200 miles to the tank: is this normal?

New member. 2nd post. I realize this is a milage/fuel efficiency issue; and I've checked some of the pertinent threads, but I didn't quite find the answer I'm looking for.

(I realize I run the risk of hearing "Well go back and look again dummy"...but I defer to your collective wisdom and hope you will be merciful.)

My 06 PreRun Access is a great truck. But after almost three years of ownership, I'm constantly getting 200 miles per full tank...when the orange low fuel light comes on it takes about 18 gal to fill up. (no, I don't always wait until it gets to that point, but...sometimes). I have a 21 gal tank I believe, so the light coming on with 3 gallons left seems...slightly premature?

Do all Tacomas act this way?

I live in a city with constant start/stop and I live and work on some steep hills...and my right foot could be lighter: but I don't 'get on it' hardly as much as in my youth...Should I just take my <12MPG and be happy?

As of yesterday I ordered the AFE pro-dry air filter...trying to take the good advice I've found here. Then I started looking at URD ECU milage and performance control; but it's quite a bit of money....(and I don't really understand what it does ) Of course if anything could get me close to the 18MPG city Toyota promised it might be worth it: regular hasn't dropped below four bucks for a looong time.

At any rate, thanks for your time...any advice would be appreciated.

 

I get 330-360 miles from the tank before the fuel light comes on. Is your Taco stock? Aftermarket bumpers and armor can decrease the mileage I'm told.

 

I get approx 250 - 275 miles before the light comes and I have an OME lift , commercial cap , 250-300 lbs of tools and E rated 275/70/17 tires

The light coming on with 3-4 gallons left is normal

 

Welcome to TW! As everyone says, watch your wallet, you're gonna wanna spend.
I would get a scangauge/ultragauge to asses your mpg habits. Its all about engine load. You can get shit for mileage even at low rpms. Going uphill is less than 10 mpg usually. Downhill can make up for it some, but stop and go traffic kills you, especially combined with short trips (and uphill).

When my gas light comes on, I'm between 290-320 miles, usually 300. And its always 18 gallons (3 left). Your 200 miles seems kinda low. How much of your driving is out of the city/hills? I can see 200 if you drive mostly short distances up/downhill.

 

You should really calc mileage using miles traveled vs amount of gallons put in..

For instance I get 210 miles before I fill up. That would mean I get a significant number more than ^ and ^^. My fuel light comes on about 250 typically, but 330 for Frank. Granted he is a 2nd gen which might have a bigger tank, but that still leaves a lot of error.

 

I have an 06' dbl cab 4x and I am lucky to get 220 before the light comes which is around 17 gallons which means the light comes on and the gauge is showing "E" with 4 gallons still in the tank. I know I am only getting 220-240 max out of that 17 gallons on average so that's only 13 - 14 mpg. I don't think the truck ever did any better than 15-17 mpg from the day she was born, the 17/21 on sticker was a complete lie.

 

I have a 2012 and I noticed around 15K my mileage increased a little. I also have a lift and larger wheels and tires my adjusted mileage is about 15.6 MPG times 18 gallons is about 280 miles per tank. I recently took a trip and one tank I got as good as 19 mpg. I'm sure if I went back to stock I would get a few miles better. Also how you dive where you drive will also have an impact. I drive on a toll next to my house and the speed limit is 80 and at that speed my mileage takes a hit.

 

10-12mpg is extremely low.
That is normally only seen when towing, or with oversized tires and off-road use.

Also, short trips are a mileage killer.... short trips, and speed. Speeds above 60-65 dramatically reduce economy, but you've got something else going on to drag you down to 200 miles.

I routinely run 350-400 miles, and if I really felt like trying, I could pull close to 500.
Now that's on a 5-lug 2.7, not a prerunner V6... but the V6 is easily capable of running 300 to the light.

 

I have been getting 23mpg with 17-18gal fillup. I fill when the light comes on making it 3gal left. BTW I have an 09 DCLB Prerunner sport V6. Love my truck!

