MPG? FYI. Why Your Tacoma Gets What It Gets

What about some of these 3rd gen guys reporting 26-28 mpg per tank on their DCSB 4X4 OR. That throws everything out of whack.

 

I'll be happy to explain it to you Paul.
Tires.
Driving habits.
Aerodynamics.

All the above can offset the weight penalty.

 

Depends on altitude and a bunch of other stuff. In the city, I'm shooting around 20 like OP noted but I can get in the high 20s at my mountain retreat!

 

Awesome write up! I will be linking this in future MPG threads!

If only this could happen. Worth a top spot sticky at least.

To maintain a speed, weight isn't as much of a factor. Gearing, aero, altitude, and wind are much larger factors.

 

I can get that mpg too. Not easy, but it's possible but not for several thousand miles. That is abnormal though and I suspect their data collection methods.

 

Well if it says it on the dash then its gotta be right!

 

Send a mod the link and a note. Maybe it will happen.

 

Will do.

 

If that were the case then I could load up with 2,000lbs in my bed and still maintain 20mpg...

Still way over simplified and doesn't explain the differences between apples and oranges.

That's like saying well one is red the other is orange. Except that it is much more than that.

 

Great write up @hiPSI

Agreed @Woodrow F Call and add lift/tire answers like someone else suggested.

 

Weight (Mass) both sprung and unsprung
Driving Habits
Drag (tires and aero)
Geography

It is that simple.

 

Simple way fix to this. Start your own thread and post your dissertation.

 

Ok great. Guess you didn't start a discussion thread to have an open discussion. Got it. Reminds me why I never peruse the turd gen section.

I bow to your great understanding of the universe.

 

I will state this:
If you put a 3.5L V6 in your truck, returned everything else to stock including tires, added some aerodynamic package that would reduce your effective frontal area down to what the 3rd gens are, then you could add weight equal to 5K lbs and still get 20 mpg. Simple physics.

 

More than the average guy wanting better mileage, it is a government mandate. Yes, the average guy would like to get better mileage, but if he bought a truck because he needs a truck, he likely puts functionality before fuel efficiency.

 

Should be stickied.

Would be great if the hijinks could be kept to a minimum.

Nice thread @hiPSI

 

Our trucks (and everyone else's) have grown into big heavy pigs because that’s what the majority of buyers want. They don’t want pickup trucks. They want a sedan with a small pickup bed on the back instead of a trunk. It’s nearly impossible to find a standard-cab, long bed truck today for the average guy who needs a truck for utilitarian use.

When I told the dealer that what I truly wanted was a standard-cab, long bed 4wd truck with standard transmission, manual windows and locks, and no AC, he looked at me like I had 3 heads. But the fact is, that would have fit my needs perfectly, at a much lower price point and with much less to go wrong.

 

By driving habits, you are including how you use your brakes, right?

If you are riding your brakes, your mpg's suffer, correct?

Didn't see it mentioned, so how about it?

Thanks

 

Yes of course. Driving habits include everything you do from the time you start the truck (warming up or idling) all the way til you turn it off after the trip. Riding the brakes is the purest form of drag lol.

 

More $$ spent on building and designing each truck and they could have put in an electric radiator fan, active aero elements (grill shutters or chin spoiler), active cylinder deactivation, engine start/stop, aluminum or high-strength-steel body panels, etc.

Pick three of the above and you're getting 2-3 more mpg.