13.8 MPG, why so low?

I have a 98 3.4l v6 manual, 2 inch lift on 31's.

My truck took 59 Litres to fill, and the gas light came on at 346km. This equals to 15.6 gallons and 215 miles.

My mpg is thus 13.8.

This was normal conservative driving, a mix of highway and city.

Why the heck is this so low? Truck is otherwise in excellent shape as far as I'm aware.

 

Step 1, check fuel trims... doesnt cost anything.
Step 2, count the clicks on the E brake cable as you pull it out, IIRC, 23 is "the number" anything less than that I would lift the rear tires off the ground and see if the rear shoes have magically self adjusted themselves causing drag.
Step 3, look at the spark plugs.

This is of course you have checked tire pressures, tire wear etc. etc.

 

Definitely look at the spark plugs. I once bought a used PT Cruiser where some repair shop had set the gaps to 0.060. It ran but got poor fuel economy. Bought new iridium plugs properly set and the difference was good.

 

My '95 V6 4WD came with 225/75-15s as OE. I'm running 245/75-16s, so my cluster is off by 6%-ish.

If you had 15s and are running 31s, your's is off by about 10%.

 

10 percent in which direction? I have 16's i beleive

 

Speedo too slow, odo too low.

The OE wheel/tire size will he on the door jamb sticker.

 

One of the greatest mysteries of the 1st gen Taco. Some get 12mpg, others get 20 (corrected for speedo).

 

I get SMILES PER GALLON and don’t care

 

I know. I get 13-16 mpg, 2002 4WD auto V6. Think I'll check the emergency brake by lifting the rear axle, as reported above.

 

Ive got a similar set up but with extra steel bumper weight in the rear and had the same issue. I replaced Spark plugs and the fuel filter underneath and it fixed the issue.

ive since averaged ~16.5 mpg in the winter and ~18mpg in the summer

 

if i can squeeze in 13 on my 02, that will be awesome. I get 7 in town and 9 on the highway at best if I keep it at 65. Digital Dakota for speed correction too. But I like to call it a v6 with 8 injectors and 5 stick to play with.

 

Add to that some don't ping even with non-managed S/Cs and some ping even with awesome air fuels and modest timing pulled (with S/C). Mine is the latter, boooo.

@YotaBro tell me more about those awesome Ridgebacks you've got there.

 

Just pre-compress your fuel and run it through a heat exchanger before the fuel rail so when it's injected it takes out even more heat

 

Once I started watching my instant MPG reading, I noticed there were so many variables that drop it that it's nonsense to try to compare it anyone who lives elsewhere or has any other driving routes, driving style, carrying even small loads, anything. You're competing with people who live in Kansas and drive nothing but long distances by themselves with the lightest foot.

New fuel injectors noticeably improved my power and I suspect my MPG. Your lack of camper shell will probably be hurting it too.

 

yep. That’s why it’s SMILES PER GALLON

 

I have an upgraded AEM water/meth (better pump, better PWM) kit I've put off, and put off and put off installing. I need to do it already, my timing map would thank me.

On topic to this thread I kind of want to walk back on my larger injectors and go the referbed OEM or better yet newer model but same OEM CC flow injectors w/ rising rate FPR. More so that I can disconnect a blown piggyback and still limp home but I'd bet I'd get better MPGs from smaller flow newer/modern injectors (better spray and atomization).

 

So maybe try driving with the tailgate down? I've heard that can help your aerodynamics... or maybe its just a myth... so give it a try and report back! TY!

 

Low key I'm contemplating windshield wiper fluid injection (meth kit) on my turbo just to save money on gas so I can run regular instead of premium

But no, bigger injectors are the way to go for sure as long as they are quality and you have the tech specs and means to control them

 

I've done camper shell, tailgate up, tailgate down, tonneau cover. None of them matter much, but I swear I got better mileage with my shell

 

I always put the tailgate down for long highway trips. I don't have any empirical evidence it helps but I think it does.