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List of Mods to Increase MPG's

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by FL4x4Taco, May 28, 2009.

  1. May 28, 2009 at 6:55 AM
    #1
    FL4x4Taco

    FL4x4Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok so I have a bone stock 2009 4.0 Auto TRD offroad. Looking for mods to increase MPG's. Truck already has enough HP/Torque for me, but adding power wouldn't hurt, but it's not my #1 goal. Heres what I'm thinking:

    -Tonneau cover. Roll up type. Need it to keep items dry anyway on road trips.

    -Trimming mud flaps approx 3". We've all seen what they look like going down the Hwy at 90mph; boat sails.

    -Electric Cooling fan conversion.

    -Synthetic 75w-90 Gear Lube in F&R Diffs & T-case.

    -TRD Cat-Back?
    -High flow Cat?
    -Headers/Y-Pipe?

    -Supercharger?

    -Programmer?

    -Irridium Plugs? From what I've read on here the OEM Densos are the way to go maybe.

    And no I will not do a CAI. I like OEM filter media. Anyone have opinions/input or other mods to add?
     
  2. May 28, 2009 at 7:45 AM
    #2
    techgeekwill

    techgeekwill Well-Known Member

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    Are you looking to increase MPG or Power?

    Most of the mod's you list will only decrease MPG while increasing Power. These come from the factory with Optimal efficiency to get high ratings from the EPA. That's why we get stuck with such crappy stock tires.
     
  3. May 28, 2009 at 7:54 AM
    #3
    FL4x4Taco

    FL4x4Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Looking for MPG's.
     
  4. May 28, 2009 at 8:05 AM
    #4
    techgeekwill

    techgeekwill Well-Known Member

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    The only thing that might possibly work is a lightweight Tonneau over the back. But I doubt it will do anything at all.

    Most effective way to get decent MPG is to keep up with Maintenance, keep the tires files appropriately and don't drive like a mad man.
     
  5. May 28, 2009 at 8:11 AM
    #5
    Hotdog

    Hotdog My hair is all natural Moderator

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    go slower on the highway is a good way to fix that.

    There are high-efficiency tires that can be purchased for cars. I doubt it will be worth it to replace the tires unless you need new tires now.

    You can lower the truck.

    Reduce excess weight - I've seen the crazies remove the spare tire to get better mpg.

    Don't use the AC or headlights.

    Don't upgrade to an big aftermarket stereo with a subwoofer.
     
  6. May 28, 2009 at 8:16 AM
    #6
    snowtaco

    snowtaco Well-Known Member

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    Replaced head unit, tint, blacked out tail lights, 10in sub, billet grill, 3 in front lift, led halo projector lights, camper shell.
    i got a camper shell and it did help with mpg so i know that your cover probably does help it a bit.. i dont understand why completely but it happend haha
     
  7. May 28, 2009 at 8:24 AM
    #7
    ShtrMcGavin

    ShtrMcGavin Well-Known Member

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    Mythbusters tested the first one and it didnt help... Maybe a K&N drop in filter will help a little but other than that the only thing you can do to help is drive slower
     
  8. May 28, 2009 at 8:45 AM
    #8
    Demoncleaner

    Demoncleaner Well-Known Member

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    TRD exhaust Homemade bed mat & bed extender, front Drings, Short clutch throw, Summer: Stock 17's Winter: Blizzaks on 16' black steelies
    Save your $.

    Reg maint, driving smart, be in the right gear, normal accel, and even just driving just 5mph slower, watch you gain a mpg or two, wont cost you anything.
     
  9. May 28, 2009 at 2:21 PM
    #9
    FL4x4Taco

    FL4x4Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Kind of what I figured. But I still need a roll up tonneau cover to keep luggage dry.
     
  10. May 28, 2009 at 2:23 PM
    #10
    Hotdog

    Hotdog My hair is all natural Moderator

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    they didn't test our trucks, so that test doesn't apply to us. Aerodynamics are different for every truck-what is true for their test vehicle may not be true for the tacoma.
     
  11. May 28, 2009 at 2:36 PM
    #11
    DDD

    DDD Shine bright like a hymen

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    scangauge is a good tool to help you change you driving habits. But it costs about $150 and it will take you over a year to make up that money in gas.

    After all, the only reason why we care about MPG is money. If we actually cared about the environment we would have bought a Prius.
     
  12. May 28, 2009 at 3:03 PM
    #12
    EBruddah

    EBruddah Well-Known Member

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    626 - SGV / RakiRaki, Fiji
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    2005 Tacoma V6 SR5 - 4WD AC TRD Off Road - 6 Speed M/T Full OME Lift w/886 Coils & Dakars,, Optima Yellow Top, Cobra NightWatch 29 WX NW ST - CB Peaked/Tuned + talkback/confirmation tone - PA Horn, Lil Will CB Antenna, Downey Off Road Extreme Duty CV Boots, 255/85/R16 BFG Mud-Terrain T/A KM, All-Pro Sliders, Drop in K&N FilterCharger, Flowmaster 40 Series, 62” Hi-Lift Extreme Mounted in Bed w/all Hi-Lift Accessories. Custom Skid Plate by Defined Engineering, 10 lb. PowerTank with HPX Regulator

    X2 if you keep off the skinny you have performed the greatest MPG gaining mod!
     
