Recommendations for better MPG?

I didn't know you was from New York too!

 

didn't see tire pressure mention - i run 38ish psi tire pressure. seems to help, maybe. not too jarring for me, some don't like it.

stock is important, and HT or mild AT tires also help.

time of year and temperature matter a lot in my experience. summer i average 22ish MPG, winter 20ish. As for temperature, it seems 30 degrees F is where it starts to drop, and below 20 degrees just terrible, or at least what i consider terrible.

i would not own this truck if it did not average at least 20 mpg.

 

why would you not run factory door spec pressure and risk inner tread wear from over inflation + harsher ride

 

Running a few pounds over factory recommended pressure on modern radial tires will not cause inner tread wear; that was an issue with old bias-ply tires and early radials.

 

Ya but a V6 Altima does 0-60 in less than 7 sec., is quick in 1/4 mi., and fast on the skid pad.

 

Especially if you’re running with a load all the time.

 

the recommended factory tire pressure is too low imo. the OE tires that i run in the summer as well as the AT tires that i run in the winter have a max pressure on the sidewall of 44 psi cold.

at 38 psi the tires are wearing great and there is less rolling resistance. since the OP asked for opinions on improving fuel mileage, i gave my opinion and what works best for me.

the ride is not harsh at all. the thing i like most about my truck is the ride and handling.

 

Slow down and remember it’s a truck. No need to worry about MPG’s… just enjoy the drive.

 

I actually enjoy getting the best mileage of any truck I’ve owned. It doesn’t have to be a disappointment.

 

I was towing a trailer full to the brim and had a deep freezer part way full so max payload

 

Towed a 72 MGB on a u-hell car dolly. 485 miles, drove in 5th at 60 most the whole way. Going through Chicago was a great……slowed to about 56/57 though that hellhole.

I averaged 20 on that trip up. Driving down with no car or dolly and driving 70-76 I averaged 17.

Locally the rural two lane roads are 55/60, I regularly average 22, I do use 91 octane ethanol free fuel.

Mileage is all about the speed……..want better mileage? Slow down.

 

I read a few posts stating that installing a cold air intake will help. Ummmm ….. the truck has cold air intake from the factory. The engine draws air in from outside the engine compartment through the front grill. ( that’s cold air intake to start with ). If you lift your truck and put big ass tires on it, take a guess what’s going to happen.

 

OP never returned, me smell Troll

 

- Coast to red lights and stop signs

- Try not to go much above 2,000 RPM

- Make sure tire pressure is correct

- Make sure the air filter is clean

- Put an air dam on

- Put some Michelin LTX Defenders on

- Remove your seats


Do all that and let us know how it goes

 

Probably sold and bought a Prius

 

Hope so, probably better for that person and from the 1st post probably not a truck person/trucker.

 

Tune to fix the gear shifting/hunting and a manifold spacer to move the power band down lower in the RPM range have both done a bunch to help the drivability and highway milage of my truck by allowing it to stay in overdrive and 6th much better. My 2x4 work truck easily does 24-25 mpg unmodified because it runs narrower 245 highway tires, isn't lifted, and kept the factory aerodynamics (no roof rack, bumpers, and has the front chin spoiler still), things most Tacoma owners with 4x4 likely aren't doing though.

Just driving slower though is the biggest effect when driving a vehicle shaped like a brick with cutouts, as milage drops exponentially as speed increases. In other words, you will spend more gas 70 vs 65 to 70 than going 60 vs 55, for example.

 

Using the oil change interval of 7504 miles would help the MPG.