01-02-2009, 08:46 PM
|
#1
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The OTHER London
Age: 49
Posts: 4
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The OTHER London
Age: 49
Posts: 4
|
Poor Winter Fuel Economy
Looking for a little help from the kind community here at T4R
I have a 2003 4runner Sport with a 4.0, used to be when I filled up my display would read approx 610kms per tankful. Currently it reads about 510 kms per tankful, I'm not even using 4wd. It seems it started doing this overnight soon after the weather got cold. Any ideas?
Also when engaged in 4wd is your VSC led supposed to be illuminated? Mine is sporadic at best
I appreciate any input
And Happy New Year all
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-02-2009, 09:37 PM
|
#2
|
|
Super Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Metro ATL & Cape Coral, FL
Age: 59
Posts: 6,276
|
|
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Metro ATL & Cape Coral, FL
Age: 59
Posts: 6,276
|
Re: Poor Winter Fuel Economy
Quote:
Originally posted by dirtdaddy
Looking for a little help from the kind community here at T4R
I have a 2003 4runner Sport with a 4.0, used to be when I filled up my display would read approx 610kms per tankful. Currently it reads about 510 kms per tankful, I'm not even using 4wd. It seems it started doing this overnight soon after the weather got cold. Any ideas?
Also when engaged in 4wd is your VSC led supposed to be illuminated? Mine is sporadic at best
I appreciate any input
And Happy New Year all
|
That's all pretty normal. Winter formulation gasoline tends to get worse mpg. It takes longer for the engine to warm. When the engine is cold (below 150-170F) it burns a lot more fuel.
The slip light is only on when it's slipping...
__________________
Chris
07 Salsa SR5, 4wd Cyclone pre-cleaner , Aux Transmission Cooler, Hidden Hitch 70779 (600/6000lbs, WDH=730/7300lbs), AirLift 1000, FJCruiser front springs (& now rear too!), Axle Vent Mod, Swaybar Bushing Upgrade, V6 Tick Reduction, VSC off mod, Maplight Mod, 255/75/17 Goodyear Wrangler SAs, Tailpipe Mod
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-02-2009, 09:58 PM
|
#3
|
|
Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The OTHER London
Age: 49
Posts: 4
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The OTHER London
Age: 49
Posts: 4
|
Re: Re: Poor Winter Fuel Economy
Quote:
Originally posted by CJ3Flyr
That's all pretty normal. Winter formulation gasoline tends to get worse mpg. It takes longer for the engine to warm. When the engine is cold (below 150-170F) it burns a lot more fuel.
The slip light is only on when it's slipping...
|
The display would pick up on the winter formulation??
It is not the slip light that I'm talking about it is the VSC light
Thanks for your response
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-02-2009, 10:02 PM
|
#4
|
|
Super Moderator
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Metro ATL & Cape Coral, FL
Age: 59
Posts: 6,276
|
|
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Metro ATL & Cape Coral, FL
Age: 59
Posts: 6,276
|
Re: Re: Re: Poor Winter Fuel Economy
Quote:
Originally posted by dirtdaddy
The display would pick up on the winter formulation??
It is not the slip light that I'm talking about it is the VSC light
Thanks for your response
|
No, the display doesn't seem to compensate for winter fuel.
VSC light- oh, I don't know about that... It shouldn't be on unless the center diff is locked or there's a problem.
