Any way to improve gas mileage (95 v6)

[devortiz06]

I have a 95 4runner with a 3.0L v6 engine. It gets at most 15 mpg with mixed driving (driving only about 4 miles 6 days a week with about 50 miles one day about, two thirds freeway, plus a little other various city driving) I have been getting no more than 225 miles on 15 gallons. This is only slightly less than it is rated for but I have read about some getting much more, even up into the 20's. Is there any way to improve it? My uncle who is a mechanic suggested adding a cold air intake and a K&N but they are expensive, how big of an effect would it have on gas mileage?

I use regular gas but I live in utah and the minimum grade gasoline is 85 even though most cars are supposed to use at least 87, regular still costs at least $3.50 so its not really worth using midgrade 87.

Edit: it has a manual transmission.

 

[mechagouki]

15 gallons is under a full tank right? 225 miles combined sounds OK for a full tank. Unless you have a standard shift vehicle there isnt much you can do for free to improve your gas mileage.

 

[DC runner]

I won't bore you with math, but the #1 culprit in MPG is speed. Every doubling of speed requires 8 times the energy.... it is that bad.

So. You slowing you AVERAGE speed down by even 5 miles and hour will save double the power needed.

If you are used to driving 65, go 60. Go 55. Try this for 1 week and you will be just shocked at how much fuel you save. These 4 runners are hideous airfoils, so trying to push them through the air sucks gas.

Like pushing a WALL...

 

[devortiz06]

15 gallons is under a full tank right? 225 miles combined sounds OK for a full tank. Unless you have a standard shift vehicle there isnt much you can do for free to improve your gas mileage.

15 gallons is the full tank, the light comes on at about 14.5 below full. Do some model years have much more than that? The vehicle does have a standard transmission. I am not looking only for free was to improve it, but money is tight for me as a college student paying my own way so anything done would have to be well worth it. I am considering adding a cold air intake and K&N but am not sure of the effectiveness.

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

Make sure your tune-up is complete, including all oils & fluids.
Make sure the timing is perfect.
No extended idling or lead foot.
Good tire pressure, carry light load.
SEA FOAM correctly 100 to 200 miles before every oil change.

*Add a K&N Cold Air Intake system if money is no object.

1st Gens have a 17.2 gallon tank.
My gas light comes on when there's 2 gallons left.

 

[GonOvr]

Cummins 4bt? That will get you well into the upper 20's.

The 3vze isn't known for reliability, power, or good mileage.

Sorry to all for sounding like a broken record.

The best mpg i ever got was in my old blue 95, 17mpg on 37's with 5.29's. It was a v6 5 speed. The only thing i did was run a k&n drop in filter, gut the cat and ran a bigger cat back exhaust.

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

No matter how good an air filter is, it does nothing to help improve gas mileage.

Keeping the air cleaner allows the engine to breathe better -- which in turn increases torque.

But as for keeping the air cooler, that does improve gas mileage.

 

[csrobb007]

I did the airbox maintinance thread when I first started here...got turned on to the fuelly site, and started using it for my trips twice a month to get a better picture of mileage. My modifications to this point have been 1: increase air flow (an engine is an air pump...make it pump air more efficiently, everything else will follow), and 2: Keep EVERYTHING cool. Your truck already draws cold air from behind the headlight...use a drop in filter for better flow, and your as good as your going to get. Keep the trans cool for less slip (if it's an auto), and I used syn fluids tip to tip (ALL OF THEM) for less resistance.
Hubs, removal of the cat, 2.5 Flowmaster and larger pipe from the "Y" back, 265/75-17's at 50 lbs (rolling resistance) and don't drive like an idiot.
These are the results after 1000 miles give or take, starting from 17 to the gallon:

4Runner (Toyota 4Runner) | Fuelly

I've done a few other little things looking for that "ultimate mileage" number, but it's a work in progress.

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

Other than installing a Flowmaster with new 2.5" pipes, I'm done with trying to improve mileage.

 

[WoodsRunner88]

Well I would advise the full tune up like SUBTEGRAL, but try re****ing the ignition timing to around 6 or 7 BTDC, it helped my 4Runner V6 go from 17 mpg to almost 23 on good weeks. I also drive like a grandpa, so I am sure that helps.

 

[mikedks]

Well I would advise the full tune up like SUBTEGRAL, but try re****ing the ignition timing to around 6 or 7 BTDC, it helped my 4Runner V6 go from 17 mpg to almost 23 on good weeks. I also drive like a grandpa, so I am sure that helps.

Am guessing that's the forum's auto censor, wow, a bit sensitive, even a bit ret....., oops, I mean stupid.

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

My 4Runner likes about 18 degrees advanced.

Anything lower, it has less get-up-and-go and also surges a little bit.

 

[GreenMasheen]

"About 4 miles per day, 6 days per week"...... there's the culprit, short trips. The engine barely warms up into closed loop mode when you arrive at your destination. Short trips on a cold engine and fluids ie; axles, trans, power steering, t-case....., even the stiff rubber in the tires (till they warm a little).... they all create drag. The bulk of your fuel vs. mileage is being burnt under the worst conditions. 15mpg vs. the rated 16mpg, you're doing pretty good. My '95 2.4 22-RE is getting 22 mpg city, 25 mpg highway with 31x10.5x15 Goodyear Wrangler Territory tires, 5 speed. I'm planning on doing the locking hub swap, +1~+2 mpg seems to be the average increase. I drive 35 mph city and 55 mph highway average, with a light foot.

 

[SwiftRunner]

I have a K&N air filter, but I am getting the kind of mileage you are. I do a lot of under 20 mile trips with about 15% on very rough dirt roads. You mileage improves on pavement when you reduce your speed, but there's a lower limit to that. Off road with under 20 mph burns a lot of gas. Changing your tire tread will help. Personally I just put in new plugs and wires and expect that to improve the mileage. I'll be taking it out on the highway for a long drive soon, too. Hopefully I'll see good mileage. It isn't just the engine that effects your mileage as others have pointed out. With the kind of gearing that the 4runner has, stop and go traffic sucks up the gasoline. If you want to save on gas, get a motorcycle. You can also consider a small front-wheel drive vehicle. I had a couple of 4-cylinder GM J-cars for much of my life. They were great city cars and had very high mileage when tuned correctly. The Olds Firenza hatchback proved quite a bit of interior space as well. I could sleep comfortably in it. The only real drawback was the driver legroom. The again, the 4-runner leaves something to desire in that department.