MPGs on 2020 TRD OR 4x4????

I beat on mine from stop light to stop light almost no highway miles, 7500 on the od, my truck says 16.4 mpg

 

It depends on the situation, and you guys are miscommunicating. There are situations you’re better off coasting in neutral and others you’re better off being in gear. Engine braking will slow down the truck and if the elevation drop isn’t enough to maintain speed you’ll have to press the gas again to accelerate. That can either be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the situation.

 

Get ready for claimed ranges from 14-30 mpg. The Tacoma is a gas hog, be ready for mid/upper teens. I get avg 16 on 33s and a 2in lift, I expected it.

 

I average out about 16 mpg in city with my 2016 base model SR V6.

 

I've coasted down Fancy Gap mountain in Virginia in several different vehicles for years to pad my gas mileage. Always understood the concept of DFCO, but never really attempted to quantify the potential benefits. Coasting, I can easily see RPM's decrease and MPG's increase. With DFCO, RPM's stay the same (which they should) so the old school mechanic in me has trouble seeing MPG benefits (even if they are right in front of me).

I do have a question about coasting and hope someone can offer insight as to what's happening. Yesterday, I coasted my 2020 OR DC 4x4 AT down Fancy Gap Mountain. It's a long mountain with semi truck escape ramps, etc... Might be around 7-miles long, I'm not sure. Anyway, for about the 1st third of the mountain, coasting speed stayed the same. It's a heavy truck and well, gravity. I've had to use the brakes in my other vehicles to slow the coast. Why not in the Taco?

Here are my thoughts:
- Aerodynamics. Is the drag so much that it vs. gravity and weight are 'equal'?
- Drive train friction. Maybe something w/my truck isn't right? Is it by design?
- Tires. Have Duratracs. Feels like a great tire, but how is the rolling resistance?
- Combination of all three?

I could totally be on to something or way off-track. Just throwing some thoughts out there hoping someone will chime in w/their thoughts, too.

 

Here in MI. over the winter I was averaging 16-17mpg no matter what kind of driving. So far this spring I have been getting 18or so city, 21ish country/hwy... season plays a big part for me. 2018 OR

 

Yeah, i can tell you my 4.7 tundra was the gas hog. Didn't matter it towing or not. The tacoma has been far better...worst i've seen is 19, a best around 22 and change.

 

I miscommunicate nothing haha I said “both have their moments”

 

If you can’t see the mpg gains because the RPMs stay the same then think of it this way. Flying down the mountain in Neutral is the equivalent of your car idling in the driveway. The longer you let it idle the more gas you waste.

Since your fuel injectors stop injecting any fuel when you’re in gear, using your gears to slow down your decent as you fly down the mountain is the equivalent of your car sitting in the driveway... not running. Off. No Idle. Doing nothing haha. Costs zero gas.

Not to mention you’ll save your brakes some wear.

Once you start really researching hypermiling and realize our trucks will never benefit from any Aero or Weight differences you’ll be stuck with driving techniques and having a manual and coasting in gear to every stop of your life will do more than much else.

 

Thanks! Good analogy. I'll try it in gear next time and hope the MPG expression recognizes zero gas being injected vs. lower RPM's from coasting.

I'm not worried about saving the breaks from wear. My complaint stemmed from it not flying down the mountain in neutral. Actually had to put it in gear a couple of times to get back up to speed.