Poor fuel mileage

I just drove 18.1 miles on local, state and interstate (most of it on not well kept state roads) with my vehicle in 4 WD, off and on, for at 4 of those miles and got 18.2 mpg. I am ok with that.

 

From a high of 19/20 when it was brand new/stock and a long drive home from dealer. Still mostly stock on one size larger than stock e rated tires minimal armor and now getting 16.5 to 16.7. All very short trips as I no longer commute. Add my traveling load for our trips and it dips down to low of 13/15. Strong headwind? Even worse...with our load. Would not trade this damn truck for anything else though.

 

What are some solutions to calibrating the speedo when you move up in tire size? Ive jumped up to 285/70/17 from stock and now my speedo always reads 3 mph slower than actual (when compared to VA's many construction "YOUR SPEED IS...." signs)

 

Was that Ram an Ecodiesel lol?

I don't see any Hemi getting 23 with a heavy foot.. even before it starts eating it's own cam

 

I was getting around 19-21 in the summer with the stock tires. I switched to a 265/75/16 Wildpeak when it started to get cold and I cant break 15mpg. I expected 1-2 MPG but not 4-5.

I went on a 5 hour round trip the other day and couldn't break low 14's. Temp has been in the teens but I have never experienced such depreciated mpg during the winter months with any vehicle.

 

The RAM I had was a1500 eco diesel so yes it did get 23mpg all day long.
I'm looking to get rid of this tacoma. I need better fuel mileage than what I'm getting. I haven't liked it since I got it.

 

I was bored so I did some math. Over the course of 100,000 miles, with $3 gas and 23 mpg, you will spend $13,043. With 16 mpg you will spend $18,750. So you can lose minimum $3000 trading in now and then have a vehicle that depreciates much faster over that 100,000 miles or you can spend an extra 5700 over that mileage on a truck you like. If you don't like the truck, that's different. Gas mileage is good to consider when buying a car but usually a bad idea as a sole reason to switch vehicles.
Just for discussion since I had some spare time

 

If you didn't like it why did you buy it?

 

Before you purchase again, reduce advertised MPGs by 10% (probably more in your case, since you're so mileage sensitive) to get a better idea of real world. Only auto MFGs can drive without the AC on, downhill both ways, with a wind always at their back.

 

Fuelly is handy (track every tank, and they show averages for vehicles)

https://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/tacoma

I wanted a 6' bed. I did a test drive the Ford Ranger, Ecoboost with 10 speed made it smooth. DC Ford has a 5' bed, Access Cab has a 6' bed. Hence the Tacoma for DCLB.

https://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/ranger?engineconfig_id=34&bodytype_id=&submodel_id=

 

Maintenance, insurance, registration and especially depreciation are all far more expensive than fuel. That said, if you're not enjoying the truck by all means buy something else. Unfortunately many of us learn life's lessons after the fact.

To the OP, good luck with whichever decisions you make.

 

Could be you got a thirsty one as someone else said.
But, even though you stated that you baby it, you may want to reexamine your driving habits - use of cruise control, how you accelerate, types of mods you've done that added weight, tires, lift, etc.
My '21 TRD OR AC V6auto has been fairly consistent at 16+ MPG around town with only 1500 miles on the odometer.

 

Worst i've seen is on weekly short trips during this winter averaging between 19.5-20 mpg. Hopefully i'll be back up to near 24 this summer.

 

You can't please everybody. I respect you experience. I must say mine has been the opposite. I have had my Tacoma for just over 3 months now and love it. I broke the transmission in correctly and have therefore had little lag or over shifting when driving the highways, and I live in an area of rolling hills and curves. As for the mileage, I just took my second longest trip in it - about 80 miles round trip, down country roads, tight and congested city streets and interstate highways - which included several slow downs due to traffic - and I got nearly 20mpg. I am more than happy with that for a truck.

 

As long as I stay in manual shifting/sport mode I can get 18-19 mpg on country roads doing 60mph. If I leave it in automatic I get 12 mpg going down those same country roads.

 

Mine was like that for the first 3000 miles. I usually average about 20 in the summer and 18 in the winter now. Up to 25 if I keep it under 65. Over 70 eats gas fast.

 

I live in a rural township and much of my driving is 5-10 mile trips on these roads. I have never seen less than about 16mpg, and that is when I use 4WD. I check the mpg every time I turn off my truck, being a little OCD. LOL. I don't have any mods and I usually (usually) do just over the speed limit. Can't say why yours is so low.

 

My 2021 OR has just over 1500 miles as of this morning. Currently getting 17.0 by the computer. 17.3 by the calculator. Only using the S mode but not letting it shift into 6th. Only 5th as the highest gear. Use the 6th gear on the hwy above 65mph.

Waiting to do the VF tune as soon as the dongle and cable get here. Expecting to gain some like everyone says. That will be good enough for me.

My 2016 AC Sport 6MT, even with 265/70/17 got 24-25 mpg all the time. But I coasted a lot in that truck. Can't do that in an auto.

 

Mine is all stock including wheels and tires. So not sure what's going on but definitely does better in S mode as I dont let it go into 6th gear going under 65mph.

 

This is my second Tacoma and like the first the mpg was lower when I first got off the lot and is kinds improving at just under 2k. Highs here in Ohio went from 20s or less when I got the truck to the 40s and I saw what was more n line with my old truck. Still more break in time to go.

If you are seeing much better numbers in s mode maybe reset the transmission learning, I think it can be done by disconnecting the battery but maybe someone with experience in that.