So with all of the threads of poor mileage, I thought I would share a success story.
I purchased my 4runner a few years ago from a big city (St. Louis) that was 2 hours away from me by interstate. I remember filling up in the city, driving home, and filling up again to check the mileage. BONE STOCK 99 limited with cruise set on 65 I got 22 MPG highway. The vehicle soon started throwing a code, but it just turned out to be a sensor that needed cleaning (MAF I believe). Over the next year when I would check it, I would get 19-20 with a mixture of city/hwy driving.
Last spring I decided to add a small lift (1" spacers & new shocks)and I also put on the next size up tires (AT tires from Firestone). I also replaced the spark plugs with NKGs that several people on here recommended, and new air filter. I did all of this in preparation to go to Colorado last summer. Ever since I did these things, my mileage was never better than 18, and was usually 16.5-17.5.
Well, THIS spring I decided to see if I could improve the mileage. I replaced the fuel filter, and I pulled the spark plugs (less than 10K on them). Plugs looked fine. I replaced the plugs with the denso ones from Toyota. I also pulled the throttle body and cleaned the crap out of it with parts cleaner. I also replaced the diff fluids in the front and rear diffs and the TC with synthetic 75x90 (I think that is the weight).
Today I checked the milage after a full tank of gas: combined city/hwy was 20mpg.
Granted I drove like an old lady....
but still. I couldn't get that on dedicated hwy driving a month ago.
What do I attribute the increased mileage? The spark plugs.
My mileage dropped last summer immediately after change the plugs, and I have always suspected them. of course YMMV.
IF you are having fuel mileage issues, give it a try. I changed out the filter and the diff fluid becuase it was time, but who knows..
..maybe they helped as well. I know the diff fluid and the fuel filter change didn't HURT!