Terrible 4 cylinder mpg

I have a 2013 4 cylinder Prerunner with the 4 sp. auto tranny. I bought it new 3 years ago. I have made no mods to it. The window sticker, which I kept, says 19-24 mpg for my truck. I have never averaged 20 mpg since I've owned it. I recently bought an Ultragauge. It confirms my calculations. Since I installed the UG 3 weeks, my average mpg is 18.5. Today, I took my first extended trip on highways with it since I purchased the UG. I was naturally anxious to see what the little 4 banger could do for mileage. I kept my speed between 55-65 mph to try to maximize my mpg's. At the end of the trip, my trip average mpg's were 19.5!?!?!?!?! WTH?
I should say that I am a retired senior, and drive very conservatively; no jack rabbit starts, no cruising at 75 mph. Can someone help me? I bought the 4 cylinder with higher mpg's in mind, but what I'm experiencing sucks!!! I have a hard tri-fold tonneau cover on it, which should reduce drag due to the bed. I wasn't hauling anything in it today except my wife (a small woman), and 3 grandchildren. Thanks for any ideas.

 

Normal.

 

I have read a lot of threads on TW and see where some folks are getting 25-27 mpg's on the highway with theirs.

 

they lie

 

I've seen people quote some crazy numbers but @DCSBFTMFW is correct. That sounds pretty normal to me. Were you on mostly flat road stretches? I can honestly say even the slightest grade can make a huge difference

 

But the average BELOW the bottom number? Not something wrong?

 

How many kms per tank when your low gas light comes on? I never calculated my mileage when I had my 05 taco with the 2.7 but on road trips (mostly highway) I got over 700 kms or 435 miles before the low gas light came on. I believe it was almost 30 mpg but it was a base model 2wd

 

Yes, I monitored the UG on hills and the instantaneous mpg dropped to the 10-12 range. Any ideas on why the UG trip mpg's would be lower than my 3 week average since I installed it? That makes no sense at all.

 

Average on the 4.0 is well above 15 and That's still all I see. Granted I'm lifted and on bigger tires but even stock I averaged 16-17 with a light foot

 

I never get more than about 350 miles a tank. I believe the light comes on with about 3 gallons left.

 

It could be due to a number of things but I'd check the topography on the route you drove. Even a little grade can make a big difference as can wind and weather. On top of that at least out here we are getting dangerously close to the start of Winter fuel which makes a big change as well.

 

Only thing you're doing wrong is understanding window stickers.

The RC is rated the same MPG as the DCSB Prerunner. Both have 2.7s. How could a truck twice as big get the same numbers as the smallest truck? It can't.

I was getting great MPG when I was stock, but there's no way for my MPG numbers to have anything to do with yours. You're not driving the same truck I am and we drive differently, use different fuel, carry different weight, have different tires, etc.

To my knowledge, I had the best DCSB 2.7 MPG on this forum. But my high of 28 was only achieved once. Most tanks averaged 22-24 MPG with stock everything and factory highway tires.

Now I get 17-19 regardless of highway miles. Once I scraped 20.

Anyway, your mileage isn't unusual.

 

My 2008 4x4 2.7 5 spd AC averaged over 20 mpg in mixed driving and I got over 23 mpgs on highway trips.

 

These little 4 bangers get awful gas mileage for what they are. Best I've ever gotten out of mine was 24 on an all highway trip with a very light foot and 45 psi in the stock tires. I average 19-21.

 

@Wolverinesam Just out of curiousity how many miles do you have on your truck?

 

I have seen 23 to 25 average in mixed driving, with 28 on the highway. But I drive a RC 5lug 5 speed.

Do you run synthetic fluids, and

$60 0w20 oil Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

0w20 oil?

 

My 4.0L supercharged X-Runner averaged over 20 mpg to but I'm pretty sure I was getting such good mileage with both trucks because they were 2wd (lighter, lower)

 

Also try using a gas that is Ethanol free. Shell 91 octane or chevron 94 octane are both ethanol free here in BC and I always get better mileage with them

 

42,000 miles on the truck now.

 

Yes, 0W20 synthetic oil. I haven't yet changed the diff oil. I just bought Valvoline's 75w90 synthetic for the changeout.