performance, l4 4cyl engine questions

nagelg · 04-08-2008, 08:07 PM

I've been driving 8 cyl pickups for a lot of years so maybe I'm just expecting too much from this little 4. I bought it to save some on gas and will do light hauling once in a while. Have a 2008 l4 access cab 4x4 w/cap. I'm seeing 17-19 mpg (city) so far after 1500 miles. I assume that because it's a 4x4 I'll never see much better. My biggest concern is that mileage will go to hell when I have a moderate load on the highway, as it seems pretty gutless just driving around town. Your thoughts???

Also, what mods will enhance the performance...best bang for the buck? For power and/or mpg.

gdawg25 · 04-08-2008, 08:17 PM

17-19mpg with an I4? That's brutal dude. Guys here are getting better with the V6. I believe a lot of guys are getting 25-27mpg with the I4 - 4x4 or not.

Roland · 04-08-2008, 08:29 PM

For short trips in stop and go driving 17 to 19 is normal. Even with a warm engine my scan gauge shows a 17ish MPG trip average when I go into downtown Providence. When you get onto a highway your mileage will go way up if you keep to anywhere close to the speed limits. Additionally as the engine breakes in you'll get better milage. It slowly goes up for at least the first 10K miles.. Some people say it gets better until 20K.

phantom · 04-08-2008, 08:30 PM

sounds close to about right on millage

my 5 lugger is rated 20 city 29 hiway

and you are 4x4 so will be a bit worse

and it does take some miles to break in

Whipple81 · 04-08-2008, 10:03 PM

I just filled up on my first tank a couple days ago...I tallied it up and it got about 24mpg...mostly highway tho

speckdzl4shzl · 04-08-2008, 10:22 PM

i get a constant 22 in the city. 24/25 highway

nagelg · 04-08-2008, 10:37 PM

Is that with a 4x4? ethonol gas?

speckdzl4shzl · 04-09-2008, 07:42 AM

no.

gm3bow · 04-16-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nagelg

I've been driving 8 cyl pickups for a lot of years so maybe I'm just expecting too much from this little 4. I bought it to save some on gas and will do light hauling once in a while. Have a 2008 l4 access cab 4x4 w/cap. I'm seeing 17-19 mpg (city) so far after 1500 miles. I assume that because it's a 4x4 I'll never see much better. My biggest concern is that mileage will go to hell when I have a moderate load on the highway, as it seems pretty gutless just driving around town. Your thoughts???

Also, what mods will enhance the performance...best bang for the buck? For power and/or mpg.

damn, 17-19mpg?? I've never gone below 21mpg city, and that includes the times I've had the cab and bed loaded (I did drive easy on it though). Maybe it's the 4x4?? I don't know??? It might be driving style too. My last 10 tanks have been 23 mpg and that's 50/50 city/hwy, and not too light on the pedal. My morning commutes are on a freeway section that's open for a good length and even the slow lane's doing 70mph, so I regularly do 70+. I went to my parents this past weekend and got 26 mpg one way (2 passengers total and luggage, plus 70 lbs of sub box and amp in cab too). I'm not planning on towing, but all the times I've carried loads in the bed and cab my truck def has guts...just need to step on it. I've got a flowmaster 40 with "secondary air filter" removed and 29" tires. I'd say get a performance muffler for a little added pep, though my flowmaster did drop my mpg by about 1. U can do muffler, headers, cold air intake (or "secondary air filter" removal plus afe pro dry perf air filter, i got this and it's cheaper), and maf calibrator. These are the only things I've heard/seen done performance-wise on the 05+ 2.7L trucks. Hope your mpg's improve with time.

08beachtoy · 04-20-2008, 09:13 PM

20 mpg is my average in the city foot in it A/c on loaded with stuff using 10% ethanol blend not thrilled with mpg but o k with it I wouldnt drive anything else but a toyota truck

nagelg · 04-24-2008, 05:10 PM

Ok, have a few more miles on her now. I just got 24 highway with the AC on and a moderate load. Seems around 19-20 city, stop and go, sometimes less. I'm also seeing that that little 2.7 has a whole lot of spunk when you get on it. I'm feeling better about that engine now I'm seeing improvements as I break it in. Ordered an AFE CAI and have removed the secondary. Other than the rear springs, soundproofing and fog lights, I think I'll call it a day for any more mods. Thanks.

concrete jedi · 04-24-2008, 05:33 PM

Take this for what it's worth, my V-6 did not really break in until 25000 miles, then the mileage went from 15-17 to 18-20, so give it some time. Yes your mileage will go down with heavy loads, but you did get a 4, you should expect that. You have 4:10 gears, so keep the revs up and hit the hills and you should be fine.

cpa2222 · 05-25-2008, 09:30 AM

I have a 2008 4cyl, 5 speed with 1900 miles on it. My best mileage was about 23.5 mpg on a 600 mile road trip. My normal driving is about 75% city and 25% highway...seems I average about 18-19 mpg.

