Terrible 4 cylinder mpg

I had a 4cyl 5spd Manual and got around 18-19mpg. When I traded up to my 4.0 it's now averaging as you can see in my Sig at 16.5. I of course have noticed the "drop" associated with the winter gas blend. I did get to I believe it was 20.9 that is listed in my Fuelly when coming back from Florida doing mainly 50-60mph on the way back to Atlanta on a tank. That made me pretty happy. It's never happened since. If I stay on the interstate and go 70-75 I'll get around 18 in my 4.0. I would get around 21 in my 4 cylinder as long as I didn't go over 70 anything beyond 70mph and that mph would do the same as my current 4.0L. There is a little link up above at the top of the page that says Mods, there is a MPG one in there.

Evidently removal of the secondary charcoal air filter on the 4 cylinders helps with mpg's. Here's the link.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mpg-mods.34594/#post-547096

 

Those numbers sound similar to what I experienced/am experiencing, although my overall mpg is slightly better than yours. Probably because I'm logging more highway than you (and most of my traveling is on the summer blend). I have mpg graphs for both the 4 and the 6 over about 90 tanks each. I'll see if I can find them...

 

Yep, the vast majority of my driving is usually around town, stop and go. Very rarely do I get on the interstate. I try very hard to be gentle with the skinny pedal the whole "egg underneath" when accelerating, though I've also seen posts that say giving it more gas to get up to speed is better. I'm going to be removing my own secondary charcoal filter here on a day that its finally not raining and will be installing an AFE Pro Dry air filter as well. That seems to be a good choice amongst the members.

 

So here's the chart for my 2010 double cab 4cyl 4x4. I traded it for a 2012 and am now in a 2014. Can't find the 12/14 charts at the moment but I will look for them.

Here's a link to the original thread/discussion: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gas-milage-chart-2010-double-cab-v6.200313/

The 21 and 22 mpg tanks were probably summer days with a 20-30mph ND wind pushing me along at 75mph.

 

Thanks for the input Bkill.

 

No one is saying that a six does any better, but why have to pull over out of the travel into the break down lane to keep from getting run over by a semi. Had a two stroke SAAB on the Jersey state Parkway......deadly in high speed traffic. My four cylinder Taco in 4 wd was nearly as bad at higher speeds.

 

I know the tire sizes for our trucks are different but I didn't think the recommended pressures would be *so* different -- 29 front/ 32 rear recommended on the stock 215/70R15 tires for my my 2006 5-lug. I usually run 34 front/ 32 rear.

 

Soo how is it you guys are getting such bad milage ? Cause some of you guys do stock what my truck does armored up. I'd like to understand

 

Haha right?!!?!? If I can get 24mpg on the highway with a 4x4 extended cab with a heavy ass bed cap, 33in 53lb tires, carrying 350lbs on the hitch.... then what in the fuck are the rest of you doing?

 

I ran 87 one tank and 91 another and got identical mileage.

I did feel my truck got up to speed quicker on 91.

 

At first my assumption was the auto tranny and that it's just that awful. But there are some huge discrepancies. I did 21 mpg on my last tank with, plate bumpers, 3/8th skids, sliders, and a tool box full of tools and recovery gear and 5 265/75's. Are people filling up as soon as the fuel light comes on or at a 1/4 tanks?

 

Probably driving up hill. You're only going down with those numbers.

 

Nope, that's the average of going across the entire country on interstate 70. So the gentle rolling features of missouri, the flats of kansas, and the ridiculous up and down of the utah/colorado/california areas are all included. Did I mention that my exhaust system was leaking at the time, and that I spent half the trip going over 80mph? Spent 4 hours in stop and go traffic between Vegas and LA...

If I'd babied my truck and gone 55 the whole way I'm sure I would have been over 27mpg.

 

Forget higher octane fuel. Ethanol is added to the lower octanes as a way to up the energy cheaply. It doesn't have a significant enough effect on mpg to justify the extra cost of high octane ethanol free fuel.

As for your truck seeming to get up to speed quicker, the energy difference between 87 and 91 is so minute that it is not possible to feel. The only real difference is in how much compression the fuel can handle before spontaneously combusting. A good example of this sort of placebo effect is that my shaft feels longer every time I put my hand on it. This does not, however, make it true.

 

Leaky exhaust system, that 's the secrete. Don't tell me you were driving 80. The secrete to good mileage is moderate speeds. Keep under 65 and your numbers are closer to reasonable. You need to work for Toyota in the advisory capacity. Actually, 24 is reasonable for a four with a cap on the highway with a reasonable 350 lbs load driving 65 mph. You stretch credibility with me driving 80. My six will do 23-4 mph all day long at below 65. Higher, it starts dropping like a lead ballon. I can't believe a four isn't sucking pond water. But who am I...I wasn't there.

 

I kinda felt it was probably the placebo effect lol

It's nice to dream haha

 

There were a lot of variables.. goin 45 through the mountains, goin 85-105 through a lot of Utah having over 500lbs additional weight didn't hurt.. there was a lot to it. I actually have detailed notes that I took of different variable changes from tank to tank. I intend to make a graph out of them and see how efficiency changed over the course of my trip. I'd like to drive 55 the whole way next time i head out West just to see how good I can get of mpg.

 

That sounds great. But driving 80 mph half the distance does not balance with driving 40 mph the other half. That is the only problem I have seeing your mileage. Driving 60 all of the time is more efficient as you well know. A burdened four suffers more and demands a lower maximum. Modern mpg fuel monitoring systems validates this.

 

I'll need to verify the numbers when I get a chance. I am probably exaggerating/forgetting a good deal of info right now. I'll post up when i compile the data and make some sort of graph or some shit lol.

 

No problem. Exaggeration makes for much better conversation. Without it, it would be one boring f'n world. This entire web sight is filled with it....thank god.