MPG Mods

Don't forget about BG products like 44k, intake cleaner, and MOA. cleaning out your engine and fuel system helps with performance and efficiency.

 

Was wondering I always heard don't run syn after petroleum. If you buy a truck used and then switch to syn. will that hurt anything? This 01 I bought a year ago with 175K on it, I rolled 200K two weeks ago. On cold mornings I have a little knock in the lower end for about a minute or so then it quits. The only thing is it doesn't do it everytime I would like to check it out but it is my daily driver and by that I mean I have no back up to get to work. I change the oil every 3500 and have been adding Lucas to my oil since the noise has started. Thought about trying syn. fluids but was afraid to do it with that many miles on it. If the noise was consistent I would think maybe mains? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

My suggestion is to do your research until you are satisfied. To your point, mixed thoughts on the subject. But here are mine, FWIW.

• Many manufacturers have synthetic blends for highmile vehicles; some are better than others, so read up
• High mileage vehicles are likely to have more wear; synthetics can squeeze between clearance gaps with greater ease
• Synthetics are great for cold starts and cold temperatures
• Any oil with a detergent additive is likely all you need to clean the internals; mystery oils and additives are generally not worth the price paid and can lead to bigger problems
• Do your research on any additive; some folks will swear by a product but objective evidence is normally lacking/non existent - be wary of manufacturer's claims of miracle results
• That said, not all mystery oils are worthless just that most are

I didn't notice what part of the country you are from, but cold weather might make the biggest case for me on a higher mile vehicle. Improve fuel economy would be second in this case. The reason I say this is that my brother put synthetics into his higher mile vehicle and it smoked terribly. Went back to regular oil, no more smoke. Since he lives in the South, the advantage of synthetics for cold morning starts was reduced to about a month window, so he abandoned the notion of quick starts. FE wasn't a concern of his.

So, here's a first pass at getting you some information. Do an Advanced Search here on the topic - your fellow Tacoma enthusiasts have probably discussed your question a few dozen times. Good luck!!

 

anyone have a link to the Myth Busters video on tonneau covers? don't spoil it!

 

Don't have a link but topper vs. tonneau depends a lot on the length and size/shape of each make and model of truck. Full size cab with a short bed is less likely for he airstream to drop off the cab and reconnect/flow off the tonneau vs a really long bed etc. Lots of variables. Too many to test one truck in particular and say that the results will be true of all trucks.

 

anyone know of a good programmer to help with fuel economy that works well?

 

No such animal. If there was, Toyota would be using it to help meet CAFE requirements across their entire fleet.

 

My first Tank in this 2006, 4 cyl. 4x4, stand, access cab, Only city driving, came to 21.64 MPG. Needed A/C several days too, San Antonio TX is been under a heat wave!

 

Cruise Control helps with MPG, but a constant-throttle CC should
work even better. All OEM CC's units are constant-speed, so the
throttle is continuously moving up and down to maintain speed,
not ideal for best MPG.

I just installed a semi-homemade constant-throttle CC on my
99 Tacoma, but haven't been able to test it out on the highway yet.
I used a CC servo from a 99 Camry (no Tacomas in the local wrecking yard),
and it seems to grab the throttle very well, when I flip the switch.
Don't need the CC computer or ECM or speed sensors. Very simple system.

I'm hoping for a 3 mpg improvement on long drives on our local freeways.

 

i'm not really big on those
i would worry about going through a little water & getting it into the engine. water DOESN'T compress & you can damage the engine
just not worth it to me.

i'm planning on adding a K&N
& upgrading all fluids



good luck
piglett

 

I'm thinking on changing from 'Kook 265/70/16 ATMs to 'Kook 245/75/16 Highway Terrains. They won't look as good, but I suspect they'll feel better, and help with mileage. I gotta worry about ice more than I gotta worry about going offroad.

 

keep us posted, 3mpg HWY sounds good to me!

i bought a CC stalk from Toy Connection for my 03 RC 4x4 manual, got the scan gauge too, but still need to instal CC. dealer said $800 so I passed.

 

I purchased my Tacoma SR5 4X4 Club Cab with the extended bed new in Sept 2011.About two months ago I changed my air filter to a K&W High-Flow Air Filter and it definitely improved my gas mileage approximately 1 to 1.5 miles per gallon.I feel that it is still in the testing stage and I'll give updates if there are any changes.

 

You may experience slightly better mpg, but at what cost?. Higher flow is because of LESS FILTRATION. More crap is getting past that filter and into your motor and oil. Your oil will require changing more often. Your MAF sensor ( $$$ ) will get gunked up from the oil infused into the filter. Don't know about the long-term effects on valves and rings.

 

For computer controlled closed loop operation it is pretty well understood that an air cleaner has no effect on mpg. Any estimate of 1-1.5 mpg improvement is just wishful thinking.

Even grossly clogged intakes do not reduce mpg, and the opposite is true, even zero restriction to the intake doesn't increase mpg.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/Air_Filter_Effects_02_26_2009.pdf

 

I saw this list, thanks. One abbreviation I always see is PM, or PMd. I asked about something for sale the other day and got a lousy response "saying" it was pm'd OK,
Thanks

 

It means private message. In case you want to say something or tell somebody something and don't want everyone to see his/or her comment then you pm them. look up in the upper rt corner of your page where you log in. It has a private message spot click on it when it shows something unread. That my friend is your private message.

 

FYI this is my 3rd tank after installing my AFE dry filter. 2to3 more mpg's than usual. It has been colder than normal and that is letting it sit and defrost the windows every morning. Sooooooo i"m happy, happy, happy with my purchase.

 

Thank you for all the info,

Much appreciated

 

Have a '12 Tacoma 4x4 V6 4.0... Here is my question/situation. From a full tank of gas to a 1/4 tank, i can almost always get 100 mpg. From a 1/4 tank to a 1/2 tank my tripodometer shows that I traveled 37 miles (total 137 since I filled up) miles. What the heck. I use my truck to travel to the park and ride which is 3 miles away and I realize that it's cold out there (I live in NJ) but 37 miles... I am thinking that someone is sucking the gas out of my truck during the day LOL or there's a hole somewhere in the tank. I do realize that the mileage is aweful but i typically average 15 mpg. Any ideas or could the gauge be broken LOL?