Bad mpg, low mpg, poor mpg, low fuel mileage, any ideas?

[Seafury]

I tried every way I can think to search for bad mpg, low mpg, fuel mileage etc.
Zero results.

Stock 2011 Limited, stock narrow Bridgestone tires. 97k miles.
Just replaced front left wheel bearing/hub, slight improvement now.

Is the on board mpg readout fairly accurate?

I am struggling to reach 13.5 mpg, commuting 12 miles each way in 30% stop and go traffic, mixed speeds 35-60, some elevation change.

I am driving like a grandma trying to keep the eco meter in the green. Is this normal?

It can't be when I see stuff like this > Edmunds link

Engine runs fine, pulls hard, nothing seems out of the ordinary.
Mostly getting 12.5 mpg and that is with rarely pushing the gas much past the eco bar.

Something must be wrong. At this rate, if I lift it 2.5/1.5 and put on 285/70/17's im gonna be in single digits like my 98 4runner with 294k miles on 285-75-16 E Trail tires.

Air filter is clean, nothing leaks, rides quiet and smooth after bearing replaced. Just purchased this truck. Mpg is extremely disappointing, consistently getting around 250 miles to a tank.

Help lol.

Thanks!

 

[Dillusion]

I say do the math and see if the readout is correct or not.

Maybe a tune up is in order also.

 

[jmf_tracy]

4runners do not get good mileage, ever.
my 2015 trd pro got 16-17 stock.
now i get 11 mpg after mods

 

[Twilghtzone]

>"Is the on board mpg readout fairly accurate?"

Sighs... the on board mpg is usually er... 'optimistic'.

Usually get 17-18 in town... 21-22 on the road with cruise control.
23+ on the road if I drive manually and keep the 'eco bar thing' from misbehaving. (Slow though.)

Do you have a GPS or have a 'known distance' to drive around?
Might monitor the car mileage versus actual miles to make sure nothing's amiss.

Take it on a highway/back road. No stop signs. Go easy. See how it does.
You can push the reset button to monitor mileage in different conditions.
It might be the stop/go traffic.

Pull/change your spark plugs and see what they look like.
Might give you a good idea how the engine is running internally.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

I compare what my digital readout says with my math from my gas receipt and total miles from the previous fill up nearly every tank full. The numbers are usually only a few tenths of a mile off from each other. 2016 Trail Premium.
Only mod to impact MPG currently are tires.

 

[Seafury]

I say do the math and see if the readout is correct or not.

Maybe a tune up is in order also.

Math says the meter is slightly optimistic lol.

I am getting around 12.5mpg.

I reset the mpg meter each fill up to compare.

Never seen 17+ mpg on the meter unless i coast after fill up lol.

Can end of life spark plugs really cause a loss of 5 mpg?

They seem to be due at 120k miles. I am at 97500 roughly. So it is time soon, maybe early, they look easy to swap.

 

[themaestro]

My readout says 15.8 over a year of mixed driving with 285's and 3" of lift. If you are showing 12-13, I would manually calculate, and if you confirm its 12-13, something is definitely not right

edit: just read that you're on original plugs. Just change them. I'm not a mechanic and it took me a couple of careful hours, but cheap to do. I would start there.

 

[Seafury]

4runners do not get good mileage, ever.
my 2015 trd pro got 16-17 stock.
now i get 11 mpg after mods

Thanks, this is what I have heard.

I am almost at 11 mpg stock lol....... something is off.

Math shows about 12.5 mpg.

 

[unsub1]

That seems a little rough. My 2018 ORP has 21K miles and is loaded down fairly heavily with not-light tires and I average 15.6. My pure city driving tanks that consist of endless stop signs and grid-lock Austin traffic get me about 13.5. Mountain trips get me in the 18s, even up to 20 mpg.

For what it's worth, my fuel readout has been freaky-correct.

 

[Seafury]

>"Is the on board mpg readout fairly accurate?"

Sighs... the on board mpg is usually er... 'optimistic'.

Usually get 17-18 in town... 21-22 on the road with cruise control.
23+ on the road if I drive manually and keep the 'eco bar thing' from misbehaving. (Slow though.)

Do you have a GPS or have a 'known distance' to drive around?
Might monitor the car mileage versus actual miles to make sure nothing's amiss.

Take it on a highway/back road. No stop signs. Go easy. See how it does.
You can push the reset button to monitor mileage in different conditions.
It might be the stop/go traffic.

Pull/change your spark plugs and see what they look like.
Might give you a good idea how the engine is running internally.

Thank you much.

Math shows the meter is a bit optimistic yes, lol. about 1-1.5 mpg mine seems. Math shows 12.5 mpg give or take each tank of fuel.

I have NEVER seen 17+ on my meter except as it passes by after a fill up and reset.

