Need better MPG.

Well I would buy back the Chevy if you wana get better gas than the Taco

 

I can understand your doubt but hold up now as the devil is in the details. What they didn't share is that their city AND highway driving were always done at 48 mph in the flat land with the lightest acceleration possible (and it wasn't the Z71 rear end ratio.)

 

I agree. But they are great trucks and fun to take off road.

 

I am looking into gear ratio. I have head the 4.88 is really good. Looking at tuning as well to fix acceleration issue.

 

try put da chin strap back on dea!

 

I had a 2004 Tahoe 5.3L z71 rear end and would get 18.5 babying on the interstate and 14.5 around town. The thing was super solid and comfortable it just got to a point where the $$$ repairs didn't make sense (which was not until 195k miles with fueling/injector and transmission issues started.) My sister has had every suburban from the 8th thru 11th generation and agrees that the 9th generation was by far the best in several categories.

 

Good for maybe .25 mpg which is not much for us but means a lot to Toyota with their EPA fleet restrictions.

 

Now your losing me. You started this thread with an inquiry to MPG. Neither of those are going to help with mileage.

 

it is what it is. I have a 97 4x4 auto reg cab and it gets 15 in the city, 17 hwy. Its got 2” lift and a topper. 4.10 gears and armor all around, 15” aluminum wheel on 31’s ko2’s. Ik for my truck idling it hurts my mpg, just thrown that out ther.

 

I have 2.5 up front and 2.75 in the rear. I'm running 31's E rated for a camper I have. My Toyo AT3 E rated are lighter than my 31in Wildpeaks SL so getting better gas mileage with a beefier tire. With the camper and e-rated I'm getting about 15mpg without a head wind on the highway around 60mph.

So your options are:

1. Down size your tire. With that lift it will still "look" alright.

2. When choosing your tire, compare weights of different brands.

3. Go skinny. One reason I lost 7lbs per tire was going from a 265 to 245. Plus you add some traction benefits.

When I had 255's that gave me a 32' tire. Wasn't comfortable with just the C rated load capacity, so returned them for the current E rated. Wish there were more options in 255.




New rims and wheel spacers help push the 245s out.

 

I was under the impression gear ratio would help. Thanks

 

Is it Friday already.

Options for MPG improvement:

• Keep truck in garage=better mileage.
• Purchase a bicycle for your commute.
• Drive the wife’s Prius and wish you were dead.
  
• Compromise elsewhere
• Return to purchase decision.
  
• Post in Roast My Taco 3rd Gen and laugh at it all
• Fuck it and eat a sandwich.

 

Throw more money at tires and gears in order to save 1 mpg

How long to recoup the costs?

 

Something to be considered is that vehicle emissions standards have tightened over the years. Fairly large low technology cars in the 1960's could easily achieve well over 20 miles per gallon but emitted a great deal more pollution while achieving it.

 

They have a bit, it is just the trucks have gotten heavier. My 1st Gen V6 never gotten any better than 18. My 3rd was getting 21 until I tossed snow tires on it, that is in town, and making a bunch more power. Betting I could get 23-24 on the highway if I don’t go over 65.

Wonder how well this engine would do if they kept the truck smaller like the 1st Gen.

 

You don't have to go all the way to stock to maintain over 20 mpg. You can go to stock height and install some nice wheels and 265/70-17s in SL rated, which are much lighter and you'll be good. I run the 4Runner Pro wheels and Wildpeaks and it looks really good, better than a stock Tacoma TRD Pro as the 4Runner wheels sit our farther. Tire and wheel weight is just as important as staying at stock height for reduced drag.

 

I know people report 20-25 mpg with stock set up, and I can achieve that in certain situations, but overall, with my driving habits (mostly suburban driving around town) I do just about what is advertised. 18-19 mpg. If you go back to stock, you might be really pissed of all you get is 1.5 mpg better. Maybe look at how you drive and look at improving mpg by slower acceleration, think-ahead breaking and other gas saving maneuvers.

 

Stock tire, stock height. Averaging 20 MPG. Sometimes 22.

 

Yep, that's the important math to think about. My buddy went with a GMC AT4 with the duramax vs the gas because of the gas mileage. He'll probably sell it before he recoups the cost difference. But he is happy.

 

$3.30/gal national average currently. At 21 gal thats $69 for a fill up.

15mpg = 315miles

20mpg = 420miles

Difference = 105miles /15mpg = 7gal = $23 ( 100% Highway and probably only going 60mph)

Cost to change gears ~ $3,000 (quick google search/parts and labor on the high side)

Fill ups to recoup the cost ~ 130



Think this math works.....