Extremely BAD,

Wish I had read this before I purchased my 2014 4 cylinder. MPG is around 20 but as low as 17 with mostly highway miles. I hear the 6 cylinder is getting about that much. Worse thing is the 4 cylinder is a dog. I have to have lots of room to pass on the highway due to the lack of power. My advice, STAY AWAY FROM THE 4 CYLINDER TACOMA !

 

Do you have a manual or automatic? The manual takes (or for me at least) some getting used to. I wouldn't want automatic with the 4 cyl. I have the added weight of 4x4 and a camper shell, and can still goose it pretty good if I need to. Most (99%+) of the time I'm just taking it easy though, staying well below 2500 rpm, and getting 21 mpg avg mixed driving. I don't think any of the 4x4 V6 get that.

 

God filled up and checked again and I'm back to 16

 

If you're in a hurry, don't get the 4. I'm perfectly satisfied with it.

 

What is the PSI in the tires?

 

I agree with the advice above -

• Drive light; no quick starts and keep a steady foot
• Use synthetics; slicker and better when cold
• Find routes to work, store, etc that optimizes your FE
• Keep your truck tuned (how old are the plugs??)

You also want to reduce the rolling weight; get rid of any clutter. And with the weather cooling down (cold here in NE), FE will suffer. Ethanol also takes a bite out of the MPGs. That said, you should be around 22 MPGs (or better) so you are off around 40%. If you aren't sure when the plugs were changed last, you might want to start there.

Good luck!

 

got an ultra gauge for Christmas and after around a month now all im showing is 18.5 I guess I just expect to much from the poor prerunner

 

You may think you are being conservative with the right foot, one has to be uber conscious of the pedal pressure, I was able to vastly increase my MPG's by paying real close attention to my right foot and the instant MPG function of the Ultra Gauge....

 

Check your valve clearances. If they are way out, especially the exhaust valves, you should get them adjusted. Labor intensive, therefore costly. I just had mine done for $500 at a local garage. Purrs like a kitten now.

 

how many ways can it be calibrated, I filled up and used the fill up option everytime. alo what size tank does the 2.7 prerunner have? I read that it has an 18 gal. but when im on empty and fill up it comes up to around 15

my uncle owns a garage and he checked it with the computer and says everything it running absolutely perfect couldn't be no better

 

There's nothing wrong with your truck. The 1st gen prerunners 4cyls just suck down fuel. Especially with the winter gas and if you idle it at all to warm it up on cold days.
Even the government agrees...
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=1&year1=2000&year2=2000&make=Toyota&model=Tacoma%202WD&srchtyp=ymm

 

oh well I got a remote start to allow it to get warm, in the mornings

 

I have read all and none apply. It was warm when I checked the MPG. It gets worse in cold weather for sure. Worse also on corn gas. I watch my RPM and do not let it idle to warm up. Bottom line, it does not get close to the MPG rating. It is a dog compared to the 6 cylinder and from what I am told gets the same or worse MPG. I saved a couple of grand on purchase price but that is all.

 

I don't doubt that in the 2nd gen the EPA estimates are incorrect for the Prerunner 4cyls. Unfortunately the EPA estimates are based on the 5 lugs like mine. The estimates for my truck is right on. Unfortunately because the two trucks have identical powertrains and similar weights the EPA allows Toyota to use the EPA ratings for the 5 lug on both. In the first gen they had to test them both b/c the 5 lug used the 2.4L and the Prerunner used the 2.7L.
Is it dirty? Yeah probably a little, but from what I have read Toyota is legally within their rights to do this.
All I can tell you is if you want to get your EPA rated mileage you'll basically have to change the rear gears to 330s and put some smaller tires on it. But you would be best served by just putting up with the fuel economy or trading for a V-6.

 

You can check anything you want to check and drive anyway you want to drive but I have not heard one person say that get anywhere close to the mpg on the sticker. I think it is time that Toyota changes the sticker or changes the set up on this model so future buyers get what they pay for.

 

I think it is just trucks in general with their poor aerodynamics. I remember a lot of folks bought the old Toyota 4 bangers (before the days of Tacoma/Tundra) expecting to get good mileage and a lot were disappointed it wasn't that much better than a half ton pickup.

If its paid off and running well, don't worry about it. Unless someone gave me a free hybrid it would take years and years and years to break back even over the purchase cost of a new vehicle.

 

Obviously this isn't completely true because the new Dodge half ton ecodiesel was just rated at 28mpg highway by the EPA. So powertrain selection/technology has a lot to do with mileage. If Toyota would update the powertrain in the Tacoma to match the rest of it's lineup I suspect mileage would increase by 15-20%. By that I mean adding DVVT, Direct Injection, and transmissions with more gears.
I think the Tsunami/Earthquake hurt Toyota more than anybody realizes. They're at least 5 years behind on most powertrains and on the Tacoma they're probably 10 years behind.
A good example is the transmission that are behind all the 2tr-fe. It's the A343E which is an electronically controlled version of the A340 which was in use behind the Pre-tacoma V-6. Circa 1990! They were actually used as early as 1987 in some vehicles. They've proven to be extremely durable but not very fuel efficient b/c they only have 4 forward gears.

 

All of that outdated stuff is exactly why I love my Taco. Tried and true. Tested and de-bugged over the years. Both factory and aftermarket parts are plentiful and cheap. All of which is why the 2.7/auto is one of the longest lasting, generally trouble free vehicles you can buy. Just what the Dr. ordered for this old geezer!

 

Same here.
The 5 speed in my 2012 is exactly the same model transmission that was in my 1996 Taco. Bulletproof.

I'm a big fan of trailing edge technology.

Greg

 

Power train would explain a lot. I had a 2013 Rav4 that ran great and got almost 30 mpg all the time. It had a 6 speed. My Toyota sales rep told me the Tacoma had the same engine and would run about the same. As it turns out the Tacoma has a larger engine but the gross weight difference of the vehicles was less than 500 pounds.