4th genners with V6 & V8...mpg's??

[SnydersWeb]

MPG Mine vs Computer

My daily commute each way is 30 miles. I travel speeds between 40-83 MPH (gotta love open interstate and 75 posted limits).

Warmer weather has slighly increased my MPG.

The 4Runner's computer says I am getting 18-20 MPG but on MY calculations (trip meter reading since last fill-up/gallons pumped) it consistently comes out to ~17 MPG. The highest I've seen is 17.25.

Anyone else see this descrepency?



David Snyder
_____________
Black 2004 4Runner Sport Edition V8

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Re: MPG Mine vs Computer

My daily commute each way is 30 miles. I travel speeds between 40-83 MPH (gotta love open interstate and 75 posted limits).

Warmer weather has slighly increased my MPG.

The 4Runner's computer says I am getting 18-20 MPG but on MY calculations (trip meter reading since last fill-up/gallons pumped) it consistently comes out to ~17 MPG. The highest I've seen is 17.25.

Anyone else see this descrepency?



David Snyder
_____________
Black 2004 4Runner Sport Edition V8

I think every 4runner mpg computer is a bit optomistic.

 

[rensho]

I've tried removing the air filter (leaving only the thinner air filter/screen) and there was almost NO difference in mpg during a 500mi trip. Was surprising to me.
I noticed a very slight improvement in throttle response, and more intake noise.
I ended up putting it back on after the trip, as there was so little improvement if really any compared to the risk of dirtying the permanent air filter/screen.

 

[sharp4runr]

I've been getting about 16.5-18mpg with mostly city driving. Average speed is 30.

 

[lin]

My 2003 V8 gets an average of 17-18 in mixed driving and 19-20 highway.

It may sound crazy, but I've tried filling up after short highway trips to see if I can find an optimal mph / driving speed. Its an imprecise science because I'm not sure that I am really filling up to the same point each time-- and the small number of gallons could be greatly impacted by the that variance-- but it appears that mileage may peak between 55 and 60 and start to drop off as I get above 65-70mph. So if I'm not in a hurry I stay in the slow lane, relax and tell myself I'm saving $$$. (gotta get a life)

 

[02sport]

My 2003 V8 gets an average of 17-18 in mixed driving and 19-20 highway.

man, i wish my 3.0v6 would get those kind of numbers I rarely hit 16 ....ive hit 17 a few times, but 14-15 is about average..........wish i could've had a v8!!

 

[nathannookie]

Re: MPG Mine vs Computer

The 4Runner's computer says I am getting 18-20 MPG but on MY calculations (trip meter reading since last fill-up/gallons pumped) it consistently comes out to ~17 MPG. The highest I've seen is 17.25.

Anyone else see this descrepency?



David Snyder
_____________
Black 2004 4Runner Sport Edition V8

Yep, I think we all see it. So the question is; why doesn't Toyota calibrate the computer more accurately? Are the sensors that measure the gas being used to blame, OR, do they just plug in incorrect formulas into the computer....to make us all feel better?

It's ridiculous. I don't want some candy-covered data, I want to know what I'm really getting. Anyway, it does seem that it's off optimistically by about 2 MPG.

I've e-mailed my dealer, asking why it was so far off, but they've not responded yet. I won't hold my breath.

 

[SnydersWeb]

Re: Re: MPG Mine vs Computer

It's ridiculous. I don't want some candy-covered data, I want to know what I'm really getting. Anyway, it does seem that it's off optimistically by about 2 MPG.

I've e-mailed my dealer, asking why it was so far off, but they've not responded yet. I won't hold my breath.

I agree!

Though I wonder whether calling Toyota's customer care lines would perhaps be more effective. Really when it comes to the truck itself, that so far is my only complaint. It's a minor thing but crap, why have it if it doesn't provide accurate data?

I only want my 4Runner only blowing smoke out of its tailpipe, not up my ass.

At least the Range seems like it is fairly accurate.

 

[Mark86]

I always took the computer to be accuarte in its calculations before I joined this board. Since then, I have been calculating the MPG myself and it is true. On mine, it is 2.1 MPG off. Now, I just leave it on the range screen!

