Real World MPG with Manual Trannys

1,250 rpm shifts and 52 mph on the highway. Man, this 4 banger is a Monster; it just PULLS all day long. Oh, mpg? Never really cared but it could just sit and idle for a month on a tank of fuel

 

I get 17-19 avg per tank driving. That’s with bigger/ heavier tires and a 2” lift.

 

With E rated 265/75R16 tires running 75 MPH through WV mountains I get 14.5-15.5.

On 55 MPH Flat road I can pull 20-21.

 

Holy crap that's actually amazing... this is good to know. Don't MT handle lifts and bigger wheels better than autos due to the different gear ratios?

 

Seems too good to be true right? Spent the last week calling about 30 different dealerships. I guess this dealership messed up and ordered two manuals instead of one for a custom order for a customer. Turns out this week they caught the error after it was already built. Apparently its somewhere on one of the railroads (hopefully not the one I work for) right now.

At least that's how it was explained to me. Guy was prolly blowing smoke up my ass but I do have confirmation that the $1,000 payment went through and have the VIN number with the build sheet.

edit: I did the vin trick and the source is showing a delivery of 4/17 - 4/22. I don't know how I got this lucky. Literally called that dealership today.

 

I had a 2018 automatic TRD OR, didn't like how the transmission performed at higher elevation (I live at about 6,000ft). Switched to a 21 manual TRD Sport. Found I actually tend to get slightly better mpg better with the manual (city and highway). Both were stock outside of OVtune. For some reason I felt like I needed to run a higher octane fuel in the automatic for it to run like it should, which was kind of puzzling given I was at a higher elevation. Haven't had that same issue with the manual. Manual drawback, the clutch does not seem to appreciate really cold weather. Overall much happier with the manual.

 

I’ve always drove manuals and wish I could’ve got my truck in a manual but after moving to SWFL living in stand still traffic constantly it’s not an option for my daily driver anymore. It became more of a hassle than it was worth having to wait for multiple light cycles on roads and getting stuck in a traffic jam on the interstate.

 

My last fill up hand calculated at 21.22 which is spot on with the in dash display.

 

Welcome to the forum Congratulations on the 3 pedal score!

My truck is factory stock and I'm a pretty relaxed (old guy) driver, I also don't drive the truck in the winter.

On secondary roads in the 40-60 mph range I can get up around 25 or a bit better.
Highway cruise at 65 will usually be about 21 - 22.
Going from 65 to 72 makes a noticeable drop, 19-20.

I don't go much over 72, driving a bright orange truck and speeding aren't a good combination.

 

Congrats on getting 3rd gen MT, you will love it! Like most everyone, if you keep it stock you will be getting sticker MPG but once you change to bigger tires and add more weight, MPG will go downhill.

When my truck was in stock condition, I got 24 MPG driving on the freeway at 65mph. After all the mods, including removing the front air dam (see pic below), I am lucky if I get 17 MPG on the freeway driving 65 mph.

 

You can easily beat the auto around town since you control the shift points. After that, gearing favors auto for highway cruising but in traffic, you can still beat the auto based on selecting the right gears....


Except that's not my motivation for a manual so I have like 13 in the city and haven't thought much about the highway. Wish we had a 30 gallon tank though.

 

Mostly city driving for me. Lots of stop and go. About 15mpg with winter blend fuel in the Midwest and about 3 to 4 mins start up /warm time with a remote starter. Rest of the year about 17 18 mpg. Normal ish driving. Little spirited at times lol

 

I was literally going to type the exact same thing; from top to bottom lol. I have an identical set up, get the same mpg, and hit a weird mpg loss while driving through Colorado.

 

I bought it in Denver then drove it back to Memphis. If 6th was just a tad longer so 75mph isn’t turning 2500rpms I swear we would pick up at least 1mpg.

waiting for the longer 5/6th gear group buy. Lol

 

17.5 on a stock MTORDCSB 2019

 

If your wife has driven a manual before and maybe actually owned something with a manual it will come back to her no problem. It's like riding a bike. That said I am definitely in the minority on this post in particular but I actually prefer the auto. I did on second gens too. Nearly every vehicle I have owned in the last 30 years has been a manual and I drive manual old school muscle cars frequently at work. I bought a new 2.7 5 speed 4x4 tacoma in 05 and loved it. But when it came time to go to a double cab I spent a lot of time driving a manual 05 V6 and I really didn't care for it. Nor did I care for the 6 speed 3rd gen I test drove last summer. So I bought an auto. Granted I absolutely hate the way it constantly shifts from 6th to 4th on the highway but overall it just seems better suited in my opinion to the truck. If you haven't driven both and gas mileage is a concern drive an auto too. Mine's stock but I regularly see 22mpg in mixed 35-60 mph local driving. Highway at 75 usually 21.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld.

First, rated fuel economy is under ideal conditions. These ideal conditions aren't as easy for the automatic transmission vehicles to match in the real world but are easier for manuals. So I wouldn't be too concerned about rated economy.

Second, fuel economy is so varied that it will be tough to get an idea of what to expect.. just to add to the list above, I have 15l/100km (15.7mpg) lifetime average on my truck. With most of my driving done by heavy throttle and city. On highway trips I have seen as low as 10l/100km (23.5mpg). (all on an excel spreadsheet from day one)

Third and most importantly... if your wife is mad about your decision to buy a Tacoma... she will be nuclear when she finds out what we as a collective at TacomaWorld get you to buy and upgrade your new ride with... I highly suggest you leave this site and never return. Don't come back and thank me

 

What didn't you like about the 2nd Gen V6 Manual? My son has a 2009 SR5 Access Cab with the 4.0 and a 6MT and it drives and shifts great; it is nearly as easy and enjoyable to shift as my 2006 Acura TL 6MT.

 

"Third and most importantly... if your wife is mad about your decision to buy a Tacoma... she will be nuclear when she finds out what we as a collective at TacomaWorld get you to buy and upgrade your new ride with... I highly suggest you leave this site and never return. Don't come back and thank me"



^^^This man speaks the truth^^^
Tacoma World motto: "The most expensive on is the best one!" -- We love to help you

 

I think this is right but I won't pretend to be an expert on gearing. I will say that regardless of 265/70, 265/75, or 285/75, you don't feel the actual power the truck has until over at least 3500 rpms so my experience around town hasn't changed at all going up in tire size and driving conservatively. When it really matters, I can stay in 2nd or 3rd and hit the rpms needed to generate plenty of power/acceleration for whatever I need.