1st time Tacoma Owner...but problems with MPG!

X2 I did this and started getting 21mpg

 

Tacomas get shitty gas milage..

 

Get a Scangage or Ultragage to watch your instantaneous mileage. That will take care of the driving habits side of things.
A dirty MAF sensor could also be the culprit from the K&N. Before you replace the K&N I would clean the MAF sensor and see if the mileage goes up. It may have been the initial oiling that got it dirty.
Most of the time it seems like the bed caps are roughly break even on mileage, so I doubt that is dropping you 5mpg.

 

Take that stupid K&N filter out, they are junk! Drive it for a few tanks and then report back.

 

Not 14-15 mpg in a 4 cylinder.. I think the op has something else going on..

 

Oops wrong thread...But My take is its a truck, MPGs should only be relevant on a Prius

 

I think we need a sticky to remind members not to be offended when a new member asks a question that's been asked before. Just sayin'.

 

Brilliant

 

Agree... but if most folks in a 4 cyl. Taco get 20-25 mpg, you got to wonder why he is only getting 15 mpg, right? 15 mpg is all I get if I am doing only city (stop and go) driving... but I have a double cab 4WD V-6. Once I get on the highway and cruise... my mileage instantly improves to 17-19 mpg.

 

You are 100% correct!

 

I can drive and get 12-14 or 20 w/ a 4WD. All depends on the pressure I put on the pedal....

 

I think its the traffic man. I get 12-13 mpg with my V6. Spend 90% of my time driving in and around the city.

 

You are in Boston Mass. Everyone's mpg goes to crap in the winter, even hybrids and electrics. The K&N was probably a bad call if you are concerned about MPG. Keep in mind, more cold dense air means the computer has to add more fuel to maintain the air-fuel mixture. You probably spend more time warming up your truck and idling too. Boston Traffic... Do I even need to say it!? Wicked retãdded. Add that to the crappy winter blend gasohol and presto... Crappy MPG.

 

also the extra weight of the cap in the city kills mpg

 

On the freeways I gt 22mpg drivng 65 to 75 mph.
Just did a compete tune up transmison fluid change and rear end lub change hpe tha make it get better mileage.
Also thinking about. GF Performance Chip Kit for the TOYOTA TACOMA
jim

 

Snake oil, don't do it.

 

Thanks for all the help and insight.

Went out to Central Mass tonight and had some positive results. The only mods I did was remove the charcoal secondary filter and added a K and N Filter. I filled up with sunoco 94 @ 4.00 bucks a gallon. I also checked the tire pressure and made it 30 psi. I drove 133.7 miles on 6.53 gallons for a an average of 20.47 MPG. It was about 50% highway. This is the best I got so far. I don't know if it was playing with the filters or sunoco 94 or tire PSI....Now it's back to city driving for about 60% of the upcoming work week. I will report back with averages.

 

K&N air filters are not that bad I used one in my old Camry and it got great mileage with it plus it all depends on how heavy you oil it

 

Your I4 does not benefit from higher octane, waste of money.

It also doesn't benefit from any intake mods for mpg.

What was the tire pressure? That's the 1 thing you mentioned that certainly was hurting you if low. Try even higher than 30 psi.

Highway driving is always good for mpg, at legal speeds.

Topper usually makes it worse.

 

if you start the truck in AM and let it warm up, it eats like over a pint of gas an hour.... also sitting in traffic eats gas.