nate73

Still not as hard as the M Sport tho!

FROM GOOGLE

Just a note here guys. I've just dropped my car off at the dealer for them to take a look at the mpg issue, shaking mirror and now juddering brakes. They gave me a 220d as a courtesy car. By the time I got home I was straight on the phone. There is clearly something wrong with my car, the pull from about 1400rpm is staggering compared to mine (No probs with 1st gear at all!). If mine drove the way the courtesy car does I don't think I'd have any worries - told the service manager it felt like a different machine! I really hope that they can sort it. I'll post the results of their efforts later!!

Depends on your driving. Official is 35f/38r up to 100mph then 41f/44r. As I do mostly motorway driving I have found 37f/40r to be spot on. Unless you drive consistently above 70mph I'd run standard 35f/38r.

Dont think you can dismiss the fuel issue Jamboo - it is the reason behind the coking of the components. BUT.... is that the cause of the mpg issue??? As I've mentioned before the non DCAT 140bhp D4D delivers 46mpg actual in my mates verso, which is a little heavier than the IS. The BMW's are now well ahead of anyone in the engine stakes - petrol or diesel! There is a simple reason for there being so many of them - they're bloody good! The reason for the 5th injector recall is for blockages - I mentioned before, I took a look at the post and pre mod versions. It's gone from two small slits to one larger slit to prevent this. Roll on Wednesday for me, egr etc to be replaced! The girlfriend said I could swap for her A180cdi! I laughed, but used it for work the other day and returned 46mpg round trip!!! By the way hows yours running since the 20k service?

Gearbox on all the IS diesels are the same. However the rear axle on the sport model has a different ratio final drive. 3.2 rather than 2.4 for the other models, imagine it wouldn't be cost effective to change it.

Finlex, It begs the question that if it only burns once in a while why is the mpg so bad over here? I cant find any specs on the exhaust system but can remember something about it also keeping the catalyst bed temp up for sulfur removal. Do you know if the dcat system has sensors to activate the 5th injector for NOx, PM removal or if its done on a time basis?

My 'Red Sticker' looks like quite a recent addition. Problem with mine is the 5th inj. was replaced late Jan and remap. Filled up yesterday and the car has now decided to give me 33mpg dropped from 36mpg for last two tanks! Same journey, same speed. Roll on Wednesday - hopefully I can get a 250 as a courtesy car! Agree with you on the gearing - they really screwed up with the rear axle. Should have made it the ratio about 2.7 instead of 2.4 a couple a hundred rpm in each gear for the same speed would make all the difference!

Jamboo, I tested the car in exactly the same way as you. You're right that its impossible to deduce mpg etc on test, far to busy with the toys! I intended to keep mine for 4-5 yrs also, but at £6-700 a year extra in fuel it may be worth taking a hit and changing. I'll wait to see what improvement I get after the work is done. From what I can deduce, most 220d's (GB) are affected it's just that most people dont complain, the lexus tech I spoke to says all 220d's that he sees show 35 ish mpg. I'm one of the few to actual complain about it at the dealership. The ones he's worked on were completely coked up. It's not purely about the sulphur content, the cleaning agents in the fuel contribute. I am using v-power purely because the D4D DCAT was developed in collaberation with shell. This is the fuel they tested in London with the avensis D4D DCAT to prove the emmisons claim. 60% lower Nox, 40% lower PM etc, just a shame that we purely use CO2 for tax purposes. As others have said, once the other marks have to comply with euro V (2009?) maybe the 50+ mpg days will be over for everyone using diesel and it will be time to switch back to petrol. As I've said before I'd be happy with 42mpg but I've never once seen above 40mpg and that was driving like a granny.

Yeah, spot on. As I said earlier, it has reduced over the past 2000 odd miles, but as this a known fault I'll get them to have a look. They do seem quite keen to sort the problem if they can. Can't fault the dealer at all. Cheers for the info.

Eeek! Haven't heard that one before! I'll ask on wednesday when I drop it off.

As I said in an earlier post, 2000+ miles with v-power has greatly reduced vibrations at lower revs, it runs much smoother than it did and I expect it to get better over time. Thats why I think its worth it, and I also dont have to carry a bottle of additive in the boot for each refill! At the end of the day its only costing me £8 a month more than it would to use DPS4. I think you are missing my point, v-power or any of the other so called 'super fuels' don't claim to have massive mpg increases, you'll be lucky to get 25miles (2-3%) extra per tank. This is about using the recomended fuel to keep the engine clean and emmissions (Sulfur, NOx & PM) low, thereby keeping the work the exhaust system has to do to a minimum. All I'm saying is that if the engine and attached components are clean, the car may after all be able to do what it says on the tin. After all if someone said you had to use fully-synthetic oil you would wouldn't you? Whats the difference with the fuel? But then again, I may be back on here ranting next week!!!

try the diesel power sport 4,it will give you everything v power does but at £1.20 a tankfull.i use it in my 220d. Using v-power diesel only costs me £3.50 a tank more than regular diesel. I'd rather pay the extra £2.30 over DPS4 and have a preventative fuel. I worked out that at £15 a month extra its worth it - I think!!!

