Gas mpg!!!

Yes, in fact they proved that leaving your tailgate down or taking it completely off decreases gas mileage. Surprising for sure! I've tested this myself and got the same results: Leaving tailgate up got me the best mileage.

 

I track mine every fill-up and i've been getting about 21 mpg avg on weeks i do mostly highway driving but only about 16 mpg mostly city driving.

 

The tests that they proformed were not on our trucks. There is significant differences in aerodynamics on different vehicles. Sure, the principle would be similar, but results could be (and likely are) significantly different.

That said, I'd put more stock to the results of anyone here that has done real world testing on their own vehicles.

 

what's up guys. i have an 07 double cab, short bed, V6 auto. I use 87 octane, with normal driving, city / highway combined, on average I range anywhere from 325 to 345 on a 19-20 gallon fill up, w/ a/c always on before the light comes on. Once I got 406 mpg and....ran out of gas. In winter months when a/c is off half the time i'm averaging around 350-375 a tank. It seems the a/c takes away approx. 25-50 mpg per tank if it's on all the time, like now in summer. I'd say i'm happy with the milage for it being a truck, 18-20 mpg average is not too bad.

 

I get consistently 18mpg with the cheapest gas I can find and running on a daily basis anywhere from 70-90mph on the highway..

When I used to run Premium and keep it around 70MPH highway I could get 400miles out of a tank.

 

Certainly the drag coefficients will be different, but the general aerodynamic characteristics will basically be the same; pick-ups are designed to be driven with the tailgate up.

I've gained approximately 2-3 mpg since the truck was new. I've got about 6k on it now. I average 19-22 mpg, mixed driving. It falls like a rock above 65-70 mph or with aggressive acceleration. Even towing my 21 ft. pontoon boat it will get 15 mpg, but I don't pull it much over 60 mph. My best has been 23.1, all highway between 55 mph and 65 mph. I've found that the best mileage is obtained when it is driven in a manner that keeps the tach below 2 grand.

 

There is an episode on "myth busters" that proves it. There is a cyclonic effect with the tail gate UP that directs the wind turbulance over your truck bed.

With the tail gate down or removed the down force from the turbulance pushing down on the bed creates drag..thus...poor MPG.

 

I got 22 mPg my last tank. Ive been trying to drive around 70-75 vs 75-80 and it seemed to help

 

I've been working/checking on this for awhile now (5-6 tanks for in town, and 87 octane).

I have an 06, prerunner, trd (tsb completed), double cab, short box, V6. I got anywhere from 19.5-20.5 mpgs in town (max speed 55, but mostly 35-45). I then removed the secondary air filter and got 19.5 in town. I just got back from a, 1200 mile round trip, (1st) road trip. I got consistant 19.8 mostly highway running @ 70-80mph. Maybe 50-60 miles of town driving during this road trip.
I got 19 in town (after removal). I tried very hard to use the same driving style when in town.

The reason I'm posting this is I saw where someone had asked that if by removing the secondary air filiter would you get better gas mileage in a V6? Well as you can see it doesn't really change

 

Well I will be the first to admit the first tank I took it easy with break-in and all. but the second tank my age got the best of me and I drove like a dumb ass.(I had a 07 caliber 2.0 4 banger before this so the power was too tempting) but after I got it out of my system, back to normal I did my mpg over 3 refuels and all were about 15/ 14. I drive mostly city I guess about 1/4 mile between lights 45 speed limits.

 

I have a 2012 Tacoma Double Cab V6, 6 spd with a TRD package. I am approaching about 6k miles on it now, I'm on the second oil change and I am avging 250-280miles per tank.. I have tried it with low grade fuel, premium and it doesnt make a difference.. even when driving on the hwy the most i could get out of it was 280miles (13.3MPG at best???!).. I am not driving it aggresivley, I change gears between 2500-3000 rpm..

When I went in for the first oil change the dealer told me to wait it out until I hit about 7500-8000 miles and see if there is an improvement..

Have you guys seen any improvements after the first couple oil changes?

 

I have an 09 Double Cab with 16,000 Miles on it. The worst I ever got was in the winter
running 4wd and that was 17.5. I check my mileage every tank and get between
20 and 23 usually over 22. This is city highway combined but mostly highway.
I use 89 octane SHELL which has less ethanol than a lot of other brands.
The key is to key your cruising speed below 61 mph