  13. May 28, 2009 at 3:09 PM
    #13
    FL4x4Taco

    FL4x4Taco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I want a prius b/c the cost of them has come down to earth, and it makes economic sense now. Especially for me and the wife... we drive a lot, mainly city. And yes you're right $$$ is the only reason I care about MPG's. I could also get a lighter weight, smoother tire... our tires weight 37#. a BFG AT KO weighs in a 51#, just like the Goodyear Wrangler silent armor. That's a lot of weight difference. I did see some tires in the 30-35# range. I wouldn't mind my Taco being a hybrid. Trains are a great example of "hybrids". Diesel generators powering electric motors. I want to see a Diesel Prius, bet it'd get close to 100 mpg's.... Problem is car guys haven't designed a hybrid... only hippies. Why wouldn't I want my Taco to have a electric motor coupled to the driveline and some batteries under the rear seats. Even if it gave +5mpg, it'd be awsome and bumper to bumper traffic would be very quiet.
     
  14. May 28, 2009 at 3:32 PM
    #14
    matthew5olson

    matthew5olson Well-Known Member

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    pittsburgh, PA
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    04 ext cab 3.4L 5spd 4x4 sr5
    K&N cold air intake, doug thorley headers, rear sensor simulator, flowmaster 40 series, magnecor plug wires, Royal Purple synthetic gear lube, airaid throttle body spacer, Hyperground system, flex-a-lite elec fan.
    You say you do mostly city driving. I don't think there is a whole lot that will help you with mpg. And if it is it will only be a real benefit if you drive a lot (more than 4,000 a month). I do not know a lot about the new generation trucks. techgeekwill could be right about aftermarket mods, without changing your computer most of the mods won't help a lot or they could decrease mpg. It's a gamble really. Your computer is designed to run with you current setup.
    I have a 1st gen tacoma and I put a lot of money into it trying to get better mileage. I get about 18 city and 25 highway. My biggest mpg gain "mod" so far has been changing my driving habits. I also drive about 5,000 miles a month and there for I save well over $100 a month in gas. I have a post out there you can look at http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/builds/38130-gas-mileage-build.html.

    An electric fan would be good but the reason for that mod is so that you;re not using a fan when you have enough air moving through the grill to cool the rad (usually at highway speeds). I have an electric fan break on one of my cars so I was able to see how fast you had to do before overheating. about 35-40mph. That was a small 4cyl a 6 might require more air flow.
    A k&N drop in filter is a safe bet, probably the only one where you're guaranteed to get an increase. I have a cold air intake That would probably work too and will increase it more that a drop in filter. as far as a cat back they are a waste of money since I assume you're exhaust is not rusting off. Buy a flowmaster or magnaflow muffler and have someone cut the old one out and weld in the new one. That's all an aftermarket really is (unless it has larger size pipes, which will mess with your backpressure and in turn you torque)

    If I had you truck however i would take the risk putting on headers an electric fan and k&N cold air intake. In the last couple cars I had they worked for me.

    Hope this helped.
     
  15. May 28, 2009 at 5:33 PM
    #15
    Kyouto42

    Kyouto42 Iron Beard

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    You know with that initial post... about $10k in mods will make you have to drive about 500,000mi to just make that money back in terms of saving money on mpg... and the supercharger would just kill your net mpg gain and probably make you lose a lot lol...

    Honestly I don't understand why people buy a truck and complain about MPG's.
     
  16. May 28, 2009 at 5:38 PM
    #16
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Best answer!
     
  17. May 28, 2009 at 5:45 PM
    #17
    rpoint16

    rpoint16 Well-Known Member

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    I bought a used 95 V-6 Taco awhile back that had a flowmaster exaust. I was getting 21 mpg. It sounded really cool, but just too loud. When I replaced it with a stock type muffler I lost 3mpg.
     
  18. May 28, 2009 at 5:50 PM
    #18
    Danzer

    Danzer Well-Known Member

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    Stock for now
    The difference between 18mpg and 20mpg is about $200.00 a year if you drive 15,000 miles in a year and gas is $2.50.
     
  19. May 28, 2009 at 5:51 PM
    #19
    DanGer

    DanGer Avatar approved by 98tacomav6

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    White Head Light mod, White shorty antennae, Doug Thorley Long Tube headers, AFE Drop in air filter, Secondary Air Filter Removed,
    Other than driving habbits I noticed the biggest gain with premium gas
     
  20. May 28, 2009 at 6:00 PM
    #20
    WilsonTheDog

    WilsonTheDog Kylie's dad

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    Magnaflow 12576 muffler & chrome tip, Westin step bars, 27% tint, Pop N Lock, AFE ProdryS, bed mat, Husky liners, D-rings added, Access Literider tonneau, Pioneer 4-ways all around, GY Wrangler Duratracs 265/75/16, 5100's @ 1.75", 1.5" AAL
    There, fixed.
     

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