500 miles on a tank, 6 cylinder

Don't believe it. LOL

I see from your link you were buying $4.039 gas. That's why. The rest of us (3 years later) are buying $2.29 gas (here in Montana anyhow). I'd hope for $4.039 it's good stuff.

You must drive really slowly. Once you get over 1,800 RPM these V6 4.0's drink like a dehydrated camel.

 

I get 600 miles on one tank, having a 46 gal fuel cell isn't cheating right?

 

LOL Love your humor. I drove slowly, 55-60mph, focused on getting the best fuel mileage possible, did not use cruse control, my mileage is better without it. This is not how I normally drive.

Don't know if what I'm about to suggest helps much with fuel injected vehicles. I expect some will argue I'm all wrong, but right or wrong I will share the basics of what I do. Hopefully I won't get to much flack over this and maybe someone might find it helpful.

First I try to maintain a very steady speed, careful not to move the gas peddle at all or with as little movement as possible. Looking ahead if the roadway is slightly rolling I might not move the peddle increasing speed a little going downhill (with in reason) and let the speed bleed off on the next incline.

When vehicles had carburetors two things happened when the peddle was pressed down, there was a small squirt of fuel, and more air and fuel is allowed into the cylinders. On an incline or hill, a very slight press on the peddle there is a flat spot (for lack of a better term) when the vehicle did not accelerate. At this point nothing is happening for except burning more fuel. There was a small squirt of fuel with more fuel and air going into the cylinders. On hills if going for maximum fuel mileage I try very hard not to accelerate or hit the flat spot, only pressing the peddle just enough to maintain my current speed. If my speed drops slightly rather than wasting fuel by accelerating I will maintain my current speed until I'm off the incline. I've gotten pretty good at maintaining a constant speed by tuning into the sound of engine rpm's, sound of the exhaust, wind noise, or some combination. Keep in mind I was driving before the days of cruse control and is what I developed for maintaining steady speed with little deviation.

For best fuel mileage I'll keep my speed down, accelerate slowly, obliviously jack rabbit starts, cruising at 90mph in a truck isn't going to result in optimum fuel mileage. I will not draft behind semi's, run stop signs etc. etc. I normally get pretty good fuel mileage on highways and probably do these tips automatically to a degree without being aware of it.


Believe it or not, with my Tacoma cruising at 77-78mph for an entire tank the fuel mileage was 21mpg. I expected it to suck fuel like crazy. Many years ago I've had a couple of full size pickups , driving 62 verses 7Omph made a big difference in mileage. Based on past experience with pickups 13 or 14mpg in my Tacoma would seem more realistic. I've felt a truck is basically about as aerodynamic as a brick. I can not stress enough at how surprised I was the fuel mileage did not take a huge hit. I do have a cab high camper shell, maybe it helped a little bit? It's been my impression shells do not impact fuel mileage but honestly I don't have a clue.

 

I got 19.6 on last tank and towed my 18' bass boat for 50 miles out of 360. Pretty happy with that.

 

That's great mileage towing a boat.

I no longer have a boat and only pulled a trailer once with my Tacoma. A small enclosed uhaul trailer, with a head wind driving 60mph my fuel mileage was 14. That small trailer must have been a like a sail in that wind, even though it didn't weigh very much it sure killed my fuel mileage. To bad I wasn't driving in the opposite direction, the fuel mileage might have been really outstanding.

 

I think I 325 miles on a tank once.

 

My truck gets no where close to the EPA estimates since I've modified it for off-road driving. But I see much better MPGs at 60mph than 75MPH. Unfortunately I like getting places at the speed limit. And here in Montana that's usually 70, 75, or 80. LOL I could get better mileage if I drove 55-60 like you but I just can't do it.

 

I do like the 80 mph speed limit on some of the highways including MT. However, my gas mileage disagrees.

 

first, tires are huge factor on mpg, i have a 99 f250 2x4 with a 5.4 v8 and weighs 6000 lbs but has e rated tire with 60 psi and get the same gas millage as my 2010 taco v6 auto 4x4, but the taco has non load rated highway tires on it and you can tell the coasting difference on the highway. My 250 will coast forever. Also please stop running you truck till the light comes on, it is not worth putting fuel pump in to say you got more out of a tank, the fuel cools and lubricates the fuel pump, when the tank runs that low it will burn up pumps. i live on a hilly street and my neighbors always run their tanks low, starve the pump, cant start, and burn up fuel pumps, put a new one in and do it all over again. they never learn.

 

I have been running mobil 1 0w-40 euro for the last couple of years. The Taco loves the stuff. Runs smooth as can be.

 

So, are you talking about in a 55 speed limit zone?

The rush is that most people when they get in their vehicle to go somewhere they expect to be able to go at least near the speed limit.

Here's one sane reason anyone should exceed 65: they are on an interstate where the speed limit is 75.

If you are holding people up from driving the danged speed limit, you are being inconsiderate at least and breaking the law in some situations. I've known LEOs who would ticket somebody for impeding traffic.

Rule number one in life, don't be a dick.

 

Even worse are those doing UNDER the speed limit in the LEFT most lane. Those people really, really annoy me.

 

What bugs me the most are slow drivers on freeways that suddenly change lanes cutting me off for no apparent reason. With all the traffic in this area, often boxed in, unable to change lanes can result in very hard braking.

Once I overheard two men sitting near me in a restaurant discussing how they both purposely cut off faster moving vehicles with lane changes. Praising each other for a job well done slowing down faster drivers. Like they were providing a great service, really amazing.
I can't help but wonder how many accidents they caused.

 

Seriously, you ARE a loser if you do that.

 

Lol in my city the speed limit on I10 is 60 so I see a lot of people driving 55

 

I'd be happy, too. I get 13 mpg when towing my boat, but it's probably heavier than yours (3600 full of gas).

 

What annoys me is people riding my bumper while I am doing over speed limit in left lane and I am passing people in center lanes.

 

.
55 MPH to 60 MPH, on a flat road, no heavy loads, no wind, low humidity, no A/C on (fall is best in SE USA), 35 PSI in tires, low RPMs .... and it is possible to get unbelievable good mileage (better than EPA sticker).

FWIW .... I have been trying "S" on transmission in the city and manually shifting the auto. to 4, 5 & 6 and my mileage is better.
.

 

Thats what i usually get "atleast"

 

You know, I think that's just the way some people drive. They might be aching to pass, or they may just be doing what they always do. If you suddenly got out of their way, they'd be lost. Looking for another car to hitch onto.

I drive mostly two-lanes. It's rural. Sometimes I'll pick up a tailgater, and there's nobody coming, dashed center line, a mile's worth of road ahead completely visible, the whole shitaree. To shake the tailgater I might begin slowing down. 65, 60, 55, 45. I have slowed down to 30 in a 65, completely empty road, with some ditto head behind me. I drive along at 30 for an entire minute with the dipsh!t still back there. Eventually I signal and pull over, amazed at the dumbness. Amazed.

When I'm driving on a two lane, if I start coming up on somebody going slower I am immediately planning my pass. Often if you're looking for your chance, you never have to reduce your speed at all. You just take the chance you see coming and use the skinny pedal. I ride with people who will suddenly wind up behind the slower car, and all of a sudden they realize "hey, I'm behind a slower car!"

Usually drives me fairly crazy to ride as passenger. I'm driving all the time when I'm in a car (or truck) regardless of whether I'm behind the wheel.