NEED A TOYOTA SERVICE SHOP RECOMMENDATION

I bought my truck at Bell Road Toyota and it is the closest to the house. So that's where I have been going for service which has been two oil changes and the rear axle welding spater recall.

But I have also asked for them to check the transmission fluid twice and they have declined.
And over the last 5,000 miles I have had a drop in MPG into the 15/17MPG range. Have tried all 3 grades of gas and drive like a grandpa. They have now declined to check out the truck for that as well too. Tech says using premium gas is my problem and that I should be happy with 13 to 15 MPG on stock tires.

Three up three down end of an inning - time for someone else to be up at bat. Not Bell Road Toyota. Is Camelback any good? Any other Phoenix Area recommendations for Genuine Toyota Service?

 

He does have a point with the A/C. My daily has dropped about 3 mpg since it hit triple digits.

Premium gas causing the problem sounds like he's been huffing the fumes, but not sure why you'd be running it in the first place.

My understanding though is third gens average around 18, but it's really going to depend on traffic conditions. My rule of thumb is accelerate ~60% throttle, decel/coast as soon as possible. As strange as it is I've found oscillating by 5mph once at speed (eg: hit 55, reduce throttle so you have a tendency to slow down to 50 over the next 30 seconds, then accelerate to 55 again slowly) gets you better mileage on any car/truck. High gear is your best friend.

Sorry I don't have a new servicer recommendation for you. I'd quit pestering that dealer about your mpg problems though. If you're out of warranty I'd probably stay away from any dealership.

 

You definitely don't need to scream the title out.

I lived right near Bell Road Toyota for a while as well and they are the worst dealership I have had the pain of working with.

A few serious issues over the span of a couple of years with two different Tacomas. Shit actual service work and even more terrible customer service.

They're just straight terrible in my experience.

Unfortunately I do not have any other recommendations for dealerships, as I decided to just do every thing my truck (still under warranty) needs by myself, no matter what it is or what tools I need.

I agree with Trey above about asking about fuel grade and MPG to them. They don't know shit.

Your gas mileage is terrible though, especially stock. Start researching why that could be happening, generically (i.e. not Tacoma specific). I don't agree with Trey above on the whole 'gas, coast, gas, coast, gas' driving style. Sounds like a miserable experience for his passengers, and for people driving around him. Accelerating at 60% throttle too sounds extreme. I bet I get off of the line at maybe 25% throttle.

I have averaged 16.3 mpg over the last ~10,000 miles with all sorts of shit on my truck (i.e. a literal fuckload, way more than almost everyone else). Hell, it just got 18.8 mpg last night over a ~100 mile freeway trip.

 

Read up on brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) if you want to understand better. Most engine fuel efficiencies peak around 65-85% load, which in real world driving equates to medium-high throttle and aggressive up shifting around 2500rpm. As far as gas-coast goes, the idea is we're in Phoenix, so chances are you're approaching another stop light within a mile or less anyway and you want to maximize the useful energy you've put into the system

 

Just read up on it, and BSFC does not state what you intend it to state, in this context.

The formula is simple, and it relates fuel consumption to power output, and calculates how much fuel is needed to produce some predetermined level of output (horsepower). It's a metric used to compare different engines, and their relative fuel efficiencies at that predetermined level of output, due to so many things being different about each engine.

It does not state that driving around at 65-85% load (throttle) gives you the best gas mileage, as the amount of power needed at any instant is a function of the time it takes to achieve whatever task you're working at (i.e. accelerating away from a light). Meaning you don't need to reach whatever predetermined power level the BSFC comparison has stated in order to simply drive the vehicle. The engine will use less fuel to make less power. I bet the BSFC test usually has some predetermined power output that exceeds the power output required to drive around on the road.

If I left a light at 65-85% throttle the Tacoma would be shifting much, much higher than 2,500 rpms. I'd be kissing 5,000+ rpm and likely the fastest person away from the light, which obviously is not conducive to maximizing fuel economy.

I do agree that there are too many lights in this town, we're always getting stuck at them. But I take the approach of driving 'far ahead', and holding a steady throttle input (based on speed) until I know I can let off the accelerator and coast towards the light. But to each their own. My wife would have my neck if I treated the accelerator pedal like an on/off switch.

