2012 4.0l Taco bad gas mileage

Like stated above, I have a 2012 4.0l 4x4 Taco that is getting bad gas mileage. I realize it’s a truck. I realize trucks don’t get amazing gas mileage. I have read post after post after post on this subject, but I see the same things over and over...”winter gas, tire pressure, no lead foot, etc.”. I live in northwest Louisiana so winter gas isn’t an issue here. My tires are all inflated to the proper PSI. I have tried driving like a grandma. I changed my spark plugs with Toyota OEM plugs. I’m running full synthetic Mobil 1 oil. I’ve done everything I can think of to get better fuel economy. I previously had an 09 Tacoma, all the same specs except it had the 5 ft bed versus my current 6 ft bed. When my 09 was stock, I got around 19-21 mpg. I put a 3” lift on it with 33” tires and 18” wheels and my mpg only dropped to about 17-20. Wasn’t a drastic change at all. My current 2012 Taco is still 100% stock, and no matter what I do it only gets around 12-14 mpg. I fill up at the same gas stations as my last Taco using the same fuel grade. Surely 1 more foot of a PLASTIC bed wouldn’t cause that much of a drop in fuel economy. I have also tried adding Toyota’s fuel additive that is supposed to clean the engine but I think it was a total waste of money. What could I be looking past/over that could possibly be mechanically wrong cause my truck to get bad mpg?

 

This must be about the 14th bad gas mileage thread I've seen here in the last week or so.

 

Idk what’s up. I had one that got the MPG as advertised and now this newer one is not performing.

 

How are you calculating that 12-14 MPG value?

 

The area around your Avatar shows a 2009 model and you did mention that, so I'm assuming the 2012 is a new arrival. In my opinion 12-14 mpg would be low for conservative hwy. driving; maybe this is your city mpg? I have a 2WD PreRunner with tow pkg. and never tow. Mostly hwy driving - I see 19-21.5 mpg - most of the time over 20 mpg.
No lift or big tires - stock truck.

 

Fill up until the pump stops. Do not stop pumping early, dont 'top off' after it automatically shuts off. Reset trip A
Drive until you have ~1/4 tank left.
Fill up following above procedure.
Write your Trip A millage on the receipt.
Reset Trip meter
Calculate MPG using all the decimal places, dont round off.
Repeat

 

Yep that was my 09 (still wish I had it). And I did the same exact amount of driving then as I do now. I was shocked on my 09 after I did all those mods at how little MPG I lost.

 

I could be wrong but if pretty sure this is how I’ve done it in the past. Comes out around 13.7 or so most of the time.

 

Any check engine light codes? Be surprised how many people (usually with older vehicles) talk about bad mileage and then come to find out they've had a check engine light on for 4 years but never figured it was a problem because the truck still ran normally lol.

I would clean your MAF sensor too and see if that helps. Use MAF cleaner only, not some generic electronic parts cleaner. Easy to do and often helps especially if it's never been cleaned before.

 

Nope no lights! And I’ll try this. At this point I’ll give anything a shot haha

 

A lot of other things can contribute to poor mileage like bad O2 sensors, bat cats, faulty injector etc but those things will usually trip a code.

Maybe I missed it but are you running bigger tires by chance?

edit - never mind saw you have 33s...have you adjusted your MPG calculation to account for the larger tires? With 33s I think it's about 7% off if I remember right

 

Why is it that no one ever mentions fuel filter(s) when it comes to dropping GM?

Betcha the rig is still operating on the factory unit....

 

Technically Toyota says they never need replaced but yeah it can't hurt...except I think for you guys it's a bitch to do (located inside the fuel tank). Luckily on my 1st gen it's attached alongside the frame outside of the gas tank. Easy 20 minute job

 

Think 33s were on his old '09 truck. Says his new '12 is stock

 

You get used to it eventually.

 

That's what I get for skimming the post

 

Yep. I do miss my '04 2.4L Tacoma - external fuel filter - transmission fluid dip stick/ etc.

 

The 33s were on my 09 taco. My current Taco is 100% stock

 

I would think there would be one on the frame rail or engine bay along with the tissue paper filter on the pump. I admit I have not checked on this yet. The filter on the pump is something that should last the life of the pump, but, it can’t be the only one...

 

You might be right, I just know that there's a kit from URD that relocates the fuel pump and filter to the outside of the tank for 2nd gens and seems to be a fairly popular mod