v6 manual 13-14 mpg

30+ MPG is easy in the I4. I guarantee I could get 23-25 MPG out of a stock V6 Tacoma with a manual trans. It's all about your driving technique, and performing some minor modifications.

 

I have a 2011 AC tx pro 4x4 w/the 6 speed and average about 17 mpg. I shift under 3k rpm, try not to go over 65 for too long, and start out slow at stop lights.

 

I only derailed it slightly just to make a point. The Ecomodder forum could be helpful to all Tacomas, but especially 4x4 V6s.

David K, there is SO much info on there, it all depends on what you're interested in doing. Some that I personally enjoy are....

1.) Under-body plates, similar to the off-roading ones, similar to the cat protection ones, but used with the idea of cutting down drag. You can use anything from core-plast to steel, and make their coverage as extensive as you want.

2.) Keep rim width to stock (advice is to go the thinner the better, but for every-day traction, I'm just keeping with stock width)

3.) Light-weight PVC (or similar) bars that go over the bed. 4-5 pieces of parallel-to-the-cab PVC pipe create more vortexes within the bed. I haven't tried this one yet.

4.) Angled bed-covers instead of the standard box-like ones.

I could on. Remove mud flaps, install mod chips, get an ELM327, accelerate slowly, leave a large gap between you and the car in front so that you minimize your braking ("converting gas into brake dust"), etc etc etc.

This will be more interesting if you read through the information and find what YOU like best.

 

I think that's a crap design. Where I am, defrost is on a lot.

 

I'm 3k in 1-to-2nd and 2-2.5k in 2nd+

My husband likes to drive by RPM instead of MPH, within reason. On the highway, he keeps his I4 (I know, I know, but it can help the V6's too!) at 2,200 RPM, which in Texas Hill Country, puts him at 62-67mph. I keep my V6 at 2k, which puts me 60-65mph. Our ELM327's are on the way, so we can say with confidence whether this has an impact or not.

Another rule of thumb I collected is to keep RPMs within 1/3rd of your redline when settling into a gear. I take this with a grain of salt, but for those who may be shifting and cruising at 1/2 your red-line, maybe it's something to try.

 

that's funny right there +1

 

x2!

 

wow my 95 v6 sr5 4x4 got a little over 20mpg last time i calculated it...


you drive crazy accelerate hard and stop hard

yes, i drive like a granny to conserve fuel, the one tank i didnt, it showed, i think i got around 15 mpg

 

05 DC 4x4. 265/75/16

I just recently moved and where I am now I am getting 13 mpg. Pisses me off. I am losing 100+ miles a tank. A big reason for the move was shorter commute but I am paying more for gas now just driving around the city. I am paying $80 a tank for 91 octane to go a stupid 225 miles. very weak.

 

It is a crap design - if the driver knows how to manage your HVAC controls to keep the windows clear.

If driver doesn't, well, at least those idiots can see.

It's an easy mod to disable that feature, however. Takes 5 minutes.

 

Coming from a dude who drives the V6, I can understand why this seems like such a stretch. I don't dream of getting 35mpg out of my V6 any day soon either. 35mpg applies to I4 5-speeds only, but as JimmyB pointed out, this probably isn't the thread to explore that topic further.

 

I don't buy it. At least not safely. If you're shutting off the engine on long downhill coasts, that's just not safe for anyone. But it is a technique a lot of hypermilers use. Also as others have said, if you're driving the v6 that gingerly to save fuel, the you might as well trade in for the I4. All the weight of the 4wd components doesn't help either. A 2wd is a whole different beast.

In my old 4Runner, I just held the clutch in ever chance I got to coast (and living in the mountains, that's a whole lot). Got great mileage. But with the sensitive throwout bearing on the 6-speed, it's not such a good idea as the cost to replace a failure on that bearing will suck up any savings you had on fuel. Trying to keep shifts under 2500 rpm and skipping gears can help. Also get an Ultragauge or Scangauge. One guy who was getting 20+ out of his 6-speed mentioned that he's in 6th gear by 40mph, and always keeps it under 65 on the highway. The manual gets killed in stop & go and above 65. Between 15-65 seems to be it's sweet spot. You can achieve 20+ regularly in there.

 

Got a link to that mod?

 

Check and mate, non-believers. If it wasn't for her sig img., this would be my new best friend. 'Course, now the haters will pick apart the 1st gen....

 

its photoshopped, long story, more of a smarta** thing, and mine isnt the first gen

its a pickup 95, not 95.5 taco

3.sl0 baby!

 

that website is a joke. Save fuel by removing door handles, windshield wipers, rear wheel skirts, removing side view mirrors, removing your alternator, etc. The list goes on.

If this works for you great, but I didnt buy a truck to be a pussy.

 

Here is a write up Note, on the 2009+ Tacos, you need to do this.

 

Just gotta find what works for you.

Do you have the cat cover? Bam, that's something on the list.
Low-profile rear bumper? Just decreased your drag.

Those two sound pretty bad-ass to me...

And x2 to MountainEarth's tire comment below. And no, you don't have to be castrated into pussy tires, just think it through and get what you're going to use most. If you're running around in a commuter with the biggest, baddest off-road tires you could find, well, you deserve your crappy mileage for being so concerned with your image as it sits in the office parking lot.

 

LOL.

Seriously one of the best things you can do is buy sensible tires. I've found BFG All Terrains to be an excellent compromise for on & off road performance. I keep mine (stock TRD size of 265/70r16) at 40psi. Any kind of mud terrain or Duratrac or any softer rubber compound tire will suck you dry.

 

I don't shut off the motor while driving, and I don't recommend holding the clutch in to coast. Just go straight to neutral instead. In order to get great mileage, you need to know when to coast in N and when to engine brake. And you can easily shift at 2k rather than 2.5 or 3k. I get 27-28 MPG driving around town, with practically zero highway miles. And I'm not putting anyone else in danger. Most people are simply to impatient (or uneducated on the matter) to drive efficiently. It's funny seeing how many people's MPG are worse than the EPA estimates. I haven't had a single tank below 23.9 MPG since owning the truck. Which is still 3 MPG above the EPA estimate for city driving.