13MPG Fuel Economy

Is that a question?

Edit..based of of your lack of punctuation, I would assume you are as dumbfounded as I am.

 

If it helps, I have 10,000 miles on my 3rd Gen and am only getting about 17.....and that's with premium gas

 

Where does is say city OD is 6th? That doesn't make much sense.

 

Just driving the truck it is super easy to understand what they were trying to accomplish with this combo. Knock it into sport and tap the shifter up to 5. It drives so much better on the highway. Now try sport in 6th around town and the truck is great. The mileage still sucks but the truck works great. Like I mentioned...I understand what they were trying to accomplish with this combo but the execution is shit. Almost GM of yesteryear shit.....oh wait, who designed this truck?

 

So you're saying that 6th gear is made for the city and 5th for the highway?

 

Mike "Chrysler" Sweers

 

That is exactly what I am saying. With this combo there is no amount of programming that can make it better. This is a gearing issue in this truck. Shit, this truck can't even pull 6th gear at 60 mph. 5th gear is pushing it but the gearing on this thing is so far off, it is incredible that actual engineers came up with this. Regear the rear end and RPM's do not change but drivability is night and day.

Edit..You can go to the source (transmission) or you can band aid it (rear end).

 

1st: 3.60:1
2nd: 2.09:1
3rd: 1.49:1
4th: 1.00:1
5th: 0.69:1
6th: 0.58:1

You find a situation when a 0.58:1 gear is good for city driving.

I get to 6th gear on the highway and have zero problems / no downshifts unless I need to overcome someone. Which would happen in any 5-6 speed transmission.

 

Are you Mike Sweers? On paper that makes sense. Taking into effect the coefficient of drag exponentially getting higher the faster you go......6th gear ratio is too much of a jump and rendering the 6th gear worthless and 5th almost as worthless.

How about Colorado gearing...
2017 Colorado

1st: 4.06
2nd: 2.37
3rd: 1.55
4th: 1.16
5th: 0.85
6th: 0.67

Keep in mind...this truck has more power and torque than the taco and the gearing works better.

 

I think people should stop picking on GoatFiddyone ... I can sympathize with someone who spent a ton of money on a vehicle and it hasn't lived up to expectations... I have had this happen with a few vehicles of mine. The night before I bought my Tacoma I couldn't sleep I was so excited. This is my 21st vehicle actually. When shopping, there were hardly any even to test drive and when I did test drive one it was for about 30 mins and that was about all I could get. I bought one that day and it would arrive in a month. Pumped.

I bought this truck for hauls up the sea-to-sky highway to ski Whistler multiple times a year. Sick of driving my Honda Civic and sitting in the slow lane I wanted a much more powerful truck that was decent on fuel. After owning this truck for a few weeks and doing that exact drive to Whistler a few times I am disappointed in the fuel economy as well as the power of this truck. Engines in most vehicles today are so refined, powerful and sip fuel. Some of Honda/Acura's engines for example put out great HP and barely touch the fuel. BMW also has exceptional power and fuel consumption. My '09 328i hauled ass and was decent on fuel. Yes, these are different cars but the technology and evolution of engines has come a long way in the past 10 years. This truck should have 325HP and an 8 speed Tranny while posting some excellent mileage.

I think a lot of what sells the Tacoma is it's loyal customers but other manufacturers are beginning to produce much more advanced vehicles. After driving this Tacoma for the time I have, it feels dated already and it's the brand new model. As fast as vehicles are advancing these days this truck will appear very old in just a few short years. Go sit in a new F150 and it will blow your mind. Again, different vehicle, but a similar purpose. I am stuck with this purchase for a long time as selling now would be a huge loss. But if I could return it, I just might... This post may get lit up, however; I just returned from a 2 hour drive and has almost zero desire to get back in that truck and drive it again. My point, I can sympathize with others who may feel the same. Cheers boys.

 

Damn I love spaghetti.

 

you realize it could actually be the premium gas thats hurting your MPG right?

 

I usually just leave it in D, but lately I have been using S mode, in 4 around town and S5 for highway. My mpg has jumped 2-3 even with winter fuel, using all ethanol free gas. Really a pleasant surprise to see the increase in mpg just using S mode.

 

I'm curious how it is on the transmission to use Smode.
Always heard that using those gear limiting things can be bad for them etc.

really don't get how being in a lower gear in a higher RPM would get better MPG. what a fuckin weird engine lol.

 

Uh huh

 

I know, right?! It seems counter-intuitive that it runs at higher rpm and gets better fuel mileage!

 

These trucks are not great on gas, Fun to drive for sure! if the manufacturers cannot figure out how to get at least a solid 25 mpg in 2017 thats just lazy. These trucks have got the same gas milage since the beginning, heck the 1st gen might even get better.

 

I wouldn't doubt the strict emission standards have a lot to do with it.

 

One thing I did learn on my last road trip...set the cruise at 83-85 and the mileage is the same as it would be at 70.

 

16 mpg for me.....full of driveline vibration, rear diff hum/howl, and front passenger speaker area rattle