mpg increasing

Switching to 0-W20 probably helped the MPG as well. Might not be so great for wear in the long run though, hard to guess with some of these new synthetics.

 

It comes with 0W20 and thats what the manual says to use.

 

CAFE factors into the manual recommendations, by EPA calculations (and in real life), engines get better mpg with thinner oil, and Toyota gets credit for a more efficient fleet if they tell everyone to put something lighter than Wesson into their crank case.

Like I said though, with some of the new synth oil technologies, maybe a 0W-20 can give decent long term protection. I'd never trust anything bigger than a mower running that weight of dino-oil, though except maybe in winter up north.

Personally, I get about 15mpg in the city and 20-22 on the highway (more on non-CA gas without so much ethanol in the mix) running a mix of Royal Purple 5W-30 and 10W-40 with a quart of lucas synthetic stabilizer in the mix, but I want it thick since I drive up to Tahoe every summer, which involves climbing up from the edge of death valley to a pass topping 8500 ft in pretty steady 100-degree heat (actually originally bought the truck because my previous car got to the point where it couldn't handle the drive without overheating)

 

Agree, ignorance (of some poster's whining/complaining/arrogance) is bliss.

 

Toyota isn't going to recommend putting something in your motor that will shorten the life cycle and dependability / reliability of their product thus harming their reputation and driving down marketability. No need for the deluded paranoia. Well of course they didn't fill our trans or differentials up so there's that....

 

It's not just toyota, it's every manufacturer (at least the ones that have to meet USA CAFE requirements). When everyone's playing the same game for the MPG estimates, nobody looks bad compared to the others; besides that, if they did fall off in reliability some, it'd still take years for anyone to notice and massive progress by the "big 3" to close the gap that'd be made a little smaller.

No doubt that higher-precision manufacturing and improved materials help engines work with thinner oils than the old motors used to need, but those numbers aren't just random marketing jargon, they're technical specs.

Depending on the local climate, power train involved and the operating environment, the amount of extra wear from thinner oils may only amount to needing new rings after 100k miles instead of after 180k. Using a 4.0L V-6 with the tow package as a grocery-getter in Wisconsin, you may well never notice the difference, but if you're hauling/towing frequently in Phoenix, you're not going to want to run the 0W-20 (unless you're doing a 2500-3000 mile change interval religiously) or else expect some issues, even though the manual says you can use it like that with 0W-20 and a 5-6k interval

 

yea, haven't heard much "positive" from him about anything in particular, some people are half full some are half empty or it just sucks.

 

Just posted a pic. Im just going off the dash. I didnt do the math, but the dash was reading 16.8 so when I see 19-20 im happy. I never said it was the oil. I just said I changed it and it seems to be getting better mpg. I do reset my odo at each fillup and I was happy to see i was over 200 miles at half a tank left. Take it for what it is... Not trying to prove anything.

 

I have had the exact same experience. I've set up my Tacoma similar to yours. Also, HAD a Raptor.. Got tired of the 13mpg.. Hoping to trade my Tacoma this fall on 17 Raptor. My Tacoma has 8,000 miles and now getting around 20mpg avg.

 

Get a Prius and stop crying about mpg's
WTF it's a truck it will give you bad Mpg's

 

I'm just happy to be out of my old Silverado lol

 

There is wisdom in these words.

Bob

 

WTF? Do some of you guys get some kinda of a high coming on peoples threads to to do absolutely no good with this kind of post. No one is crying about anything or even complaining, but the contrary. You are the only one complaining. Stay out of the thread if you dont like it.

 

Yes, this is exactly why my "people you ignore" list keeps on getting longer

 

I remember talking to my dad once long ago about gas mileage. He told me to actually calculate the difference in mileage I would be getting between trucks and apply the fuel cost to it. I did, and he kind of just laughed at me. He told me to buy what I want and what I will be happy with for the long run. Took that advice and never looked back. If OP is actually seeing better mpg (which honestly is completely realistic because the ECU adapts to driving habits), that is awesome! If not, hope he can find a way to still like the truck!

 

good call

 

I dont understand why this post is translating to some that " I dont like my truck...." I love it. Went from first gen to a ford raptor, to this. Trust me, as a raptor owner, anything gets better gas milage. As others have said, and I agree, I didnt get it for the gas milage. I got it for reliability and I just like tacomas. Ill drive this for the next ten and give it to my son and prob get another...

There are threads here where some are obviously not getting what they expected and i simply posted this for them.

 

So did you totally get rid of your Raptor for this? Care to compare two two in terms of size and long trip comfort?

I love the idea of a Tacoma for back country road and trail travel but the size has me worried for longer trips. Of course the Raptor is a Raptor and who doesn't love a Raptor? Plus it's full size and gives tons of room for long trips. I'm very torn but would love feedback from someone who has owned both.

 

Actually there is a big difference in oils now due to CAFE standards. Lots of different 20w oils have different overall viscocities and Mobil 1 shears quite a bit from the get go. Less viscocity means less friction and up goes your fuel economy. On the bad side of things, it thins out so much that it loses its ability long term to protect the rings and cylinder walls. Also, resource conserving synthetics like the factory Toyota 20w oil maintains more viscocity with its additive package, which is known to attack emissions systems long term. Luckily the new engine is port injection, so it's minimized. For direct injection it's a whole different story.

 

I did my first oil change at 5000 miles then ran my transmission in 4th gear with the shifter pulled to the driver's side for about 150 miles. I monitored my mileage for the next 15 miles. Started out with 1/4 tank of gasoline and after the 15 miles were up, I still had 1/4 tank.