I am disappointed that I am not even close to the EPA ratings. Only reason I bought a 4cyl with 5 speed was for the mileage...

Ridgerunner · 05-25-2008, 09:52 AM

I dont know where Toyota tests their gas mileage but it sure is overly optimistic isnt it? Listen- its a TRUCK-not a slippy lil car. With what your TRUCK can do for you compared to a car and still yield you IMO decent mileage you should be content. Also, there are things YOU can do to up that mileage like try do reach the highest gear as soon as posible, cruise steadily, and dont be a leadfoot. You hear these guys saying how that 2.7 really comes alive when you get in it-thats because these motors breathe pretty deeply for a 4-banger and they pull some fuel with that air. Try to stay out of that sweet spot more often and you may pick up 1 or 2 MPG

Roland · 05-25-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpa2222

I have a 2008 4cyl, 5 speed with 1900 miles on it. My best mileage was about 23.5 mpg on a 600 mile road trip. My normal driving is about 75% city and 25% highway...seems I average about 18-19 mpg.

I am disappointed that I am not even close to the EPA ratings. Only reason I bought a 4cyl with 5 speed was for the mileage...

Welcome to TacomaWorld.

How fast were you driving on that 600 mile trip? If you were doing 70+ MPH that's pretty good. Stop and go city driving will kill your mileage. I have pretty good driving conditions and my first couple tanks worked out to about 24 MPG. Now with 17K on the truck and a few little mods I'm expecting 27 MPG for a 3 tank average on my next fillup. (Hurray for summer formulation gas!)

-AMOCAT- · 05-26-2008, 07:26 AM

The 22-28 you see on the sticker is with PURE gasoline. Here in Houston we get that summer blend crap which the pump says contains 10 % ethanol, which I think contains around 20%. That really reduces the mpg. I was averaging 23.5 mpg with my 06 2.7 pre-runner access cab.

91r100gs · 05-26-2008, 08:58 AM

On my first real tank I got almost 25 MPG (24.82 for all the OCD German's out there) in a 65/35% hwy/city mix. My short trip in town are less than 4 miles and lots of traffic signals, never above 45 MPH. On the highway trips I have been keeping my speeds between 60 and 70 MPH. So far I am happy with this figure. I have a 375 mile all Hwy trip coming up this week, hoping for 27-28 MPG out on the open interstate. With the 3.31 gearing I think this is possible. The engine reads 2300 RPM at 70 MPH. Will still be varing my speed due to the newness of the truck. Will report back on that Thursday or Friday.

Dan

apkarian100 · 05-26-2008, 02:56 PM

Doug Thorley has some great headers for the 2.7L, K&N has their intake system too.

nagelg · 05-27-2008, 07:36 PM

It's been almost 2 months since I posted this thread. There are a few thousand more miles on the truck. Mileage is great: 19-20 city and 22-25 highway. With a 4x4 I can't ask for any better. As for the hauling capability of the L2.7, I'm really impressed. I've towed a jet-ski and a trailer, a 19' speed boat and a 24' pontoon boat (short haul on the pontoon). No problem with anything.

It's a feisty little motor thats cheap to feed and eager to earn it's keep.

04-08-2008, 08:07 PM	#1
nagelg non-alligned Joined: Mar 2008, #5184 Location: Minnesota Age: 62 Posts: 352 '08 Black s/p acc. cab, 4x4, 2.7 2008 Access Cab Manual 2.7 2.7 l4, MT,4X4, AFE filter, bed mat, floor mats, Scangauge ll, cap, OEM hitch, pop-n-lock,	performance, l4 4cyl engine questions I've been driving 8 cyl pickups for a lot of years so maybe I'm just expecting too much from this little 4. I bought it to save some on gas and will do light hauling once in a while. Have a 2008 l4 access cab 4x4 w/cap. I'm seeing 17-19 mpg (city) so far after 1500 miles. I assume that because it's a 4x4 I'll never see much better. My biggest concern is that mileage will go to hell when I have a moderate load on the highway, as it seems pretty gutless just driving around town. Your thoughts??? Also, what mods will enhance the performance...best bang for the buck? For power and/or mpg. __________________ If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

04-08-2008, 08:17 PM	#2
gdawg25 Was there any doubt? Pujols - MVP! Joined: Oct 2006, #136 Location: Victoria, BC Age: 26 Gender: Dude Posts: 728 07 TRD Sport 2007 Double Cab Manual 4.0L V6 Airaid Intake, Westin Oval Step Bars, TRD seat covers, LiteRider tonneau cover.	17-19mpg with an I4? That's brutal dude. Guys here are getting better with the V6. I believe a lot of guys are getting 25-27mpg with the I4 - 4x4 or not. __________________ I piss excellence! GO FLAMES!

