4.0L RMP vs MPG

No. I'm asking for your advice. No one here has tried to tell you you're not shifting right, we are all trying to figure out the most efficient way to drive. Don't be so defensive.

 

I regularly get 20mpg around town - little stop and go, and I'm in 6th at 40 mph. Also regularly skip 1 or 2 gears. Interstate about 20-21, at 2450rpm/67-68mph in rolling hills (ie Memphis-Nashville). About the same on 2 lane highways in flat country. Stock size P-series tires. Slightly lower in winter. Track it on Fuelly, and it is consistent. Have a ScanGauge II that is on the money re odometer, truck odometer reads 2% higher than GPS. Cruise control used very little - due to high throttle opening on hills.

 

I'll throw my 2 MPG in: for better mileage, stay off the brakes and don't go over 70 (don't lead foot it getting to 70 either).

Why stay off the brakes? What's the 1st thing you do after you hit the brakes? You hit the gas pedal.

 

Learn to READ..........I never said I "WANT" good gas mileage.

As I stated earlier just trying to gather info on the tacoma 4L engine.


you guys crack me up. I bought my tacoma to tow my RZR around.

 

I checked mine today on the hwy, 265/70-17...70mph @ 2500, 75@2600, & 80@2800

 

I put smiley faces at the end of sentences when I want to denote I'm having fun and not being serious.

 

Neither of those describe how i accelerate.

I haven't timed my 0-60, but 3/4 throttle but shifting at 2000 or 1800 isn't what I'd call aggressive driving. It is aggressive throttle, but that's not the same thing.

Both also address avoiding braking, which is what I do all the time. I'm the guy that looks a 1/4 mile ahead and knows that the light will be green when I get there while most everyone else is racing past me oblivious that the 1/4 mile ahead the light will be red for them and they have to stop.

 

I understand what your saying with using that technique, but most drivers don't drive like that. What I was getting at originally is that modern autos compared to a standard transmission will get better mileage.

If you took an individual and had them drive both an auto and a standard normally, the auto will get better mileage. Without speeding up until a certain rpm and so forth. I've had both and just drive them for fun. Auto gets better mileage.

Years ago driving normally yielded better mpgs with the standard tranny as opposed to the auto. Without any special driving techniques. This was before all the tech that is involved nowadays with modern autos.

 

And what I'm still getting at is Toyota chose a terrible OD for the 6-speed which is what the OP found. All the advances that our 5-speed auto supposedly have could easily be beat by ordinary driving if they gave us a decent OD. They didn't.

I can take advantage of what manuals have always allowed, I can't do much to improve my mpg with a current Tacoma automatic.

Shifting early with a stick is hardly some exotic driving method, it's real easy.

 

The tacoma isn't the only vehicle to get better mpgs with an auto. Almost all new vehicles with an auto get better mpgs than their manual counterpart.

When I drive a manual I don't drive it to maximize fuel mileage. I don't think that's fun and I'm not worried about it.

 

Could you please explain your driving methods/mods that allow a 4.0L V6 manual to get 24 HWY? I have a 4.0L AT and can only get about 25 at 60 MPH. 22 or so mixed, but if I really tried I think I can get 23 like I used to.

This is with 31.6" LRR tires.

 

The truck is exactly like I bought it new from the dealer except I added Bushwacker fender flares, a Toyota bed mat, and 2000LB. Hellwig Helper Springs. Here is how it came from the dealer http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/new-members/278259-first-post.html To get that MPG I always run top tier gas, middle grade, that is ethanol free, usually Conoco gas. I keep the RPM's around 2000 or under. In shifting I shift at 1500 rpm only using 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 6th.

 

That is impressive. Do you know your RPM vs MPH scale?

 

Maybe you should learn to explain yourself better in the threads you make......or not make a thread about your 16mpg and bitch that someone thought you "wanted" better mpgs............................not to mention your opening post says \/

Not about mpg? Yeah ok

 

If a company is listed on TopTierGas's site, does that mean every station is top tier gas? I also can't find ethanol free in my area.

 

At 2000 RPM I am traveling approximately 59 MPH.

 

First question, Yes. As for ethanol free I currently haul the gas in from 83 miles away. I have hauled it in from over 100.

 

That doesn't sound very much worse than an auto. I also wonder if the increased rpm is really that bad for mpg since the engine load is lower. Do you have an ultragauge or scangauge?

 

No I do not use either. As to higher RPM I can get up to around 65 MPH and still get around 22 to 23 MPG. At 70 I can get around 20 to 21 MPG. I cannot tell you after that since I never drive that fast and VERY seldom would drive 70.