Am i the only 4runner owner getting 11mpgs?

Ok, thought of something else... You're in salty PA. Go on a few mile drive with gentle to modest braking. Get out and touch all of the rims. If one or more is warmer than "luke warm" you may have a stuck caliper or two causing some brake drag. You should feel equal temps on the rear rims (R&L) and the fronts may or may not be slightly warmer but should be equal R & L. If any rim is trully warm-to-hot investigate that brake, likewise if one is stone-cold. You wouldn't be the first guy to have a 4th gen with a stuck caliper or two....
:cheers:
 
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You may have a bad O2 sensor. It could run fine and get bad mileage. You also have to realize during the winter (winter fuel) and cold temps any 4th gen could get low mileage. A/T tires are taking a little, especially if they are bigger then OEM and low on pressure. Bump them up to 40psi and see if there is any difference. Check your air filter also. The 04 V6 didn't have iridium plugs you may want to do a little testing with the OEM plugs and disconnect the battery to reset the computer. You may want to use all synthetic fluids (engine, diffs and transfer case). It all adds up to a little more. The tires are the most common and likely thief. Between more rotating mass and higher rolling resistance. From what I remember the trip computer is usually off by 1 mpg.

Koz
 
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CJ3FLYR and Koz...thank you for your help...do you think the iridium plugs i have in there and a problem...they're not denso's...autolite XP iridiums.....is there certain kind of iridiums that the v6 takes or can it not take them at all?
 
2004TR4-SR5 said:
CJ3FLYR and Koz...thank you for your help...do you think the iridium plugs i have in there and a problem...they're not denso's...autolite XP iridiums.....is there certain kind of iridiums that the v6 takes or can it not take them at all?
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**EDIT** I just did some searching and see that you have been complaining of MPG's for a while now. I see u have the V6 also.

I recently just replaced my plugs with the NGK Iridium IX plugs. But plugs should be plugs, also did you verify the correct gapping on the plugs when u installed them or just put them in? Gap is 0.044".

Thoughts: Are u running it in 4wd? Tire pressure, you never mentioned if you ever checked it or not? Maintenance, is there anything that you did and then your mileage went down? Also since u live in the cold, do you let your truck sit and warm up? If so that could take a big hit on the MPG factor. How many miles are on your vehicle?

Maybe for S&G try disconnecting your battery overnight to reset the computer on your truck and see if relearns how to operate correctly.
 
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The inboard lower piston is usually the culprit on the front rotors. Well, my truck was 2 for 2. That could definitely cause a drop in MPG.

Now the cold will not cause your mpg to drop, but letting it warm up for 15 or 20 minutes definitely will. Check your brakes. If nothing else seems to jump out at you, you could try this. Fill your truck up. Then go for a couple hour drive somewhere. When you get there, fill up and check your mileage. This will rule out the warm up theory.
 
OP, you're not the only one getting horrendous MPG in the V6. I am also experiencing the same symptoms but will check on the stuck brake caliper theory. Dammit I wish I read your thread 2 days ago as the truck was getting new tires and was already on lift.
 
the app is called carminder...it keeps track of maintenance and warns you when its coming up and also has a gas log and very accurate....anyways...i just rotated my tires..filled them to 40 psi...put a k&n air filter in...took out the hydrocarbon filter...and put lucas fuel system cleaner in...as i filled up with gas i pull the ects fuse and the 2 efi fuses and disconnected the battery.....after all that i started my truck and the computer range went back to 395 miles and my avg mpg is now at 17.7 after a small highway drive...needless to say its back to where i wanted it..but lets see how long this lasts. . .i will update what my iphone app tells me on my next fill up!!
 
2004TR4-SR5 said:
CJ3FLYR and Koz...thank you for your help...do you think the iridium plugs i have in there and a problem...they're not denso's...autolite XP iridiums.....is there certain kind of iridiums that the v6 takes or can it not take them at all?
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I can't speak to the Autolites. I have the Denso Iridiums and they are running good for me. I don't loathe Autolite plugs the way I do the cheap Champions but I don't have much love for them. That doesn't mean they are causing you issues, that's just my opinion based on some dated experiences. If you DIY it the cost to try some OE style Denso or NGK plugs is cheap. You can try some OE style plugs for $20-$25. Look at Autozone, AAP and others. Someone always has Densos or NGKs on sale.

2004TR4-SR5 said:
the app is called carminder...it keeps track of maintenance and warns you when its coming up and also has a gas log and very accurate....anyways...i just rotated my tires..filled them to 40 psi...put a k&n air filter in...took out the hydrocarbon filter...and put lucas fuel system cleaner in...as i filled up with gas i pull the ects fuse and the 2 efi fuses and disconnected the battery.....after all that i started my truck and the computer range went back to 395 miles and my avg mpg is now at 17.7 after a small highway drive...needless to say its back to where i wanted it..but lets see how long this lasts. . .i will update what my iphone app tells me on my next fill up!!
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Sounds good, great news! Be careful with that K&N. Service it properly and often. Unless the oil is fresh they let some stuff through. Too much oil can gum up stuff too. I think they are ok if you are servicing them every 45-60days, that's just me...
:cheers:
 
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start with the easy stuff. Check the air filter and clean the MAF. If you got crap on the maf, that'll cause a big difference in MPG.
 
