City / Hwy

Just got 23.53 on my last tank, it was about 90% hwy. I'm at 1346 miles, not to bad considering it's full time 4wd. :)

My City is avg 17-18, so I'm pretty close to the window sticker ratings and she aint even broken in yet.

Very happy with the results, prior to the 4Runner I had a 2010 FJ TTE, my best on that was only 18mpg and that was avg. over a 3500m trip from Missouri to Arizona and back.
 
I kept it between 60 and 70, on the hwy. Which is just the posted speed limits around here and tried to always keep the eco light on.
 
dos palomas said:
What MPH maximizes efficiency? Just wondering so I can cruise control on the highway...
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Like jpowers says 60-70 appears to be a nice cruising speed. Once I get much past 70 the mpg starts to drop a little. I can still usually get around 21 mpg criusing a little under 80 with good conditions.
 
Took a 600 mile trip out of town this weekend and was anxious to see my MPG go up. Started at 19.4 MPG, with about 1200 miles on my 4R at that point (I normally drive about 75% city/25% highway). On my way out of town, I watched my MPG drop into the 16 range, and end at 17.7 when I got to my destination. Needless to say I was very dissapointed (and a little concerned). Now that I am back home, my MPG is up to 18.8, but that is still below what I had before doing the 600 highway miles. Seriously, what happened?!?
 
AMRose said:
Took a 600 mile trip out of town this weekend and was anxious to see my MPG go up. Started at 19.4 MPG, with about 1200 miles on my 4R at that point (I normally drive about 75% city/25% highway). On my way out of town, I watched my MPG drop into the 16 range, and end at 17.7 when I got to my destination. Needless to say I was very dissapointed (and a little concerned). Now that I am back home, my MPG is up to 18.8, but that is still below what I had before doing the 600 highway miles. Seriously, what happened?!?
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How fast? Lots of elevation change?

Today I filled up my 2nd tank. 22.55mpg (gauge and paper/pen matched up perfectly). I was sniffing around 23mpg for a while, but a strong headwind heading SW pushed it down a bit.

There is 4 mile hill climb at the beginning of my return leg that climbs 1000' or so. I turned Eco mode off, and it seemed like the throttle was more responsive. The manual says that turning eco mode off just turns the light off. It must have been the placebo effect or something because the 4Runner hustled up the hill instead of acting like it was second guessing.
 
I had cruise set at 75 mph. I didn't do much passing and the roads were pretty flat - I was driving in Iowa and Minnesota.

Oh, and I've been hand calculating and that has always matched up, as it did this trip.
 
Maximize mpg

I've noticed that one can get BETTER gas mileage by NOT using the cruise control, especially on rolling hills. It is far better to keep a consistent peddle/rpm and let the vehicle speed decrease on uphills, increase on downhills. On downhills, one can even let off the peddle and really gain efficiency with regards to mpg. This would probably make the person behind you go nuts, slow down, speed up. By babying the throttle, I"ve even been able to consistently get 20-21 mpg CITY driving (not too many lights).

I have also noticed that with the warmer weather and more A/C usage, my mileage has gone down slightly.
 
oceanman93 said:
I've noticed that one can get BETTER gas mileage by NOT using the cruise control, especially on rolling hills. It is far better to keep a consistent peddle/rpm and let the vehicle speed decrease on uphills, increase on downhills. On downhills, one can even let off the peddle and really gain efficiency with regards to mpg. This would probably make the person behind you go nuts, slow down, speed up. By babying the throttle, I"ve even been able to consistently get 20-21 mpg CITY driving (not too many lights).

I have also noticed that with the warmer weather and more A/C usage, my mileage has gone down slightly.
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If you hit 2 hills, each 2 miles long, starting at 70mph, slowing to 65mph by the top of the first hill, accelerating to 80 mph by the bottom of the 1st hill, and slowing to 65 by the top of the 2nd hill, and accelerating to 70mph by the bottom of the 2nd hill (assuming these accel and decel are linear), you end up averaging 70mph over those two hills. Integrating, you actually see 0.3% more drag by doing what you propose instead of holding a steady 70mph through both hills (since drag is a square of speed). This doesn't take into account how the frictional losses change at different speeds or the fuel efficiency of the engine at different RPM and what gear you are in, but from a purely aerodynamic perspective, you will have more drag doing a "pulse and glide".

I think what the "pulse and glide" really does is makes you drive slower if you look at the overall average speed. Slower speed = less drag = better fuel economy. I don't mind driving without cruise in my GTI because it is geared in a way that it will maintain speed up a hill with very little throttle input. The 4Runner, being the big boy he is, tends to get some confusion in the transmission ECU and is either running in OD where I lose tons of speed up the hill, particularly in the App mnts in WV, or it kicks down two gears to try to blast up the hill when it is trying to understand the engine load and the throttle input. The 4Runner is much more pleasant to drive on the interstate in cruise control than using my foot the whole way because the ECU isn't looking for throttle input. It is taking the grade change and upshifting and downshifting as it calculates is best. I just set the cruise at 70mph and enjoy the drive.
 
If I reset the gauge right before driving on the freeway I can get up to 20.3mpg going a consistent 75-80 on a mostly flat ride from San Diego to Orange County. I do this at least twice a week.

My city mileage is more like 15-16 because I drive like an idiot :)

Dennis.

2010 Limited 4WD
 
Have about 5500 on the odo and am averaging about 19-20mpg with about 70/30 split Hwy/city.

The most recent tank is saying 20mpg with nearly 250mi and my readout is always a bit underrated. Should snag well over 20 on this one:biggrin2:
 
I don't feel too bad about my MPG. Limited 4x4: 70/30 City/Hwy and get about 18 mpg (by computer, don't care enough to calc by hand). On mostly Hwy drives I am getting about 22 mpg. Pretty happy given size of truck, AWD. Love this thing.
 
Did my conversion from L/100KMs to MPG based upon the computer and am getting 14.5mpg from most recent 3 fillups. 90/10 city/hwy, lift, larger tires and driving like you stole it don't help any.

I hat reading about other great numbers. I'd get 23mpg in a Prius.
 
chimyz said:
Did my conversion from L/100KMs to MPG based upon the computer and am getting 14.5mpg from most recent 3 fillups. 90/10 city/hwy, lift, larger tires and driving like you stole it don't help any.

I hat reading about other great numbers. I'd get 23mpg in a Prius.
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Romping on the gas from stop lights or coming out of turns will crush your mileage. I tried backing off the "punch it" urge and was able to get 18-19 mpg in city driving.

Then the Xanax prescription ran out and I went back down to 14-15 mpg.
 
SeattleMike said:
Romping on the gas from stop lights or coming out of turns will crush your mileage. I tried backing off the "punch it" urge and was able to get 18-19 mpg in city driving.

Then the Xanax prescription ran out and I went back down to 14-15 mpg.
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"Crushing" mileage is an understatement. But to be honest, I don't really worry about mileage until I'm doing longer roadtrips (3+hrs). I enjoy driving, and enjoy the 270 horses...killer is you need to be up in the RPMs to get them. The manual shift option, or sport mode, can also be soooo fun! It does quite a number on the mpgs.
 
chimyz said:
Did my conversion from L/100KMs to MPG based upon the computer and am getting 14.5mpg from most recent 3 fillups. 90/10 city/hwy, lift, larger tires and driving like you stole it don't help any.

I hat reading about other great numbers. I'd get 23mpg in a Prius.
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Off topic, but when Car & Driver reviewed the Prius they said they stomped on the gas the WHOLE time and still got like 30++ MPG.:offtopic:
 
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