Jamboo, The 180 bhp D4D verso is having exactly the same problem. The 140bhp version doesn't have the DPNR system. Guess thats why there is a big red sticker saying low sulfur only on my tank flap!

NT - Keeping the rpm below 2000 will make it labour. I'm running in 5th at 80, about 2500rpm and always change up at that speed too. But then again I'm only getting 35-36mpg anyway! Agree with the fuel watching - much more fun watching the temp gauge! 2,500RPM in 5th = approx 74/75MPH (I know the speedo says 80, but it's actually more like 74/75, according to my RoadAngel, and my TT720). I don't think I wanna spend my entire life in the inside lane! 2,000RPM in 6th = approx 85MPH (speedo shows around 90)...a bit more like it, but it's still not the 85-90 that I used to be able to do in my 9-3, and return high 40's! Agreed about the actual speed, TT720 shows 76 at indicated 80 however I feel like I'm flying as my S60 was doing really doing 72!

Jamboo, The problem of coking wont occur/re-occur if the correct fuel is used. It only takes 4000 to 5000 miles for components to become clogged. If you use either BP Ultimate or Shell v-power it will clean any contaminated part it comes into contact with over the same distance. I've now done over 2000 miles on v-power and there is a noticable reduction on vibration at lower rev's, so much in fact I can now even use 6th on the motorway!. I'm still holding judgement on the mpg issue until lexus have replaced the egr valve and other bits. I should theorectically see an improvement immediately. On another note, guy I know dropped into the office this morning. He runs an accord 2.2ctdi and get 650 miles before the fuel light comes on - all motorway! He is a bit old mind - probably 65mph!

Jamboo, Which pipes? I went into Lexus Liverpool yesterday, who are fantastic by the way. Had a long chat with the tech, he explained from day one the problems have been caused by the coking of the components. He showed me the modified injector, it has one large slit rather than the two small small ones on the pre-mod version which was prone to coke blockage (Showed me one of those too!). As mine had its 5th injector done in January and also has the latest flash code he agreed to basically change out all the parts that he's had to replace on other cars with problems - egr valve (Coking causes it to stay open) etc and see if that improves it. I think this could come down to the fuel used, I'm using v-power diesel so theoretically once the parts are changed there should be no more coking at all within the engine. I would be interested to hear from the guys in Finland, Sweden what sulfur content they use as I'm pretty sure that all their standard diesel is of the low sulfur variety, which would explain the massive differences on mpg. This may also offer an explanation as to why people are seeing short term improvements - 5th injector replaced, standard diesel used re-coking of the injector, low mpg. Who knows for sure, but once all this work is done if there's no improvement it'll be a change of car for me, which is a shame because other than the mpg issue I love the IS.

Jamboo, Mine's in tomorrow for them to 'take a look at it' as i'm getting 35.5 mpg also. Supposed to have had the 5th injector replaced in January so cant see why it should be so bad -unless there is a small leak somewhere!!!

Basically I'm driving fast enough not to cause unnecessary trouble to anyone and fast enough to get where I'm going in time. That is how you should be driving, too, if you really want good mileage. If you don't, stop complaining. I am NOT labouring my engine. You can hear and feel the vibration when the engine is labouring. And what is more, you're NOT getting good mileage when the engine is labouring. Try it, if you don't believe me. Before you do, don't bother considering yourself wiser than me. The torque band is there for a reason and that reason is quick acceleration. Good fuel efficiency is below the torque band. Ok fine, you're an amazing driver with superior skills - so you can confirm you're getting over 650 miles to a tank then?

I'm getting that by practice. I took the time to alter my driving style to fit the car. From 1st to 4th gear I drive at about 1500 RPM, 5th from 1600 RPM and 6th from 1700 RPM. That is, when going steady. If I need quick acceleration, then 2000+ RPM. I also use coasting whenever possible. When slowing down, always engine braking. About 90 percent of my driving is on highways/A-roads, about 10 percent urban. I can match 47.1 MPG with many petrol powered cars. None of them comparable with the IS, though. So basically your driving as fast as a milk float! Seriously, I cant do that in mine, I'd have to visit the physio to get my back sorted. Your engine will be labouring to to point of damaging it. The engine has been designed with a torque band of 2000rpm-2600rpm for a reason, using it out of that range is pointless. After that explanation I know not to take anything you say seriously!

