Low MPG not expected

This is my experience.

 

Well, my X-runner (which scaled 3780lbs w/ 1/2 a tank of fuel) in mixed driving gets between high 16's - low 18's at sea level, with a lot of A/C. On the highway, at 75-80 mph the scan gauge will show 20ish mph on a level surface. 17.5 seems to be my magical number for this truck and that's with me driving it mostly conservatively. Short shifting, keeping the revs low.

 

When I commuted to work in my 2010 Prius, I got between 50-55 mpg. Since I retired, I got a new Tacoma and gave the Prius to my wife to commute to work. If she gets 40 mpg she is lucky. She has her foot either on the gas or the brake. She does not understand the concept of coasting which the Prius does very well. My current mpg on my 2013 reg cab 4x4 Tacoma is shown below. For a truck, I am satisfied with it's gas mileage and I don't drive like a grandma, I just drive the speed limit.

 

I have 2005 double cab and I get close to what some of y'all are getting empty and I'm on 10ply tires and pulling 3000-4000 lbs. I get around 13 with that setup and when we go on 3-400 mile trips I hover around 21 with the bed loaded full
running 75-80 mph

 

Ill me the first, um BULLSHIT

 

Care to back that up? Or elaborate? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

I'm assuming it is the v6. I can tell you right off the bat that driving that fast on the highway is the majority of your problem. Drive the speed limit and you will notice a big difference. Accelerating hard also consumes a lot. So do large wheels.

 

You guys are a hoot. Thanks for info and tips. I am probably headed for a SC since I miss what performance I had with the 2500HD. Problem was either she was going to break it or someone else due to its behemoth size in city. I have to admit, I really like the tacoma, as its comfortable, and easy to drive in city, and gets the work done for hauling and man work.
I am perplexed that the japanese engineers could not make a v6 get better get up and go, and better mileage. My tuner in the 2500 did things like change tranny shift points, mixture, etc that I hope can be done in the taco.
I am not averse to premium as I did a build on an 2001 M3 with SC, and now a 2006 M5 and they like the premium as well. In the end, a few hundred dollars a year difference when comparing reg/prem to that high priced diesel. My biggest issue is frequency of tank fills. I used to go 7-10 days and now its weekly. Plus, if the zombie wars break out, and the dollar is worthless, total distance per tank is a tactical issue.......
Hold back those prepper comments now. I sailed through the winter debacle in atlanta without a hitch, in the taco, warm, dry, and moving...
Anyway, thanks for the tips. I will keep on for good advice as this is my first toyota.
One question about SC:
Go factory or aftermarket? Any advice for easy and reliable that wont void warranty (if possible)
thanks guys. you seem like a great group.

 

Ain't that the gospel. I run stock size winters, bed empty, towing nothing. One tank at semi-aggressive driving netted me 12.8 mpg. So I hope you understand why I straight up don't believe you.

 

Go factory.

 

My wife is the same! Drove to FL last year, I was getting 360mls a tank, when she drove we were lucky to get 300! (06 jeep GC)

 

I don't drive like a grandma and always get between 18-20mpg. You have lead foot as evidenced by your diesel getting 16mpg!

 

Yep, calling BS on that one.

 

Unfortunately if you bought a tacoma for gas mileage you're gonna be disappointed. Everyone I know with full size 4x4, ex cab and crew cab trucks is getting roughly the same gas mileage as I am +/- 1 or 2 mpg.

 

I'll second your quote for BS.

I can get 20/21 MPG if I pussyfoot it around.

You're doing 75/80 MPH with a loaded bed and getting 21? It never happens.

 

Special Exhaust...

 

When I first got my 12 Taco, it got really crappy mileage. It started improving (not by much) somewhere between 18k and 22k miles. Now that I have just over 45k miles my truck has been pretty dang predictable at 16 to 17 mpg. And I will be the first to say that I KNOW i could get better if I could just ease up on the skinny pedal....... but thats not an option for me. I would say 80% of my driving is highway / interstate and I am ALWAYS doing AT LEAST 80...... sometimes 90. I know it costs me but ...... driving........ its what I do.

 

That advice doesn't work in a lot of places in the US. Speed limits on most major highways is 70-75 these days. Hell, there's even a highway here in Texas with 80 for a speed limit. Not very conducive to good gas mileage.

 

Good to know, thanks. Here it is almost always 100 km/h /62 mph on the highway sometimes 110 km/h / 68 mph.