Best mods to increase MPG

[RL Lemke]

OK, I've taken all the suggestions to heart. I have a V8 4X4 in Dallas, where my average speed is 23 mph. Lots of stop and go, even on the freeways. I have oversized tires (70 series, as opposed to the 65 series stock) which makes the computer accurate, or even a bit pessimistic. I switched from premium to regular gas and limit my speed to 70 mph, though when the freeways open-up I stick to 60 or 65 mph.

My mileage increased from 15.6 to 17.5 mpg. Not bad considering the average of 23 mph, and it is all in town driving, and using the crap 10% ethanol gas.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Very cool! percentile wise those are some pretty substantial results!
:cheers:

 

[Ruffian]

Lucas Octane Booster

For those of you in the know, I'm curious as to feedback on this item. Now don't start about "snake oil".
This stuff does work for me, and I usually put it in the tank before I go wheeling.
I get about another 40-80 miles to the tank. Guestimate, sorry, but again I do get more miles between trips to Safeway. I use 89 Octane gas from Safeway since you get that (insert sarcasism) handy amazing .03 cent discount!

For entire discription of product:
Link to Lucas Oil website, clickable.
Under the picture of the product is a Specification sheet; On it you will find all the numbers you incredibly smart mathmatician/engineers love to play with.

Edited to add: $8.99 at Auto Zone.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Re: Lucas Octane Booster

For those of you in the know, I'm curious as to feedback on this item. Now don't start about "snake oil".
This stuff does work for me, and I usually put it in the tank before I go wheeling.
I get about another 40-80 miles to the tank. Guestimate, sorry, but again I do get more miles between trips to Safeway. I use 89 Octane gas from Safeway since you get that (insert sarcasism) handy amazing .03 cent discount!

For entire discription of product:
Link to Lucas Oil website, clickable.
Under the picture of the product is a Specification sheet; On it you will find all the numbers you incredibly smart mathmatician/engineers love to play with.

Edited to add: $8.99 at Auto Zone.

From a money standpoint octane boosters don't work if saving money via higher mpg is the goal. On the T4R consistant use of the octane booster is important to realize maximum gains. The T4R engine computer will adjust and take advantage of higher octane fuel. To fully adjust and get maximum benifit may take 5-6 full tanks of fuel hence the need for consistency of use. http://www.lcool.org/technical/prado_high_octane_fuel.html

If you fill 20 gallons at a time you have to go 20x.30 or whatever the difference in price is between regular and premium fuel. If the you do that you come up with $6. The question becomes what yields better results; premium with no octane additive or the cheaper grade with additive. I am speculating here but my guess is once the octane rating exceeds 95-96 (at sea-level) there are no gains to be had from going higher. (My sea-level comment is a whole other topic but it's why high altitude places have 85/91 as the octanes vs 87/93.)

In spite of what many say I use premium and with a .20cent per gallon cost it's well worth it for me... That's an IMHO, of course.

How was that???:biggrin2: I made it all the way through without typing 'snake-oil':lmao:

:cheers:

 

[TeryT]

As I have stated on here for a couple years, I didn't see any gains at all in MPG when I used premium in the V8 a couple times. Is this because I only did one tank with the pricer stuff?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

As I have stated on here for a couple years, I didn't see any gains at all in MPG when I used premium in the V8 a couple times. Is this because I only did one tank with the pricer stuff?

I think patience is why it didn't work for you. Follow the link in my reply to Ruffian. The article is specifically about the 4.0L but the same should hold true for the V8. This is not uniquely Toyota stuff. It holds true throughout a large segment of the industry. What's key is that the vehicle is new enough to use a 'learning type' engine management system. Most vehicles introduced after the mid-90's have this type of system. I would venture to guess the number nears 99% when you look at 2005 model intros and newer.

What is a little unique to Toyota is that it takes so much time to adjust. Most other barnds seem to do it quicker. What may speed the learning is to reset the ECU and let it learn from the 'get-go' with premium. I am speculating on that one...

Do a search on the reset but I think it's something like 15 minutes with the battery disconnected and then 15 more minutes to re-initialize your power windows, sunroof and radio stations. Do a search; it's well documented here.
:cheers:

 

[TeryT]

I think patience is why it didn't work for you. Follow the link in my reply to Ruffian. The article is specifically about the 4.0L but the same should hold true for the V8. This is not uniquely Toyota stuff. It holds true throughout a large segment of the industry. What's key is that the vehicle is new enough to use a 'learning type' engine management system. Most vehicles introduced after the mid-90's have this type of system. I would venture to guess the number nears 99% when you look at 2005 model intros and newer.

