Martinjmpr
New member
I'm happy to say that after 2 1/2 months of owning the 4runner, I broke 20mpg for the first time this weekend.
My dad, brother and I go antelope hunting every fall in Wyoming, outside of Laramie. Usually I drive since I have the most capable vehicle (Dad has a Volvo station wagon and brother has a Subaru Impreza wagon.)
I filled up in Laramie on the first day, drove back to Fort Collins that night and then back out to Laramie and back to Ft Collins the 2nd day, then back to Denver. Total miles were about 327 (I "correct" the odometer based on the 2.5% error I calculated because of the bigger than stock tires.) The low fuel light was NOT on, but the needle was getting near "E", plus I knew I'd be doing a lot of city driving and I wanted to get an "all highway" MPG calculation.
Only took 14.49 gallons for an MPG rating of 22.7!
This is on a '99 SR5, 4x4 with the 3.4 and automatic. Running boards and luggage rack crossbars have been removed. Driving was mostly 2 lane highway with about 60 miles of interstate (with the CC set at ~65) and probably no more than 20 miles of well-graded dirt road driving. 4wd was not used at any time.
Not bad, and finally an MPG rating that is similar to that of the kind I got regularly on my previous vehicle, an '04 Tacoma extended cab with a 5 speed.
I also have to say that, contrary to what some folks here have said, the position of the ECT switch does seem to have an effect. I put 2 or 3 tanks full with the ECT in the power mode and the MPG was terrible. Granted that it was mostly city driving and there was also some low-speed 4 wheeling factored in there, but it really was pathetic, in the 15-17mpg range.
So after the last tank, I switched the ECT back to the default "economy" mode and it does seem to make a difference in fuel range.
Hopefully I'll be able to take more "road trips" in the near future and get better MPG calculations.
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