 

I see you live in San Francisco which is one of the worst if not the worst city for fuel mileage. Tons of stop lights, very heavy traffic especially in the down town area. If your not driving far with lots of cold starts, it will kill your mileage.

Get out on the highway your mileage should improve.

I recently went 475.5 miles before the low fuel warning light came on, filled at 477.7 miles, took 17.8 gallons, worked out to 26.8mpg, V6 4.0 engine. If I lived and worked in SF I seriously doubt my mileage would be any better than you are averaging, it might not be as good as your getting.

 

I get 380 - 410 miles before the low fuel light comes on. My 2nd car is a Prius which I attribute my frugal driving habits. The Prius has taught me how to get the most mpg.

 

Well that is poor MPG, but I also see that you live in San Francisco. It has been a many a year since I was there, about 40 years, but even back then the driving was miserable. Lots of hills and slow moving traffic.
Also you did not mention if the truck is stock. That makes a difference. The best thing is too take a trip and see how it does on the HWY. If you still get poor MPG, 15 or less MPG, than the problem could be mechanical or driver issues of a heavy foot.
I would point out that many people do not realize how much added fuel consumption there is by adding accessories. For every added 33 amp draw it takes about 1HP of added power and oversize tires and lift will also deplete MPG.

 

I can see living in a city full of hills resulting in bad mileage. I live in New England and I commute 90 miles a day. Usually I drive my car 3 seasons out of the year but it currently needs a radiator so I've been driving my truck. I'm actually very impressed with the mileage I'm getting and I do track just about every tank by dividing the miles driven by how many gallons it takes to fill it. Always use the same station and stop filling when the pump shuts off. So far over the last 6 tanks my worst has been 21.5 mpg and best was 22.1. And it's a v6 4x4 double cab with 124k on it now. But it does have wimpy stock Dunlop at20 245/75/16's on it. I'm betting on that dropping 1-1.5 MPG when I go to 16x8's and 265/70/16's. Oddly enough the last 05 I had was nearly identical except it was a TRD and it struggled to get 20 on the same commute.

 

I get about 215 a tank but I pull a 2k lb trailer all city driving and mines lifted with M/Ts 4wd, 6 speed.

 

this....and if your in a routine try to get gas from the same pump at the same time of day for the most accurate data. Also if you have different sized tires you need to factor that in.

200 is way to low. I have a 4x4 v6 with steel bumpers, skids, bed racks, tool box full of crap, and tall 33" tires and while I don't get 300 before the light I get way more than 200. The worst MPG I have ever seen is 13 but that was going VERY fast from NC - NJ. I average 14-16 and have never seen 17 since I modded it.

this...

 

This^^^^

OP is your truck stock? I average 12-13mpg around town and maybe 14-15mpg hwy(when not towing), but my trucks lifted with 33" Toyo MT's (Heavy as hell). If you're stock it does seem a little low...

 

I fill up about 280-300 miles. I only fill up like 15 gal max (although after reading everyone else's it looks like I can go quite a bit longer). I have 32" Terra Grapplers, URD True Cold Air Intake, Wickd Flow Muffler, 3" suspension lift, glass fenders. Sounds like I should be pretty happy with the mileage I guess, but then again ya don't buy a truck for fuel efficiency in my mind. To me 200 sounds really low, but I live in a flat area with a 20ish min drive to work without many lights (and driving on post is like 40 mph top).

 

My taco with 33s and suspension averages 18-19 mpg per tank. Scangauge calibrated for tire size.

Always used royal purple. Plugs every 30k. Constantly cleaning intake and throttle body. Shell V Power every tank.

 

no fair - your running under sea level

your numbers are rare though

My averages have highway/city/wheeling factored in on flat land + I'm running reg gas.

 

I only fill half the tank to save weight and 1mpg...it drives better too w/o the xtra fuel