Anyone had a similar issue? Battery level affecting the est gas mileage.

Alright, have a 2020. Bought it new/used October of '23 (?...I can't math.). Had an aftermarket remote starter installed shortly after getting the truck. I'm sure there is likely a bit of a phantom power draw from it that slowly drains the battery. Had the same issue with my Sport-Trac before I got this. Slow battery drain, also likely due to the remote start.

Over the past year or so I've had the Tacoma, I'd noticed that the estimated gas mileage kept slowly dropping by a few miles per tank every fill. I'm in Minnesota. Gets stupid cold here, so the remote start gets used every morning before heading to work. A few weeks ago, I notice the battery having issues starting the truck. Wasn't horrible, but definitely noticeable as it seemed to be working pretty hard to get it going. Well, I have a NOCO Genius 1 charger that I usually put on my 4-wheeler over the winter to keep the battery maintained. But, it also has the ability to go into a mode that more or less reconditions the battery. So, a week or two ago, I wasn't going anywhere, so I threw it on the truck battery over the weekend.

To my surprise, next time I went to fill the tank up, the estimated 'Distance to fill' had increased probably between 30-40 miles.

I'm good with most vehicle stuff, but this is the first one I've had that is new enough to have that feature. But, a difference like that, of a 30-40 mile increase seems pretty crazy to me. And I guess I wouldn't have guessed the charge on the battery would make a difference with that. At least not one that big.

Anyone ever have an issue like that? Or at least able to explain a bit?

 

In Nomine Patris

 

i think there are way too many other variables that could cause, or combine to cause, the difference. any difference an operational, but weakened, battery makes on mileage is probably negligible.

edit: i also should have mentioned, as the next couple of posts do, the estimate til fill is just a guess. if you were actually measuring mpg for real, i think my original comment would be more relevant.

 

Commination meter control unit is sensitive to battery voltage. It will bounce between 385 to 416 miles after the battery disconnected/replaced for awhile

 

It's just the way they are, ETA is just a guess and it bases it off of battery state of charge, temps, many things.

I always hated ETA showing in my cars, and I only use it as a mild reference when it gets down and low.

 

Low battery can cause all kinds of weird things to happen in these modern computer filled vehicles.

 

its simple, when the battery goes dead the mpg dte resets its self and goes up, and the more you drive the average will get less and less

after fill up - when i got mine new dte was like 340 and after a year it was at 285 and stays around there
when on a 2 day trip (all highway) the dte was going up but comes back down after trip

you might need a new battery

and some aftermarket add ons can cause electrical problems

you truck should have remote start from the factory

 

No. The battery never went dead. It was just apparent that over the past year it was beginning to have a harder time starting. The NOCO 1 has reconditioned the battery so it starts up like it's new.

 

I'm in a cold climate too and live very rural. When I have a vehicle car/truck/utv,motorcycle that's going to be sitting for a few days I put it on a battery tender.
Once a battery shows consistent signs of weakness I replace it. I just don't need the hassle of one going dead on me.



.

 

but if the battery drops any it could have effects on the electronics

 

the actual electronics operate at a much reduced voltage, typically below 5VDC, as does any electronics. think processors, memory etc. just like any control board in your washing machine or refrigerator. the crude power supply of the battery and alternator, and its regulator, are GREATLY conditioned before any of it is used by the electronics. a low battery that has any hope of starting a car will not affect the actual electronics like the ECU. a completely dead or disconnected battery is a different story.
edit: sensors etc are different. we are talking about calculated and stored mileage here.