__________________
Chris
07 Salsa SR5, 4wd Cyclone pre-cleaner , Aux Transmission Cooler, Hidden Hitch 70779 (600/6000lbs, WDH=730/7300lbs), AirLift 1000, FJCruiser front springs (& now rear too!), Axle Vent Mod, Swaybar Bushing Upgrade, V6 Tick Reduction, VSC off mod, Maplight Mod, 255/75/17 Goodyear Wrangler SAs, Tailpipe Mod
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-02-2009, 10:12 PM
|
#5
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 494
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 494
|
The vapor pressure specs change in winter and as such more butanes are blended into the fuel. (The primary reason is to ensure that the engine will turn over in colder weather.) With that comes a lower BTU value along with less mpg. The 4R's computer isn't that smart enough to know the formulation, but it will adjust for the amount of fuel needed to power the engine....and thus a lower range on the vehicle. The range should come back though when it starts getting warmer
I agree with Chris. The VSC light should only be on if the vehicle is slipping. If it is on continuously then you may have VSC turned off, the center may be locked (should have a secondary light)....or something is actually wrong. If the VSC light is continuously on, you could disconnect the battery for 5 minutes and let the computer reset. See if the light goes off and stays off.
__________________
My Rig: 2007 Limited V8 (Nautical Blue) | Front Lift & Sliders: Downey Kit | Rear Lift: OME 896 (Heavy with Nitro Sport) |Skids : BudBuilt | Bullbar : Shrockworks| Winch : Warn 9.5XP Amsteel Line | Lights : PIAA 580s | Tires : 265/65 BFG TA/KOs on 18" Stock Wheels | Audio : VaisTech Video iPOD Kit for Factory Nav | Newest Addition - BajaRack | June T4ROTM (Thanks guys!)
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-03-2009, 05:49 AM
|
#6
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 503
|
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: NorCal
Posts: 503
|
Quote:
Originally posted by shuly
The 4R's computer isn't that smart enough to know the formulation, but it will adjust for the amount of fuel needed to power the engine....
If the VSC light is continuously on, you could disconnect the battery for 5 minutes and let the computer reset. See if the light goes off and stays off.
|
^^x2^^
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-03-2009, 10:55 AM
|
#7
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: The Peoples Republic of New York
Posts: 271
|
|
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: The Peoples Republic of New York
Posts: 271
|
Another factor is air temperature. Colder air is more dense; it contains more oxygen. If more oxygen is in the air, more fuel has to be added to maintain the ideal mixture of 14.7:1.
No way around this aside from moving to a warmer climate.
__________________
--
Annoyed
2006 4Runner 4x4 V-6 SR5 Driftwood Pearl.
2000 Tacoma 4x4 V-6 SR5 Ext. Cab TRD Sunfire Red Pearl. (R.I.P)
Poor Little Truck. Met the crusher at 51K miles, a victim of the Toyota frame rust buyback program.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-03-2009, 02:22 PM
|
#8
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Posts: 406
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Posts: 406
|
Winter will definitely take a harsh stance on your fuel economy.
In 2wd and in the summer, we were getting approx 10-10.5 L/100kms.
Now in Constant 4wd and in the cold cold bitter winter here in Alberta, I'm at 13-13.5L/100kms.
Thank god the price of gas since summer is less then half!
__________________
2007 4runner Sport Edition V6, Black.
2011 BMW 335Xi Special Edition, Jerez Black.
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
01-03-2009, 07:19 PM
|
#9
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Crystal River, FL
Posts: 984
|
|
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Crystal River, FL
Posts: 984
|
Quote:
Originally posted by morphius909
Winter will definitely take a harsh stance on your fuel economy.
In 2wd and in the summer, we were getting approx 10-10.5 L/100kms.
Now in Constant 4wd and in the cold cold bitter winter here in Alberta, I'm at 13-13.5L/100kms.
Thank god the price of gas since summer is less then half!
|
+1
Besides the different fuel formulations in colder climates taking their toll, don't forget that your tire pressure will drop about 1 PSI for every 10 degree F temperature drop. So if you last checked your pressure at 60 degrees F and now it's 10 degrees, you've dropped about 5 PSI.
__________________
Rick
'90 T4R - sold at 205,000 miles
'00 T4R - sold at 152,000 miles
'08 Sport - 178,000 miles & still going strong
'19 ORP - just over 6,000 mi. (garage queen, like my '07 Mustang)
|
|
Reply With Quote
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is On
|
|
|
|