04-08-2008, 08:29 PM	#3
Roland My other ride has sails Joined: Jan 2008, #4149 Location: Rhode Island Age: 45 Gender: Male Posts: 2,061 06 Impulse Red I4 2WD Access Cab 2006 Access Cab Manual 2.7 UnderCover Tonneau, Bed mat, Bug Deflector, aFe Pro Dry S, Secondary Air Filter removed, Synthetic 5W-30 oil, Scanguage II with blendmount, WeatherTech floorliners, Toyota seat covers, Installed OEM intermittent wipers, TacomaWorld sticker, Defrost without AC mod, Hidden Hitch	For short trips in stop and go driving 17 to 19 is normal. Even with a warm engine my scan gauge shows a 17ish MPG trip average when I go into downtown Providence. When you get onto a highway your mileage will go way up if you keep to anywhere close to the speed limits. Additionally as the engine breakes in you'll get better milage. It slowly goes up for at least the first 10K miles.. Some people say it gets better until 20K. __________________ "Life's journeys End is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy shit what a ride!"

04-08-2008, 10:37 PM	#7
nagelg non-alligned Joined: Mar 2008, #5184 Location: Minnesota Age: 62 Posts: 352 '08 Black s/p acc. cab, 4x4, 2.7 2008 Access Cab Manual 2.7 2.7 l4, MT,4X4, AFE filter, bed mat, floor mats, Scangauge ll, cap, OEM hitch, pop-n-lock,	Is that with a 4x4? ethonol gas? __________________ If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

04-20-2008, 09:13 PM	#10
08beachtoy Member Joined: Feb 2008, #4881 Location: 10 miles north of Ocean City Maryland " Bethany Beach ,DE " Posts: 55 08' reg cab 4x4 2.7ltr 5 spd 2008 Regular Cab Manual opted for the 2.7 and it seems very sufficient "especially at the pumps" Sony cd player /ipod , small amp, bed mat from Dee Zee , A.R.E. custom cap with yakima racks, weather gaurd floor mats , oem fog lights ,oem DRL mod, class III hitch , bed mounted power inverter, tinted windows 5 % all around, oem hood protector /bugshield , avs door visors ,wet okole seat covers	mpg 20 mpg is my average in the city foot in it A/c on loaded with stuff using 10% ethanol blend not thrilled with mpg but o k with it I wouldnt drive anything else but a toyota truck

04-08-2008, 08:30 PM	#4
phantom Senior Member Joined: Oct 2007, #3036 Posts: 838	sounds close to about right on millage my 5 lugger is rated 20 city 29 hiway and you are 4x4 so will be a bit worse and it does take some miles to break in

04-08-2008, 10:03 PM	#5
Whipple81 Junior Member Joined: Mar 2008, #5638 Location: Livermore, Ca. Posts: 15 Tacoma 4X2 2008 Regular Cab Manual	I just filled up on my first tank a couple days ago...I tallied it up and it got about 24mpg...mostly highway tho

04-08-2008, 10:22 PM	#6
speckdzl4shzl Junior Member Joined: Apr 2008, #5836 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 9	i get a constant 22 in the city. 24/25 highway

04-09-2008, 07:42 AM	#8
speckdzl4shzl Junior Member Joined: Apr 2008, #5836 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 9	no.

04-24-2008, 05:10 PM	#11
nagelg non-alligned Joined: Mar 2008, #5184 Location: Minnesota Age: 62 Posts: 352 '08 Black s/p acc. cab, 4x4, 2.7 2008 Access Cab Manual 2.7 2.7 l4, MT,4X4, AFE filter, bed mat, floor mats, Scangauge ll, cap, OEM hitch, pop-n-lock,	Ok, have a few more miles on her now. I just got 24 highway with the AC on and a moderate load. Seems around 19-20 city, stop and go, sometimes less. I'm also seeing that that little 2.7 has a whole lot of spunk when you get on it. I'm feeling better about that engine now I'm seeing improvements as I break it in. Ordered an AFE CAI and have removed the secondary. Other than the rear springs, soundproofing and fog lights, I think I'll call it a day for any more mods. Thanks. __________________ If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.

