Post your '16 "OR" MPG

You guys realize the EPA tests highway MPGS at 60 mph right ( with a couple "spurts to 80", but more than half the test at 60 ) ... if you want to get rated MPG's you are going to need to stick close to 60-65.

Same thing is true in my 2nd gen. Did a 300 mi round trip to pismo this weekend. the 150mi on the way up we cruised at 75mph, got 19.2 mpg... on the way back i was alone and cruised at 60-65, got 2mpg better.

 

Interesting info. Thanks for taking the time to track this! Crazy that you get almost 2MPG better in the mountains versus low altitude flat driving. So far the altitude theory seems to be holding water. I'm guessing 4000-6000 ft is the sweet spot for these trucks.

 

It could also be that I'm still running low octane fuel at lower altitude.

 

I've tried high octane, low octane, and real gas. None of it seems to change things much at my current altitude (700 ft). Best results have been with real gas and ECT ON around town for me. However it's hard to remember to hit the ECT button every time...and probably not worth the extra cost of real gas.

 

This might have already been discussed, but why is the OR supposed to get such better mileage than the sport? I already have an OR on order, just wondering.

 

It's not...you are looking at MT vs. AT. Has nothing to do with TRD SPORT. OR is probably worse.

 

It doesn't. Not comparing similar configs. Toyota's website is known for this. Spec out each and see it the same.

 

What is "or"?

 

TRD Off Road

 

This truck has gobs of torque for low end city driving due to the Atkinson cycle . I keep the etc off and get good mileage cruising in the city around 1000 rpm. I think people are used to the engine revving more. At 70 mph you're only at 1,750 rpm and about 1,900 at 75

 

I don't think my truck has stayed in the 6th on the highway even if it's perfectly flat. The only time I've seen that happen is if I'm coming down from the mountains.

 

Elevation

 

You realize that's wrong? Most of the highway mpg comes from the US06 cycle. I wouldn't say it's half 60. It's all over the place; the only speed they ever maintain is zero.

http://www3.epa.gov/otaq/standards/light-duty/sc06-sftp.htm

 

Altitude..my truck is 10" above ground.

 

I drove from Denver to Tucson last week. Mine would stay in 6th on highway. Didn't take much to cause a downshift which is OK but, wasn't real eager for top gear after things leveled off which is annoying. Best thing I found was to set the cruise an MPH above what you want then tap down on the CC stalk once to get it to drop a gear if it wasn't in top gear when you set the cruise.

 

Not bad! Was this a 4x4, I did not see that listed?

 

Derek G, thanks for all the detailed data. It is very helpful.

Frank

 

Atkinson reduces torque and power. Luckily, the engine can do Atkinson or not.

 

Yes. 4x4

 

New member here, trying to add some more data points and anecdotes.
TRD OR DCLB 4x4 Auto.
No tonneau cover.

TL/DR:
Mileage has been fantastic at 50-60 (23+), underwhelming at 70+ (<17).
Overall experience sounds similar to @ashrr213

Excessively Long Version

2000 miles in the past 6 days.
3 people (~450lbs) + 1 dog (~60lbs) + camping gear (~200lbs)

Lawrence KS --> WaKeeney, KS (99% highway)
Still in <500 mile range, so didn't use cruise. Kept speeds +/-77mph.
Minor crosswind (Winds from North @~8mph)
Barely ever stayed in 6th gear. Ended up in 4th often and would stay there for annoyingly long periods. Tried to soft pedal it back into 5th (or 6th), but wasn't so successful.
Fuelly = 16.14mpg (256miles/15.861gal)
Onboard = 15.8mpg [edit for correction]

WaKeeney, KS --> Limon, CO (99% interstate highway)
Cruise ~77
Continued shuffling between 4th/5th gears. Light winds, rain for last hour.
Fuelly =16.78mpg (214mi/12.753gal)

Limon, CO --> Georgetown, CO (99% interstate)
Slower speeds in Denver highway traffic ~65mph
Slower speeds up I-70, rain/snow mix ~55mph
Never seemed happy in a gear, 4th was giving plenty of acceleration, but as soon as it dropped back to 5th it began losing speed.
Fuelly = 17.33mpg (130mi/7.502gal)

Georgetown, CO --> Moab, UT (95% interstate)
Slow going up the pass (snow), put in 4Hi, speeds ~10-35mph
Typical mountain speeds after Vail Pass ~60-65mph, tank average at this point was ~22mpg
Utah State line to Moab exit ~80-85mph, watching the average drop like a stone
Fuelly = 19.86mpg (308mi/15.505gal)

Moab, UT --> Indian Creek --> Moab (65% secondary highway)
Headed south for climbing.
Slower highway speeds.~65mph
Mild off-roading (rough cattle roads/creekbeds) **Side note - FUN!**
Anecdotally, the return trip from IC to Moab ~60 miles had an average of 26mpg. Didn't get a snapshot of the screen and my MPG history on the NAV doesn't seem to be remembering anything but the current trip? Maybe user error there?
Fuelly = 21.08mpg (211mi/10.011gal)

Moab --> Bennett, CO (85% interstate)
Took UT128 out of Moab, which is ~45-50mph instead of 70+. Mileage in the 24-25 range until I got back to the interstate and jumped to 80+.
Across the mountains, slower speeds overall, and continued gear hunting on the passes.
Fuelly = 20.83mpg (378mi/18.149gal)

Bennett --> WaKeeney (99% interstate)
Back to the slog. Cruise ~76-77mph, light winds.
Fuelly = 17.09mpg (268mi/15.683gal)

WaKeeney --> Lawrence
Same old. 77-79mph, light winds.
Fuelly = 15.99mpg (260mi/16.25mpg)
On-board = 15.6mpg

2,200 miles into the game and the overall MPG is 18.1.
The very large majority being highway.

It's understandable that an OR version can be expected to have reduced mileage (tires, air dam), and also that the sweet spot is going to be closer to 60-65mph.
That said, it's surprising to me that the mileage appears to just go off the cliff at 70+. Highways out here have 75 and occasionally 80mph limits, so it's not as though the speeds are really that excessive.

Just venting mostly, but so far it's been a bit of a disappointment.