4.0 V6 MPG improvements

Hi all, been awhile since I was on here, I have searched for the topic of this but havent found anything but 4 cyl posts.

I have a 4.0 V6, 6spd, with a TRD charger, acsess cab 4x4, I drive about 114 miles a day, I average about 19.5mpg all the time regardless if I drive hard or easy. untill oil life goes down then I get about 18.5 mpg. I am mostly highway but some city driving too.

AND regardless of what MYTHBUSTERS says, I actually get .5 to 1 mpg better with the tail gate down, I have done the math and experimented with both up and down.(simply less drag being down)

My tires are only one size bigger in the side wall then stock tires.

I would like better gas mileage, I am wondering if anyone has done or heard of things that work, such as Electric fan conversion, making TRUE RAM air induction and maybe a front air dam for the front?

Thanks guys, any help, info or advice is much appreciated.

I am in colorado too by the way

 

You're getting 20 MPG with a supercharged pick-up, you might be able to get minor gains with bolt on modifications but overall you're doing pretty well!

Have you looked into cold air intakes and exhaust systems?

 

I put an electric fan in my Explorer and I gained 2mpg. I didn't realize the drag that it puts on the engine. But as we all know, every vehicle reacts differently to mods.

 

Tailgate net ftw and I get 21mpg with slightly bigger tyres, before i was getting 19-20 depending on my attitude with women and stupid people, mythbusters said tailgate net ftw too and Kari is a hot vegetarian nerd and she puts out, but she doesn't like sausage, pork sword, or meat dagger so iyes Iare totally confused!!

 

for getting 20 mpg's on a charger, I think we need to be asking YOU how to get better MPGs!

 

Damn, 20 mpg with your charger. WTF, look at mine, I am averaging in the 13's with mine. But you also are an auto so you get a little better because of that. Freeway driving kills me here in AZ, 75+ gets me like 12mpg if i am lucky. I get great results around town but the highways is horrible.

Mine includes a lot of wheeling, some high speed runs, random other shannanogans as well so. When I jsut put around like an old person I get decent milage 18+...

 

this^^^^^^^^^

 

WOW, OK i thought it was just ok but I didn't know it was that good. Thanks guys, I have not done anything but keep the tail gate down and one size bigger in the side wall of the tires, they are BFG KA2 series, so I know mud terrain isnt good for gas mileage either. the charger is the only thing added other than stock and it had 175k when it was installed.

The mods I am working on is fabricating a front air dam(similar to NASCAR concept) just to deflect airflow, it will be a bolt on thing(removable for wheelin), but everything I can find about them states in order to work it cant be a "POS' build(card board, plywood etc) it should be sturdy. the other mod is the electric fans w/adj thermo.

The exhuast and air intake, I was thinking of after market cat back(performance muffler maybe) or just 2, 3" pipes from the cat back. I cant afford the headers or fancy TRD name stamed crap that just adds looks. The AIR mod would be where the air inlet tube starts to curve and go into the fender well, instead of turning just put it staright out to the grill for actual "cold AIR RAM" there is enough room between the headlight and radiator to put a 4" tube. Yes some fabirication would be needed, I.m thinking aluminum flashing and maybe air flex tube from a parts store.

If I can ever figure out how to post a picture on here I can show you guys the air dam when I am done, It may look crappy being a truck and all but economy is crap and I need mileage. haha

 

I am actually a 6 spd manual

 

you get 19-20 mpg with a supercharger, larger than stock mud terrain tires, 175k on the engine, and you can drive hard or easy? sir you are a lucky man. thats better than anyone else is doing, possibly all stock

 

Damn your MPG are a lot better then mine. I avg about 14.2 on a new TRD sport with 2500 miles. I thought I would be getting better as my last vehicle was a Jeep JK unlimited Rubi with 35's and I was getting 17. I only have 33's on the Tacoma. I would get a SC tomorrow if I could get it past the wife, this my be my chance by showing her your MPG .

 

this sentence BEGS for a "period".

 

Ya the charger is awesome and being in colorado and the mountains I mainly got the charger for the gas mileage for the hills. I was lucky enough to include the charger in the purchasing finance of the truck.

It may not be a RACE truck but the charger is noticable over stock.

I also have been looking into a K&N or AFE, the dealer put a TRD drop in filter when they installed the cahrger.

 

Run-on sentence

 

They make a pick-up truck version of that now?



Honestly, the theme has played out and gets old. There is nothing wrong with people looking to get better gas mileage no matter what vehicle they drive. Even NASA did engineering studies to reduce fuel consumption on the STS/Shuttle.

Give it a rest.

 

He could lower the truck, implement his front air-dam idea, put on side skirts, smaller side mirrors, cover/flatten unnecessary grille openings, net-tailgate, weight reduction, right-foot mod, driving behavior modification, change tire/wheel combo, switch to higher efficiency lubricants, fabricate a partial or full belly pan, and remove/underdrive accessories.

There's plenty of things to do if he's really looking to boost MPG performance.

 

Isn't the point of saving MPG to spend less money, overall?

 

Not even .5 mpg.

 

Damn, I was about to order a S/C for my truck, but the last three comments made me change my mind...

 

Doubtful, as the 3cyl. would be running at inefficient low-vacuum high-throttle to move the Tacoma at any reasonable speed.

Of course, and anyone who is doing so would have to balance the cost of doing the modifications against the anticipated savings. If you can swap in a bed net and gain 0.5-1 mpg, and swap to narrower tires with more efficiently designed tread to gain 1-2 mpg, maybe that's worth it. You have to look at all of the different modifications prices and expected gains to decide whether they're worth it.

I find it odd how some people on this board think nothing of spending $500 on a rear bumper to go off-roading, or cut up their lower rear bedsides, or bolt on skid plates, or what have you, all to increase off-road performance, but as soon as someone wants to discuss ways to increase on-road economical performance, they're scoffed at and told to buy a Prius.