04-24-2008, 05:33 PM	#12
concrete jedi Senior Member Joined: Oct 2007, #3142 Location: Rochester N.Y Age: 43 Posts: 2,569 06 Tacoma 4 door indigo blue 2006 Double Cab Manual V-6 4.0 liter Broken and scratched tailgate, cracked rear tail light lens, coffee stain in driver seat.	Take this for what it's worth, my V-6 did not really break in until 25000 miles, then the mileage went from 15-17 to 18-20, so give it some time. Yes your mileage will go down with heavy loads, but you did get a 4, you should expect that. You have 4:10 gears, so keep the revs up and hit the hills and you should be fine.

05-25-2008, 09:30 AM	#13
cpa2222 Junior Member Joined: Mar 2008, #5144 Posts: 1 2008 Tacoma Pre Runner 2008 Access Cab Manual	Disappointed with MPG I have a 2008 4cyl, 5 speed with 1900 miles on it. My best mileage was about 23.5 mpg on a 600 mile road trip. My normal driving is about 75% city and 25% highway...seems I average about 18-19 mpg. I am disappointed that I am not even close to the EPA ratings. Only reason I bought a 4cyl with 5 speed was for the mileage...

05-25-2008, 09:52 AM	#14
Ridgerunner Western Alliance: NorCal Joined: Mar 2008, #5269 Age: 47 Posts: 1,626 2001 prerunner doublecab limited 2001 Double Cab Automatic 3.4 V6 2001 with; cat-back twin exhaust,bullbar with hella 550's, camper shell, TRD off-road 2x4-black beauty.	I dont know where Toyota tests their gas mileage but it sure is overly optimistic isnt it? Listen- its a TRUCK-not a slippy lil car. With what your TRUCK can do for you compared to a car and still yield you IMO decent mileage you should be content. Also, there are things YOU can do to up that mileage like try do reach the highest gear as soon as posible, cruise steadily, and dont be a leadfoot. You hear these guys saying how that 2.7 really comes alive when you get in it-thats because these motors breathe pretty deeply for a 4-banger and they pull some fuel with that air. Try to stay out of that sweet spot more often and you may pick up 1 or 2 MPG

05-26-2008, 07:26 AM	#16
-AMOCAT- Junior Member Joined: May 2008, #6828 Location: Houston Posts: 2 07-TRD-Tundra-DC 2007 Access Cab Manual	Epa The 22-28 you see on the sticker is with PURE gasoline. Here in Houston we get that summer blend crap which the pump says contains 10 % ethanol, which I think contains around 20%. That really reduces the mpg. I was averaging 23.5 mpg with my 06 2.7 pre-runner access cab.

05-26-2008, 08:58 AM	#17
91r100gs Understand the Voice Within Joined: Apr 2008, #6100 Location: Kansas City area Posts: 169 '08 Impluse Red SR5 Access Cab I-4 2008 Access Cab Manual 2.7L 4 cyl Factory bed mat, really fugly factory "Styled Steel Wheels", TacomaWorld.com sticker, AFE ProDry S drop air filter, AFE window sticker, AFE Stop sticker on air filter box, EGR In-Channel Vent Visors	On my first real tank I got almost 25 MPG (24.82 for all the OCD German's out there) in a 65/35% hwy/city mix. My short trip in town are less than 4 miles and lots of traffic signals, never above 45 MPH. On the highway trips I have been keeping my speeds between 60 and 70 MPH. So far I am happy with this figure. I have a 375 mile all Hwy trip coming up this week, hoping for 27-28 MPG out on the open interstate. With the 3.31 gearing I think this is possible. The engine reads 2300 RPM at 70 MPH. Will still be varing my speed due to the newness of the truck. Will report back on that Thursday or Friday. Dan

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05-26-2008, 02:56 PM	#18
apkarian100 Junior Member Joined: May 2008, #6886 Location: Alton Bay, NH Posts: 2 Modded 04 3RZ 2004 Access Cab Manual Injen Power-Flow Intake, Full Synthetic Oil, Clear Corner Lights	Doug Thorley has some great headers for the 2.7L, K&N has their intake system too.

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nagelg non-alligned Joined: Mar 2008, #5184 Location: Minnesota Age: 62 Posts: 352 '08 Black s/p acc. cab, 4x4, 2.7 2008 Access Cab Manual 2.7 2.7 l4, MT,4X4, AFE filter, bed mat, floor mats, Scangauge ll, cap, OEM hitch, pop-n-lock,	It's been almost 2 months since I posted this thread. There are a few thousand more miles on the truck. Mileage is great: 19-20 city and 22-25 highway. With a 4x4 I can't ask for any better. As for the hauling capability of the L2.7, I'm really impressed. I've towed a jet-ski and a trailer, a 19' speed boat and a 24' pontoon boat (short haul on the pontoon). No problem with anything. It's a feisty little motor thats cheap to feed and eager to earn it's keep. __________________ If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem.