Yet another poor mileage thread

Hi all,

I am new to the Taco world having just bought a 2005 Tacoma TRD Sport 4X4 Access cab with V-6 and 6M with 165000 miles. Love the truck overall but the mileage is worse than my Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab. I am averaging 14.5 to 15.5 in everything from city to highway/city mix. I will save everyone a bunch of time by saying that my driving has ZERO effect on the mileage. When I bough it last fall I relished the power of the V-6 and was driving it like my Acura TL-S. I was shifting at 3500 and using good amount of throttle, I was driving 5-10 over most limits(we call it the Texas Ten Over here), you get run over if you do the limit around here. After the first few tanks came back at 15 mpg or so I did some maintenance on the truck; Fuel system cleaner several times, replaced the plugs(which might have been original, different brand on each side....with a gap of 70!) I replaced the air filter, cleaned the MAF and the coking deposits from the throttle body and then changed all of the oil to Amsoil synthetic(entire drivetrain). I adjusted my driving, going as far as light throttle acceleration with shifting at 2500, then 2000 RPM and limited my top speed to the posted limit (painful). All of this had absolutely ZERO effect. None, nada. When I rotated the tires I even checked the front brakes and differential for drag. There seems to be no unusual drag when coasting, the tires are factory size and inflated to spec. I am now scratching my head thinking maybe exhaust system restriction or O2 sensors. BTW, I am a former ASE mechanic.

Has anyone had anything outside of these items cause poor mileage? On my driving loop I was able to get better mileage with my Dodge (which has an EPA of 13/17), and I get an average of 21-22 in my Acura (EPA 18-27). I am simply not used to getting worse than EPA city in any vehicle. Power seems really good( better than my Dodge V-8) so I can't say if power is down).

Thank you all.

 

Sounds normal to me.

 

Sounds about right......EPA states your mileage will be between 14 to 18 city / hwy

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Pow...=2005&year2=2005&make=Toyota&model=Tacoma+4WD

 

Well crap, I was hoping for better than my Dodge. I am used to easily getting better than EPA city in any vehicle(while driving briskly). I guess I can just go back to driving hard as it made no difference, I might as well enjoy the acceleration.

 

I'm averaging 13.5. The Silverado I traded for it (1500 w/5.3l v8) got 13.75. Shit

 

NORMAL. Just drive the truck

 

Thanks everyone, I feel better but now wishing I had a problem!

 

I have a 2006 double cab trd 4x4 v6. Highway I average 19 mpg. City I don’t know. The max speed limit here in California is 70. When I was in Texas a couple months ago I saw limits of 75 and I think 80mph. So if you go 85 or more your gas mileage will suck. I assume my mileage around the city is about 15 mpg. Once I buy a vehicle I don’t really care what the mileage is. I just drive and enjoy the vehicle. The mileage is what it is. At least gas in Texas is a lot cheaper than it is here in California. So just enjoy your Taco.

 

It's true, we have a limit of 70 on I20, I30 and I 35 for instance but down south by Austin we have a toll road which stretches to almost San Antonio and the limit is 80 for the first half and 85 on the southern half. The time we used it I was driving my wifes 2013 Mazda 3. At 72 it got 41-42 mpg, at 75 it got about 40, at 90 it got 38. When I tried to push it to the speed limit on the tollway it got 34 at 85. That car was replaced by a 2015 Jetta TDI with DSG and man, that was a beast. Loved the torque and it was just jaw dropping on the freeway. The day after we brought it home we had to run up to DFW to pick up my visiting family and we were late.......so this car with 100 miles on it got 48+ mpg at 80 mph. On the way back with 5 people and luggage it got something like 52 or better at 75. I would average from 35-40 in city driving on the same roads I get 15 with my truck. How I wish we could get small diesels with manuals in light trucks! That Colorado with the Duramax looks awesome but no manual.... :-(

 

I’d just keep driving it hard so you don’t have to change your username.

 

What size tires are you running on the Tacoma?

 

That don't seem right to me. My 2007 DC auto 4X4 gets 16-17 mpg doing daily driver duties and 19-20 mpg hwy. No true city driving, mostly rural 2 lane and some small town driving. I've gotten as much as 22 in ideal conditions on road trips.

I also own a 2014 F-150 Supercrew 4X4 with a 5.0 V8 that is only about 1 mpg worse, so I don't expect a huge gain in fuel mileage with the Tacoma. But it shouldn't be worse.

 

Driving at 2000-2500 RPMs is still driving too aggressive. I’d get shitty gas mileage if I did that.
Plus keep your speed to no more than 60-65. That helps. As soon as you go over 60 fuel economy drops off.

You are getting typical gas mileage for how you drive it.

 

My 2nd gen mileage would drop to about that when running interstates at 70-75 mph. In-city highways keeping it to 60-65 I was averaging 19.5 mpg. It drastically drops above 65 mph.

 

Are you in a place where winter-blend gas is in affect right now? That decreases my mileage by 1 or 2 mpg...

 

Toyota gears their vehicles pretty short, that's why it feels 'peppy'.

 

265/70/17 Hankook Dynapro ATM.

 

I don't know how you can get anywhere shifting at less than 2000 rpm, it's barely above fast idle. In Texas you are dead meat if you drive 60, usually you get blown off the road at 70. My Dodge got better mileage with a 5 speed driving 75-80. With the Taco, driving aggressive made no difference or yielded slightly better mileage with the exception of freeway speeds over 70. Driving 70 on my part is a huge concession, it just doesn't feel right. My Taco is at 2500 at 70, my old Maxima was higher RPM at that speed.

 

What RPM is the Dodge at 70? 1800? 3:45 gear? close to same tires?

When I was a kid only hard core hot rods and the serious lift duck hunt guys ran 4:11's.

My first new car......an '82 Mustang GT 5.0, had a 3:08 rear. It actually got good mileage. Light weight, tall gears and a deep O/D.

Pick 2.

 

TacoGasHog I bought my 06 4x4 DCLB V6 4 years ago and I have averaged 14.5 to 16 mpg the entire time and it doesn't matter how I drive. I've seen a few posts were people are claiming they get 18-22 mpg but I've never seen it. Occasionally, I will get 17 mpg on the highway.