MPG Mods

When I changed out my stock intake...



...out of curiosity I took a couple of measurements.

Throttle body bore diameter: 61mm
Intake air horn diameter: 61mm

Conclusion: no restriction

I just like my Injen intake for the BWWAAA when you step on the gas, because my stock muffler doesn't make any noise.

 

Hi I just purchased a new 2013 tacoma prerunner and I'm looking for some
Globe Headlights. Does anyone know a good place to buy? Also if you have upgraded you headlights how was the install?

 

As far as I know an intake doesn't help MPG. More air=more fuel. Honda Civic VX's get 45+ mpg with an intake tube the size of a roll of quarters lol.

 

Ok, so I won't wasted the money on a CAI or expensive drop-in air filter. Are there any good MPG mods that are worth the money?

I'm slowly reading through the thread, but haven't made it all the way through yet. I drive as conservatively as I can already, only time I go over 2000rpm is on the Freeway, and that is only because at 65mph (speed limit) I sit at about 2200rpm. I actually changed my work hours so that I would miss traffic both ways, so I'm not sitting in traffic.

 

Maybe add a bed lid. And drive a little slower.

 

That's an interesting principle. Getting maximum mileage through minimum engine rpms. Old standard low performance economy cars did the same with small air horns on their air cleaner assemblies.

My 1972 Datsun 510 had one of these on it...



It also had a curved shield protecting the air filter at the entry so that the air would travel in a circle before going through the air filter. This made dirt particles fall out of suspension while still outside of the filter element. Many older trucks use round canister centrifugal air filters.

 

2013 DCSB Baja, I have 5000k on it now, was averaging 16.0-17.5 mpg. I am currently driving a 4 hr one way trip every weekend for work. Changed the oil to royal purple in hopes to pick up a mpg as it did in my previous vehicle. I didn't see a difference. Then the other weekend I changes the diffs and transfer case oil to Royal Purple. Picked up a solid 1.5 mpg. I know lots of variables can make that kind of change but have kept most the same. Taking the same route every weekend, leaving around the same time, using the grade and brand of gas, setting cruise at the same speeds. Cruising 80-85 on interstate and 70-75 on FM roads. I'm am note a lug footed driver so I am pleased with seeing 18-18.5 mpg. I will post if the results go down. I've burned through 2 tanks with the changes.

 

That's what my post was all about. I noticed the biggest difference when I swapped to synthetic in the diffs and trans case too. people really don't realize how much drag those extra gears create- so reducing that friction gets you a little farther down the road.

The second benefit of synthetic in the engine is the longer lifespan of the oil. My last oil change was at 15,000 miles. That's well over 3 times the regular oil change interval. The oil didn't cost 3 times as much, so I'm spending less to have driven those 15k miles.... get it? The money I would've spent on oil changes in the mean time have instead bought more gas. That isn't MPG per say, but MPD...Miles Per Dollar.
MPD... that's what we are all trying to increase.

 

That's another reason I run an intake with no box.



It's totally quiet in normal driving because there is no resonating box, and you only hear it when your foot is to the floor.

 

There's a forum ecomodders.com where a bunch of hardcore folks do things like install grill blocks, smooth belly pans, kill switches, etc to get ridiculous mileage. I used to hang around there a bit when I had a diesel. Theres some good driving tips to live by on that site if you're into saving gas.

 

So change my differential and trans fluids to synthetics, any particular brand of synthetics better than another? In the past I've pretty much stuck to Valvoline, for synthetic engine oil at least. I always use synthetic engine oil in my vehicles, but just hit 1000 miles in my Tacoma, so it has yet to have an oil change.

 

Do some research on the interval changes of each gear lube. Stock dino-lube says change diff lube at 75k miles. I could not find info on Redline or Royal Purple, so I went with Amsoil gear lube. Their "Severe gear" is rated for 100kmiles, and the "Long Life" lube is supposedly good for 250k. The money was about the same, so Amsoil it was for me.

 

I'll look into the gear lubes...

Took out my secondary air filter last night. Probably going to change out the rear diff oil this weekend.

 

Differential (gear) fluid is no problem to find in synthetic. What synthetic should I use for the tranny? Having some trouble finding a replacement for the Toyota ATF fluid.

 

If it were mine I would keep using the Toyota ATF. It will keep your warranty intact, and most likely a synthetic.

 

I looked, Redline, Amsoil, and Mobile1 all have full synthetics for auto trans.

You can buy the stuff online, or I'm sure the regular parts stores (O'reilly & Autozone) have the Mobile1 fluid.

Any other ?'s.....?

 

What about the numerous people have warned against using other trans fluids besides Toyotas. Even toyota techs have said that the transmission is so finicky and to switch from factory type fluid to others usually causes problems?

 

I just found that we can apply for a trial membership free for 6 months and get dealer prices. That saves 20% off the retail price of all products. Not too shabby.

I just signed up myself. Best of all for me, there is a distribution center here in Chicago-land saving me shipping costs. I'm going to order as much stuff as I can afford in the 6 months- its noticeably cheaper than the $9 Mobil1 I've seen at the parts stores. AND you won't have to buy oil for years!

Think about it, its synthetic, so it wont oxidize like dino-oil.

 

1100 miles on the vehicle and if reports says non-Toyota ATF could cause problems, I'll still with the OEM stuff.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the abbreviations. Been reading TacomaWorld and guessing at what they meant.

As for saving gas. Picked up a 08 PreRunner in January 13 and hit the road for over 3700 miles. Very disappointed with 17-18 mpg for the whole run. My 96 4Runner would have gotten 20-22 and maybe 24 down hill from New Mexico. Something had to be done.

1) Replaced the factory tires with four Michelin LTX M/S2 P245/75R16 and kept the pressure right.
2) Changed the oil to 5-30 Mobile One.
3) Changed the air filter, just a Fram, but the next one will be one recommended by the several posters.
4) Installed a new set of plugs.
The above items were things done to the 96 SR5 4Runner as routine maintenance and I knew they would help.
5) As an old time muscle car fan, I knew that a torque tube would help. It is a 3" tube from the junction behind the cats to the muffler. I selected that location so I could remove the tube if it did not help. The tube mod was less than 70$.

Then the repeat trip. The Taco got 20 to 24 average. It took 16.3 gallons to travel from Santa Fe, to Las Vegas(NM), to Mora, to Coyote Creek, back to Las Vegas and to the filling station at Lake Side Dr and I-40 in Amarillo, TX.

On the down side, I pulled a 22' flat bed trailer for my brother loaded with wood working machines and a tornado shelter to be tested at Texas Tech Wind Center from Dallas to Lubbock and got just over 13 mpg. Glad he paid for the gas. I had hoped for 16 to 17 mpg. On the trip back, down hill with just the shelter, we got 17.3 mpg.

As a daily driver in DFW I get 19.3 to 20.8 mpg by driving the speed limit. Sometimes I feel like I need a slow moving vehicle triangle on the tail gate.