MPG low
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1
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2003 E320
MPG low
i have a 2003 E320 and the mpg is low to others that have same car with simalar mileage i travel 24 miles each way to work but car temp only gets to 60 ish what could be the cause of the low temp and would it affect the mpg
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 356
Likes: 19
From: RI
2017 S550 4matic
Assuming you mean 60 on the dash's temp scale, that seems pretty low. The engine operating too cold means it likely never gets out of open loop mode and that would definitely cause the car to eat gas. Are you getting a check engine light or any codes? Even if the light isn't on, have autozone pull the codes from the ecu and see if anything's wrong (i've seen used car dealers remove the CEL bulb before).
Beyond that, typical problems could be low tire pressure, dirty air filters, bad spark plugs, or bad o2 sensors, the latter two would be throwing codes though. More often than not anything wrong in the fuel/ignition systems would cause drivability issues, so are you seeing any missing/lack of power etc?
Beyond that, typical problems could be low tire pressure, dirty air filters, bad spark plugs, or bad o2 sensors, the latter two would be throwing codes though. More often than not anything wrong in the fuel/ignition systems would cause drivability issues, so are you seeing any missing/lack of power etc?
Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
03 E320, 03 Lexus RX300
Gonna need a little more info from you.
Whats your current mileage? If its after 100,000 miles did you change your spark plugs?
have you checked your engine air filter? (This is a big one, if its dirty the engine will not breathe as well and will need to throw more gasoline into the combustion mix to get power.)
Do you have heavier wheels/tires on? (Another big one, take it from me I switched back to stock wheels and got a LOT more mpgs)
Whats your current mileage? If its after 100,000 miles did you change your spark plugs?
have you checked your engine air filter? (This is a big one, if its dirty the engine will not breathe as well and will need to throw more gasoline into the combustion mix to get power.)
Do you have heavier wheels/tires on? (Another big one, take it from me I switched back to stock wheels and got a LOT more mpgs)
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 314
Likes: 29
From: Coastal Georgia, USA
2007 E350 Sedan
That temp is low. Is this a new issue? If it is, what did it used to get to? Does your car ever get up to full temp? I would have expected that it would over 24 miles.
