Consider me impressed.. 24 MPG!

[phattyduck]

The factory spec is around 15 city / 18 hwy. 24 mpg is 6 above spec. That is 33% above spec. Japanese engineers at Toyota are not total idiots. There are actually really good and didn't get it wrong.

The spec is an EPA test cycle, not what the Toyota engineers say the truck should actually get and what you can look up online is now 'adjusted' since around 2008 (lower than what was originally on the window sticker). It is *very* easy to be the EPA highway mileage on most vehicles.

I have more than 250k miles of data (odometer reading, gallons used, price, location, date) for my 4Runner. It has beaten the EPA rating for nearly every one of those fillups for whatever type of driving the truck was doing. In its current state, that is 16-17mpg city and 22 highway. Aerobat66 probably has similar experience.

-Charlie

 

[Mark_BC]

I was gettin 24 mpg before my roofrack which included a lot of freeway driving but also dirt roads in Mexico. This is all verified through gas receipts and highway odometer checks.

Since my new roof rack I'm down to 22-23 for the same driving.

 

[Mudeprived]

I am not sure how you guys can get mpg in the 20's.

I can barely hit 270 miles on a tank and this week I only got 117 miles at half mark. I drive like an old person and never go over 60.

My most recent calculation was 16.7 and I babied it.

 

[Mark_BC]

Manual transmission, 265/70/16 highway tires.

 

[BrianSD_42]

The spec is an EPA test cycle, not what the Toyota engineers say the truck should actually get and what you can look up online is now 'adjusted' since around 2008

Perhaps you or someone else can chime in here and correct me as needed, keep me honest. The numbers in the EPA window sticker come from Toyota. Toyota reported those numbers to the EPA based on their best honest assessment of what the vehicle can do based on the engineering of the vehicle. Toyota has a strong profit motive to not underestimate these numbers. So there is no reason for them to really be off by as much as 30% which when you factor in things like aerodynamics is actually a huge amount.

.

 

[DaMonkey]

Not many comments about ethanol...

...Personally I still believe folks are as always failing to actually calculate mpg correctly...

Agree. Actually more than agree, you are absolutely right.

How to do it correctly:
* Fill your tank. Don't top off.
* Mark mileage.
* Drive till talk empty
* Fill tank
* Mark mileage. Subtract.
* Divide for mpg.
* If tire correction is needed then factor that in.

Don't use an app. Do not use a scanguage.

.

To add:
* Just one tank has way too much tolerance when the pump clicks. Calculate over cumulative gallons for several tank loads.
* Tire correction factor should be made by measuring actual miles driven by road markers vs odometer over a long stretch of highway, like 100 miles. This is actual adjustment, not just theoretical difference in size.

...Don't use an app...

Why? An app is a great way to track fueling and servicing. My app uses the actual odometer reading, so all the figures are before tire size (odometer) adjustment which adds about 1mpg. (fwiw, I was towing 4k pound trailer around most of the last 2 weeks). On the highway, I get 19mpg at 65mph, and 17mpg at 75 mph (actual, after odometer adjustment).

 

[Mark_BC]

* Just one tank has way too much tolerance when the pump clicks. Calculate over cumulative gallons for several tank loads.

Mine was averaged out over 7000 km.

* Tire correction factor should be made by measuring actual miles driven by road markers vs odometer over a long stretch of highway, like 100 miles. This is actual adjustment, not just theoretical difference in size.

I used the 5 mile markers on I5 in Oregon and Washington. They were bang on, I crossed the markers within a second or so, I would say less than 1% inaccuracy.

I should break out the Excel sheet again. I should also say that I drive slow on the freeway, usually 60 mph or less. Maybe overall mileage was 20, higher on the highway.

 

[BrianSD_42]

The reason I suggest not using an app as baseline is that many people use them wrong. I do agree that it is possible for an app when used properly to be accurate.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Mine was averaged out over 7000 km.



I used the 5 mile markers on I5 in Oregon and Washington. They were bang on, I crossed the markers within a second or so, I would say less than 1% inaccuracy.

I should break out the Excel sheet again. I should also say that I drive slow on the freeway, usually 60 mph or less. Maybe overall mileage was 20, higher on the highway.

Averaged over the last 40K, I get 16.7 MPG combined, there is no highway only here in Southern California. Not for more than a few miles. Of course I have 314K on this truck, so I'm not expecting anymore than that.

 

[DaMonkey]

Mine was averaged out over 7000 km.



I used the 5 mile markers on I5 in Oregon and Washington. They were bang on, I crossed the markers within a second or so, I would say less than 1% inaccuracy.

I should break out the Excel sheet again. I should also say that I drive slow on the freeway, usually 60 mph or less. Maybe overall mileage was 20, higher on the highway.

^^^ speed is a major part of it. power required to overcome resistance rises exponentially with speed. i've also got the 5sp and 60mph is like 1800 revs while motor is sipping. before i was lifted, i could get 20mpg on 31s on the interstate when trying and thinking about stupid threads like this, but i'm generally > 70mph. i could see 24mpg happening IF intentionally driving for mileage... but 24 combined over time?? every cold start uses a lot of enrichment, and we have to drive through traffic *sometimes* right?

