MPG difference in 4WD vs 2WD

I have a 4x4 SR5. I was SO going to buy a 2WD truck, but found through common sentiment that 4x4 will almost always retain the difference in price (about $3000 more), and that it's good to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

And that EPA mileage ratings between the 2WD and 4x4 were identical.


If you're getting shitty fuel economy it's probably due to your conditions, and your driving habits.

 

At this point it has to be driving habits.
I think I get like 16mpg in mine and I'm happy. Although if I had a stock third gen I would want like 20 ish.

 

Your driving style makes more difference than anything and big heavy tires will wreck it in a hurry.

 

I don't bother warming up living in the desert. Your gauge probably loses .5 mpg for the time it takes for a smoke. That and the bigger tires. I need to get mine calibrated since adding the 33's so I know what I'm actually getting.

 

I drive most of winter in 4wd and most of summer in 2wd. The roads have cleared now that spring has sprung, but the overall temperatures aren’t much different (0-20F to 20-40F) are about the same, and I’m getting roughly 2mpg better now in 2wd all the time vs 4wd all the time.

 

I get 30 plus MPG with mine in city/highway combined - Extremely happy - better than the Kia Sportage 2WD 4 cyl. that was traded in for it and better than rating on the window sticker. Will keep it as long as possible as stick shift no longer available

 

I average 20 mpg in Los Angeles. Highway miles. I have been making an effort though. When I didn’t pay attention it was 15. Makes a big difference to get 5 more miles per gallon out here as the gas prices are very high

 

you're worried about 3K over FIFTEEN years?

Besides, your math is off. I think it's because you're using rates incorrectly.

40 miles per day, 5 times a week, for 15 years is 40*5*52*15=156,000miles

156,000miles/20mpg = 7800 gallons
7800*$2.67 = $20,826

156,000miles/17mpg = 9176.5 gallons
9176.5*$2.67 = $24,501.26

A difference in $3675.26

Better start buying five packs....

 

Is the MPG readout accurate? I don't really pay attention to it, but now I'm curious.

 

I'd say it is. I was skeptical at first but after about 4 tanks I stopped double checking since it was showing the same numbers

 

Well there's your problem

Thats like stepping on a nail and wondering why it hurts

 

I feel this was fitting

 

Change your driving habits. IF you don't have a lift and big tires, slowing down to no more than 70, taking it easy on acceleration, and avoiding stop and go traffic, you should get 20mpgs easy.

 

Oh, never mind. There is your problem.

 

If you are really worried about this, I'm going to be blunt.
You don't understand what is going on.

Force = mass * acceleration (please note that a wheel turning is always in acceleration)
In my case, swapping to E rated tires, I've added 23lbs per tire!!!!!
That's a big increase in mass!!! That means a whole lot more force is needed to keep them tires turning. Meaning more gas!!!!. Rotating mass is a bitch.

I bought my tires a few weeks ago. I swapped from General AT2s to X3s. My MPGs dropped from 19-20mpg to 16-17mpg under similar driving conditions.... and I don't even have a lift!



That being said, the lift, tires, and catch can would buy a whole lot of beer and/or gas and you could still have 4x4.

 

The difference between 4X2 and 4X4 is going to be small compared to your lift and tires.

 

Just drive in 4 wheel drive everyday and your present fuel costs won't seem so.....

On dry highway I get 20 mpg (2015 4x4 Tacoma access cab) if I keep the speed at 60 mph, otherwise, the mpg drastically drops as I push further over 60mph. I really don't do city driving (my area of residence has one light and one stop sign in 30 sq miles).

I finally calculated mpg in 4 wheel drive mode at 5-15 miles per day going 3-12 mph + a 150 mile trip going 30 mph (coulda gone faster but had to be careful of fuel usage) and noticed my gas mileage dropped to 16.5 mpg. OUCH! But, still not bad considering the extra wt in it + 400 lbs of sandbags for additional weight when driving on ice/snow.
It's the price we pay to have a PU truck. So glad to have a reliable vehicle in knarly, scary conditions & Toyota has never failed me. I can't say the same about my former truck -a dodge- which left me stranded in BFE twice and it had less than 80,000 miles on it !