The new Michelin Pimancy HP is a very good tyre - get them at costco at a good price £120 front £160 rear. Had them on my S60 D5 which was heavy on tyres and they lasted very well. Will be switching to them once the fitted Bridgestones need changing.

That's 17 complaints. How many potentially happy 220d owners that leaves? Thousands, I believe. I must again remind: the official MPG figures are not Lexus' claims, but official test results. If your not matching them, it's because you're not driving in a similar way. I'm not saying you should, but if you don't, you can't really compare your mileage to the official numbers. None of the cars you mentioned weight as much as 220d. I would guess none of them have a particulate filter, either. I'm sure none of them have the DeNOx technology that the 220d has. These things are easily forgotten, because they're not as obvious as the mileage, but still they are there. Some people are bashing the engine-gearbox combo, some are not. Are you saying that the happy ones are wrong or lying? I know the 220d isn't the most fuel efficient car in its class, but combined with the weight, low emissions and torque, I'm pleased with the 47,1 MPG that I've received since new. Don't overgeneralise, please! I'm getting 35.5mpg worked out at the pump over approx 58ltrs. 47.1mpg! how are you working that out? over a tank that means your computer would show a range of 650+miles! As for offical MPG, take a look in your handbook..... I dont expect to match the mpg claims but I can match 35mpg in a petrol powered car!

Jamboo, Thankts for the info. I'm getting about 470 with the same sort of driving (80% M'way). Bit worried as they say 5th injector has already been changed in Jan. If they can't sort it I'll see what deal can be done on an exchange for a 250 as the fuel bill will be about the same!!! Wont hold my breath tho.... how many litres gets you 470mls About 58ltr on a fill. I'm using v-power diesel so that I can argue that I've been running on the recomended fuel too! Engine should be clean by now as I've covered 1500miles with it. It's supposed to have cleaned out existing deposits after about 800. My latest tank was 35.5mpg at the pump. Just for info, I've read a couple of quotes on here about what the fifth injector actually does, some say extra power when the engine under load - others that its for emissions. From what I've found on an old press release it seems it does two things. Firstly it sprays fuel into the remaining exhaust gases to reduce/eliminate NOx and PM. Secondly it sprays fuel through to the cataylst to maintain temp for sulfur removal. As I'm using v-power diesel the amount of fuel needed for these two actions should be minimal - I've got a feeling the clogged injector is the end result of a proplem earlier down the line.

I may be wrong, but you have only got about 20K up. Is that sufficient to justify this comment. I have over 40k in a shorter period and I have not noticed this deterioration. As for 39-40 mpg, I think that is acceptable. If I wanted absolute frugality I would have gone for something else. My actual economy is what my pre-purchase research had led me to expect. Where is it written in stone just "what a diesel should be." Who says? Your Poll is biased. For a poll to be credible the respondents should be randomly chosen. It has already been pointed out in other threads here, that on a forum like this you are much more likely to get dissatisfied customers. So your poll is inherently biased from the start. Secondly, you actually encouraged dissatisfied members to vote. On March 7, you posted "Can you guys all please make sure you add your vote HERE if you haven't already?". I have never seen you actively encourage satisfied owners to post. Remember, there are lies, damn lies and statistics. Independent websites like www.honestjohn.co.uk don't mention problems with fuel economy and that would reflect a much larger sample size and, in my opinion, be a much better reflection of the true picture. I am sorry you appear to have got a bad car but I cannot let you extrapolate from that that all 200ds must be bad. You have already posted that your experience is all that counts. Well, its not. To make generalisations about a model you need a much larger sample size Not sure where you get off dismissing complaints out of hand, each of the 17 complaints are valid. You ask "what a diesel should be" it should back up any claims of being frugal and negate the up/down actions of the gearbox because of its "Class leading torque". These are the claims of Lexus and the reason why many have opted for the 220d. I've completed 230,0000 miles over the past 5 years in various cars from a 306td, A4TDI and an S60 D5. None have come anywhere close to the IS as a package, however all were easier to drive because the engine/gearbox combination was better. They all also gave better mpg! People aren't bashing the car - just the engine/gearbox and rightly so.

NT - Keeping the rpm below 2000 will make it labour. I'm running in 5th at 80, about 2500rpm and always change up at that speed too. But then again I'm only getting 35-36mpg anyway! Agree with the fuel watching - much more fun watching the temp gauge!