Facts and Some Conclusions about Tacoma Gas Mileage

I have a 2007 Double Cab Sport short bed 6 cyc automatic 4X4 with no lift and factory tires. At the risk of stating the obvious, I'm going to share some facts and draw a few conclusions. First the facts:

- This summer I was very careful about my driving habits to try and milk as many miles out of a tank as reasonably possible.
- This winter, while I have not drivien with a lead foot, I have not been as careful; I've driven "normal".
- This past summer, during my weekly commute I could routinely get up to 425 miles to a tank of gas. My round trip daily commute includes 16 miles of moderate stop and go traffic with 8 stop lights, 37 miles at an average speed of 40 mph, and 31 miles at an average speed of 55 mph. I use cruise control whenever practical.
- Starting four weeks ago, and for a two week period, I didn't worry about careful driving habits and I got 315 and 320 for two tanks of gas.
- The last two weeks I've gone back to being very careful about my driving habits to again try and milk as many miles out of a tank as reasonably possible.

My conclusions:
- I'm not smart enough to know how much differences in gas blend between summer and winter gas affects mileage.
- When I deliberately drive to maximize gas mileage I can get as many miles from a tank of winter gas as summer gas.
- Gas mileage in my Tacoma is fairly repeatable.
- I drive about 22K miles per year and at ~$2.75 per gallon, careful driving habits can save me $1,000 per year or more.

A control whenever practical.
- Starting four weeks ago, and for a two week period, I didn't worry about careful driving habits and I got 315 and 320 for two tanks of gas.
- The last two weeks I've gone back to being very careful about my driving habits to again try and milk as many miles out of a tank as reasonably possible.

My conclusions:
- I'm not smart enough to know how much differences in gas blend between summer and winter gas affects mileage.
- When I deliberately drive to maximize gas mileage I can get as many miles from a tank of winter gas as summer gas.
- Gas mileage in my Tacoma is fairly repeatable.
- I drive about 22K miles per year and at ~$2.75 per gallon, careful driving habits can save me $1,000 per year or more.

 

I've gotten up to 26.7 mpg average.

 

Wow, you have that much time.
I didnt buy a truck to worry about gas mileage. If mileage is that big of a concern try the yaris.

 

I enjoy driving much more than worrying about squeezing out a couple more mpg. If I concentrated on my driving habits on a day to day basis I would fall into a deep depressive state. It's no way to live.

 

I agree. A scanguage is next.

Driving over an hour to and from work pretty much sucks but it's what I have to do. I think a scangauage can help make the best out of a long commute by helping with a worthwile objective - saving a few bucks to spend on the wife and kids. Driving a little slower costs me about 12 minutes a day more in commute time but like I said, it saves me more than $1,000 per year. Makes sense to me.

 

Just one question, are all the beings from your planet like you?

 

Good point. But instead of driving a green machine to work I drive a very nice gas efficient utility vehicle. I think (not worry) about gas mileage in my truck during the week to pay for my weekend gas. On the weekend, I can break every speed law in the country going into 2nd gear and there's 4 gears after that with this:



For what it's worth, if I keep my foot in it (and from time to time I do) I can get 8 mpg or worse - I can also get over 27 mpg in six gear on the road.

 

agree 100%

 

my 09 dc 4x4 19.5 average

 

I agree it's completely worth worrying about gas prices. Even if I bought a Yaris or a Tacoma, I'm still going to worry about mileage because more gas is more money out of my pocket that could be spend on other things. +1 for the OP!

 

12 minutes saved per day X 5 days a week X 50 weeks per year = 50 extra hours a year stuck in commuting traffic. That is the equivalent of a full work week PLUS 10 extra hours. So that extra thousand dollars you save per year isn't free by any means.

 

Is that a lt5?

 

And with this, your on here talking about gas mileage ?
I bet you'd look better in a yaris. But nice explantion on how fast your big bad corvette is

 

Good catch. 505 hp, 470 ft-lb.

 

That is so badass. I have yet to see one IRL. You need to post more pictures.

 

Interesting info.

This is true. However, not owning a Corvette would allow a LOT more money to be spent on the wife and kids so I don't quite understand that argument.

There's nothing wrong with saving gas/money. That's a good thing, actually. However, I enjoy driving my truck semi-aggressively so I don't think twice about it. All my driving is local so the best I ever do is 18mpg max.

 

That's not just a Corvette. It's the stuff that legends are made of.

 

So? That only means it's a WHOLE LOT MORE money that could be spent on one's family.

 

Well, all he did was make a informative thread about optimizing mpg's. I know some people don't care but some do. I have noticed that a lot of people have been flaming people for no reason. If you don't care, then don't read or don't post. If you're not contributing anything then you shouldn't feel you need come in and post at all. This isn't directed at any one person, just noticed something today.