What is a little unique to Toyota is that it takes so much time to adjust. Most other barnds seem to do it quicker. What may speed the learning is to reset the ECU and let it learn from the 'get-go' with premium. I am speculating on that one...

Do a search on the reset but I think it's something like 15 minutes with the battery disconnected and then 15 more minutes to re-initialize your power windows, sunroof and radio stations. Do a search; it's well documented here.
:cheers:

What about this?

Octane is defined as a fuel's resistance to knocking. There is no benefit if the octane is higher than what the engine needs. Engine knock occurs when fuel in a combustion chamber ignites before it should. This disrupts the engine's operation. But electronic knock sensors are now common and have nearly eliminated engine disruption.

The American Petroleum Institute says if you find that your car runs fine on a lower grade, there is no sense switching to premium. The Institute recommends following manufacturer's recommendation, but even those manufacturers say that it is more of a suggestion than a command.

California Energy Commision website article

>>>I don't believe I've experienced knock in the 4.7 using regular gas. This is even when towing, pulling a 2,000 foot grade in the summer (105F+) with low humidity.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

What about this?


California Energy Commision website article

>>>I don't believe I've experienced knock in the 4.7 using regular gas. This is even when towing, pulling a 2,000 foot grade in the summer (105F+) with low humidity.

Ok, true, no argument about the knock. The engine computer listens and adjusts on a level that would put a vigilant German Shepard to shame.

Low-octane fuel has less resistance to knock, heat ignition and more heat energy when burned than higher octane fuel. 100 octane airplane gas is significantly harder to ignite and burns with less total BTU than 87 octane car gas.

The way I have this thing figured is as follows: A reciprocating engine is a device that converts a trapped, rising/high pressure gas into a recoverable, rotational energy. This is true of steam engines, diesel engines and gas engines. The T4R engine spends its

 

[Ruffian]

Chris,
Thank you so much for all that. I do run this stuff pretty consistantly, maybe not every fill up. Either way, I'm bowled over by your info here.
:bowdown:

 

[iflyablackbird]

Hey Guys great info in this thread.
Saving fuel has become a bit of a hobby for me. I know, I know...I bought an 03 4runnerV8 so why am I worried about fuel savings, should have bought a yaris!
I started running acetone in my fuel about eight months ago and found huge savings. I run about 6oz per tank and put it in prior to pumping. It takes two or three tanks before the savings become obvious but at this point I'm running at about 10.5 - 11 litres per 100km at about 60mph. This is a pretty solid savings of about 2 - 2.5 L per 100km.
Before I started this test I read a lot of articles regarding damaging the plastics and rubbers etc. but decided to take a somewhat educated chance and here I am eight months later with absolutely no problems. Okay, I'll say it...yet.
Another system I am about to build and test is a HHO system that creates Hydrogen and injects it into the intake. Anyone that wants to read up on this can check it out here... http://tinyurl.com/2care1
I'll post again once I've built and tested the system. A friend has built and installed one in his 1990's RV and is reporting a big difference. Check it out and let me know what you think. There is a lot of talk about hydrogen these days and how well it works.

I'd be interested in your opinions...

Mark

 

[steve germany]

Hey Guys great info in this thread.
Saving fuel has become a bit of a hobby for me. I know, I know...I bought an 03 4runnerV8 so why am I worried about fuel savings, should have bought a yaris!
I started running acetone in my fuel about eight months ago and found huge savings. I run about 6oz per tank and put it in prior to pumping. It takes two or three tanks before the savings become obvious but at this point I'm running at about 10.5 - 11 litres per 100km at about 60mph. This is a pretty solid savings of about 2 - 2.5 L per 100km.
Before I started this test I read a lot of articles regarding damaging the plastics and rubbers etc. but decided to take a somewhat educated chance and here I am eight months later with absolutely no problems. Okay, I'll say it...yet.
Another system I am about to build and test is a HHO system that creates Hydrogen and injects it into the intake. Anyone that wants to read up on this can check it out here... http://tinyurl.com/2care1
I'll post again once I've built and tested the system. A friend has built and installed one in his 1990's RV and is reporting a big difference. Check it out and let me know what you think. There is a lot of talk about hydrogen these days and how well it works.

I'd be interested in your opinions...

