4 cyl. gas mileage

Registered "hypermilers" call this driving without brakes or DWB. The principle is, brakes convert momentum to heat energy through friction. So, you will get better fuel economy if you allow less momentum to be converted to heat energy. For example, if you drive 100 miles running a steady 50mph (DWB), you will get better fuel economy than if you stop or slow down periodically. Like other economy-minded drivers, I let off the gas early when approaching a red light, and keep one eye on the section of highway about 1/2 mile ahead, and drive slightly under the speed limit on surface streets (this last one makes a big difference with the timing of the lights in my community). Yes sometimes it pisses off other drivers that I am driving "so slow" but most of the time I pull up next to them at the next red. That's right, hurry up and slow down. haha. Once in a while (like an on-ramp) I blast full throttle just to blow out the carbon and make sure she's still purring, if you will.

 

To show how much difference light winds or a tailwind make to your mileage. I filled up today after a 315 mile highway trip to visit Mom, running between 70 and 75 MPH, the mileage was 28.2. This trip usually nets between 24 or 25 MPG. The only other thing I have done to the truck since the last trip to visit Mom was to reseat my AFE proDryS air filter. This wind thing might be bigger than we all think.

 

with my lift and 265's going 60 on the freeway no a/c, in az its hotter than a mofo, i just filled up with 18.394 gallons and got 441 on that tank, making the mpg 23.98. this is without the difference in mileage takin into my calculations. not bad but i feel like and idiot how i drive and old ass ladies passing me and people giving me dirty looks...wait they cant see me so it doesnt really matter

 

70 mph with 15 mph tailwind, 29ish Imp mpg, U-turn....24ish Imp mpg.....So yes, biggest single factor in highway mileage, behind speed of course

 

Last tank, I grandpa'd it, coasted to lights, and never drove it like I was in a hurry, etc., mostly all in town miles, and got 22.38 mpg. Thats only about 1.5 mpg better then the truck has got since day one. Its always averaged just under or around 21mpg since day one.

 

I bought my 75 year old Father an 07 Access Cab with 40,000 miles / 2.7L / Automatic.

He loves the truck, but is disappointed with the 15 MPG city gas mileage. He drives around town on very short trips which is the worst driving conditions for gas mileage.

The Tacoma starts, idles and runs great, so there is nothing wrong with the tune-up of the engine.

My Mother only gets 25 MPG City with her 1999 Honda Civic / automatic in the same driving conditions.

Does 15 MPG sound normal for strictly city MPG?

 

is it a 5 lug or a prerunner/4x4?

i get at the very least 20 in the city...

i only got 19.5 on my first tank of gas...

and i don't drive very conservatively in the city....i tend to blast my A/C and have the windows down as well

 

The truck is a 2wd Access Cab / 2.7L / Automatic.

15 MPG is bad, but considering how he drives the truck, it might be all that he is going to get.

My Mother has the same problem with her 1999 Civic. It is rated at 29 MPG city, but she only gets 25 city.

 

yeah 15 is bad id get it checked out man...i drive like a madman and the worse i get is around 20...

 

What do I get checked?

It runs great! Starts right up, idles very smooth and accelerates great.

No check engine lights.

I don't want a mechanic to "shotgun" the problem and just start changing parts.

 

If his common trips are under 4 miles and always from a cold start condition, then this mileage figure is probably pretty close to what it should be. Before 4 to 5 miles the engine is still in the cold start enrichment cycle. Just look on your vehicle and if the idle is above 700 RPM's, the engine is still burning a richer fuel mixture. Some times this lasts several minutes, and during this period the fuel mileage really suffers.

 

91r100gs,

I believe that your answer is 100% correct!

My Father only drives on short trips in the city no farther than 5 miles.
Plus, he is running the AC in the summer which hurts MPG a little more.

I drove the Tacoma for a week prior to giving it to him to make sure there were no problems with it and I LOVED it! It's a great truck, smooth, quiet, lots of interior room and Toyota quality.

I guess that he will have to live with the gas mileage.

 

most of my trips are anywhere between 2-3 miles during the week...i go from home to school to eat to school back home and to work and school and work is around 2 and a half miles from my house...and i don't get near that kind of mileage

 

I have been getting about 21-22 average in mixed city and hwy driving with my 09.
I would love to get up to the 25 range you guys are talking about!

 

17.5-18.5 City
21-22 Hwy

I got 19 hauling a trailer and a 4-wheeler.
01 tacoma Prerunner Auto

 

I purchased an 07 Access Cab (2wd / 2.7L / Auto) for my 75 year old Father about a month ago. He claims in strictly city driving that he is only getting 15 mpg. He is dissappointed in that mileage coming from an 2000 Frontier (2wd / 2.4L / Auto) that was averaging 19 mpg city.

The truck appears to start, idle and run great.

Any maintenance tips to improve MPG?

The truck has 43,000 miles.

 

Follow the 30 K maintenance link in my sig. That is everything I have done maintenance wise

 

Have you ridden along with your father to witness his driving style and habits? Does he make "jackrabbit" starts? What wheels/tires does it have? Is the tire pressure kept up? What weight oil is being run in the engine? Are there lots of hills in your area? These are all things that can affect fuel economy.

 

So called "jackrabbit" starts don't make a huge difference, as long as you're not brake happy....Hills don't make a huge difference either, really bad going up, really good going down.....
My scangauge suggests that many short trips, wind, highway speed, and heavy brake use are the biggest factors in mileage.