2002 4Runner SR5 - drop in MPGs recently

[osiris3mc]

Hey all,

So my 2002 SR5, which has about 102,500 on it, has over the last 1,000-2,000 miles experienced a drop in the MPGs.

I don't know how much the weather effects MPGs, but I do live in Minneapolis, and it's been friggin' cold the last couple months. Anyway...

In December, at around 98,000 miles or so, I went to a mechanic (whom I trust) and gave him the print-outs from Toyota with all the recommended check-ups for 90,000-100,000. He looked at everything, said things looked good.

He did do a transmission flush and a coolant flush. He also said I should replace the timing belt and water pump within the next 10,000 miles.

So, that's about it. I'm just wondering if there's something in particular that would explain what's going on....

If more information is needed, just post a question and I'll answer it to the best of my ability.

Thanks!

 

[techno]

I always lose 2-3 mpg over winter, which I think is due to additives that are put in the gas. Is this the first winter you have had with your 4Runner?

 

[osiris3mc]

I always lose 2-3 mpg over winter, which I think is due to additives that are put in the gas. Is this the first winter you have had with your 4Runner?

Hey. I moved to Minneapolis last March. So, I missed the bitter cold (like sub-zero temps) but still got some of the winter. I don't really remember a drop then, but I can't say for sure.

So, yeah, this would be the first full winter with the 4Runner. Before I had it in Southern California, where the weather obviously never changes more than like 10 degrees. Ha. Anyway, that's really good to know and makes me feel a lot better!

Do you know when they typically stop putting additives in the gas? Then I can monitor if there's improvement.

Thanks for the info!

 

[techno]

Winter gas usually runs from November to March, so hopefully things should be back to normal with a few weeks. I got 260 miles from my tank this week which is about normal, so I'm hoping the switch has been done already. Typically in winter I get around 220 miles per tank.

 

[Qyota]

It's normal. All vehicles get worse fuel efficiency in cold weather. It's a combination of a different fuel blend and of course things being cold. The engine stays in fuel-enrichment mode longer, since it takes longer to warm up. Once it's warmed up, it should get nearly as good FE as any other time...but the gasoline is still is behind summer gasoline as far as energy content (in some states).

There is a push for higher-than-10% ethanol blends in Wisconsin. I hope that doesn't happen, because that will drop everyone's FE...and reduces the performance of my GSXR!