivetrains etc.

1) the computer in the 2012 is probably more accurate than the 1 in the 2007. As for LeaderBob's comment about the displayed range when filled up if it is like the Avensis it counts down to Reserve rather than empty. The Reserve is 9-10 litres.

2) my 2007 was a little bit (1-2mpg) more economical than my 2012. I put this down to weight gain & gaining a DPF :(

3) do you know which 2.2 is in your current RAV (a D-CAT or the regular 2.2)? The D-CATs have tended to be thirstier.

4) 48mpg (if true manual calculation rather than an optimistic computer) would put you on the high side going by honestjohn's truempg with the average being in the 43-44.