Lousey Gas Mileage

Hi Everyone,
I just got back from a road trip from Massachusetts to Florida and back. Over 3000 miles total. I only averaged 18.8 MPG on the way down and 18.72 on the way back, no where near the projected Hwy rating of 21mpg. I didn't take the 95 route, I went inland down routes 84,81,77, 26, and then 95 when I got to Savannah. I did travel all of Skyline Drive on the way down before cutting back over to 81. Definitely a more hilly route than 95.
On the way home I avoided 95 altogether and traveled a nice 2 lane at about 55-60 most of the way and then hit Blue ridge pkwy for a hundred or so miles, before getting back on 81.
My best tankful was the Savannah to the gulf coast leg where I got 19.73 mpg, that was a bit of 95 and a lot of 2 lane, 75- 80mph, 2500 rpm on 95 and then around 45-55, 2000 rpm's or less on back roads. The worst was the last leg home where I only averaged 17.81 all Interstate Highway at 75-80 mph and pushing 2500 rpm's.
2 people with very little gear on the way down and only me on the way back. I was hoping to exceed the estimated hwy mileage or at least meet it, not be under it by 2+ MPG, that sucks!
I traded in my 2012 Taco Crew cab 4x4 SR5 that had 130K miles and averaged, with every day driving, a mix of hwy and back roads got 20.64 MPG. My best tank was 22.66, worst 19.59 mpg. I never took it on a long road trip.
The newer Tacoma is 2013 Crew cab Limited with 57 k miles. I think the only the difference between the two that could effect mileage is the 2012 had 16" steel wheels and the Limited has 18" Alloy's but could that make a 2+ mpg difference? Although, when I purchased the Limited it had a hole in the muffler and the dealer agreed to change it and much to my dismay the replaced the exhaust from the Y pipe back with aftermarket exhaust from Autoparts International, I dont know any of the specs on it. I almost walked away from the deal, I do not know why they just didn't replace the muffler with a stock Toyota one. Could that be the difference?
There are no other mods on either vehicle that I am aware of.
Anyone have any Ideas on what I should check, change, or adjust to get the MPGs up a bit?
I really like the new truck but 2 mpgs hurts when you do as much driving as I do.
Thanks for your help

 

Im assuming you have the 4.0 since your taco is a limited. Just for the record, i have a taco with the 2.7 in it and i typically average around 19mpg hwy and about 20.5 when im daily driving it. Those numbers you mentioned dont seem that far off for the 4.0.

 

You're right in line where the mpgs are going to be. You're getting better than a lot of people. Highway I average right around 19-20 with the V6.

 

Samesies. I average 17 mixed. I've hit 20mpg once driving to Mexico and it was on cruise control for literally 3.5 hours and never touched the brakes. But that was the only time

 

OEM size tires? What pressure? Checked odometer accuracy against mile markers or GPS (do at least 50 miles)?
Have spark plugs been changed within last 30k miles? Only other option I see is to slow down some.

 

60 MPH MAX and no heavy pedal...if you want those numbers, that is what EPA ratings are based on. 60 highway
and I can get 21 --easy-- doing 60 on interstate...can get 22.1 on some days


the numbers you post are 100% normal
and what I get
when I am driving like you wrote

 

Those numbers at 75-80mpg are not lousy- they're exactly what you should expect.

 

60 on the interstate? seems dangerously slow these days

 

15 here bud. Not sure why youre complaining

 

He's not advocating going 60mph. He's saying that's what used in determining the sticker MPG on the window when you buy the truck. That's why you never see it in actual practice.

 

Ahhh ok I was confused obviously... agree 100%.

 

Those numbers look good, but I check your tire pressure, this can really hurt your mileage.

 

I think you are pretty close to what the real world mileage is. We have 80MPH speed limits on many highways and if I do that you can kiss anything north of 18MPG goodbye. The only way to get the 1-2 MPG more is to keep it under 60MPH. I'm not doing that. I can live with about 15-30 miles less (maybe $2.50-5.00) per tank of gas to drive it how I want.

 

Sounds like a great trip, hope you weren't consumed about the gas mileage and missed it. It is what it is, and as you can tell from the responses, about what you can expect.

 

I've gotten 23mpg for over 100 miles, in a tailwind down I-95 once, cruise control pinned at 67

 

I wish I got your MPG. Consider yourself fortunate.

 

I avg 17.3 on good days and 16.5 on others mostly highway 70-80mph.

 

Here in NE Florida I am getting 19/19.5 mpg very consistently in my 60% rural (60 to 75 mph) and 30% on A1A at 45-50 mph, and 10% crawling around Saint Augustine and environs. I rarely use I-95, it's for snowbirds, truckers, and tourists...

 

yup.... anything above 65mph and mpgs will TANK. I can pull 20.5ish if i stick between 60-65mph.... if i do 65-70 im looking at 18.5 .... 75ish im looking at 17 75-80 and im down to 16

 

There's always another option...