 

I'm not sure what you read but it doesn't sound like you followed it all the way to it's conclusion.
Throttle position is closely related to engine load (in fact you have EFI control built around this model in some cars), so while it is not in a BSFC map, you can make the relation.

Think about the alternative to what you are saying: you think engines operate at one efficiency level at all operating points and torque produced is perfectly linear to fuel consumption? No.. Otherwise why not rev to 8k in every gear at a low throttle? You'd be using a tiny bit of fuel a bunch more times, but it wouldn't matter by your logic.
There is a "most-ideal" operating condition for any motor. It doesn't matter what your torque *requirement* is, you have a spot where you will make the most torque for the least amount of fuel. And what I'm saying is you can use gearing and throttle to try and force yourself closer to that spot.
Something like this is what I'm referencing (ignore the y axis units):


also decent video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNspNdVkslA

 

There must be a massive disconnect between what we are sharing with one another. I'm either a terrible explainer, or you're purposefully being obtuse in an attempt to make your viewpoint the correct one.

In any regard, I digress. You continue to drive around at 65-85% throttle and do you.

BTW, nice TT build thread. Good stuff.

 

Don't forget we get a Crappy oxygenated gas for the summer months which usually cuts my mileage down .5-3/4 mpg. If you are swapping back to regular, it might be worth it to disconnect your battery or the ECU fuses to reset it so it will learn based on 87.

You mileage seems really bad for stock tires.

Right Service SUCKS BALLS!!

 

Still under warranty at 11,500 miles.
Running premium because the regular pump gas was even worse.

The thing that gives me hope is that the tanks are inconsistent. Sometimes - every now and again I get a good 19 to 20 MPG out of a tank. I get all optimistic and then the next tank is 16. Hoping that what ever worked and made that tank go up to 19/20 could be identified and replicated or corrected in the future.

But if I can't get a dealer to hook it up to a diagnostic test and look at it, I might go the OTT route.

 

I went the OTT route and average about 18MPG around town in my DC 4x4 Sport. As far as dealerships we have had decent experiences with both Camelback Toyota and Right Toyota service department.
As for buying another Toyota I would never, ever buy from Right Toyota again. Worst, most painful buying experience I have ever had. Camelback Toyota thru Costco was as easy as placing an online Amazon order.

 

Don’t know what’s wrong with your trucks… I’m averaging ~22-23 mostly around town the past few tanks in my DCLB SR5.

 

2WD vs 4WD, SR5 vs Off-Road?

Mine is armored, 10 ply 33" tires, bed rack, rtt, high clearance bumpers, camping and recovery gear, tuned and regeared and mine varies between 11 and 18 mpg. 87 octane and that's also up and down the state, in and out of traffic, and depends on the season. Strangest part is that I get worse mileage when my rack and tent are removed, ha.

Its the smiles per gallon that matter the most anyway.

I bought my truck from Bell. I only go there for oil changes since a lifetime package was part of my purchase. Always takes 90 mins or more but its free-ish. Weird how they are declining to look at the trans fluid. Do they say why they are declining? Also, why not just check it yourself?

 

It’s a truck , and as a truck they are terrible on gas . Always were and always will be . I think people set their expectations way to high , with trucks in general. They are heavy and are like a brick moving through the air with heavy tires and lots of rolling resistance . Not to mention the EPA has all sorts of
things to drag the mileage down . Thus the move to engines the size of a go kart with twin turbo chargers lol. All this complicated crap , and then everyone wonders what happened when the motor blows up or a turbo grenades . When I buy any kind of truck I willing know the gas mileage will be bad . That’s what they have beater cars for if you commute far and are not carrying stuff . I have a 05 Corolla with almost 300 k miles and the thing still gets over 30 miles per gallon all day , runs like a top , and don’t use any oil . Is it fancy ? Nope . Is it silly looking yep . But who cares

 

My 2020 SR 4WD weighs in at 5680 as my daily driver. Loaded with camping and fishing gear with a full tank of gas, right at 6000lbs. I get 15-17mpg.

If you are looking for a recommended Toyota service shop, I highly recommend Yota Pros off Priest and Guadalupe.