I meant an over-drive gear. I'm no expert, but you'd think a 4 liter engine could use that.

The 5th gen 4Runner is already geared tall enough in the current overdrive ratio, that the slightest grade will have it downshifting at highway speeds.

There are a bunch of things that could be done to improve MPG. But most of them also would effect what the 4Runner is, and can do, reliably.

Make it a lowriding CUV, lose a bunch of weight by making everything lighter duty, Direct Injection, small engine with a turbo (likely what the 6th gen 4Runner will be) etc.

The 5th gen is an un-aerodynamic, 5k lb (give or take depending on model and how it's outfitted) brick. The fact that it gets similar MPG to every prior generation of 4Runner, is a testament to Toyota improving efficiency, despite the larger, more powerful vehicle.

Hey.

Scrolling through page 55 of 5gen, and ran into this thread.

FWIW - I bought a 2010 LTD with 180,000km on it last October.

After resetting the mpg computer after purchase(was at 13.1L/100km) , after about 5000km , I was now at 15.5L/100km. OOF.

I just changed the spark plugs(OEM Denso SK16HR11 , and gave it a new engine air filter (old one looked ok), I am now avg. 12.5L/100km .

I am very thankful for this forum.
Through the tutorials of others, I have so far done my own:
-oil change
-front+rear+tcase fluids
-spark plugs
-engine and cabin filter

And I’m going to do a tranny fluid And coolant drain and fill in the coming weeks! (have the fluids/pump, etc- just need some idle time)

This forum is a blessing for T4R owners!

Hope this helps.

^^^ just to clarify, I forgot to mention:

I did not buy the 4Runner for fuel economy.
I bought it because it’s off-road capable and reliable.

Assuming the highway is open, I am doing 130kmh +/- 5 ….. never slower (traffic permitting)

And after new plugs and engine filter (and fuel system ECU reset, by removing fuse for 30min) I was able to reach 12.3L/100KM on a Toronto to Montreal Trip, there and back, including some MTL city driving.

I almost never see over 15 mpg on mine (that’s less than 15 L per 100km).