MPG MAYHEM... does anybody’s look like this?

Welcome to the mayhem.

I'm new, like you, but have done a good bit of research on some of this stuff and a few other things that may contribute. Take the following as you will!

The biggest thing I see in your graphs is the inconsistency - which ironically - is pretty expected around here for these trucks. From what I have gathered, this can be attributed to multiple layers of mappings in the ECU for shift points, fuel/timing maps, Atkinson/Otto modes, etc etc. The OVTune thread, however relevant to you and monstrous as it is, is actually a great read to help shed some light as to how the truck randomizes a lot of these driving characteristics. Note I said HOW, not WHY - but that's a joke for another day.

On the topic of different octane ratings, you're not going to see advantages in trying higher octane fuel as the ECU is not tuned to work with the additional ratings. Even still if it did, the cost vs mpg gained would probably be a wash (or worse) in the first place.

I will tell you I seem to get better mileage than most, but I am a grandpa driver and have 2WD only. I do not go by this App screen on the regular but I do keep my mpg per TRIP up and front and center. If I drive more than a mile up the road to the store, I am always in the 20s, from 22-27 or so depending on how much highway I've got in my journey. I consider this acceptable for a 4000lb truck, A/C on, with a v6 that is packed with too much tech and then tuned by idiots (again, read the OVTune thread).

One more thing I'll mention - has anyone done the real world tank to tank calculation vs relying on this automatic in-car calculator? More often than not these are not super accurate to begin with.

Happy hunting!

 

What's the problem? Everything looks perfectly normal, and probably better than I'd expect for the vehicle.

Depending on many factors, most that you have no control over, fuel mileage is going to vary a lot. My 07 4X4, DC varies between 10-23 mpg. But the most common numbers I see is about 16-17 for my everyday driving and about 19-20 for road trips. I've gotten as little as 10 when towing, as little as 16mpg hwy when driving all day into a stiff headwind, and as much as 23 hwy when driving in mountains where there were long downhill stretches where I could coast.

And my older truck doesn't have the readout option, mine is all hand calculated.

That is another thing you may need to look at. Have you tried to figure your fuel mileage by hand and see how close your readout is. We have a Honda car that is always optimistic by 3-5 mpg. My 14 F-150 is remarkably accurate. The numbers I get on the dash are always within .5 mpg of what I get by hand. And often closer to .2 mpg.

 

i disagree somewhat with your assessment of the NAV Screen numbers......i have had my truck for 2.5 yrs and and done both manual and computer calculations of MPGs...I find that they are pretty darn close and I feel comfortable in relying on it...i do the math calculations and look at the computer calculations and find in most cases they are within +/- .3 of a mile.......also the fuel gage is very good....i drove to within 10 miles left on computer and filled her up with 20.4 gal.....todays technology has come a long way and i think manufacturers have figured it out that they can get really close to getting it almost dead on....
EDIT: BTW i have witnessed over 28.4mpg on highway trips at 72mph and ac on with outside temp at 102......and as low as 18.9mpg on local driving short trips with ac on at 40mph stop and go.....

 

It doesn't take much to see a significant difference in mileage. I have a 20 mile commute. I gain 345 feet in elevation from home to work, most of that over a 2 mile distance. In fact, most of my commute is downhill until I have to go over the mountain just before I get to work. I get around 20 mpg on my way to work, but 23 on my way home. And both of those vary by 1-2 mpg depending on how I drive, or even if I have to stop for a single red light (there are only 4 on my entire commute).

 

That's great news! I haven't checked mine up against the old school method yet, so it's good to hear some positive feedback on it. Not to say I ever minded doing it the old way, but if there is something that will track accurately long term I'd be happy to use it!

 

We have a SWB Chevy w/ a 4.3 that gets 21 pretty consistent.
Same size tires as the taco. Weight....close.
Biggest diff........3:45 gears out back. You feel it taking off though and even holding it there on the hwy. It tends to lug.

 

And they do, Hilux and Prado anyway, with the diesel engines they get in other countries. Our Tacoma and 4Runner get the shaft on high MPG engines.

 

Off topic: how do you even get to that screen?

 

I say it's a California gas thing to be honest, they have a summer and winter blend plus they add ethanol to the mix. I typically get 17-18, but when I went out of state to Nevada/ Arizona, I got 24-26 driving the same way. Some may say "Well you live in California TRAFFIC is the REASON." true but I drive against traffic. Upland to Loma Linda at 4:30 AM everyday. No traffic going in to work, no traffic leaving work. I just stopped caring, that's all you can do, just chuck 70 bucks once a week at the gas tank and call it good.

 

How do you actually get the trips to save? Mine resets every trip so I can't see past records. I have an SR5, if that makes any difference and I don't have access to all that maintenance shit that I saw in the Sport.

 

I've driven mine well past the zero miles left on the comp. if you got to with in 10 miles left and put in 20 plus gallons, something isn't adding up. It's my understanding the computer mikes leftvshould hit zero around 3 gallons left.

 

15-16 typically for my stock truck

 

I have watched the numbers on mine with the tank avg and overall avg displayed and watched the overall avg change as fast if not faster then he tank avg. I have around 9000 kms, enough that the overall avg should not be moving much one way or the other compared to the tank avg. Something tells me the overall avg is resetting on its own as i have only reset it once since I got it last August. The distance to empty seems ok as I reset the Trip A odometer whenever I fill up.

 

Ya man your about 10 miles from me. I’m in Highland but I’m hitting the usual 210 traffic 7am and 3:30 home. Thank god it’s not Irvine anymore. For 60 miles it would take 2hr 45 min one way with express and toll lanes used! 5 hrs to go 120 miles is ridiculous but my average traffic now from Highland to Ontario is typical. Interesting about the California formula. Funny how we have the highest gas prices & registration and thanks to our govenor and his new gas tax hike and registration increase... well let’s just say.. LOVIN’ IT!!!
Curious if another states really effects mpg that much. I’m trying 87 just for kicks cause my chevron 89 is 10cents more and on 21 that’s like $2 or 1/2 a gallon of gas I’m not caring about missing.

And to Marconis... with the sr5 not sure bro. I just hit the touch screen on economy and then look at past.. then hit update to start a new average not clear.

 

When I use ETC power I tend to get slightly better mileage (1-2mpg) because the shift points change and my truck doesn't gear hunt as much.

 

And ya I DID SOLVE THE MPG PROBLEM.

I took it off the home screen and replaced it with weather.

I used to have it on 3 way spilt and stare at it on the way to work driving 55 trying to make it climb lol

Outta site outta mind
$90 bucks at a time

 

Funny it’s supposed to use more gas?

 

I can get 18-19mpg in the city if there is no traffic. This is with a Manually tranny, which has worst mileage than the auto.

I can get 21-24 on the highway depending on how I drive.

My current tank is 15mpg average, but that is because I have to drive in notorious SF bay area traffic. Everyone takes a hit in those driving conditions.

 

i think that only applies if your tranny can use all the gears and the lock up during your trip. ECT i think prevents the top gear and lock up from being used, I think, don't quote me on that.

 

Well the common denominator in this thread is heavy traffic and or stop and go freeway. Maybe driving the DBLB v6 doesn’t help either. Heavy truck sucks up gas to get moving?
The 30 mpg average I took that pic of was going about 55-60mph straight level road with no traffic. Yes it was in Southern California. Just a fluke day. It wasn’t the rapture because everybody came back the next day