All at once, or in steps (improve MPG)

A

astar4runner

New member
New guy here. This place rocks! I've owned 88, 94, and now a 3rd gen.

Q: Want to improve gas MPG with these upgrades?

Should I do all this at once or in stages;
1. Deckplate mod w/ K&N (or Amsoil, or AirHog)
2. Clean MAF
3. Spark Plugs (want fresh ones in there)
4. O2 sensor (front or both???)

I ask due to computer adjusting.

I just bought this baby for 6g's cash w/ 115miles, 1 owner. I've changed all oil, lubed, and balanced tires and adjusted pushrod on clutch. I need to contact dealer to get work history...to see if timing belt was replaced.

The only problem right now is shaking of steering wheel when braking from 65-55 on front right. Warped rotor? If so what do you guys recommend?

Thanks for help...my new friends. I will post pics of all my 4runners later.

-Andy
 
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Also did the deckplate and noticed no MPG improvement. Only an audio and tiny butt dyno improvement.

I did notice .5-1.0 mpg improvement after switching to Mobil 1 5w-30.
 
plugs and maf cleaning are a good idea for sure. the o2 sensor i would personally test first, but the only one that effects your fuel trim is the primary one, the secondary is a catalyst efficiency sensor, which basically only tells the ECU that the catalytic converter is doing its job properly.
 
i would also add cleaning the throttle body with the MAF! i have seen better HP and responce, but it really dosnt affect fuel, also make sure the air in your tires if filled, that is one of the biggest things people forget, air.


yes it is a rotor, ether replace it if it is out of spec. or just resurfice it, o'reiles will resurfice rotors.... and maybe new pads... that should take car of the shaking
 
The shaking in the steering is definitely a warped rotor. But like mentioned above you should be able to just get it resurfaced or machined down for pretty cheap and it will fix the problem.
 
I've been doing some extensive testing to see what my mileage was with my Yakima rack and tailight guards on w/deckplate closed and I was getting high 15s to high 16mpgs then I removed that stuff,kept the deckplate closed and consistently saw 16.8-17.1mpg on a regular basis and I just completed one tank with the deckplate open and am now on my 2nd tank,with the first I saw 16.8mpg so no improvement at all.

This is primarily city driving and I have a habit of quickly acclelerating with a heavy foot.
 
MilesRacker said:
Also did the deckplate and noticed no MPG improvement. Only an audio and tiny butt dyno improvement.

I did notice .5-1.0 mpg improvement after switching to Mobil 1 5w-30.
Click to expand...

MilesRacker, is that synthetic or regular Mobil 1 oil? Thanks!
 
GamecockRooster said:
MilesRacker, is that synthetic or regular Mobil 1 oil? Thanks!
Click to expand...

I believe if it says Mobil 1 it is synthetic, i.e. they did not use that brand name for any non-synthetic products.
 
No mod is going to help you with a substantial difference in MPG's, and short of setting up a hybrid system, you will never see anything above 22MPG, on the average. And that's if you're mostly on the highway doing 70MPH or less.

Deckplate does nothing. Skip on that. Do the other stuff if you feel inclined, but realize that it won't give you better MPG's. Maybe it will get you back up to par, though.

You could also try highway tires on 15" alloy rims (if your rig can take 15" rims). That might give you a very slight improvment, but with the cost of the tires and rims, it will take a long time to make up that expense.

Sorry, but the only way to dramatically increase MPG's is to buy a Corolla/Civic. :bigok:
 
i have been thinking about this same thing and mentioned in another post my plan of attack is to first do the emanage to be able to bump the ignition timing up, especially during cruise conditions. It seems like the ECU was tuned on the very conservative side i'm guessing to allow for far more load to be placed on the engine during tow conditions. (sorry i'm new to the whole tuning a 4wd vehicle lol) Anyway i figured i can get by w/ a few degrees of advance and then just switch the maps out for tow duty. The other added plus to this is i will have a way to control an electric fan.

Removing the factory clutch fan in most vehicles seems to be worth about a 15hp increase at the wheels. The argument about this is that an electric fan places a heavier load on the alternator, which it does. However while you are moving the air coming through the radiator at most speeds will keep the temps down to where you don't need a fan on. In this condition the electric fan won't put any load on the engine while spinning the clutch fan even in unlocked will cost you some HP which is going to equal MPG as well in this case.

Sorry to get a little a off of the original topic, but that is my plan of attack to get some better MPG out of the 4R.
 
my advice would be to do a tune-up and to also have the maximum allowable tire pressure. be sure that the steering is not noticeably misaligned.

confirmed that the deckplate mod will not save on mpg. makes a nice intake sound, tho.
 
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