Why is my fuel mileage so bad???

I bought my 2.7L prerunner certified used. Last week I got the best fuel mileage since I bought it in November because I drove it mostly highway at around 65mph. I got 22mpg. I've heard others getting quite a bit better than that. Anyone have any idea why my fuel mileage is so low? I was really driving with a light foot. My worst mpg so far has been about 18mpg. Or is what I'm getting pretty normal?

 

What's your truck rated to get in gas mileage?

3" lift isn't gonna help... if you have bigger tires, that ain't gonna help either.

Since you bought it used - have you gone through and done some maintenance and maintenance checks?

Here in PA atleast, the gas changes (formula) somewhat and it affects gas mileage a bit.

 

Not to sound like a broken record but... everyone is pretty much right. Think of it this way, none of the domestics are even close to what you're getting...not even the diesels.

 

Thanks all- I have stock tires and wheels, and the gas mileage wasn't any better before the lift, but I had thought of that. I got it "Certified Used" with low miles (20K). My truck is rated 20/25, so I suppose it is well within the expected range, but I keep hearing others with the same truck getting 26, 27 and even 28mpg and I'm nowhere near that high. Maybe it's CA gas???
Thanks.

 

Absolutely, and I knew I was bringing up an overused topic, but that's what these forums are for- getting others' opinions and recommendations. And I appreciate yall's feedback! It does seem like I am very much on the bottom of the spectrum of 2.7L owners for gas consumption, but you're right- it's still much better than the vast majority of other trucks.

 

I don't know about CA gas...but I'm pretty sure the winter gas over here on the east coast is a different formula and causes worse gas mileage. I've seen it in every vehicle I've ever owned.

You can always add some fuel injector cleaner to the gas and see if that helps any....won't hurt. Check all other maintenance.... REsearch for some gas saving mod's. Tonneau covers have always worked for me. I've also had luck with either exhaust upgrade or air filter upgrades (just not exhaust AND intake upgrades together).

 

Tire pressures OK?

 

Has it had a tune up lately?....I know toyota claims some 121 point inspection but you never know?..I once bought a used "certified" truck and when I went home and looked at the filters they were dirty,the oil was dirty,4 different psi in tires,and little or no trans fluid!...WTF Toyota?...."Oh what a feeling"....my ass!

 

Surfsupl makes a good point, check it all out.

 

Yeah, I agree. And it doesn't matter where you take it.... If you don't do the work yourself, you can't trust these places. Unless you're lucky enough to find a good mechanic that you stick with all the time and build some trust in....

Or you gotta atleast know to check & verify that everything you paid for (in maintenance work) was done and done properly.

Anytime I buy a used vehicle - total maintenance check (like you did) and all oils changed, and everything else looked at, cleaned, etc.

 

maybe you can use a scan gauge II

 

Larger tires will probably hurt mileage on acceleration since it takes more throttle to get the truck moving, but would having less revs per mile on the highway, or whenever you're up to speed, more or less make up for it?

 

hey motorkopf, I used to live in Victorville, run as fast as you can away from Valley Hi Toyota, they are scammers including the service dept. I bought 2 Hondas when I lived there and went down the hill to buy. The funny thing is one of the cars was dealer swapped from Valley Hi. Good Luck with your truck!

 

Are you sure it's the exact same truck that people are getting 26/27/28 mpg?

I researched into getting a 4 cylinder PRERUNNER and found out that even though it is stickered with the same MPGs as the regular 5 lug model, the Prerunner has different rear end gearing than the regular 4 cylinders.

From what I have researched a regular 5 lug 4 cylinder standard Tacoma should get 24-28 and a 4 cylinder Prerunner gets about 19-23, which unfortunately is not much better than the 2WD V6.

Here is the thread on this forum where I asked about the 4cyl Prerunner MPG.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/4-cylinder/11490-shopping-4-cylinder-tacoma-mpg.html

 

tires 5 psi over door specs, Keep your foot out of it and change the air filter, run syn oil etc...all will add to your mpg.

 

Agreed with everything above. I think the ones getting 26/27 aren't pre-runners to start. When I was looking, I considered the i-4 at first but a test drive and realization there's about 3mpg different with the 4.0 was a no brainer for me... Unfortunatly crappy mpg is what we have to pay to drive a truck, any. My Ranger Edge I used to own (3.0 v6) used to get about 17-18... almost exactly what my 4.0L prerunner is getting. I doubt I need to say which is better