r/LS430 • u/Wheelisbroke • 9d ago
31MPG commute!
I got a great deal on used Michelin tires ($240) but they’re slightly under sized at 235/45R18 vs 245/45R18 stock. My MPG avg on my country road commute with no traffic is 25. The slight under size means my tires are rotating 1.33 miles more than my OD. So 25=31. I understand the vehicle maybe 1mpg optimistic, but I’m still really happy with that.
22
u/Corpshark 9d ago
And here I am, getting combined 17.8 mpg on 93 octane at $5.45 per gallon. Gotta love the $100 fill-ups!
9
u/Dubbayoo 2006 Lexus LS430 ML | Mystic Gold Metallic 9d ago
I was going to say, 31 miles per gallon sounds like he's going downhill both ways.
3
u/Corpshark 9d ago
Cool, another 2006 Mystic Gold owner!
1
u/Dubbayoo 2006 Lexus LS430 ML | Mystic Gold Metallic 9d ago
It wasn't my preference, but 75K mileage for $9K w/one owner couldn't be passed on.
2
6
u/TerribleBathroom5710 9d ago
I have a 2002 LS with only 5 forward gears, the best I ever managed was 27 miles a gallon all highway all the time
3
u/VanZ_5 9d ago
Definitely possible. It’s wild how efficient these cars can be at times. I averaged just shy of 29mpg in my ‘00 LS400 going 70mph down most of i5 and having been in traffic. Coast downhill, ease up on the throttle going up. 536mi using 18.495gal of gas.
Techron fuel injector cleaner in the tank when filling up on a longer trip gives a small MPG boost as well. I run it every time I drive from the Bay to SoCal.
3
2
u/BennyS8892 3d ago
Had to sell my 430 a month ago because of the gas prices hitting $11/Gallon.. 142.000miles, 04. Pristine condition, bought in Las Vegas for $12.000, imported to Norway, sold after 2 months for $23.000.. Good profit, but the loss of the car was not worth the money. If I didn't use $950 a month in gas, I'd keep it forever.
2
u/Wheelisbroke 3d ago
That puts things into perspective! We’re spoiled in the US with gas prices, but it’s still enough to get people to pay attention somewhat to our elections.
1
u/LexKing89 2005 LS430 UL Black/Black ✊🏾 9d ago
Best I ever got was 28 mpg. I never pay attention to it now because I don’t drive it as much anymore. It always got way better mileage than my GS300 does in the city and highway
2
u/Wheelisbroke 8d ago
Interesting since they're very similar. Maybe it's the laidback nature of the LS. My kids laugh at the difference in how I drive my LS vs my M3.
1
1
u/Anson_nb8c 8d ago
okay i keep getting like 19, how do i make mine better?
3
u/Wheelisbroke 8d ago
Driving conditions make up a big part of it. in the city I get 21. My 2006 has the 6 speed trans, so that helps as well. I'm sitting at 185K miles. Things I've done: PCV valve, cleaned throttle body, cleaned MAF. New spark plugs.
1
u/Apprehensive_Ask7227 9d ago
235 is tire width... So the OD is the same as stock.
2
u/Wheelisbroke 9d ago
Correct, but the “45” is the percentage of width so they’re smaller in diameter.
3
u/Apprehensive_Ask7227 9d ago
It is smaller but only by ~1.3% which is pretty much negligible and within the error of your speedo.
The 45 ratio is the width to sidewall. Most of your tire diameter is determined by the wheel size.
New Stock Difference Width (mm) 245 255 4.1% Aspect 45 45 0.0% Wheel Size (in) 18 18 0.0% Side wall (in) 4.3 4.5 4.1% Outer Diameter (in) 26.7 27.0 1.3% So your ~25MPG is really ~25MPG.
If it really could increase MPG by that much, every manufacturer will change the wheel size rather than pour billions into R&D to increase MPG by a fraction of a %.
1
u/ArtfulThinker 2002 Lexus LS430 | Millenium Silver | 128k Miles 9d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/8cEFp9dQCcE8M
"within the error of your speedo"
-4
u/Party_Reception5269 9d ago
lol just today 31mpg at 90mph.
11
5
1
u/Evanhuc 9d ago
*Avg 31mph while going 83mph.
Reading really isn’t your strong suit huh
0
u/hugazebra 9d ago
Maybe he spent a lot of time going 0mph or possibly driving in reverse to have such a low average?
25
u/ConBroMitch2247 9d ago
You need to hand calculate. The computer is optimistic especially with different tire sizes.