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Same here..

I always took the computer to be accuarte in its calculations before I joined this board. Since then, I have been calculating the MPG myself and it is true. On mine, it is 2.1 MPG off. Now, I just leave it on the range screen!

I either leave it in RANGE or TEMP mode (winter) . The computer generated MPG is of no use if it's not accurate. I wonder if any Toyota Corporate employees follow any of the forums? They would be getting their market research for free!!! All they would have to do is read to find out owners like or dislike about their product.

 

[nathannookie]

Re: Re: Re: MPG Mine vs Computer

I agree!

Though I wonder whether calling Toyota's customer care lines would perhaps be more effective. Really when it comes to the truck itself, that so far is my only complaint. It's a minor thing but crap, why have it if it doesn't provide accurate data?

I only want my 4Runner only blowing smoke out of its tailpipe, not up my ass.

At least the Range seems like it is fairly accurate.

You've put that well.

And, good suggestion, I'll give them a call, although, we both know they'll insist they know nothing of any discrepancy.

I 'would' love to see the algorithm they use to compute the range, considering it's more accurate than the MPG indication.

When you clear the MPG display, the gas mileage can show 40MPG, if you're coasting down a hill, but the range doesn't change much, so I'm guessing it's looking at gas mileage since you re-filled?

Also wonder how accurate the gas gauge metering is, or does it see 'so to speak' a fill up, and recalculate assuming a full tank, and then figure gas usage by the consumption device? Wonder how that works too. Maybe the computer knows exactly how much it's allowing the injectors to dispense.

Yeah, I'm too curious, but the science of all this is kind of interesting.

 

[NoDak]

i remember somewhere, the fuel gauge has an electronic sensor to determine the amount of gas left in the tank, which is probably why the range is more accurate than the mpg.

 

[nathannookie]

i remember somewhere, the fuel gauge has an electronic sensor to determine the amount of gas left in the tank, which is probably why the range is more accurate than the mpg.

Well, I guess I'd assume that sensor was the same one that shows the tanks fill level. Guess it's more accurate than the fuel usage sensor though.

Guess I'll jump on this thread;
http://toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2034
Continues the same subject...

 

[Only4Gold]

V6 results

With over 13,000 on my 03SR5v6, the numbers are pretty consistent. As an example, last weekend I did a 700 mile trip, mostly highway, and the computer topped out at 26.6mph...I figured an actual calculation of about 24.6, quite impressive, even at speeds of up to 75-80 in places. I'm very pleased with the mileage, tho that is not the reason I purchased this great vehicle!!

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Pretty sure it works this way

MPG readout - The vehicle takes instantaneous readings to determine how much fuel is being used, either through a flow meter, or from Toyota assumsions about throttle position, engine rpm, and transmission gear based on some average they have measured in a lab.
IF it's a flow meter, it's miscalibrated. If it's a calculated value, they assumed wrong. The other factor in the calculation should be the most accurate one, MILEAGE. This is driven by the odometer.
So the fact the reading is always low, means one of those pieces of data is incorrect.

RANGE readout - Notice how after you fill up, it resets itself to a new value? The amount of fuel the tank can hold is a known factor, 23 gallons for every 4runner. BUT it uses the PAST MPG readout to make it's new RANGE calaculation. So if you just got what the MPG conputer thought was 17MPG, then you fill up, the new range is reset to 391 MILES (17 x 23 ). This is why my range gets reset to 342 MILEs after filling up. (14.9 last MPG reading x 23). My MPG readout is almost always near 15MPG, and my range always ends up being 23 times the last MPG readout.

EVEN if I did not use the entire 23 gallons, the RANGE function assumes that the current MPG readout would appply for the whole tank. When I took a ski trip to Okemo last month, my MPG readout was 22.3 MPG by the time I got home. When I finally filled up a few days later it had dropped to 18.8MPG. Guess what the range said after fillup? 432 MILES. What I haven't looked at yet is if the range drops at the same rate the odometer increases. I'm not sure if the 4runner cares what my actual MPG is for calculating the instantaneous range. That's ny next observation.