Mark

Not a great idea - if water injection was a bonus it would of been included long ago by OEM. Adding water will only add problems to an already optomized system. Try a little air or better a little less pressure with the right foot! :

 

[iflyablackbird]

Sorry, I must not have explained myself.

You mix baking soda and water and then with a little electricity you produce Hydrogen gas. The Hydrogen gas is then allowed to mix with the gasoline in the intake, this along with a part (senior moment, forget the name right now) that will keep the computer from thinking the system is off will create a 30 - 40% gain; not only in fuel efficiency but also in producing a cleaner burning system.

Did you get a chance to follow the URL in my previous post. It will explain the system much better than I will and there is also a place to download the plans for building this system.

Check it out. Sometime soon, I'm going to get mine built and give it a try. I'm waiting for a friend to cut me some stainless steel which will be used as the electrode to create the Hydrogen.

Hope you take a look...

Mark

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Sorry, I must not have explained myself.

You mix baking soda and water and then with a little electricity you produce Hydrogen gas. The Hydrogen gas is then allowed to mix with the gasoline in the intake, this along with a part (senior moment, forget the name right now) that will keep the computer from thinking the system is off will create a 30 - 40% gain; not only in fuel efficiency but also in producing a cleaner burning system.

Did you get a chance to follow the URL in my previous post. It will explain the system much better than I will and there is also a place to download the plans for building this system.

Check it out. Sometime soon, I'm going to get mine built and give it a try. I'm waiting for a friend to cut me some stainless steel which will be used as the electrode to create the Hydrogen.

Hope you take a look...

Mark

I've looked and read and looked and read... I salute your spirit and wish you luck. Please don't spend much money.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/searc...=2709057&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hho+site:toyota-4runner.org&aq=f&oq=

:cheers:

 

[G.I.G.]

Wow, this thread is still getting attention. I paid $1.77 for gas the other day. I don't think I have paid so little for gas since I was 20 (I'm 31 now). I'll start my 4R and let it idle in the driveway for no reason....just because I can.

Actually, the best thing for gas mileage I have found....

step 1: Drive to gas station or nearest air compressor.
step 2: Inflate tires to 32psi or greater (I prefer 36psi) to maintain proper tire inflation, especially during the winter.
step 3: Don't drive like a jack ass. Not only does this improve your MPG's, but it will improve your life expectancy. :

 

[TeryT]

"step 2: Inflate tires to 32psi or greater (I prefer 36psi) to maintain proper tire inflation, especially during the winter.
step 3: Don't drive like a jack ass. Not only does this improve your MPG's, but it will improve your life expectancy. "

These two things are probably the biggest savers. The only other thing is to just make sure the engine is tuned, but this is not such a big deal any more with things like iridium plugs and computer control.

Further down the list is an approximately 1-2% savings can be had by running full synthetic lubricants in the engine, and the entire drive line (according to Shell representatives I heard at a recent trucking symposium) .

However, I think we should keep in front of mind how wildly gas prices can fluctuate, and therefore continue to take long-term measures to save gas. If we continue the personal gas-saving behaviors we have learned, it will benefit us in both the short and long-term.

 

[G.I.G.]

However, I think we should keep in front of mind how wildly gas prices can fluctuate, and therefore continue to take long-term measures to save gas. If we continue the personal gas-saving behaviors we have learned, it will benefit us in both the short and long-term.

True dat!

Now that the election is over and gas prices have fallen so steeply, I'm worried that America will get lulled into complacency again. Even though we're all enjoying the low gas prices right now, there is no doubt in my mind they will skyrocket again next summer. Also, our buddies at OPEC bumped up their COLLUSION meeting a few weeks because prices have dipped so much. You know what that means....

 

[shawnstcyr]

Buy a lighter shoe... LOL! Helps alot.

 

[poolskater]

Tire pressure isnt a mod- just basic maintenance that does effect MPG for sure. A chip with a controller has given me the best results in other vehicles so I don't see why it wouldnt be the case with a t4r.

 

[4runr30]

Throttle Body Spacer

I put an Airraid throttle body spacer on my old 98 and it increased my miles per tank by 20-25 miles. It didnt do jack for hp though. Not an option in your poll, just my $0.02

 

[t4rBeast]

I have a 99 Civic HX and I get really good MPG. I would say just keep up the general maintance and you will be good. Keep off the pedal and drive like a old grandpa, thats how you get the good numbers.