Pretty good MPG in the mountains

Edit: I misspoke below. I used regular 88 (with 15% ethanol). Not E88

Picture says it all. On a road trip to visit family for Christmas and was feeling good enough about the gas mileage that it warranted a picture. This is the best my trucks every gotten. I've been averaging between 15 and 18 at home.

This was measured over 110 miles in the mountains. In my previous thread (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/odometer-trip-report.748388/#post-26653026) I discovered my truck gets better mileage than indicated, so I was probably getting over 24/25.

Truck was loaded with 2 adults, a baby, luggage, a cooler, and has a small lift and 33" tires. Granted, this is with E88 gas. (A small town we filled up in only had 85 and 88.) I might do a cost analysis and see if it's cheaper to buy that gas if it improves mileage that much.

 

Nice! With my truck (typical armor, 35s, stock gears, ov tune) I can pull 18-20mph on long highway trips, both mountain passes and flats. Figure going up a pass drops the mileage, but on the way down its idling in 5th/6th gear the whole way so it evens out.

 

Were you going faster than 40 mph slower than 60 mph?

 

Which mountain range?

 

Count your blessing if that’s true. Better than stock rated MPGs on 35s with armor. Buy all the lottery tickets you can because you’re on some next level miracle shit.

 

I mean, thats what the dash shows on those trips. Stock I would get 22-23 hwy.
Don't drive it like a Honda, do 60-63mph exact and it will get good mpgs. Heres a photo from me pulling into Moab, from Washington. Dash shows 940 miles traveled, and the actual miles were 1040 due to the 35s/stock gears. So, this trip calculated closer to 20mpg. I also don't have a bunch of pointless stuff bolted to my roof or bed like most people do.

 

How high up in the mountains? The higher you go the less air/oxygen and the less power your truck makes. That's why there is 85 octane up there because the compression in NA engines drops off. If you're high enough your engine can make up to 20% less power.

 

1000’ in elevation is 3% horsepower change.

 

Almost exclusively. Pretty tough or dangerous to go much faster up or down the winding passes

 

In the vicinity of Boise national forest, Sawtooth mountains, and Salmon-challis national forest

 

Right around 6000-7000

 

Always got by far my best mileage in the mountains. Hardly any stops and predominantly sub 60 mph speeds (speeds I was running at) are the big factors I think.

 

thats the magic speed where the tacoma gets good mileage

 

Down hill going to work lol
Im usually 19-20 mpg

 

Thats all good info, About mountains I have had a 16 that got as high as 27 based on gas to miles driven the SR didn't give the read out. On average 21. My 19 the best was 20 on a calm day and an average of 17. Now my 21 gets an average of almost 21 again. I think that is why everyone wonders what fuel mileage everyone gets on this forum. They all have different experiences at both ends. For me same drive train V6 AT, same gas, same commute and same driver. The strange thing was on my 16 that was a qt low on trans fluid before coming to this forum it got better mileage than after it got filled. Never could understand that

 

Sooo running 88 fuel may compensate for the HP loss at elevation? I used to get 18-22 mpg when I'd drive like an old man on the interstate back and forth from TN to FL. but it's hard for me to do that now with the tune.

 

Its a little hilly being in the southern berkshires and taconic hills here. I get roughly the same mpg as the op with an all stock truck. This at average speeds of 45-60 mph.

 

Yes yes yes , 3.5 Atkinson motor , annoying transmission, and stock tires. It’s possible, we know.
Unfortunately the 2ed gen guys don’t hear these points , nor the “ V tune / slow 3rd gen “complainers. Basically 3rd gen Tacoma is a rad truck with 4L That gets similar gas mileage as a “sensible” highlander .

 

The new Tacomas can run on high Ethanol fuel AND get BETTER mileage? I don't think so. Something fucky going on here.

 

You put E88 in your truck, when it clearly shows not to in the gas cover, and you got better mileage with 33's? Nah.