2006 Prerunner DBL Cab - 5W20 in 4.0 V6?

The manual says to use 5W30. I understand Ford suggests using 5W20 in most of their engines. From reading on this forum, I learned it was to increase fuel economy. I do not have a lead foot and do most city driving.

I am getting 16.5 MPG avg for over a year and a half. (http://mymilemarker.com/) I changed the sparkplugs at 45k and I am currently just shy of 60k. I do know it is a truck and we do not buy them for MPG, but I expected better when I purchased the truck. (shame on me.)

I am looking for any ways to improve MPG without damaging my truck. (no scam suggestions please. They just waste my time.)

 

Welcome to TW.

Stick with 5w30 and do the right foot mod. I can get 18+ with in town driving. I can get 16 as well. The variable is in the shoe

 

synthetic oil helps. theres a bajillion threads on mileage. welcome to TW!

 

I'm glad to see you figured out the variable with your truck is your shoe. I have already adjusted my foot a few years ago when I noticed the mpg was going downhill. When I accelerate, I keep the truck under 2k in the city. When I was testing a further extreme, I was passed by an old lady who utilized the double barrel salute. Yes, I have tried further modifications of this adjustment and I'm still getting no results.

When I drive to the in-laws, I use the interstate and then a rural highway. I stay under 80 for the first 20 minutes on the interstate and ride at 65 on the rural highway. Doing this, I'm lucky to increase the mpg enough to get 295 or 300 miles off a tank of gas. The last trip got me a grand total of 16.7 MPG. When I visited Austin TX last year, I drove like a banshee and I still got over 16 MPG. That was city driving in the hill country. (You may ask, how can different driving styles get the same MPG? He must be lying.) The reason is that different states use different additives. I can only find 1 gas station in this area that does not have the MS required sticker that declares they use large amounts of ethanol additives. (up to 10% devil additive allowed)

My intention was not really to start another MPG or Oil change discussion. I am mainly curious if using this weight of oil will harm the engine. An added bonus would be to hear from someone who has used this weight. I really suspect it will be ok since it is the recommended weight for the 4 banger.

 

Thanks for the welcome. Yes I use Synthetic oil. This weekend I'm going to change the front brakes and the oil. I'm planning on using Mobile 1 Synthetic since it seems to be what most people use and see improvement. In the past I have tried several name brand Synthetics with the one most used being Castrol.

 

I also noticed you have a 2010. My truck is a 2006. I understood the only difference that should affect the MPG is an improved sensor on the newer trucks. I thought it would improve MPG. However Yahoo states my truck should be better than the newer models.

Yahoo says your truck should be 17 city 21 highway.
http://autos.yahoo.com/2010_toyota_truck_tacoma_4x2/

Yahoo says my truck should be 18 city 22 highway.
http://autos.yahoo.com/2006_toyota_truck_tacoma_4x2/

Using my chart with all fill ups from March 2008, I am getting an avg of 16.3 mpg. The last 10 fill-ups avg 15.408

 

i think they just changed the EPA MPG ratings in 09 with the national change. haven't heard about the sensor.

an i'm really not too sure about changing the type of oil. if anything its safer to run a thicker oil, although you might get worse mileage, it'll help protect the engine. my dad ran 10w30 for a while cause he can't remember numbers to save his life, so he bought the 10w and just ran it and mileage was still the same lol. the first part really doesn't matter, but the second number is the one you should really look at. it's the number that the oil acts like when protecting your engine (sorry if you already know this stuff, or can explain it better, im just putting it out there just in case )

 

oh yah are you still running stock diff oil? that MIGHT help. maybe. not really. but its worth a shot your truck does have some mileage on it

 

Are you running aftermarket tires at all? Larger size? If so did you take into account the speedo change?

How many miles do you have on your truck? Is it time for a tranny oil change?

I don't know about changing the engine weight, the VVTI uses oil pressure to regulate itself. Changing the weight of the oil, you may fuck with the VVTI and get worse mileage.

Also, getting up to speed slowly isn't always good, if your truck has to work harder to get up to speed in a lower RPM it'll use more gas then higher RPMs.

Again, not saying you're an idiot, just trying to cover all bases.

 

The oil issue and engine design comment is accurate. If the OP must try something then going to 0W30 to help during cold start may help. As a CMAT L1 tech and an emissions repair tech I am obviously unqualified to comment on engines. I did just pull into a station on the interstate at 388 miles burning ten percent ethanol fuel. I filled it up with 17.1 gallons of gas. I will not do the math since so many people here may question my ability to do so. I do wonder if it is the cruise being set at 70?

I know I am typing harshly right now, but the number of times I have been attacked on this issue is wearing thin. I have pictures of the dash and the receipt if anyone calls me out.

Peace.

Later when I am not on an eleven hour drive, I may take the time to post some more information people can say is bullcrap.

 

ford, and other factories, are switching to 20 weight for fuel efficiency, but not necessarily for each individual vehicle, but rather for total fleet efficiency, as a de minimis per vehicle gain spread across the total fleet has an incremental affect of increasing fleet mileage for Fed and EPA requirements

i've researched this matter extensively, and feel that you are best served by a quality 0w30 synthetic ... IMHO

good luck

 

i been doing just that on the stock wheels and suspension, and i'm not breaking 16mpg ... 2k rpm and under, 65-70mph

 

2010 DC 4x4 Sport 5 spd Auto ... 950 miles on the clock

 

Bingo. I am at a coffee stop and looking at 8657 on the ODO. Just hit half tank mark at 207 miles. I was concerned early on with average miles but it came up. Four and one half months. I drive a lot and track expenses for business.

 

I run 0w-30 Amsoil syn in the engine and 75w90 syn in the rear diff. No problems

 

good to know, i'm hitting 1/2 tank at 160 miles at best

swapping out the factory moto oil for the Amsoil 0W30 this weekend or next

does the diff oil make a difference, i was planning on waiting until the first scheduled interval