Mods to improve gas mileage?

Are there any mods out there to improve the gas mileage in these Tacomas? I've got a 2011 DC 4x4 and this 17-18mpg is getting annoying. Thanks.

 

Weight reduction and habits.
90% of fuel economy is in your right foot.

"Gadgets" and mods will NEVER pay for themselves even if they worked as advertised... and they don't work as advertised.
Automakers have to meet CAFE fuel standards. The entire fleet sold must average xx mpg, so for every truck they sell that gets 15mpg, they have to sell a compact that gets 35mpg.
If there was ANYTHING the manufacturer could do to improve economy without a complete redesign, they'd do it.... especially if it's only a $100 (meaning $10 wholesale) bolt-on part.

I've been through gas price spikes since 1974, and while I'm not going to say "I've seen it all", I have seen most of it, from magnets on the fuel line to wire grid heaters mounted under the carb. NONE of it works.

If you are concerned about fuel economy, you should not have bought a truck.

 

Haha

 

Welcome to tacomaworld. Please use the search function, there is too many threads containing a ton of post about ways to improve MPG's. There is no drastic MPG mod. The MOST you'll get is 20-21 MPG.

 

Get a ultra guage. This will help you modify the way you drive. Thats about all you can do.

 

I've modded my driving habits and right foot. Almost as easy as the Fog Light Mod!

 

Don't drive faster than 60.
Coast as much as possible when you need to slow down because any time you hit the brakes you are wasting energy.

It really is not rocket science to get better economy. My truck is a 2012 TRD auto V6 DC and my last three tanks I've averaged 19.8 around town. Temperatures have been 20-40F with some 4 wd each tank.

 

at least you aren't getting an average of 200 miles per tank like i do

 

Get a Tundra and use it to tow the Tacoma. Tacoma MPG goes to infinity.

 

Just perform all your maintenance on the truck at its scheduled times...oil change (use full synthetc from Mobile 1), air filter change (OEM) and spark plugs (OEM)...thats all you can do man. Try to keep your RPMs at 2K or below to maximize your fuel economy. CAI's don't work so don't waste your loot on that...these trucks already have a CAI style of intake to begin with. Exhausts won't help either (they just sound cool) .

 

Oh and if you lift the truck (if it isn't already lifted) and you throw a 285+ tire on it, your MPGs will drop too. So a re-gear would be good. Like a 4.10, 4.56 or 4.88's depending on how big you go. I put 285/75/16s on my truck about 3 weeks ago and I noticed a drop in MPGs for sure...its the nature of the beast! I'm gonna throw some 4.10s in my truck once I find some/have the money.

 

Prerunner mod. I get 17 city 22 hwy

 

You could get one of these.

 

Cut out the floorboard and use your feet to power the truck, like on The Flintstones.

 

-ultra/scan gauge to learn how to drive all over again
-keep speed down, it's a barn door not a ferrari
-highway tires not underinflated; if it looks like it won't get stuck in your yard the mpg goes down
-upper grille block good for 1.5-2.0 mpg or so aerodynamically if not towing; use in winter only if v6 auto unless monitoring tranny temp via SG, or year round if MT, both monitoring water temp via SG/UG
-synthetic fluids don't hurt
-tonneau is good over 60 mph, don't do squat below that

Provided everything is running right, there isn't much more unless you start going serious aero

 

Thanks guys. I'll look into the ultra gauge. I don't feel like I drive real aggresively, but all of my driving is interstate going 75-80mph and I'm getting 17-18 mpg...

 

10 over the speed limit is driving aggresively, you don't need an ultraguage to drive the speed limit or less. A shorter commute is a good idea too.