12.28 mpg
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thatoneguy
New member
I got almost that exact number once. Once. It was a tank filled with uphill driving, driving on cold starts, 4wd use, no freeway use, and a few hours of drifting.
nevada
Senior Member
if you under filled just slightly the last time, and over filled a little this time, it could be a big difference. 1-2 gallons each time would be significant.
LuckyRunnerLTD
New member
Sounds like what i get in my 99 limited, changed fuel pump because my smog check said i needed it. trucks got 204xxx miles and the smog # were better than ca average. I dont have any idea why my mileage is so bad, I think the seqouia gets better MPG
ralatkins
Member
yeah, this was just overall driving all 2wd and well….. just normal
i always run it till it stops and then top it all the way off….. same gas station each time.
giro
New member
Do you normally track your mileage? How much worse was this than other lows and from recent mileage?
Could be a bad batch of gas. Could be things like lots of short trips, very low tires, 02 sensor going bad, clogged air filter, or a leak in the exhaust. No towing, roof items, very heavy loads, or something like lots of AC or driving at high speed with all the windows down, right?
We just came up I-5 in the Sienna with a spice cabinet on the roof. It didn't seem to have much air blocking surface area, and I strapped it down pretty far back on the roof. But at 75mph, it apparently did, dropping our gas mileage 20-25%.
Looks like though I have records, I haven't calculated my mpg's in the last year. But in the 8 years before that, my best was 23.9 (don't know how....the next highest was 21.5, and 2 more at 21 or above). But my worst was 13.1, with a few in the under 14 category.
My low ones were likely with lots of 2-3 mile trips around town, with a cold engine and up and down hills. (seeing this since on some of those the tank would last a month or multiple months) Personally I'd check a few of the obvious things (air filter and tire pressure), and then see how it does over the next couple tankfuls. There's always the possibility that it's something more (a cylinder not working, whether due to no spark or something worse), but I wouldn't worry too much about that unless it does end up being consistently low without a reason.
(I'm sure it could also be a lot of other things, but it could be brakes or e-brakes dragging, bearings going out (wheel, etc), or if an automatic not getting into that top gear. You should have pulling in a direction or added noise from some of those)
Could be a bad batch of gas. Could be things like lots of short trips, very low tires, 02 sensor going bad, clogged air filter, or a leak in the exhaust. No towing, roof items, very heavy loads, or something like lots of AC or driving at high speed with all the windows down, right?
We just came up I-5 in the Sienna with a spice cabinet on the roof. It didn't seem to have much air blocking surface area, and I strapped it down pretty far back on the roof. But at 75mph, it apparently did, dropping our gas mileage 20-25%.
Looks like though I have records, I haven't calculated my mpg's in the last year. But in the 8 years before that, my best was 23.9 (don't know how....the next highest was 21.5, and 2 more at 21 or above). But my worst was 13.1, with a few in the under 14 category.
My low ones were likely with lots of 2-3 mile trips around town, with a cold engine and up and down hills. (seeing this since on some of those the tank would last a month or multiple months) Personally I'd check a few of the obvious things (air filter and tire pressure), and then see how it does over the next couple tankfuls. There's always the possibility that it's something more (a cylinder not working, whether due to no spark or something worse), but I wouldn't worry too much about that unless it does end up being consistently low without a reason.
(I'm sure it could also be a lot of other things, but it could be brakes or e-brakes dragging, bearings going out (wheel, etc), or if an automatic not getting into that top gear. You should have pulling in a direction or added noise from some of those)
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BigBluePile
New member
How's 10 mpg's sound?
KidVermicious
New member
OP, are your tires stock size? Oversize tires will throw your miles measurement off.
wallytoo
Member
i'd be more concerned with repeated instances of poor mileage, rather than a single tank that seemed to get low mileage. if the next tank also returns poor mileage, you've got an indication that something is abnormal for your driving style. then you'll have to figure out whether it's driver-induced or vehicle-related. but basing your concerns on a single tank is fruitless.
wally
wally
Could be several reasons. Winter blend gases tend to lower gas mileage. Colder weather also causes engines to run richer. Idling to warm up the car. Stronger head winds. Bad gas. Problem with your O2 sensor. Vacuum issue not disengaging from ADD system.
As many here have said, one tank of gas isn't enough to determine if its a problem or not. On the other hand, I do feel your pain. You can always switch to manual hubs to save some on gas.
As many here have said, one tank of gas isn't enough to determine if its a problem or not. On the other hand, I do feel your pain. You can always switch to manual hubs to save some on gas.
ralatkins
Member
my mechanic guy seems to think my exhaust is stopped up. i am currently saving for thorny headers, dynomax muffler. then i'll switch to manual hubs and ditch the catalytic converter when i do the exhaust. hope that helps. i have checked about 6 tanks in a row (don't drive it very much, company car) and it's always between 12 and 12.5 mpg
wallytoo
Member
so far in 2014, i've filled up the tank in my 87 4r five times. worst tank average was 17.1 mpg. best tank average was 19.6 mpg. five tank average is 18.6 mpg.
in the summer/fall, i averaged over 20 mpg, with a best tank average of 23.2 mpg.
- 22re with 5-speed manual
that's with snow tires, a cargo load exceeding 150 lbs every day (periodically higher, but not every day) plus me (170 lbs), total miles travelled - 1375.
in the summer/fall, i averaged over 20 mpg, with a best tank average of 23.2 mpg.
- 22re with 5-speed manual
that's with snow tires, a cargo load exceeding 150 lbs every day (periodically higher, but not every day) plus me (170 lbs), total miles travelled - 1375.
2ndGen4runner4x4
New member
12 - 13 mpg?... I don't understand... is there a problem with that? 
12 - 13 mpg?... I don't understand... is there a problem with that?
Nope.
Fuel Economy of the 1995 Toyota 4Runner 4WD
ralatkins
Member
12 - 13 mpg?... I don't understand... is there a problem with that?
seems like other people get better mileage, i am just wondering. this is my first 3.0
NobleShield
New member
Well I have been driving my 95 3.0 for about 2 years and city only driving, I average about 11 MPG. When I can finally get on the highway i get around 18 MPG.
2ndGen4runner4x4
New member
Compare apples to apple... and you will find that 3.0 automatics are not fuel sippers. Throw in bigger tires, roof racks, etc and you can practically watch the gas gauge move every time you accelerate.
I originally bought my 2nd gen because I wanted a 4x4 with decent gas mileage and figured that I would never have to work on a Toyota! :wow:
MississippiRiflemn
New member
I just changed the oil and air filter in mine a few days ago, and the mileage jumped from 12 to 16 MPG. I kept my foot out of it and it was mostly highway commuting, but it's nice to see small things make such a difference.
wshiverick
New member
I average about 27-28 with a 22re..
