Hybrid using a lot of petrol

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Eva888

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#298683 7-Jul-2022 10:07

My Lexus CT200 which has a 1780 is devouring petrol. The gauge was on full when I got it but with short trips of a few kilometres to the supermarket, the fuel gauge drops to the next line indicator. In a couple days of hardly any use it dropped 2 lines and inching towards the third. Don’t know how to describe it. The old 2 litre petrol car which was bigger used far less even on long trips.

Before I take it to someone to check maybe someone can give me a heads up as to why this could be happening. Our Aqua hybrid gets filled and the indicator sits on full even after days of use. I am very light on the gas pedal so it’s not my driving and it’s nearly always in Eco mode.

I'm very disappointed as I chose a hybrid for economy and to single handedly save the planet.

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Mad Scientist
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#2939058 7-Jul-2022 10:20

did this just happen?

maybe the electric motor battery is dead?

though my first instinct is there is a fuel leak ... fuel cap open ... people stealing your fuel ...

it doesn't magically burn by itself if that's what i'm reading

Handsomedan

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#2939060 7-Jul-2022 10:25

Can you smell fuel when you go to the car after it's been sitting? Is there a fuel leak?

I'd probably nip down to Toyota/Lexus and chat with them about it though...

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Eva888

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#2939061 7-Jul-2022 10:30

No smell. Opened and shut the fuel lid and tightened it. I would be surprised if someone was stealing as it’s too little. It would be drained if they were to steal. No marks on the garage floor to show a leak.
The Report from Lexus in Auckland was excellent, lots of ticks not that I understand all of it but it was positive. I’m literally driving and watching the fuel gauge dropping as I go.

kobiak

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#2939065 7-Jul-2022 10:43

maybe fill in full tank, go around for 100km and fill again - you'll have better understanding on consumption and have grounds to go to mechanic.

I guess these fancy lexus should not consume over 6-7L/100kms

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Eva888

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#2939066 7-Jul-2022 10:48

It’s not particularly fancy, it’s just a Toyota with a few more bells. They are meant to consume between 4.5 litres per 100. Wish I had bought a Prius now.

kobiak

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#2939076 7-Jul-2022 11:14

Eva888: It’s not particularly fancy, it’s just a Toyota with a few more bells. They are meant to consume between 4.5 litres per 100. Wish I had bought a Prius now.

there must be some stats available. What are the numbers?:

- full range
- trip range
- instant consumption
- average consumption

And do real world consumption: fill in full tank, drive around at least 100km and fill in full tank again.

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aaristotle

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#2939124 7-Jul-2022 11:19

I assume there is a l/100km reading on the dashboard which will show current usage or the average for the trip meter selected. What is this displaying? I have a Prius C and the fuel gauge is not linear, it shows as full until about a quarter of the tank has been used, then seems to drop more quickly the closer to empty you get.

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Eva888

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#2939128 7-Jul-2022 11:30

I will need someone to check, am just learning it and don’t really know how to read the numbers it does have various options. I do see on the dials it shows when the battery is being used and when petrol is pouring towards the engine. So quite often even when I have my foot off the gas and coasting it still shows it’s using petrol.

Just hoped someone might have some thoughts on it before I speak to an expert and they tell me it needs a brand new whatsit that will cost more than the car.

robjg63

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#2939129 7-Jul-2022 11:31

The float on the sender unit in the tank has failed and is filling with petrol and sinking in the tank? - making the dashboard indicator show the petrol is going down when its the float falling to the bottom of the tank?

If its going down when you aren't using the car and its not leaking or being stolen, why are you so disappointed in the car?

Just something that needs to be fixed.

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#2939131 7-Jul-2022 11:39

fill up the tank, park it for a few days and go to the same fuel pump (same pump same station same time of day same ambient temperature) and try to fill it up again.

without draining the tank and seeing how much fuel has vanished has been used this could give an idea of whether the fuel tank is emptying or the gauge is faulty

NzBeagle

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#2939139 7-Jul-2022 12:08

Eva888: I will need someone to check, am just learning it and don’t really know how to read the numbers it does have various options. I do see on the dials it shows when the battery is being used and when petrol is pouring towards the engine. So quite often even when I have my foot off the gas and coasting it still shows it’s using petrol.

Just hoped someone might have some thoughts on it before I speak to an expert and they tell me it needs a brand new whatsit that will cost more than the car.

If the engine is running more often than you find in your Aqua then it could mean there's something wrong. In my experience, it should only run if the power is required for the wheels due to speed or excessive acceleration, the battery is low, or you have the heater on and the heat needs to be generated. Getting the battery checked shouldn't be too bad and there used to be someone here who did this which should speak to their honesty.

jonb

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#2939141 7-Jul-2022 12:11

You should have a similar dashboard display to this which can show your 'live' fuel consumption in litres per 100km (l/100km). My Toyota is very similar to this youtube also:

Lexus Dashboard Display - How to Change the Screens and Information - YouTube

Eva888

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#2939142 7-Jul-2022 12:14

robjg63:
The float on the sender unit in the tank has failed and is filling with petrol and sinking in the tank? - making the dashboard indicator show the petrol is going down when its the float falling to the bottom of the tank?

If its going down when you aren't using the car and its not leaking or being stolen, why are you so disappointed in the car?

Just something that needs to be fixed.

Thanks at least I can suggest this when I go to the garage which I plan to do today. I hope that’s all it is and it sounds very logical. Enjoyed the car because easy to drive and compact until I realised it was a hog. Mostly bought it as it had more airbags and a stronger chassis than the old car and also for fuel economy because the Aqua's was so impressive, also wanted to stick to Toyota as have always found them reliable.

Am dropping in without an appointment so may not have an answer today.

Eva888

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#2939144 7-Jul-2022 12:21

jonb:
You should have a similar dashboard display to this which can show your 'live' fuel consumption in litres per 100km (l/100km). My Toyota is very similar to this youtube also:

Lexus Dashboard Display - How to Change the Screens and Information - YouTube

Thanks. Had a quick look my dash is quite different mine is a 2014 CT with a pop up screen display that indicates which way the power is going and Bluetooth etc, but there is also another display under the fuel indicator that has information that changes as you click through. I suspect that will give more answers. I just don’t know what they mean.

Bung

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#2939147 7-Jul-2022 12:35

Have you just got this car? As others have said if you are being bamboozled by the display just record km travelled vs petrol put in. That's what counts in the end. Have you even got as far as trying to refill it?

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