1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

fuel mileage difference by small speed

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by ryansoup, Feb 2, 2014.

  1. Feb 2, 2014 at 6:42 PM
    #1
    ryansoup

    ryansoup [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Member:
    #120054
    Messages:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    Wyo
    Vehicle:
    2024 Tacoma SR5 4wd 4dr Short Bed
    Bone Stock
    i've had my tacoma for about a month and a half, i've driven it quite a bit going back and forth between wyoming and north dakota for work. it's a bone stock 2011 trd or 4x4 4dr sb 6spd.

    i had noticed that the mileage sucked complete ass, but i had just figured that was the price to pay for having a truck.

    well, on this last trip i measured what mileage i was getting during what parts of the trip. i'm getting about 21-22 mpg on two lane highways where the speed limit is at most 65 mph, i'm getting about 16-17 on the freeway where i'm going 75 mph at most.

    is it normal for there to be such an extreme difference in mpg over only 5-10 mph speed difference?
     
  2. Feb 2, 2014 at 7:11 PM
    #2
    Hardscrabble

    Hardscrabble Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2011
    Member:
    #50838
    Messages:
    3,388
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    McDonough, GA
    Vehicle:
    ‘20 Sport M/T AC 4WD & '15 TRDOR DCSB 4WD
    A little of this and a little of that.
    I have a very similar truck. I average 18mpg driving 65mph. I rarely drive faster than that
    on the highway. I have noticed lower mpg when driving above 70mph.
     
  3. Feb 2, 2014 at 7:22 PM
    #3
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Member:
    #73470
    Messages:
    16,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    08 Base
    Satoshi with FJ badge, factory cruise, factory intermittent wipers, Redline Tuning hood-lift struts, Hellwig Swaybar, Rosen DVD-Nav
    Very normal.
    It takes twice the power to get from 60 to 100 as it takes to get from 0-60.
    Trucks are a brick in the wind, and aerodynamic drag increases as a square of the speed.

    My 5 lug has gotten it's best and worst mileage on the highway... 22 at 75-80 in New Mexico and Texas, and 26 at 60-65.
     
  4. Feb 2, 2014 at 7:30 PM
    #4
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2010
    Member:
    #37674
    Messages:
    29,363
    Gender:
    Male
    Belly of the Beast
    Vehicle:
    4x4 TRD Off-Road Full-Auto
    LED Headlights, Volant CAI, 32" Duratracs
    Not as much about road speed as engine speed. 6th gear in the 6-speed is relatively short, shorter than the 5th gear in the 5-speed auto. Fuel economy worsens above 2000 rpm in our trucks. In my truck (5-speed auto, 32" tires) that's about 72 mph.
     
  5. Feb 2, 2014 at 9:42 PM
    #5
    nd4spdbh

    nd4spdbh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Member:
    #114055
    Messages:
    14,592
    Gender:
    Male
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    13 DCSB TRD OR v6 Auto
    yeah... ill average ~ 20.5 at 69-70mph in my 4x4 v6 auto... bump that up 5mph and cut you take about a 2.2 mpg loss.
     
  6. Feb 3, 2014 at 5:00 AM
    #6
    Strydersound

    Strydersound Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Member:
    #114150
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Male
    Stafford VA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Off Road Super White
    I've had my v6 trd off road for four months now and haven't seen more than 17_mpg. I've been babying it too. Highway I get 17 keeping the rpm's low and speed no higher than 65. City mpg's is about 15. Dying to find out why and if I'm somehow causing it.
     
  7. Feb 3, 2014 at 5:34 AM
    #7
    savedone

    savedone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2013
    Member:
    #104359
    Messages:
    1,062
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gerald
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    TRD off-road 6speed manual
    3 inch lift by dealer at purchase
    Absolutely! If you keep it around or under 2000 RPM you will get even better MPG. My last tank of mixed driving I got 23.01 MPG. By the way if you are getting 21 to 22 MPG at 65 you are doing well.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  8. Feb 3, 2014 at 5:38 AM
    #8
    InSight Retrofits

    InSight Retrofits Closed

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2013
    Member:
    #112687
    Messages:
    1,260
    Gender:
    Male
    This isn't fact but its an old wives tale type thing. It's somewhat accurate but obviously not for every car.

    Every 5mph you go over 55mpg, you lose 1mpg
     
  9. Feb 3, 2014 at 5:39 AM
    #9
    savedone

    savedone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2013
    Member:
    #104359
    Messages:
    1,062
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gerald
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    TRD off-road 6speed manual
    3 inch lift by dealer at purchase
    You say that you are babying it. That is subjective to the person using the term. Keep it under 2000 rpm and do not do quick take offs and the MPG will increase. Mine is a standard and I do not use 3rd, and 5th gears normally. I shift at 1500 rpm and stay under 2000 rpm and usually average 22 to 24 plus MPG in mixed driving.
     
