Finally over 20 mpg

It's all in how you drive it. If I just drive normal, with no jackrabbit starts or heavy acceleration, I can maintain a good 24 MPG in my 2.7L 1st gen, as long as I stay between 50 and 60MPH once I get up to speed. As soon as I hit 65, or even 70, I drop down to 19.5 MPG. Towing my trailer I get 18.

 

Effectiveness of those tyoes of device vary. The factory meters in my last 3 trucks were pretty spot on. Generally within about .5 of hand calculated. My latest truck (Ford) was on the mark as well till I added a tuner. Then it went to the nuthouse. In any case though, hand calculated is the surest way to get a good number.

Myself I take peoples claims with a grain of salt because as mentioned, at best the circumstances of our driving are only similar at best. My definition of city driving can be vastly different from the next guy. His rig might have oversized tires, poor gears to match, and loaded down with a half ton of useless aftermarket "upgrades".

In my version of mixed driving I tend to hover between 15-16-ish. On the highway and sticking about 70 max I can do a bit over 20 mpg. I'm not complaining. My Superduty couldnt get 20mpg it I put it in neutral and shoved it out of the space shuttle.

 

And I love people that say, "I get xxx mi. per tank"

...are you running it dry and pushing it to the gas station?

 

I don't know how many times i've explained this, but LOW TEMPERATURES have a significantly higher effect on MPG than "winter blend" fuel does.

it's cold. the engine uses alot of fuel to heat up. air is denser = more fuel to reach 14.7:1 stoich. these are the reasons why MPG is worse in winter.

 

^^^^ and this is precisely why all these mileage threads are beyond ludicrous.

6 million variables. It would require a huge database and dedicated fulltime analyst to come up with any meaningful conclusions...that would have to be tailored to 900 subcategories.

 

I got 23.5 mpg driving to albany and back last week. I take it easy on the throttle, avr speed about 45. slight hilly terrain.

 

My record is 20.5

In the summer I can average right around 19.

Winter makes me believe I have a direct impact on Shell stock and should possibly buy some shares.

It's pretty hilly here, so I don't think I can realistically do much better.

 

I agree. Not to mention, I have a habit of letting my truck "warm up" during the winter months. Therefore I get 0 mpg for at least 10-15 mins before I put it in gear.

 

My buddy has a 2.7 regular cab 4x4... he gets 10mpg... (OMG!!! you probably think)

But the reason for that is, because he actual live in a city. Drives only there, block-to-block below 20 mph, that's true "city driving"

And it idles to warm up in freezing temps., for however long (substantially lowering the avg.)

 

Amazing how much you can burn up idling and warming up the engine. I had remote start on my last car and on the cold mornings I'd let it run, I think 15 minutes or 10 minutes was it's normal setting and if you didn't get in and drive away by that time it shut the engine down. Gas bill went up 25 in cold months just on time idling in front of the house. But, I could fill the tank for under $30 and got 28 MPG, and as long as I remembered to turn the defrost on the night before I could walk outside and sit down into a warm cabin and be ready to drive away. Worth it.

 

ALL OF THIS^^^. A thousand times yes. Here is a simple How-To about accurately charting mileage on paper:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/performance-tuning/365941-how-chart-fuel-mileage-range-etc.html

 

It's easy. When you fill up, take note of how many gallons you bought. Subtract that # from 21.1 (2nd gen capacity). Take that # and multiply it by the odometer reading since last fill up. This gives you a remaining distance. Add this # to the odometer reading and you have your range.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/performance-tuning/365941-how-chart-fuel-mileage-range-etc.html

 

No, people just use the term "tank" and fill up their trucks when the gas light comes on... with no knowledge at calculation

Proper calculations are simple:
-reset trip meter w/ full tank
-drive until your next fill-up
-take miles driven, divided by the gallons just used to fill tank
-DONE

 

hummm the denser air actuality help your engine, less air is need to achive the same fuel/air mixe i know for fact that aircraft engine are more efficient at -30C than a +30C

 

Ran my last tank for 420 MI and filled with 20 gallons. That's a whole 1.1 gallons just sloshing around in there when I went to fill up.

 

Do you drive a 5-lugger?

 

Santa Rosa doesn't get cold. North Dakota gets cold.

 

Below freezing is cold.

Really fucking far below freezing is even colder!

 

32°F is sweater weather in Michigan.

 

Win! Funniest thing I've read on the inter webs in a while.

1st tank off the lot got me 16 but wasn't actually massaging it.