13MPG Fuel Economy

This winter has been strange so far in my area. Cold fronts move in for a few days, then move out ... this generally produces windy conditions.

I couldn't get over 22.5mpg on the hwy doing 60mph in the colder days of December, but we had a weird few days of 50-60 degree temps during the day ... and I nearly got 24 mpg without even trying (70-75mph) on winter blend.

Cold air is denser, which makes for more drag. Add the higher wind from changing conditions on top of that ... huge difference.

I just took a trip out to NW Ohio, about 1100 miles round trip. I got about 19.5mpg on route 80W through the mountains of PA in 27 degree weather ... doing 60-65. 21mpg on the way back at 40+ degrees @ 70-75mph. Of course, I had the prevailing winds in the face on the way out, and on my back on the trip home.

 

Proof, and how long?

Oh and I might have missed that commercial, but who buys the Taco for dragging?

 

I chuckled when I read that, I can only imagine it. I've had "faster" cars in the past, Stage 2 Wrx, s2000. I've ridden with my cousin in his LS swapped RX7 that pulls sub 12 quater mile passes (that was before it was cammed and tuned). In my head I can imagine the Taco and Frontier racing and if by chance one "blew the doors off the other" it would be like, damn lost by a half car length that time. Lol

 

You sure about that?
http://autotk.com/0-60-times/nissan/frontier/
http://autotk.com/0-60-times/toyota/tacoma/

Frontier ave across 2016-2017 0-60: 7.63
Tacoma ave across 2016-2017 0-60: 7.39

Frontier ave across 2016-2017 1/4 mile: 16.0 seconds
Tacoma ave across 2016-2017 1/4 mile: 15.8 seconds

If I remove the 4cyl's from both, the end result is similar. Tacoma faster in 0-60 and 1/4 mile (which aren't much different )

 

Same. 5 and 405 traffic here ( but different state) and local city traffic as well. I still got 36 combined in my corolla, but it was a 1991 that I bought for a couple hundred bucks as an experiment. Light weight and the 5speed manual helped.

 

Not this again...why do people compare trucks speed? Snail versus snail. You know what will blow the doors off of both of them? A v6 camry does the 1/4 in 14.6 lol.

 

I was just replying to someone that said a frontier was quicker. Which wasn't true.

I never said a Tacoma was a drag car

 

More room for condensation to form when half empty. At least that is what I always believed.

 

Sorry, should have quoted him, but yeah, that was in response to the frontier blowing the doors off a tacoma.

 

I totally agree! That is true for any vehicle too.

 

I get about 20mpg. Averaged 21 this past tank.

 

Drove from northern va down I66 to visit family this weekend.

13.1 MPG.

The hills of 66 were quite a challenge for the truck and its transmission. I really wish they put more power/different platform in this truck. Too underpowered.
Not asking for 700hp just enough power to get out it's own way.

However, getting back into town the mpg went back up to 16-17 and the truck feels liveable. Trying my best to accept the truck for what it is.

 

If it's been posted I apologize in advance. For the winter I would get yourself a block heater. Will provide better start up and fuel economy when that cold. I plan on getting one for when we move to Colorado.

 

Block heaters are great tools just to be able to start your car in cold weather, not as a $$ saving device. I live in Montana and it's not something I've needed in 8 years. My Chevy started just fine in -38F temps. Make sure your battery is in good shape and you run the appropriate oil weight for weather like that.

 

There is something to be said about a warmed up engine in my 3rd Gen getting better MPG then when it is cold. I've got in my truck just to get it filled up. when I shut down after going to the station my mpg would be say 14.8 trip average. Then after filling up, just reversing my route and parking in my driveway with a warmed up engine see something like 18+ MPG. The same applies when I take short trip, better mileage when coming home then going out.

 

Do you let it idle to warm up?

 

Normal

 

Always, my truck seems a little cold blooded. Now, I'm not sitting there letting it warm for 5 minutes but at least a couple minutes.

 

There is your first MPG loss. I have watched mine mpg numbers go down while just warming up for about 30seconds, not lots but some on the tank average.

 

I appreciate the input but I've been driving a few years and feel like I know what I'm doing.