96 tacoma 2.7 4x4 terrible milage

Been gettin terrible milage latly i no its winter blend gas but there is no reason for 14mpg and takin it easy i have deck plate mod cleaned MAF and kn filter new distributer plugs everything i jus havent done fuel filter cuz its a pain any other ideas on wat to do? I miles well drive a 460 ford or a v10

 

Do I smell troll?

 

What lol

 

Have you replaced the original oxygen sensor? Buy an oem Toyota or denso. Only need the front one replaced though. 14 mpg is definitely very low unless you're speeding luke crazy uphill

 

No i drive normal or i wouldnt be complaining lol and u really need to if the old ones not trippin the check engine light

 

You can have an o2 that switches slow and not set a check engine light.

 

Ok ill see what this tank get then go from there was gettin 23mpg but am happy with 19-20

 

Did the mpg drop correspond to putting the swampers on there; what are those 33x12.5s? Looks like steel wheels too? If you went from stock 31x10.5s on aluminum (hard to tell from your pics) you've gained a ton of rotational mass but also are going further then the odometer shows (unless the speedometer gear was also replaced).

So say the 31s were about bald so they would measure at 30" or a hair under... maybe 29 3/4" and say the swampers run big @ 33 1/4", then they'd be taking you 11.8% further and would need to be applied to the mpg. So say you got 14.7mpg *1.118 = 16.4 mpg. One way is to set trip meter at mile markers on the freeway or interstate on a long drive, to see if your speedometer/odometer is off.

16.4mpg is still lowish but there is no way you're gunna get over 20 mpg with 60+lbs hardcore mud tires (going from 35lbs ATs or all seasons). Next thing is what psi are you running; probably should be around 30 if mpg is of concern. If you run 25-30 psi, probably should be getting 17-19...

Just FYI with those kinda tires on a 90's truck w/ 460 or v10 and you'd be so happy when you got 14mpg you'd have a party. My folks stock 93 suburban (235/75r16 all-season tires, small block 350 fuel injected) usually got 14 or 15 on the highway rpm @ ~2000 doing 65mph.

I usually get a 10 or 15% drop in mpg form the O2 sensor, but nothing like that, and just can't ignore those swampers...

Oh if you already know all that and/or if the mpg drop happened before the swampers, then my bad dude...

One last thing, that almost goes without saying; that is a totally & completely badass looking truck. Nice work.

 

Ya thanks lol no its was pre swampers jus lifted last week and i do calculate the larger tires speedo is a tenth mile off on trip meter so if i have 200 miles i have to add 20 more miles for compensation and i jus did last tank got 19 dnt no wtf im gunna change fuel filter next here wen i have time im puttin new cv axles in this weekend hopefully prolly do it then but thanks for liking it nxt things are sliders relentless offroad front and rear plate bumpers tru tracs for now then wen i get second vehicle arbs front and rear diff skid cvt tent and i should be good for some expo trips

 

Yah, seemed like you know what you're doing, but there are all kinds on here...and maybe that v10 comment hit a nerve.

Yes yes yes on sliders, skids, bumpers, etc; most folks do it AFTER some damage...

With the hauling you're doing, frame reinforcement probably should be on your short list; some guys have mentioned it feels much more solid even unloaded and articulates better. About 1000lbs in the bed should be the most your loading it without those and not worry much; I'm sure you know, but air springs do not increase the carrying capacity of the truck; it just operates much better at the max rated capacity. I think the bed max load is 800 or 900 lbs per the owners manual (will check); total capacity including the cab (passengers/cargo/accessories) is about 1600lbs.
The other thing (if you haven't done it already with that lift) is 1" diff-drop; just some spacers to flatten out the cv angles. 3" lift up front, puts some nasty angles on the cvs and they are already the weak link and they more angle they have the greater internal loads they experience...

Couple questions:
Why new cvs? The existing ones bad? (Actually I'm thinking of doing that, and keeping the originals as spares if I blow one and I won't be doing it for the first time then, but am on the fence)

What gearing do you have? Must be pretty low to handle those tires with a 2.7

 

Ya when i get around to it im gunna pull the bed and box in the frame makes more sense to box it in rather then weld plates on the outside also i no about the air rides only making the ride better under load first gen tacos are rated at 1490-1860 payload so i was guessin i had about 2000 in the bed with a wet half cord wood. I do have the diff drop forgot to mention that i forget about all the small stuff cuz theres a lot of stuff ive done over the years. Im putting new cvs in because the boots ripped on passenger side wen i lifted the truck i noticed they were dry looking but figured itll last a little longer, brought it to tire factory to get alligned they noticed it was actually ripped and spittin grease so i figured id jus go buy two lifetime gurantee ones from nappa nxt store only 80$ a piece and like i say lifetime warranty anything breaks or tears on them bring them in and get a new one. I thought my truck was going to be a turd to with the tires but amazingly i noticed the ever most slightest los of power. I still can squall the tires through to 3rd gear jus like when i had 31s i have 4.10 gears but for some reason that i dnt no my truck has always been quick for the 2.7 have yet to have somebody bull me in another light duty truck. Ive wasted a 22re with aftermarket head header exhaust. Also a 3.4 4runner (i guess not waste the 3.4) but they werent gaining any ground and also a dodge dakota 2wd v6 single cab laughed so hard when he went to pass me and i denied him exspecially when my truck was loaded with camping gear, my dog, girlfiend, and toolbox. He was empty lol

 

Do a compression test. You may have sticky valves or worn compression rings.

 

I would think that if my truck had valve slash compression issues it wouldnt have the spunk it has

 

Just do it. It's not hard. It rules those issues out.

 

I think the low mpg was fixed with O2 being replaced...

Wish mine is so peppy; never was, even when it was new... Is does fine though...

 

Ya what shold these 3rz be for comp. 180 or so?