getting better fuel mileage??

2006 4wd dbl cab tacoma, 17.5 to 18mpg on highway. Looking to do some upgrades to get better mileage. A supercharger is a possible. reason is my truck downshifts a lot once we hit the mountains or any steep grade. I live next to the mtns. If I could help it carry a gear a little longer and not down shift possible fuel mileage gain. Its a theory but new to these tacoma's but really like these little trucks. The woman really likes this truck. Also exhaust and header/computor upgrades and what works. About to start some upgrades and curious to know what works. Thanks and talk to you soon!! this is our first toyota and it just happened to be a tacoma 4wd. Nice truck!!

 

i just bought a supercharger, and i can tell you im pretty sure i will not have better gas mileage afterward

 

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consider this...you pay $600 for headers, $300 for a CAI, $400 for an exhaust...thats $1300 to try to save fuel! shoot, that right there is half of my total gas bill for 2009!! mods to increase fuel mileage will get you nowhere...do the math of you dont believe me...

try free mods: light foot, time lights, carry less weight, etc...

 

I can't argue with the math! Just looking for the magic part. New to tacoma's and got to ask questions. Smooth throttle is usually the best answer for fuel economy. When we hit the mtns it sometimes drop to about 14/15 mpg. We pull the mtns a lot. Catch you later and thanks for checkin in.

 

Lay off the go pedal, coast the hills, time lights, don't speed, coast to stops as much as possible. Those are the best things for gas mileage. Even though its a light 6cyl. Its still a truck.

 

All above posts are good, also consider putting some street tires if you are running knobby-type off-road tires. (Less rolling resistance) But that might not be a good idea if you do much off-roading.

 

Agree 100%. Driving habits make a HUGE difference with the Tacoma!

 

buy a prius if you want mpg's not a truck.

 

My tacoma is used for town and highway and running over the mtns. Nothing to serious as for off road. I do have two sets of tires for summer and winter. My michelin Ice tires are awesome in winter world. Once the temp drops to 0 degree's and down to -20 you really appreciate the softer compound that ice tires have. Been running michelin ice tires for yrs and love them. My off road truck is big block ford with lots of upgrades everywhere and it get 12mpg on 38" tire and weighs around 6000lb. So I'm always looking for the little things to get that extra mile to gallon. Building me a 1970 ford truck with mileage a main concern and some towing if needed. Keep you updated on this little project. I like off road racing trucks and link suspension!!

 

x2- I get somewhere around 5-10% less then before. You can't get HP without giving up something else. In this case more $$$ at the pump.

 

i live in the san fran bay area..i bought all season tires. i keep them aired up perfectly, and i lay off the gas..go slow. around town, i can do 19mpg..on the open road, in cruise control..i did almost 23.

 

lol a supercharger to save gas... thats a first. and the thousands you pay for the supercharger will not pay itself off over time

 

I am heaving the worst gas mileage ever right now with this winter gas shit!
I used to get like 400 til the light comes on

now i get the like right 325 or 350 at best..... SUMMER!!! I WANT SUMMER!!!

 

You still considering installing one on yours ????

 

I got mountains and when you run them often you don't get much over 15/16. Always in the next gear down. I live at 4000' elevation and have to go up and over to get anywhere, meaning 4000 to 9000'elevation. Their is also a derate on hrspwr for the elevation. Meaning my power to weight ratio gets worse with fuel mileage. I love the truck but want to possibly get better. Also when winter hits always in 4wd and about 14mpg. Just did about 800miles in 4wd on a trip over the continetal divide last month. This is common for us on our little trips. Gonna be heading to texas next month. Kinda all down hill on the way their but its all up hill on the way back! I guess your kinda getting the picture with my situation. Forced induction is common in higher elevation situation. If you have never ran the higher elevation much can't help you. My off road truck has got a 550 hrspwr truck but the elevation takes away from that about 80hrpwr to 100+ depending on elevation. So to make a 500 hrspwr truck you build a 600hrspwr motor here to do it. Elevation is a beach and forced induction is the other option. Learned a lot from high elevation tuning. Catch you later and I'll keep you updated on mods.

 

Get a Scangauge and you'll learn a lot about your driving habits.

 

^ true, but that is $140 that could have gone to gas as well. you dont need a computer to tell you to have a light foot!

 

Great advise guys, thanks.

 

Don't order it from Amazon though...I ordered mine over a week ago. No tracking status from the seller is available on Amazon. I've called the seller, no response. I've emailed the seller, no response.

This internet thing is gonna be big one day after they work out the bugs...