Poor Mileage

I have a 2013 TRD double cab tacoma. When I first bought the truck, it got about 14 mpg. Now, it's only getting about 200 miles to a tank and the power seems to have decreased too. Its a manual and only has 66k miles. Any ideas what's causing the poor mileage and decreased power? It used to be peppy...

 

Humm, this doesn't sound right for a V6 or a 4 cyl, you should be getting at least 17 mpg around town. Did you check your tire pressures?

 

Yes tire pressures have been checked several times. I've never gotten better than 15 around town, in a lucky day...I keep it regularly maintained. In the 2 years I've had it, I haven't done a tune up and was thinking that could be it.it wouldn't hurt...I've tried driving " better" and it made no difference. I run regular grade fuel. Would high test make a big difference?

I just noticed you live in Montana. I lived in billings and bought this truck at Denny Menholt on the west end...

 

Yea, might want to change the spark plugs. On the V6 your supposed to do it every 30k miles

 

Ok that's what I was thinking...I'll do a tune up and see what that does. Thanks!

 

Replace spark plugs and air filter. Check brakes to make sure they're not dragging. And check for bad wheel hubs. Basically look for anything that would cause friction and anything that would impede air coming in and quality of the combustion (spark, wires).

 

You're driving it harder. Lighten up on the gas pedal

 

Being that's it's a manual, do you use the parking break a lot? Make sure its completely released.

 

Yes I do fully release the brake.

 

The brake may still be engaged even though you've released it via the pedal. Also, I just realized I spelled it "break" previously...momma says I got smarts reeeeal good!!!

 

Just to cover everything, did you lift the truck with larger tires?

 

This

 

Based on his avatar pic it looks like it.

 

Agreed. Though it could have been purchased that way.

OP if you were not aware putting larger tires on hurts power and MPGs. Then if you put heavy tires on like E-load tires it makes it even worse. Depending on tire size regearing can help if that is the case.

Also note that if you went to a larger tire, your odometer will be off, as you will have gone further than what it says. You need to account for the difference when calculating your MPGs.

 

That 4.0 love that. Never driven mine any other way, But then again I only use synthetic oil every 5k plugs every 30k and every other fill-up premium and my last tank was 17.9. My drive is 20 miles a day with a stretch one way that is 6 miles at 50 other than that all under 35 city. First chance I get I get in it to blow the carbon out and to get the rings moving.

 

I bought these newer tires a few months back but are the same size tires that were on the truck when I got it at 16k miles. The best mpg at first was about 16 in town. Now the normal is 11 to 12, maybe. 2 other friends of mine have tacoma with stock tires and said they only get about 15 in town as well..

 

I know now versus at purchase, that gas gauge moves a lot faster..

 

Tread type and rubber compounds can make a world of difference on mpgs. i just switched to new tires recently, same size, but my mpgs have changed.

 

Don't get discouraged by my 17mpg. That was w/o A/C that I just fix today and haven't had for almost 2 years and replaced my exhaust cat back which kind of opened it up.. Mine will probably drop to 14-15. What brand tire did you put on and what is the difference in the roll resistance of the tires and weight that could have something to do with it also.

 

Understandable, though the mileage has been going downhill for a while, before the tires were replaced. So I'm still leaning towards a full tune up. I haven't done one since I bought the truck at 16k miles and now it's at 66k miles...so maybe a combo of both tires and plugs??