Terrible 4 cylinder mpg

i think that it is pretty good for a 4x4 truck, its a pretty basic rig. i got one of the last 15's, out the door for 25,000.00, came with the conv. pkg., entune head unit, meets my needs and then some!

 

No we don't, though we might round up a decimal point. But here at sea level my truck is averaging 23-25 mpg.

 

lol

 

I have gotten 25+ mpg several times on highway trips and my fuel tracker link below will verify that if you care to look. I have a 5 speed manual transmission which may make a difference.

 

That does indeed suck! My 2008 SR5 AC 4x4 auto averages about 20mpg on the highway in the summer months with average speeds of 75 mph. the mpg drops to around 18mpg in the winter.

 

I have a PreRunner double cab 4 cylinder and I have 20mpg in town. I do not live in a hilly area.

 

I get that mileage, but I have a 2.4 L 2WD first gen.

 

Your average for a 2wd is less than my 4 cyl., auto 4wd. Averaged 21.3 for the first 25,000 miles....now, with 32" tires a small lift averages upper 18's. I drive like an ol kurmugeon.....really old.
Hunt out of it several months a year with heavy dog box, bumper and hounds.

 

Still getting 19 mpg, 21 without tent and gear

 

Reviving the thread since i just got back from Florida, 2000 miles in the same vehicle. While not a taco, and not my mustang, it was at least consistent, the main variable being the change in altitude. The test vehicle... A 26' penske truck, loaded, and pulling my wife's bmw on a trailer. So a giant heavy brick at 65mph at best for over 3 days. Air density should be a greater factor for it than anything i own. It was a long trip.

At 6kish feet and dropping to sea level we started with about 6mpg, high of 8ish. At sea level we averaged in the 8s and a high of 12. There was a ton of foot to the floor to maintain 65 when we could, lots of times we couldn't. I don't think the engine was in fantastic shape. This was using the computer provide info so not my Actual math, but it roughly coincided with my range estimates to the next fuel stop. We generally ran about 1/2 a tank then stopped for a soda/pee break and topped off.

 

2011 2TR-FE w/ 5 speed and 4x4. Only mods are 235/85R16 and a toolbox with about 100 lbs of tools. 19 MPG regardless if I drive it pegged out at 4k RPM at 85 MPH or baby it down the highway for a full tank. I didn't buy the 4 cylinder for mileage - I just like the simplicity of the motor, had both the 2RZ and 3RZ in the past and they've always been bombproof for me.

 

Since my last post a few months back, I opted against the CAI (thanks to all the feedback in the forums). I recently made a few other mods, including the installation of a Flowmaster 40 Series muffler. Sound was wonderful, but a couple of weeks later I had to have a 12" resonator installed to reduce the cabin drone/interior resonance. Now it sounds absolutely perfect - nice and throaty - not at all like a 4 banger. I also dropped in a K&N performance air filter. And all three (installed) came to about the same price as the CAI (less than $350). I won't pretend it magically added more ponies, but the butt dyno does seem to sense a bit more (or easier) acceleration on long hills, etc., above 3K rpm. Motor just doesn't seem to be working quite so hard as before. Fortunately, I don't have to spend a lot of time in that regime. MPG has improved significantly, though. Topped off last Sunday and drove down to ATL and made a loop around I-285, back up I-75/I-575 - all interstate driving. Terrain down there is level enough to allow 68-70 mph on cruise at consistent rpm without any pesky downshifting, etc. After 140 miles, wife needed to stop (no surprise there), so I topped off again. Fuel gauge was barely 3 needle widths below full mark. Worked out to 27.27 mpg. Not scientific, I know, or even a real indicator of what would happen on a full tank, but it certainly was much better than anything I've ever noted in almost 2 years - even when I lived down there in the flatter terrain. And it sounds soooo good. Meanwhile, back in my everyday world (North GA hills, 20 mph restriction in neighborhood, etc) in what I'd call "something slightly worse than combo" driving, the truck netted 20.81 mpg and that's certainly an up-tick. The same driving scenario before the mods usually came in around 17 mpg, if I was lucky. I can't say that I've changed my driving style, either, other than lowering the back right window a bit to listen to the growl. Again, I won't claim any magical breakthroughs, but I'm certainly more pleased now than ever before. Even with no other improvements, the new sound makes the investment worth it and I certainly wouldn't go back. BTW, wife loves the new sound as much as I do, so that's a win! I'm waiting for her to demand the same treatment on her '13 Jeep Wrangler.

 

Lol, good read man. Honestly I'm about to do the same. I've got an exhaust sitting in my garage waiting to go on. I'm going to get the header though and install them together.

My soon to be wife has my 2010 maxima I've been trying to get her to let me put dual flow flow masters on for a long time. She always says "I don't like things loud". I try to explain its not loud, it's how is supposed to sound! (My argument has many holes, but I shall persevere!)

 

Sounds good, Hondah. I have heard a different header can make a difference, too. I'm sure you'll be pleased. The 40 Series Flowmaster seems to hit it's sweet spot at about 2000-2100 rpm with a little pull on the motor - downright musical - just the way God intended. Regarding the Maxima, I say throw on the Flowmasters - you can do what my ex-wife always did - do what you want and ask for forgiveness later!

 

The gas mileage sucks, but who cares? By tea way...Nice Peepers!

 

I always figured it was the 5 luggers that got the great gas mileage, in the mid to high 20's. Prerunners and 4x4 2.7l seem to average around 20ish or less depending on mods.

 

In my experience driving habits are probably the major factor. My 4x4 gets better than 25 mpg on every tank except when I take it off road.

 

Do you have a single cab?
I have an access cab and I'm careful about not crossing 2500 rpm and still get around 23 mpg.

 

Mine is an access cab, 5 spd manual, with a camper shell and a hundred pounds or so of odds and ends in the bed, sometimes more.