What Mpg Should We Expect From A 2.0 D-4D T3-X?

[cath collins]

We recently bought a 2007 plate hatchback model with 42k miles on the clock. First week we averaged around 46mpg on diesel - on urban run and the M1 50 limit (yawn).

After 200 miles the 'oil maintenance' spanner came up, which according to the manual indicated time for an oil change. Bit surprised given that the car was meant to have been 'fully serviced' prior to purchase. The oil doesn't appear too black but I don't know if that would be expected with a diesel, as I'd been a petrolhead/ non-Toyota owner for 30 years. Perhaps the settings hadn't been reset, or perhaps the Toyota dealership didn't actually change the oil...in any case, that warning statement has stopped now.

BUT we seem to be getting a diminishing numbers of mpg - now averaging 41 whether on 50mph runs, clear urban traffic, or motorway at 80. Is this reflective of what we could expect? the car is never really laden, usually 2 adults alone. The temperature indicator never seems to reach the horizontal, always fractionally below the half way mark. Could the engine be running cold all the time?

As a newbie to the forum happy to be directed elsewhere if this has been raised before - otherwise thanks for your input!

[Luthier]

We recently bought a 2007 plate hatchback model with 42k miles on the clock. First week we averaged around 46mpg on diesel - on urban run and the M1 50 limit (yawn).

After 200 miles the 'oil maintenance' spanner came up, which according to the manual indicated time for an oil change. Bit surprised given that the car was meant to have been 'fully serviced' prior to purchase. The oil doesn't appear too black but I don't know if that would be expected with a diesel, as I'd been a petrolhead/ non-Toyota owner for 30 years. Perhaps the settings hadn't been reset, or perhaps the Toyota dealership didn't actually change the oil...in any case, that warning statement has stopped now.

BUT we seem to be getting a diminishing numbers of mpg - now averaging 41 whether on 50mph runs, clear urban traffic, or motorway at 80. Is this reflective of what we could expect? the car is never really laden, usually 2 adults alone. The temperature indicator never seems to reach the horizontal, always fractionally below the half way mark. Could the engine be running cold all the time?

As a newbie to the forum happy to be directed elsewhere if this has been raised before - otherwise thanks for your input!

I have had a 2008 2.0D-4D TR for 2 years and the indicated mpg on the computer (which is slightly optimistic) generally shows an average of 55mpg. On long motorway runs at steady legal speeds in 6th gear it can achieve 60mpg or more. However it is noticeable that when the colder weather arrives the mpg will drop to around 52mpg. I find that you need to drive diesels slightly differently to petrols for best economy. i.e. change up when the revs reach 2000rpm and make use of the extra torque. This does help fuel consumption as does all the usual advice regarding economic driving techniques (anticipation so you don't have to brake too much, keep in as high a gear as possible and don't accelerate hard - boring I know but it works)

As regards the oil light - I would mention it to the Toyota dealer. It sounds as if they didn't reset it. Just a thought though, was the oil warning light on the instrument panel or the satnav? I only ask because the user can set reminders on the satnav for oil change and a list of other items and they would flash up temporarily on the satnav screen.

Also the oil in a diesel engine does tend to go black relatively quickly so if yours looks fairly clean, it probably was changed.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy driving your Avensis as much as I do mine.

My temp gauge also is very slightly below the mid way setting, so I guess it is normal.

[andymcm]

My 2007 2.0 diesel is consistently in the 48-52 mpg range, according to the computer, so 41 does sound low.

My temperature gauge is about half-way when warmed up.

[Dan Clark]

My 2.0 litre diesel T3-S has always shown between 50 and 55 mpg for the 4 years I have had it. I bought it with 38k on the clock in 2006 and its only had one service since and is now on 110K so your mpg so yours does seem quite low. Cant say I thrash it around and I drive pretty economically.

[cath collins]

thanks people for your replies - very helpful, especially Luthier. Will have a go at the sedate revs bit, must learn to correct habits first learnt with an original (ie 'real') Mini- high revs before changing gear. 2000 revs it is from now on.

Oh, and it was a black spanner pic on the instrument panel giving a temporary display during the 'initial check' phase when the engine was started. We don't have a satnav in our version :(

[zajbu]

Have just had my avensis serviced and had a similar problem. Took to the main dealer - "the light is simply a reminder that the car has covered x amount of miles" to reset and take away warning light press the button on the instrument dash that alternates between odo, trip a, trip b. This must be set to odo, now press and hold the button down while turning on the ignition key, continue holding you will notice a line moving across the screen, when it's finished the computer will be re-set.

Hope this helps

Was also wondering if anyone else had noticed that the newer avensis cars do far worse to the gallon. Been driving an 03 plate 2 litre d4d until recently averaging 60mpg+ since swapping to an 07 plate cannot get more than 50.

[A-Harris]

I have had my 2007 Avensis D4D 2litre estate for a year now and every tank full has averaged between 54 and 57mpg, that is for general driving, but on motorway runs it always far exceeds this. Last weekend on a 360 mile round trip from Devon to mid Wales and back it averaged just over 65mpg. This was driving as fast as I was legally allowed to drive.

As I didn't initially trust these high mpg figures as being true, I did my own test over 3 tank fill up's of fuel and checked fuel used against milage using AA figures for the distances driven, and to my surprise found that when the Avensis display said 55mpg average it was only about 2 to 2.5% optimistic, as my own figures showed 53.8mpg.

This is my first diesel vehicle and due to the low running cost I now go out on long drives so much more :o)