MPG... WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH???

I see both sides of it to some degree. If you want to complain about your MPG sure you're entitled to. However I don't really see how anyone could really make an argument that I got 20.5 MPG this year vs last year I got 21.5 and stress about that. Or Toyota said it gets 23 and I'm only getting 21.5. That are just way many factors that could change that on any given day and if over the course of a years time that has such a huge impact on your budget I would honestly sell the truck and get something else there are better options out there and life has enough things to stress one out over worrying about something like that every single day. I will also say for those that get upset because the MPG are not what is advertised for me personally I have always taken those numbers with a grain of salt and feel like it would crazy to buy a vehicle thinking I'm going to get that exactly what they claim every time I drive it everywhere I go. Now obviously if you get something that is claimed at 30 and you are only getting 15 there might be a problem.

In my experience I drive the same route to work every day with little to no traffic and go about the same speed the whole way there and go about the same speed everyday. Some days my dash says 20-21 MPG when I turn my truck off some days it says around 17-18 MPG. Do I have any real way to know why? No. Is it that big of a deal to me that I'm going to jump and down about it? No.

To answer the question why does someone care so much? Who knows and who cares. Its like anything else people care about different things only they can explain why its so important to them.

 

A lot of people have bought into the "I need to get better milage so I can help save the planet" thats where a lot of the obsession comes from I think.

 

If you had a point it went over my head. If we're going to lose efficiency, why not start with a higher number?

 

here is our 2016 Tacoma Sport 4x4 DCSB v6 vs our 2018 Tundra Platinum Crewmax sb 4x4 v8. didn't care before and really don't care now about mpg. I just keep track for the gee whiz aspect. needed the back seat room for the hunting dogs. we have 2 gsp and friend brings another 1 sometimes. fitting 2 people and 3 dogs would be impossible in a Tacoma. and as a side note, we don't let the dogs travel in the bed due to the single or negative temps during the winter and driving to hunting spots takes at least and hour 1 way.

 

A friend of mine said it best: "You know when you are over the hill because you stop bragging about how much sex you are getting and you switch to how many MPG's your getting and lack of oil consumption." ROFL!!!!!!!

 

In some parts of Canada regular gas is now $6/gallon in Canadian currency.

 

I track mpg in a given vehicle not because I want to eek-out every last little bit, but mainly as an indication of engine health/operation. Used to be, in our older cars with minimal computer controls, that we could tell when the car needed an oil change, or a valve adjustment, based on a sudden drop in mpg. While the Tacoma is a much more sophisticated vehicle than our old Hondas and other vehicles we had, I still watch mpg just to see how it's doing. Considering that it will get nearly 20 mpg combined around Houston when I drive it (~17.5 mpg for my wife) despite the lift, 33s, and 4.88s, it's interesting to see how other variables can impact mileage (wind, temp, etc).

 

Sorry, I probably just didn't explain well. I do that sometimes. My point: If you have a stock vehicle that gets 20 mpg on highway and you take it off road for extended time, the efficiency hit will be big. Let's say 15 mpg. However, if you take a Tacoma that has been modded for off highway with mods like skids, E tires, racks, and a load - let's say this vehicle is averaging 15 mpg currently - off road for extended time, the efficiency will not drop proportionally to the unmodded Tacoma. It probably won't change much at all.

 

Depends on the trails you're running. Our Jeep on 37s will get as high as 16.5 on local freeways, and can drop to as low as 8 mpg on hardcore trails. Our Tacoma, on 33s and 4.88s, can get as high as 20 mpg around town, but dropped as low as 12 mpg the last time we had it on trails.

 

Was mostly flat freeway and a lot of stop and go traffic when passing through LA on 150 mile round trip. Set cruise at 65mph and smart usage of engine braking and coasting gave me these numbers. First pic is the first half of my trip, second is my return home.

 

Damn! Yes, Air Dam!

 

Yeah, but what is your total average on the Jeep? I would estimate around 10-12 mpg around town, as 37's add a ton of unsprung mass you have to accelerate. Also, hardcore trails are not something you do for hundreds of miles off road right?

 

She averages closer to 15 mpg on a regular basis, but won't get over 12 on trails. Most trails we run in the Jeep are all day affairs, even though you may only travel 20 or 30 miles, total (if that). For example, it used half a tank to travel 38 miles on Hole in the Rock, which is an in-and-back trail (run in low range most of the way). That equates to just over 6 mpg. The example I used for the Tacoma was a trip to BBRSP back in March where we were driving all day for two days, exploring the park. Rarely used low range, but also rarely got over 20 mph. Trail riding and four wheeling will drastically lower mpg of most vehicles, regardless of mods.

 

I am averaging 21.5 a tank in the West Texas oilfield. I don’t drive the speed limit, I drive slower. (55-60 in a 70..these roads are not fit for 70,I do it for safety not mileage..)
I definately lose mileage over 75
On my 500 mile trip to work those interstates killed the mileage.
I spent 50 miles on I 20 today, 80 mph speed limit. I drove mostly 70-77
Still got 21 average for the tank.
Long runs over 75 and it drops to about 18.5.i am g

 

Where do you live, Cambodia?

 

55mph is unsafe IMO.

 

My only complaint about my Pro is the range it only has about a 292 mile range on a full tank, how come they didn't put a bigger gas tank on it? The manual says it has a 21.5 gallon gas tank but the pump says different. on almost completely empty tank (running on fumes) it takes 18.5 gallons to fill it up.

 

Has three gallons left when gauge says empty. It's in the manual.

 

u mean after the range says 0 miles?

 

Yep.