UPDATE....i havent filled up yet but as i thought it was too good to be true...the computer is saying my avg mpg is between 14 and 15 mpg...earlier today it was at 17 mpg....also my range is dropping like crazy...i started out at 395 miles..as of right now i only have 40 miles on trip and my range is at 329..dont seem like anything was fixed..i wont know an accurate numbers til my next fill up
 
2004TR4-SR5 said:
UPDATE....i havent filled up yet but as i thought it was too good to be true...the computer is saying my avg mpg is between 14 and 15 mpg...earlier today it was at 17 mpg....also my range is dropping like crazy...i started out at 395 miles..as of right now i only have 40 miles on trip and my range is at 329..dont seem like anything was fixed..i wont know an accurate numbers til my next fill up
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I do have one comment, tell us what actual mileage is and not what your computer shows. I've found the readout is not the best out there. Granted it works just fine for me, but it seems that is what you base everything your telling us.

Another thing that changes is how "full" you fill your tank. When I fill up my vehicles I get more miles to the tank versus how my wife fills the tank. I fill it till I can't get another drop of fuel in the filler neck otherwise it will leak all down my paint. Where as my wife fills the truck just a click or two past where the pump stops the first time. SO I easily get another gallon or two in my tanks versus her.
 
As far as the trip computer, mine starts out really high and goes down fast until it eventually evens out, so that seems normal.

However, your hand calculated mileage does seem low. I would definitely check the air filter and MAF. If there's something blocking your airflow, that may contribute. Also, may want to check your plugs. I don't know a ton about car maintenance, but have heard that recently replaced gunked up plugs could indicate the car is running rich and could be bad O2 or some other sensor.

Again, this is coming from a noob, so maybe someone could back up these theories.
 
jlmilligan said:
Now the cold will not cause your mpg to drop
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Temperature definitely has an impact on mileage. With all other variables being the same, if you reduce air temperature you are increasing the density of the air and that will require more fuel to keep the A/F ratio where it needs to be. Those other factors such as idling your car for 15 minutes, winter gas, spinning tires in the snow, etc. play a big part in the mileage drop as well.

OP... have you done a diagnostic scan? Most auto parts chains will let you use their scanner for free. I went from 18.6mpg to under 14mpg once (with my Gen3), ran a scan at my local parts store, and discovered an "O2 sensor slow to respond" error. I ordered up a couple of new sensors, replaced them, and my mileage went right back to 18.6.

Good luck and keep us posted!
~Doozi
 
Well, I agree that certainly sounds low for a V6 (your getting around the same miles out of a tank that I am with my V8 with mostly city driving) and there have been some great suggestions on here to help remedy and/or identify the issue.

My suggestion (not that your calculations are wrong) is to sign up to fuelly.com and start entering each fill up over the next couple months (or more). It is a good way to track your average mpg plus it can help you identify any trends or anomalies in fuel consumption (which may help identify any issues).

Here is a link to all V6 4Runners posted on fuelly and you can see that the averages are higher then yours… Browse All Toyota 4Runners | Fuelly

You just have to sign up, then on every fill up enter your odometer reading, gallons pumped, price per gallon and you can add tags or notes to keep track.

EDIT TO ADD: My actual mpg has been between 1 - 1.3 mpg lower then teh onboard computer.
 
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I have V6 and had the same problem....I cleaned my MAF sensor and reset the battery and I noticed a HUGE difference in MPG now....Huge!..I suggest you clean your MAF sensor first...it will only cost you like $6.99
 
UPDATE....so after i took out my carbon filter..put a k&n filter in...filled my tires to 40 psi...used lucus fuel system cleaner...replaced my autolie xp iridiums with denso's from toyota....and i disconnected my battery for 10 mins...my mileage went from 11 to 13.67...not where i want it to be but its a start!...thanks for all the help guys!! my next move is probbably just to replace my o2 sensor or sensors and MAD sensor...and maybe a aftermarketCAI or a custom CAI
 
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I get 24-26 on the freeway at 70 mph and 16-19 around town.

Depending on your milage you should do a top end clean with some sea foam. Super easy and usual helps a lot.

Other than that try what Chris said by resetting the ECU. you could have a bad sensor somewhere as well.
 
I have to agree with you. It doesn't seem that 5 to 10 mph would kill your gas that much. How old are your fluids? Maybe swap them out for new in the difs, transfer case and trans. For the price of the plugs, I would swap those out too. Maybe even new wires. Clean your MAF sensor. Check your O2 sensors. They may be on the way to going bad but not throwing a code yet. A cat could be clogged or clogging. Throw in a new air filter and fuel filter. Colder weather and winter mix gas will hurt your mileage some, but nothing like what you're seeing. I noticed about a 2 mpg difference and I drive 80 on the highway daily.
 
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