What is considered BAD Fuel Economy for the 2.7 Liter?

Honestly I didn’t get any better mpg with clearance change and mine were tight

 

I noticed like 1-2 mpg increase after adjusting mine.

Recommended clearances for exhaust are 0.010 - 0.014 inches and intake 0.006 - 0.010 inches
My exhaust valve clearances ranged from 0.0035 - 0.012 inches and intake 0.006 - 0.010 inches


Last thought... Is the gas you are using contain E15 or E10?

 

So the 4.0 liter (I assume 4.0 since with th V6 it's rated at like 7000 pounds towing I think) in the '06 does 14.5 w/ 10,000 in tow? That is truly amazing What does it get NOT towing then?

 

I did with c load 33s on my supercharged 4 banger. Well 21mpg, highway. Around town it was like 18

 

Well yea if your supercharger you don’t have to be on the gas as much. If I regear I feel like I would gain 1-2mpg just cause I won’t have to hammer the throttle

 

E10, but there IS a station across town I could get No Ethanol, but it costs 50 cents a gallon MORE so any gain would be lost $ wise.

If E10 gives me 15mpg @ 2.39 a gallon = 16 cents/mi
E0 I would need to get 18mpg at $2.89/gal to break even.
That would be a 12.5% mileage increase needed

 

I’ve come to the conclusion that I expect too much from my 2.7 auto. I just got done adjusting my valves. 220k miles, only one was less than .012. I have the same symptoms, drive like an old lady too. Rarely does mine see 3k rpm. Normally 1200-2100. It’s a dog, just like yours. I also cart around a few hundred lbs in the toolboxes. Your biggest trouble is you have another vehicle to compare yours to. If you never had driven anything else you would be absolutely delighted with it.

 

Man you rarely see 3k? That’s my norm lol i can’t drive that slow in ca

 

Frankly, I do not. I am retired (no longer in a hurry) and light-foot it all of the time, and on MANY modest grades on our Interstate (my local area has an Interstate passing through which I take to avoid city driving), and they are ones on which my '99 Honda CR-V AWD Auto easily maintains 60mph in locked OD and averages 27mpg, I allow my Tacoma in 4th OD to slow to 50mph because pressing the accelerator seems to produce no more power (and I don't want to force a downshift), so I just hold the minimum throttle that will get the job done. On the level in 2 lane roads I usually ply I do the same in teh Tacoma, using minimum throttle to hold speed (usually about 45mph). That is how driving my other vehicles I get way over EPA rated MPG, but with the Tacoma, nothing seems to help. My wife and I own 8 vehicles, so I get to sample a decent variety for comparison.

Someone said that if we didn't have comparisons, we'd be fine with the Tacoma, which sounds a bit like an argument an abused spouse might adopt, but I LOVE the Tacoma in ALL ways but the power and MPG. I had a B1600 Mazda that did 30 MPG, a Mazda B1800 that did 28 MPG, an Isuzu that did 28, and a Datsun/Nissan King Cab 4WD VERY similar to this Toyota and never got under 24mpg. And all but the Nissan had adequate power.

I guess I was just a bit taken aback at not besting 2/3rds of the Nissan MPG (and I admit it's 2.4l 4cyl was gutless as well, but at least it didn't suck gas).

Not to beat a dead horse (If I haven't beaten it death it by now, it's limping badly at least.), but until I read the responses here I really thought maybe I had a real problem and was getting "sub-average mileage" vs other 4cyl Tacoma owners until this thread straightened me out! My buddy has a Tacoma Motorhome with a 20RE in it, and honestly doesn't have remarkably less "oomph" or MPG (he gets 13mpg) pushing a big, heavy vehicle (it's a dually conversion).

Bob

 

Yea honestly if it wasn’t for the simplicity of Tacoma’s and my interests in the 1st gens I wouldn’t be driving Tacoma.

 

On the PLUS side-

1st Gen seems to last a LONG time.
I like the compact size of the 1st Gen

On the MINUS side-
Poor Fuel Economy
Poor Power from the 2.7


I would LOVE to keep my truck because it has relatively low mileage at 177k for its age.
Never went Off-Road
No accident history.
In great condition (I went through it and did all fluids, thermostat, re-painted the truck in BC/CC and applied all decals., installed
OEM Bed Liner and Rubber Bed Mat. Insp and Lubed all Driveline Joints, Inspected all suspension joints.)
Removed seats. Double shampooed interior. Re-dyed carpets. Truck looks like NEW. People come up to me with their tongues hanging in lust.
Truck Suspension is as tight as new (no clicks, Rattles, or Clunks)
I like the ride and handling.

I would honestly consider an engine swap if there was a good one that would fit and mate to the transmission somehow. The Ford 289/302 is relatively compact and might fit, but engine swaps are fraught with hassles unforeseen. Honestly if I could get 15mph in a 3/4 ton Ford 4WD PU with a 351W I cannot imagine getting worse with a FI 302 in a smaller, lighter Tacoma.

I would consider trying a Supercharger if I could find one reasonably, though while it might solve the power complaint, I'm not optimistic it would improve fuel economy.

 

I don’t think they offer superchargers for 4cyl? Gonna turbo mine unless they make superchargers

 

Could be wrong, but if you don't fab your OWN supercharger setup (possible) I think Toyota makes one that is a bolt-on?

There is a local fellow fabbing a blower up for his 2.4 liter. If his works, I may fab one. I am less of a turbo fan. I have tube headers
a turbo would delete.

 

quite the penny tho. If you got time do this lol

 

Before I bought my truck (of course) I saw a used one for $750 complete.

 

I would go low boost so you don’t have to do any piggy back shit

 

4 or 5 psi. No intercooler.

 

Me too. Certainly ain’t like driving a Silverado but the simplicity and reliability is enough for me to hang on to it. I wish mine was a standard w/ manual windows for additional simplicity. These new Fancyshmancy trucks with all the bells and whistles are great, till the stuff stops working

 

Tacomas have never been known for getting great mileage, or for their power, lol. Toyota never tried to make the Tacoma a powerhouse that gets 40mpgs. They make a good, reliable pickup truck that you can beat the hell out of on the trail. Nothing more, nothing less.

Stop comparing it to your other 7 vehicles.

And your buddy doesn't have a tacoma motorhome. The Tacoma started in 1995. But I've driven Dolphin, and multiple toyota trucks. There is no comparison. The Dophins are absolute dogs, even by comparison to the gutless 22REs.

 

Yes, you really need to be careful making comparisons.

Major factors are ENGINE SIZE, gearing, drive train, wheels and tires, loading, driving style......

FWIW, I get between 18-19 mpg with an '06 V6 4WD (naturally aspirated) running 2 lane highway and city. My speeds are generally 60+ mph on the 2 lane. My wife has a CRV. Completely different vehicle. It would be ludicrous to compare the 2 in fuel efficiency.

I'd suggest to @bobinyelm to stick your foot in it and allow the Tacoma to SHIFT into OD also let the engine run. You will probably see an increase in fuel efficiency. Dragging the engine down to low rpm to barely maintain OD with speed dropping to minimums is forcing a poor fuel economy situation. Small displacement engines need speed (rpm) to get into the power band. Inside the power band is where the best fuel efficiency lives.

A supercharger or turbo will not fix your fuel economy issue. Either will increase the power, but the cost of the power is burning fuel.