Another MPG thread

Agreed, downloading an app for finding the cheapest gas might yield the best savings for taco owners.

 

Lightweight wheels - Gains minimum, certainly never pay for itself.
Low resistance and thinner tires - Those could pay and may be cheaper than more aggressive alternatives.
High viscosity synthetic oil - You want low viscosity.
Better oil filter - Nothing to do with mpg.
Clean fuel injectors - Are they dirty? probably not.
Replace fuel injectors - Why?
Replace o2 sensors - Why?
Clean or replace EGR valve - Sure, but no mpg gain.
New spark plugs - At normal intervals yes, for mpg no.
New distributor caps and rotors - You don't have those.
New battery - When needed
New/different transmission fluid - If needed, but not for mpg.
Fuel system treatment - No
Coolant additives - ???? NO
New or different coolant (waterless coolant?) - ???? NO
Oil additives - NO
Transmission fluid additives - NO
Better air filter or cold air intake (not those short ram hot air intakes although I've read a thread where hot air actually increases MPG by decreasing power) - Warm air helps in the cold. Cold air doesn't help.
Throttle body spacer - Might change rpm of peak torque, but not likely going to see mpg increase.
Headers - Same as throttle body spacer, but won't pay for itself since mpg increase not there.
Exhaust system - Nope
High flow catalytic converters - Nope
Tonneau cover - Depends, but not likely.
Performance chips/Engine computers - Nope
Lighter (not weaker) internal and external engine parts - Terrible payback for minimal gain.

 

Looking at how the wind hits my roll up tonneau around 65 it comes down right at the last foot. So without the tonneau rolled over the bed it actually creates an ettie that probably helps the overall air current to get down past the back of the truck. Either way MPG gains are non existent with a tonneau.

 

Most of the time I don't recommend this, but in this case I would tell her to fill up the tank at different gas stations every week and waive to the attendants like she's gonna come in and pay. And then burn rubber out of there (assuming V6). What's the worst that's going to happen? Huge MPG gain over stock. Does she even know her current MPG or keeps forgettin'?

Nacho

 

Oh yeah and for mods I would recommend a good attorney

 

Well thanks for the ideas. I understand all of you saying there's no point. Yes I understand that it would just be better to sell the taco and get a prius or a yaris but the OP is about someone who wants to maximize the efficiency of their taco. Yeah it would cost a pretty penny but granny likes to drive (she's young at heart and body). Lets assume she winters in the Keys but lives in Seattle. She drives multiple times a year to Florida and other places across the country (she hates flying). The truck has sentimental value, and she and her late husband owned the first generation Hilux (1968) and every generation up to the latest Tacoma (2010) until she became a widow and now she refuses to buy another vehicle. Either she dies first or her Toyota does and if the Toyota does you best bet she will buy the newest generation Taco. Every Toyota pickup they owned was purchased together and chose because they used it to go explore backcountry. She loves the truck as much as she loved her husband.

This thread is about discussing what purchasable products are the best bang for the buck to help achieve maximum efficiency. Granny plans on having two sets of wheels, one set of retreaded factory wheels with big A/T tires for off road use and 16" Volk TE37's with LT215/85 R16 tires. Discount tire said they would fit a tacoma. Has anyone tried something this narrow or small? Yeah it would look ridiculous, but real gains call for drastic measures. How much do you think stock wheels and standard sized all season tires weigh compared to the Volks with 215/85 tires? I've heard the most gains in efficiency comes from reduced rotating weight. Combined with the narrowest tire possible should produce the biggest actual MPG increase, no?

 

Wait a minute, is this granny thing for real? Listen here granny. Go down to a junkyard and tell them you need a prius motor to put in your tacoma. I think that would be the best mod for you.

 

I think the forum you're looking for is Priuschat.com

 

How well does that weak prius motor push an extra 8-900 lbs more at 4 wheels up steep grade at high altitude? Although the thought of building a slammed and stripped 2nd gen 2wd 2dr Taco fitted with a prius motor fitted out with smooth fiberglass/carbon fiber body panels refined in a wind tunnel would be an... interesting project. But what would be far cooler would be a supercharged V8 swapped into it.

 

Maximum tire pressure. "A" number one improvement.

Lighten up..take out all the unnecessary stuff.

Constant pedal position on highway. Cruise is second best but a stable foot and having everyone honk at you on the uphills and passing them on the downhills is best.

Plan your routes so you have a tailwind and downhill at all times.

Draft off of everybody. Budget for your next rear end collision.

Lightweight wheels, yes. Low RR tires, absolutely.

Coast to all stops. tranny in neutral or preferably motor off. at your own risk.

ride the crowns of the roads.

Bed aero treatment? Depends on the vehicle. Dunno if anything helps this taco. My first gen didn't seem to care tailgate up or down, topper on or off. I had a 78 el camino that did the best with a topper on it (22 with topper, 17 with tarp or naked bed. I think toppers help aerodynamically but the advantage is cancelled by the extra weight of dragging it up to speed every time.

 

No coasting in neutral.... Coast to a stop in gear, engine goes into fuel cut and uses no fuel when its there.

 

I wondered about that but the engine braking means you lose more kinetic energy that you've built up... MT or AT matters maybe?

 

Granny will die soon. Well past the average age already.

Tell her to go ahead and use that well funded 401k at the pumps, because none of her heirs have the brains to use the $ properly.

And while at it, she should will the truck to the local kennel for gathering strays.

 

All of those options will improve fuel mileage a tiny bit. None enough to pay for the expense.

 

OP, you have all your answers already, both the real ones and the ones you are bringing to the table. Just go get your dual tires and fuel additives and profit in the MPGs.

 

who is driving and owns this truck? Granny or the OP?

 

Low speeds high speeds no speeds. Toppers make no difference when it comes to mpg.

The only thing that can increase mpg is if you use a mesh tailgate.

 

While I do believe that from a fluid dynamics perspective, most toppers provide less flow separation and therefore less work required by the vehicle to move it down the road, I DO agree that its a minimal improvement in mpg, if at all, and will not pay off at the pump. This could be due to the added weight of the topper outweighing the benefits of increased aerodynamic efficiency, and/ or many other factors. My argument is NOT for the use of a topper or any kind of a bed cover to be used for increasing fuel economy, rather that from a scientific point of view I can see why people might, at first glance, see it as such.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't buy a Tacoma to get good gas mileage and with most mods on my truck I lose mpg. They are built for functionality and fun and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Pretty much applies to every truck made.

 

amen to that