gas mileage is a problem

Let me start off by saying, i know tacomas get horrible gas mileage, thats no surprise, but its not this bad. So this week i wanted to see how good i could do on gas, i put a note on my dashboard to remind me to be efficient because most of my driving its usually city driving. Overall I drove like a grandma, coasted everywhere, didnt go above speedlimits. i felt like i was being as effecient as possible, most accelerations wouldnt go over 1.5k rpm. This week i put a full tank in, drove until the light was on, and refilled. i did a total of 315 miles (180highway/135city) and put back 19.4 gallons of gas. also, i went to the exact same gas pump too. 16.2 mpg combined for over half highway is just unreasonable. I averaged 67mph on the highway too. maintenance is good, air filter is clean, one family owned and just over 150k miles. Anyone got any answers

 

Sorry, no, other than going back to 2019 when gas was $3.28 a gallon, not $5.50. (Talking california prices here, YMMV, in Texas gas is purty cheap.)

Also -- I wouldn't make a habit of driving till the "low fuel" light comes on. The fuel itself lubricates and cools the fuel pump.. when fuel runs super low the cooling & lubricating doesn't work as well. Also at super low fuel levels you may be tending to suck more sludge into the fuel pump & farther down the line.

My rule of thumb is no lower than 1/4 tank except in emergency.

 

Oh and one other note -- 67 mph on the highway is not a fuel-efficient speed. Drive 60, or even slower. I get 18 mpg in my heavy (+800 lbs over stock) Taco on the highway. But that's with the cruise control set to 57 mph.

 

You could try cleaning the MAF sensor.
When was the last time the spark plugs were changed?

16 mpg is not too far from the avg 17/18 mpg most people get.
We’re chancing a small issue if one at all.

I guess you could pull up fuel trims on a scan tool, just to see if we are adding fuel.

But honestly, I’m not sure we have a big enough of a problem to even look at……yet.

 

14-17 average winter
17-21 average summer
Best ever 22.4 average

75 on the freeway and bumper cars in town.

 

This^

Words of wisdom my uncle gave me as a teenager always riding around on E.
Half tank is a half tank. Cost the same to go from 1/2 to F as E to 1/2.

Keeping her on the upper half might just save your ass in an emergency.

 

16.2 MPG city driving is above normal. I don't do any true city driving. Most of my daily driving is a mix of small town and rural 2 lane. I usually get right around 17 mpg. On long road trips on an interstate hwy at about 70 mph I will get 20 mpg or just under that. Under ideal conditions I've gotten 22.

Everything is relative. My 1st truck. 6-8 mpg city, 11 mpg hwy. Getting 17/20 from my Tacoma is like heaven. And relative to income gas is cheaper today than in the 1970's.

 

What year?

 

Try regearing it to 5.29, you'll get at least 13 mpg like mine gets! Super amazing

 

16 mpg is about what I get in combined city/highway. I do have a 4x4 four door, 2.5 inch lift, but I don't normally drive over 65 on the freeway. 19 mpg is the highest I ever got, all highway driving at 70-75 mph - might have got over 20 if I laid off the AC.

 

Sounds like you need one of these bad boys....https://www.toyota.com/prius/

 

There’s 3 gallons when the light comes on, plenty enough to cool the pump and if there’s sludge in the tank you’d know it. Not scientific but it wouldn’t surprise me to find not turning the fuel over promotes that vs flushing it more completely on a regular basis. Do as you will.

 

You can make it more efficient.
Get the modified exhaust cam gears, a tune by one of the reputable members on here that tune these trucks, and a thorough service and you'll pick up a few MPG.

I get about 18mpg on a leveled 357k mile truck with 32"s

 

4 gallons I've learned when the light trips.

 

Great advise. Its a mindset.
Some people think if you set you clock ahead youll be on time. They are always late.
Its a mind set.
The 1/2 to empty beleivers usually drive primered Chrysler mini vans

 

OP, what's your tire pressure set at ? The higher the pressure the lower the rolling resistance, I jack mine up to 38 for vacation and get 19.

 

Yeah take a check at your tire pressures, aside from driving style thats what I found impacts it the most. I get around 18-19 in my 2013 on 32" ATs with a ~200lb mid rise cap and run the tires around 32 psi for a balance of decent ride and better mileage.

 

You guys check your gas millage, hmmmm jk
I get around 16.3 and drive it like I stole it, most of the time, lifted, 285's
Yeah it would be nice to get 22-24 but I don't care, maybe after the next
election the price of gas will go down and all will be awesome city!!!

 

I know we drive economically to save money where we can, but you may want to think about a scan gauge. Offers a much better insight into where you’re getting fuel efficiency. I watch mine and sub 1700 RPM I think it’s less efficient. If I need to accelerate I like to get to that speed (accel 2-3k rpm) and then find the least amount of throttle to maintain cruising. MPG suffers the longer you’re accelerating, even if that acceleration is slow. Tire pressure can’t be stated enough, it’s always what holds my mpg down. 35PSI 285s all-terrains load C, light wheels, OTT tune and a Scanguage. Currently getting 17.5 with mostly highway. I’ll get mid 16 with city driving.

 

Mm hmm, this or Ultragauge.