How are you guys getting 20+ MPG V6 4x4s

I can get 21-22 if I adjust the "foot to pedal" ratio.

 

Thats what i heard from alot of people. Never happened for me.

 

My mileage has actually gotten worse since cold weather - still only about 3500 on the vehicle however. Started back in October getting about 22, now I'm getting about 20 or so. Hopefully it's just the winter blend of oxegenated gas, and will get better when the weather warms back up.
I also noted that the station I mainly purchase my gas from just changed to adding 10% ethanol to their gas, and I know that drops it a bit as well, up to a mile a gallon - or more.

 

Scangauge.

 

I was doing about 90-95 on the way home from work today. what ya think i was getting? who cares.

 

Bigger tires = more friction = worse mileage.

Towing = more weight = worse mileage.

You carry a bunch of junk in your truck? More weight, see above statement.

You have a cap or tonneau? Those might help a bit.

Stop and go? Kiss your mileage goodbye.

I average in the 18s around town. 21-23 on good road trips. Go easy on the gas. Big fan of cruise control. Keep the AC off and windows usually up. If you put the temp over to cool, leave the controls in "off" you usually still get a bit of air coming through the vents, just enough to keep me cool.

 

I used to think so but upon looking into it more, that may not be true. It wouldn't necessarily have more friction. The contact patch stays relatively constant because it's based on the weight of the vehicle. It just stretches the contact patch laterally instead of front to back. Tire compound could increase friction though.

What will change is the amount of torque required to turn the wheel because of the larger mass and diameter of the wheel (more weight further out from the axle is harder to turn). So it would use more gas to turn the wheel.

Also if the tire is significantly wider, it can make aerodynamic drag worse though I'm not certain how much that would really impact gas mileage.

 

If you don't care, then why resurrect a thread that's over a year old?

 

Excellent question.

 

I use my truck for work, escortiing oversize loads. I get 18-20, unless running my high sign (over the lightbar), then I get 16-17. The wind plays a large part in fuel mileage, especially with a double cab.

When I go home after a load, I fold the lightbar down into the bed and put the toneau cover on, and I can get 21-23. I have the TRD cold air, and cat back exhaust systems, and that makes a difference.

However, remember, "SPEED COSTS MONEY, HOW FAST DO YOU WANT TO GO?"

 

Something has to be wrong with my truck!?! I am constantly getting 14.5-15mpg using a scangauge. I have a V6 TRD Sport 6spd with 265/70 tires. Do I need to reprogram the truck for the tires? Most http://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/tacoma/gas%20v6 are getting 18-20, and I cant even break 16! There MUST be something wrong with my setup, truck, computer, etc?

Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

Going by my Scanguage, I averaged about 20-22mpg on my trip down to PA 2 weeks ago. Just regular driving, with tires in the back on the drive back.

 

So how many miles do you guys get out of a tank on the highway? 350ish?

I travel for work and spend a lot of time on the highway. I always get dead on 400 miles a tank(17gal I think) out of my 4 cylinder.

I stop every 300 miles for gas. I kinda hate to hear I'll be stopping every 200 miles when I get a TRD.

 

You won't have to stop every 200. I hit 200 miles on a tank typically somewhere between the half and quarter line on the gauge.

I've gotten as much as 380+ on a tank before hitting the low fuel light, and I've gotten as little as 290 or maybe less. The 380 was when he was getting good mileage a couple years ago. I never get anything like that anymore.

These days, average for the low fuel light would probably be around 310-315. But I don't usually let it that far.

 

It depends on how hard/soft, how tall and how wide your tires are too. I had 33x12.5x16 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws on my '06 and I was getting single digits in town. They were extremely heavy (90+ lbs a piece full), but when I switched to 285x75x16 BFG All Terrains I started getting 16-18.

I haven't tried them out yet on my '11 but I'm looking forward to the roads de-icing.

 

I got a DC 4x4 2010....

I get 20.5 MPG in the City and about 17 on the high way.

Yes, you read that correctly. I get worse on the highway lol.

I drive 65 miles a day, and VERY happy with 20.5 MPG, but then again, I'm SR5 with Mickey Mouse tires. If you have rubber with any testosterone, I'm sure (as many others have said) the larger/heavier tires will bring that mileage down.

 

One other thing worth mentioning....

A tad bit off tangent, but I get about 350 miles out of a full tank before I refuel, and that usually costs me about 16 gallons. I know the tank is some 21.5 or something like that, so at 16 gallons is right where the light wants to start coming on.

The reason I dont let it go below that (unless emergency or something) is because the fuel pump (I believe) is a submersible pump. And like all the cars in the 90s, if you run them empty all the time, you will wear out your pump much quicker (it runs hot for more duration) since there is less fuel to keep it cool.

A buddy of mine replaced his pump on his 37,000 mile 2009 Durango.... and it cost him $1000 out of pocket between wages lost, tow truck, $500 fuel pump from Detroit and installation.

 

I really did not think people who buy these trucks were all that concerned with fuel costs.

 

I was.

The minor difference between this truck and most full size trucks is minimal and negligible at best. If I were to do it over again, I would be in a full size, no questions asked. Live and learn

 

I was regularly getting 21mpg in my PreRunner.... then I added BFG AT's. Now around 18 and below.