I keep close track of my fuel economy as a habit. Back when my newest vehicle was 50 years old, a dip in fuel economy was a good indicator to check the tune. I verify the accuracy of my speedometers (my daily read 17% high until I sold it for my 4Runner which is dead on), correct if necessary, then do my best to fill up at the same pump to one click every time (older cars without sealed fuel tanks don't like being topped off).

Since the 4Runner is a new to me 13 year old car, I'm still in diagnosis mode (keeping an eye/ear out for anything that might indicate something is amiss). My daily commute is roughly 25 miles each way with about 2,500' elevation change. The truck is a rock stock '99 SR5 Limited with a 5-speed; the sway bar links up front were broken on both sides and have been removed.

Typically I see between 20 and 23mpg on a tank. The worst mileage I've managed was on a trip down to Texas. The speed limit was 75 (so I was going 80), it was hot so the AC was on. I got 16.9 mpg at the worst of it. That said, on the way back I had the same 75 mph speed limit AND the truck was fully loaded with car parts (enough to make the suspension sag noticeably), and it was almost all uphill, and I got 20 mpg.

I've found that I usually get about 280 miles to my tank before the gas light comes on.

I consistently get 16.5 mpg w 70% highway.
Oddly enough my fuel sender crapped out and after replacing it and relocating the mounting point per the instructions in the box it now only goes down to 1/2 way when it's really on empty. Now I just fill up whenever the odo reads 250.

Well we are driving from Seattle to Argentina, and just entered Panama with just over 12500 miles under our belt on some roads that should not be on a map and some mountains that are ridiculously steep.

Our current overall MPG on our 97 SR5 is 17.8.

Our best millage was in the US at around 19.5 and our worst was on the 250 mile stretch though Belize at just over 13MPG

We are due for a Oil, filter and plug change when we get to Colombia in about 3 weeks. that would put us on 9000 miles on Synthetic oil, Plugs and filters.

The only issues *touch wood* we have had was two busted rear axle seals... It looks like the weight we are carrying in the back is wearing out the coils. I'll replace them in Colombia as well.

Awesome stuff!

Why so bad in Belize? It's pretty much all flat! That being said, I didn't buy gas in Belize I had enough in my tank to go from Mexico through to Guatemala on my motorcycle.

Overland travel is great. Sadly I had to turn around in Guatemala.

Are you doing a travel blog?

I can get up to 22mpg on the highway going to work. As long you as you keep your speed steady you tend to get better gas mileage the higher your speed, up to a certain point. Around city however my gas mileage can get so terrible I don't even want to mention it here, but thats pretty reflective of how I drive.

Your travel blog is amazing! And I am freaking out over driving from Phoenix to Yakima, WA. Is Blue an Auto or Standard Trans? How many miles on her? Your threw some ideas into my head about travel. Hopefully in the future I can do something similar.

Mason

11.... lol.

I track my fuel using Fuel Log (Android App on my phone) and I average between 17-18 MPG with a mix of city and highway. a little over 18 when I do all highway. I have a roof rack and need to change my fuel filter and O2 sensor still but I'm still right in the average zone for these trucks.

I just completed a round trip dash to the midwest and back. Started in Spokane, WA, and ended the first half in Red Wing, MN, along the Mississippi River. Three days later, reversed the route and came home. Total distance 3,232 miles. Driving time one way 26 hours behind the wheel. I tried to keep it at the posted 75 mph interstate highway limits at all times (lots of roadwork slowed me down though). In MN, lots of secondary roads, in-town driving and interstate 90 at 70 mph. I checked the speedometer with a GPS system to insure maximum legal speeds. Tires were 265/70R16's. I had a rooftop tent mounted on my '97 SR5. I used the cruise control to help maximize the mileage.

The best mileage I got was in eastern MT with a very strong tailwind; 22.3 mpg. Worst coming home, crossing NE WY (Buffalo to Sheridan) 16.8, into a strong headwind and thunderstorm conditions. Overall average mileage for the total distance was exactly 19.0 mpg.

I am guessing that if one had a lighter foot and kept the maximum highway speed down to 60 mpg, one could easily see 22 mpg.

I average ~18 mpg on gravel roads in 2WD. In 4WD, my average fuel consumption drops dramatically; down to ~14-15 mpg. Your mileage may vary.

I would think your roof top tent exponentially dropped your mileage with the 75 MPH.

If you were to lose the tent (I assume you used it to save accommodation costs) and went around 65 MPH, you'd see 22+.

Made a concerted effort to fill the take as much as possible. Tank was just off of E, light just came on. The pumped auto-clicked off at 14.5 gallons, I was then able to slowly dribble fuel in all the way to 17.00 gal exactly. Tank was so full that a small pool was sitting at the top of the neck.
99' Limited - Completley Stock (135k miles)
Stock size tires at 35psi
70% freeway (+\- 60 mph) 30% in town stop and go
AC on 90% of the time
Fresh oil change and brand new Toyota air filter

I pulled into the gas station at 306 miles, guage was couple ticks above E with no gas light on.

Equates to exactly 18 MPG. Not the best mileage but it runs flawlessly.

Whats this M...P...G you speak of? LOL

Recently I drove from Ft Worth, Tx to Charlotte, NC and back. Disclaimer: my rig is supercharged and auto. I found that keeping the motor at 2600 rpm would usually get me 19- 20 mpg. That is all highway driving for the full tank of gas and would keep my speed between 75-77 mph.

My daily driving is a mix of city and country roads so I average 15-16 mpg.

The chassis has 340k, engine has 183k. On this engine in the parts truck I saw over 22mpg on long trips before.

Now that the engine is in the new (old) truck, my last three fill ups have been 18.51 to 19.01 MPG. Bigger tires on this new truck though.

On this same commute in the past in the parts truck, I would average 20 mpg between fill ups.

Wife's 5th Gen is finally breaking into the low 20's between fill ups at 5000 miles on the clock.