Quoted from the internet, so it's super fricken true:
"According to studies backed by the department of energy, the average car will be at its advertised MPG at 55 mph. But as the speed increases:

- 3% less efficient at 60 mph
- 8% less efficient at 65 mph
- 17% less efficient at 70 mph
- 23% less efficient at 75 mph
- 28% less efficient at 80 mph"

 

[kolelt]

Let us know when you get full armor, gear, roof rack and load d or e tires. You’ll be lucky to get 200miles to tank

 

[wettRunner]

I have put about 5,000 miles on my 4Runner now, and after replacing the spark plugs, I average 21-23 MPG.

Driving from Greenville to Columbia at 70 MPH, I get a solid 23 MPG.

I run Michelin LTX 265/70/r16 tires with 60,000 miles on them, and a bad alignment.

It's all about COASTING when you can....

(Also I run 87 octane NO ETHANOL)

 

[phattyduck]

Perhaps you or someone else can chime in here and correct me as needed, keep me honest. The numbers in the EPA window sticker come from Toyota. Toyota reported those numbers to the EPA based on their best honest assessment of what the vehicle can do based on the engineering of the vehicle. Toyota has a strong profit motive to not underestimate these numbers. So there is no reason for them to really be off by as much as 30% which when you factor in things like aerodynamics is actually a huge amount.

.

I 100% agree that those numbers are exactly what the truck got on the EPA test cycle.

EPA test cycle is not the same as the real world. The test cycle (even highway) includes a fair amount of slowing down and speeding up.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

65-67mph, constant, cruise control engaged on a flat highway should beat the EPA highway number consistently. If you look at the 'highway' test, the first 1/3 wouldn't even lock up the torque converter if OD was engaged...

But the reverse is also true - if you think you should get the highway rating when driving is 75mph, loaded up with stuff on the roof... well... it doesn't work like that.

-Charlie

 

[Zorrota]

I beat the EPA highway estimates consistently on every vehicle I own. It's not hard. Accelerate conservatively, don't speed, keep your vehicle in good tune and lubed right and don't use the cruise control if it's at all hilly or curvy.

 

[Jason B]

Bug shield can rob you of 1 mpg I heard. Maybe those with better mileage don't have one.

 

[zoombyu86]

I spent a few months solely using my 2000 for commuting approx. 1 hour trip consisting of 99.9% highway miles. I live about a mile from the on-ramp and had training 2 blocks from the off-ramp. I have a lift and 265/75s. Even using cruise control the entire trip at 65mph, I averaged 19-20.5 mpg over 3 months.

This is on a highway running N/S so wind factor wasn't as much of an issue. I not commute mostly highway (60mph) on a E/W state route and avg about 17/18.

Probably negligible but depending on wind conditions can surely impact your actual mpg from one region to the next.

My 2 cents.

 

[superfrog]

I have a 2000 limited with 220000. Just put ome 880/906 lift on and installed Hankook atm 265 70 17 a year ago. I drive from Asheville to Charleston every week for work and I get 20-21 every trip. I run 5 over the entire way, so usually between 70-75 the entire trip.

 

[Outrider]

I spent a few months solely using my 2000 for commuting approx. 1 hour trip consisting of 99.9% highway miles. I live about a mile from the on-ramp and had training 2 blocks from the off-ramp. I have a lift and 265/75s. Even using cruise control the entire trip at 65mph, I averaged 19-20.5 mpg over 3 months.

This is on a highway running N/S so wind factor wasn't as much of an issue. I not commute mostly highway (60mph) on a E/W state route and avg about 17/18.

Probably negligible but depending on wind conditions can surely impact your actual mpg from one region to the next.

My 2 cents.

That pretty much aligns with my numbers. For me, 60 mph seems to be the magic number to cover ground and maximizing fuel economy. Above 65 mph, the economy starts dropping very rapidly.

Another thing to help in city driving fuel economy is to lighten up on the right foot. I'm talking about accelerating less, and when you see that you will be stopping ahead, let off the gas early, and coast. It is a rather foolish habit to race to a stop light.

Also, do the math: 5 mph more on a 15 minute trip really doesn't gain you anything noticeable (unless you happen to be late )

 

[Outrider]

I have a 2000 limited with 220000. Just put ome 880/906 lift on and installed Hankook atm 265 70 17 a year ago. I drive from Asheville to Charleston every week for work and I get 20-21 every trip. I run 5 over the entire way, so usually between 70-75 the entire trip.

That's pretty good. I'm lucky to see 20 mpg if I'm going any faster than 65 mph. 70-75 mph gets me about 19 mpg or less.

 

[Jason B]

Well, I forgot to put this here, but here's a way to get you 1-2 more MPG, see the post here for a few guys keeping tracking of the mpg gains!

gibson-catback-exhaust-3rd-gen-labor-day-special-starting-now-video-attached and mpg gain

And I have this system on sale as we speak. Forgot to even mention it in here. The old muffler is the size of a coffin, HUGE, vs the new one is like 30 lbs lighter and gets 2.5" tubing.