 

[rensho]

Only4Gold, those are some amazing #s. A good 2mpg higher than i ever see in my v6 2wd. Hopefully when i reach 13kmi, my mpg will be comparable.

 

[mmoobb]

2004 Toyota 4 Runner V8 Gas Mileage

I just traded in my 96 SR5 for a 04 SR5 V8. I love the truck and the engine but my gas milage seems to be much worse than other V8 owners. I've noticed that a lot of the V8 owners claim that the computer mpg's are usually lower than the calculated. I've been driving mostly around town with a lot of stop and go but I'm driving it very conservatively to keep the gas mileage as high as possible and my computer is still reading around 12.5 mpg at the moment. It seems to be getting worse; a few weeks ago it was about 16 mpg. Does that mean that I'm actually getting worse milage than that and if so what might be causing it? Thanks.

 

[ClockWork]

I just traded in my 96 SR5 for a 04 SR5 V8. I love the truck and the engine but my gas milage seems to be much worse than other V8 owners. I've noticed that a lot of the V8 owners claim that the computer mpg's are usually lower than the calculated. I've been driving mostly around town with a lot of stop and go but I'm driving it very conservatively to keep the gas mileage as high as possible and my computer is still reading around 12.5 mpg at the moment. It seems to be getting worse; a few weeks ago it was about 16 mpg. Does that mean that I'm actually getting worse milage than that and if so what might be causing it? Thanks.

Normal for stop and go regardless of how easy you drive.

 

[webby]

The computer mpg numbers are fairy tale numbers and are meaningless and very inaccurate -- I ignore those numbers, as should everyone.

I figure my mileage manually, by miles driven and fuel consumed. But actually, I use an app in my Android smartphone called "Fuel Log" -- every fillup, I plug in the new numbers and it figures it. Yes, I can do it about as fast with a calculater, but Fuel Log keeps a record of all the stats for me, which is handy.

I have an 08 V8 4WD Sport. I get over 15 City, and over 17 driving 85 mph and up and down serious grades, on trips. If I drive slower, I can get 19 mpg, but I don't bother unless I'm driving in a state with a ridiculously low highway speed limit, which is not the fact where I live, fortunately. The EPA figures for my truck are 12 City and 17 Hiway, so I'm beating that, which is really all I could ask for. I seldom ever do jack rabbit starts, but I definitely keep up with the traffic -- actually, I drive faster than most folks, but I ease up to those speeds to stretch the gas.

City driving conditions vary tremendously. So whereas I am able to consistently get over 15 mpg city with the V8 runner, under city conditions with more frequent stop and go than I experience, one may not be able to realize that high a number.

I used to have an 09 V6 4WD SR5, and it only got about 1 to 1.5 mpg more than my V8 gets, a trade-off I was willing to make for the added towing ability that I needed.

Those who claim 20 or 25 mpg -- frankly, no offense, but I don't believe it. I have had two 4th Gens now and I will say 20 or slightly more is possible, but takes ideal driving conditions and driving to try to push those numbers. Much over that -- sorry, but I see it as fairy tale land.

Edit: I'm not trying to stir it up with you folks who claim high mpg -- good on you. My purpose in this post is that I don't want lurkers or new forum members to invest in a used 4Runner, with the expectation of 20-25 mpg. I don't think that expectation is realistic. And disappointment would be the result, as the new owner finds his day to day operating costs are much higher than planned for.

 

[peter78]

Here are my numbers:

My ride to work is 82 miles/day round trip - all highway doing about 70 - 75 mph. On the computer I'm getting 20.8 miles/gallon. Based on reading other posts my mpg is most likely a bit overstated, but not bad for a V8. I'm also running on regular gas.

My trip computer usually has 21.1 to 21.5 on my 2004 V6 and when I caculate it, it is about 19.5 ish sometimes I break 20, but that is rare. So, if you go by the computer your 20.8 on the V8 and my mid to low 21 it is really pretty close.

By the way, my 3rd generation V6 is a little less than my 2004. I get high 18 to low 19 on my 2001 V6, but for some reason on the highway I can break 22, something I never can do with my 2004 on the highway. Still my overall mileage is lower in the 3rd generation.