  10. Feb 3, 2014 at 5:45 AM
    #10
    Strydersound

    Strydersound Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Member:
    #114150
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Male
    Stafford VA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Off Road Super White
    I would say that I mostly accelerate "softly" and keep it under 2k.
     
  11. Feb 3, 2014 at 5:48 AM
    #11
    savedone

    savedone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2013
    Member:
    #104359
    Messages:
    1,062
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gerald
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    TRD off-road 6speed manual
    3 inch lift by dealer at purchase
    Then you need to take it in to the dealer and have it checked out as it is rated better MPG than the standard. I would add this. I see you are in Virginia. If you are in heavily hilly area and using the cruse going up hill the mpg will suffer because the cruse is designed to keep the MPH up and will do what it takes to do it, not give MPG. The cruse is fine on flatland driving for mpg, but not on hills.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  12. Feb 3, 2014 at 5:51 AM
    #12
    Gearheadesw

    Gearheadesw must modify

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2012
    Member:
    #76139
    Messages:
    5,089
    Gender:
    Male
    Davenport Fl
    Vehicle:
    1 truck 1 car 1 motorcycle
    Gotta agree. 2 k rpm is the sweet spot for my truck. That equals about 67 mph, if I go faster than that mpg's goes down. Automatic v-6.
     
  13. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:00 AM
    #13
    Strydersound

    Strydersound Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Member:
    #114150
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Male
    Stafford VA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Off Road Super White
    I have actually never used cruise in the truck. Maybe a trip to the dealership is in my future.
     
  14. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:01 AM
    #14
    TheMuffinMan

    TheMuffinMan Banana Nut

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    Member:
    #118280
    Messages:
    2,370
    Gender:
    Male
    Coeur d'Alene, ID
    Vehicle:
    2023 Tundra Limited Crewmax 6.5' 4x4
    I personally don't like to short shift and lug on this engine when accelerating. I shift at 2,500-2,700 RPM typically and try and cruise at 1,800-1,900 when possible.

    I've gotten 17.4 Mpg average over 4300 miles including one road trip. Best tank was 20.2 doing 60-65 on a two-lane highway for 150 miles with one moto in the bed; worst was 15.1mpg in a nasty headwind with two motos in the bed going 75mph with a lot of WFO and gaining elevation.

    Worst tank around town was 16.1 and best was 18.0; I get 17.4 a tank quite often going 75mph on the interstate regularly for my 10 mile one-way commute. Mileage goes down with temperature.

    Measured by filling it up and using the odometer. Not too scientific but it's good enough for me. Stock SR5 v6 manual as far as tires/lift/aerodynamics.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2014
  15. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:03 AM
    #15
    Strydersound

    Strydersound Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Member:
    #114150
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Male
    Stafford VA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Off Road Super White
    ^that's how I count my mileage too. Odometer and fill ups.
     
  16. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:05 AM
    #16
    TheMuffinMan

    TheMuffinMan Banana Nut

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    Member:
    #118280
    Messages:
    2,370
    Gender:
    Male
    Coeur d'Alene, ID
    Vehicle:
    2023 Tundra Limited Crewmax 6.5' 4x4
    Oh and I see minimal if any gains between 85 to 91 octane, or if there are gains they are slight enough to get lost in the driving style/temperature variations.

    Ymmv.
     
  17. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:10 AM
    #17
    savedone

    savedone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2013
    Member:
    #104359
    Messages:
    1,062
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gerald
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    TRD off-road 6speed manual
    3 inch lift by dealer at purchase
    These trucks is not suppose to have 85 octane in them. 87 is the minimum called for. Over time you will cause other issues with low octane.
     
  18. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:10 AM
    #18
    Strydersound

    Strydersound Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Member:
    #114150
    Messages:
    14
    Gender:
    Male
    Stafford VA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Off Road Super White
    I run mine with 87.
     
  19. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:15 AM
    #19
    TheMuffinMan

    TheMuffinMan Banana Nut

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2013
    Member:
    #118280
    Messages:
    2,370
    Gender:
    Male
    Coeur d'Alene, ID
    Vehicle:
    2023 Tundra Limited Crewmax 6.5' 4x4
    Not when you live at high elevation and the engine doesn't ping. :D
     
  20. Feb 3, 2014 at 6:26 AM
    #20
    savedone

    savedone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2013
    Member:
    #104359
    Messages:
    1,062
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Gerald
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    TRD off-road 6speed manual
    3 inch lift by dealer at purchase
    Your book does not say that. I suggest not using the 85.;)
     

Products Discussed in

To Top