Fuel Economy on Brand New Truck

I'm still on my first tank of gas, with less than 200 total miles, but the computer is reporting an fuel economy of 14.5 mpg. Is this expected of a new truck? It's a 2023 TRD OR, automatic.

 

You're going to get asked a lot of questions, like:

1) Do you have a lead foot? This is the biggest factor. If you take off quickly and drive 80mph, you're gonna always get shitty MPG's.
2) Is most of your driving city driving or highway?
3) Do you live in a mountain-type area? Climbing inclines and such.
4) Is this a 4x4 or 2whl drive? 2wheelers get a much better MPG.
5) When you first got it, did you gas it up and reset the trip? This will give you a more accurate reading. If you took it from the dealership with say...half a tank in it and then looked at the MPG, well... Fill up the tank and start over.

 

Figure it manually for a while. You can't trust the computer until it learns your driving style. And even later, mine calculates about 1 mpg high.

 

This is my experience from day 1:



You and your Taco's "learning transmission" have to get to know each other. Instantaneous MPGs will not be totally accurate in the beginning (and occasionally later on). What matters is the 'per tank MPG' because that's really what affects your wallet. As mentioned previously (@Borracho Loco), you may hear all of the following:
- Do you have a lead foot? This is the biggest factor. If you take off quickly and drive 80mph, you're gonna always get shitty MPG's.
- Is most of your driving city driving or highway?
- Do you live in a mountain-type area? Climbing inclines and such.
- Is this a 4x4 or 2whl drive? 2wheelers get a much better MPG.
Most important - drive like there's a raw egg between your foot and the pedals. Yeah, it's fun to push that skinny pedal to the floor, but if MPGs matter to you you're gonna have to limit that behavior to a minimum.

 

adding ATs or MTs will have a definite impact, even more so if they are a larger size.

 

You’re still in your learning phase. The truck has to learn your driving style and you have to learn your truck’s transmission shifting points After about 2000 miles, things should smooth out and be accurate with gas mileage.

We’ve all gone through it, but once you’re past that phase it should be smooth sailing

 

If I commute to work I get about 19.5 to 20.5 with my 22 SR5 V6. That is a 50 mile ride with probably 20 miles 50 mph country roads and 30 miles of 75-80 mph highways and going over one mountain along the way. I don't stomp the gas taking off and avoid heavy/fast throttle input on the highway. Hope that helps.

 

All of the above plus starting it up and letting it idle for a long time. I can see a dealership porter leaving it running out front after they get it all washed and gassed up. Do that right after filling up and your average will tank.

OP don't worry about it, the fuel economy number on the window sticker is correct. The average resets when you put gas in it and always starts out really low.

 

I lost 1 MPG at most with my Falken AT3s in the next size up.

 

Yeah, that's what happened to me when I drove my truck home. The dealership left me with maybe 3/4's of a tank of gas, but they would drive it short distances or let it run/idle. I drove it home (over 30 miles) and a serious lead foot on that drive home. Plus I was accelerating really fast.

When I got home I checked the trip MPG's and was in shock! I got 14mpg. I almost drove it back to the dealership because I couldn't afford a truck that got shitty gas mileage like that. But I waited it out, improved my driving habits and it got better. Much better.

I gassed up yesterday, and my tank average was 20.8MPG.

 

Same. 2" Lift and one tire size up made almost zero difference, but I'm on SLs not Cs or Es

 

Seems like I started seeing better mileage around the 7,000 mile mark. Now at 10,000 I regularly see mid-20's oddly enough it gets the best mileage
at 70-75 mph on the freeway for distances. Slow and go kills any MPG and while around town it does stink.... but out on the open road I'm pretty impressed.

 

oh boy

 

Just drive till you get past the 1/2 tank mark and fill it back up before the gauge shows E.

That's it and you never have to think about it ever again.

 

Nailed it. Unsprung weight is what really gets ya.

 

Newness has nearly 0 impact on mpg. No matter what anyone else says. This is all based on your driving conditions/style

 

Run a tank of gas and calculate it manually. The figures provided by my truck are usually way off. I easily get 18-20mpg and drive my truck hard.

 

Yes I should have mentioned that, however, the factory tires were on for most of the driving thus far.

 

Also worth considering - I have observed that my truck's fuel efficiency peaks after the engine has fully warmed up ON THE ROAD. If your typical driving consists of hopping in, firing it up, driving 5-10 miles and then parking it, your fuel economy will suck.
Warming it up before you go anywhere gets you nothing (consuming fuel and adding no miles). This is why I seldom use remote start unless it's outside and well below 10°F. Dress accordingly for cold temps and don't rely on the concept of hopping into a prewarmed truck.

 

I am no engineer, nor am I intelligent but I would imagine fuel economy may get a bit better once everything breaks in?