Just phone GPS, no real landmark to measure with. Have tried long straight nonstop roads, highways, no change.

My next stop was automatically plugs, but 20k miles early? I sure hope that's not the cause of 5 mpg loss. Engine runs great, with power when i get on it. smooth and mostly quiet unless pushed.

After 1 month of ownership i have noticed a stutter/shudder at near idle cruising up slight grade, like it needs to shift or needs more gas. But this may be normal as I am used to stepping all over my 98 4Runner with big E rated tires just to maintain speed on flat ground!

I barely touch this pedal, though it hesitates like a somebody, drive by wire can blow me....I know it's that, and not poor performance. Its precise each time and is simply a solid delay in action.

I was blaming the bad bearing in the front left, but that's fixed and I got back like 1 mpg.

Strange....................

 

[Seafury]

I compare what my digital readout says with my math from my gas receipt and total miles from the previous fill up nearly every tank full. The numbers are usually only a few tenths of a mile off from each other. 2016 Trail Premium.
Only mod to impact MPG currently are tires.

I have not gotten that hardcore, but good to know some are very close.

Thanks.

 

[Seafury]

My readout says 15.8 over a year of mixed driving with 285's and 3" of lift. If you are showing 12-13, I would manually calculate, and if you confirm its 12-13, something is definitely not right

edit: just read that you're on original plugs. Just change them. I'm not a mechanic and it took me a couple of careful hours, but cheap to do. I would start there.

Yea, that's way more then I am seeing.

Time to get some plugs in there and hope that's it.

Otherwise this is going to get annoying and expensive I fear

 

[Seafury]

That seems a little rough. My 2018 ORP has 21K miles and is loaded down fairly heavily with not-light tires and I average 15.6. My pure city driving tanks that consist of endless stop signs and grid-lock Austin traffic get me about 13.5. Mountain trips get me in the 18s, even up to 20 mpg.

For what it's worth, my fuel readout has been freaky-correct.

Thanks.

That is good stuff, I wish I was seeing that much mpg. Something is hella wrong with my rig lol.

Going to start with plugs and go from there I guess.

 

[6172crew]

cleaning injectors, and replacing spark plugs helps. On my tacoma I replaced the diff fluids with mobil 1, but didnt notice much, I also replaced my transmission fluid every 30k, it was dirty as hell. My 4runner has 20k on it now, so I might stick to the front end, rear end, and transfer case flush at 30k but didn't notice it being filthy like the transmission. Dont forget the propeller shaft grease jobs.

 

[Jernik]

I would think if the plugs were causing 5mpg loss, it would have other noticeable power delivery issues - but you say it runs smooth and power is not an issue.

That kind of eliminates my 2nd thought - that maybe a brake caliper is sticking and not releasing fully. You'd likely feel that as a performance loss too.

Any accessories like AC or belt tensioner creating excessive drag on the engine?

Is the correct weight oil in it? All fluids good (in the diffs too?)

Dunno, just spitballin' ideas here. Depending on your commute, the hills might be a good part of it. I'm probably around 17-18ish in what sounds like a similar commute on flat land - basically right at sea level.

 

[mashalatheballa]

I would say clean your Mass Airflow Sensor (easy to do- youtube it) and while you're at, check to make sure your intake box filter looks good. I would also clean the throttle body and idle air control valve too. I just cleaned my air filter and airflow sensor and my idle is much better (lower RPMs and smoother) and my mpg gauge is saying i should be getting around 390 on a tank (don't know how accurate that is).

 

[jhguth]

What's your tire pressure?

 

[Harrisnc]

I don’t understand the huge mpg variances, driving style excluded. I got 19+ in my 2015 sr5 and was getting 20+ in my 2017 until I did the lift and the bfgs. Now I get just under 19. Have you tried higher octane fuel?

 

[ayeyothisiskyle]

I agree with mash above. Try cleaning the MAF, replacing o2 sensors and checking gaps on the spark plugs. Also, try pulling negative terminal for a few hours to possibly reset the ecu.

Worth mentioning and I hope no one does this but do you drive with two feet? Left foot resting on brake, right on gas? Ive heard people say "Thats how I was taught to drive."

There is something off. I have a 16 trail with KDSS. Lifted 3.5", 33s at 40 psi, sliders and a steel rear dual swingout and I get 16-17mpg on 87.

I see you calculate by amount of gas and previous milage. I use fulley on my phone to track my gas. Have been for awhile.

Hope this helps and good luck trying to find the problem.

 

[NauticalT4r]

Im new to the 4Runner thing, but my '19 ORP is getting 15.5 ish MPG so far. Wish it did better but that's just what you get I guess. Does anyone know if there is something out there to put a tune on the computer to increase MPG and/or performance?