I fill up 10 gallons at a time, i get 170-180 miles out of it. It could also be your gas. Most times they say its 87 octane when really its 85 octane. They also put additives like ethanol and preservatives. Try using other gas companys, it will take a while to find good gas but atleast you will be getting the best for your dollar.
Extremely low gas mileage
- Thread starter Perrone
- Start date
I use OnCue and always use the pumps mark no ethanol. I also never use premium if that makes a difference or not.
MAD 69
New member
I thought all gas now had %10 ethanol? Doesn't high test gas burn quicker? Would it help adding a fuel additive/injector cleanor/fuel booster or is all that a waste?
Luckily I work grave shift so I don't have to deal with any traffic and most of my driving is highway, I use cruise control as much possible - coast to red lights and never go above 2500 rpm's. With gas prices as high as they are I drive like a granma going to church.
Luckily I work grave shift so I don't have to deal with any traffic and most of my driving is highway, I use cruise control as much possible - coast to red lights and never go above 2500 rpm's. With gas prices as high as they are I drive like a granma going to church.
criera
New member
also keep in mind that the engine is least efficient in terms of mileage when it is cold. other problems aside, if you only commute a short distance ea time you drive, you might expect the lower part of the mileage curve (your actual mileage would be helpful). i read a hypermiling thread and found a lot of very informative info about mileage and how to improve it. things like how to park, how to plan even short trips etc. good stuff. anyways good luck
michael833
New member
question, brian et. al.
i had a CEL come on about a month ago and when it was pulled the clerk at O'Reilly said the code was the O2 sensor. word went through the grapevine and my gramps called me and insisted that i change the plugs before spending ~$120 on a new O2 sensor. so i did (I went with Denso plugs and NGK wires, by the way.). the light went away and hasn't come back. however, i do only get ~14.5 mpg and was averaging that before the new plugs and wires. could my O2 be not working to its full potential, or are there any other factors that are giving me this crappy mileage? my runner is stock.
If the OP is really driving a 5 minute commute each day, that probably explains a lot. Firstly the engine is spending most of the trip warming up and running rich while it is doing so which will kill mpg, especially in the winter. Secondly, driving short trips constantly runs an increased risk of building up deposits which will impact mileage - expect sensors and plugs to fail earlier and plan to maybe decoke the engine occasionally would be my suggestion.
Qyota
New member
Yup, these things are horribly inefficient when below operating temp. I doubt if the OP's truck gets fully warm on the commute. Only after getting to closed loop do things start to get better, even then if all you have is stop-and-go driving, you are in the wrong vehicle. Buy a Prius!
Good to know that mine actually does have more mileage left to empty. I knew something was wrong with mine only taking on about 14 gallons when I was extremely nervous, having run about 30 miles with the light on.
I get about 16-17 mpg in suburban Atlanta traffic, taking care to go back roads that aren't too crowded so I can make some effort to be fuel efficient.
I get about 16-17 mpg in suburban Atlanta traffic, taking care to go back roads that aren't too crowded so I can make some effort to be fuel efficient.
DenverKid24
New member
It's not....the empty light comes on extremely early in the 4Runners
JohnsD90
New member
Most members here get maybe 14 or 15 gallons in per fillup, i can get 17 or 18 no problem. I'm surprised cause everyone over there gets flamed for it.
Interesting to know about the operating temp and how it relates to gas mileage. I too live fairly close to work, the grocery store, the gym, etc. so most of the trips I make are short. Plus I can't say anything is wrong because on highway trips my mileage is in line with what it should be, I've got no CEL, etc. I did replace my air filter recently and that seemed to have helped a bit.
THEREALTOR1
New member
Don't know if this has any bearing or not, but I use 87 octane, always have since i've owned it. I can usually get by with about $25 a week in gas (which usually takes me up to about 3/4 of a tank or slightly over), and usually run down to about an 1/8 -1/4 of a tank by sunday when I refill. This past Sunday I went to "fillup", but for some reason I noticed when I started pumping that I was putting in 93 instead of 87 (the pump might've been broken, or I might've spaced out, don't know). Anywho, I only filled up to about a 1/2 tank. These past couple days of driving have been insane compared to how the truck responds and my gas mileage. My truck has always been pretty good on gas, but i've been driving alot this week, and i'm still slightly over a 1/4 tank. And when I hit the gas the throttle response is nuts. The only other difference i've done recently is i've added a $5 injector cleaner 2 "fillups" ago, so its gotta be the gas, otherwise thats the best damn injector cleaner i've ever seen in my life and i'm gonna go buy a case of it.
I guess my point out of all that is, maybe try putting in a 1/2 tank of premium and see what sort of results you get. Just a thought.
I do have a question though, should I switch back to 87 on my next "fillup", or should I maybe put in 1/2 a tank of 89, and then go back to 87? I can't afford to run 93 so I gotta get back to 87, i'm just wondering if its better to go back gradually vs suddenly. Or doesn't it matter?
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Mikes99Toy
New member
New user here, but not new to Toyota. I just picked up a 99 4Runner Limited and with my first tank of gas got 13.1 mpg. Not good, but mostly short trips in town and a short trip to work (8 miles). I'll keep tabs on it and try to get a freeway trip in so I can see what kind of freeway mileage I get.
If the city mileage stays consistent, I may try cleaning the MAP sensor and throttle body. It has 156,000 miles on it and it appears that the previous owners took very good care of it. All recommended maintenance has been performed and it sure runs smooth.
If the city mileage stays consistent, I may try cleaning the MAP sensor and throttle body. It has 156,000 miles on it and it appears that the previous owners took very good care of it. All recommended maintenance has been performed and it sure runs smooth.
4ganger
New member
When I got mine a few weeks ago I got horrible mileage on teh first few tanks. Somthing like 13-14.5 mpg. My old 98 4runner got better mileage it did 16-18 no matter what but rarely got better than that because I live in NV so even if I am on the freeway I am going 70-75 so that eats into the freeway mileage. 60-65 gets better in my experience.
Anyway, I ran a bottle of gumout for a full tanke - I think it was this stuff: Gumout® - Regane® Complete Fuel System Cleaner
Filled up, took it from Reno to the Bay area on a trip. Got 17.8 mpg doing down and 17.4 on the way back. Coming back I added a bottle of STP fuel injector clearner.
Current tank I am running without an additive but still seems to be getting good mileage. I'm at half tank and it says 150 miles on my Trip A. Figure the light will come on at 250 or so.
Not sure how many gallons I put it when the light came on. I think 14.5 was about right. I drove it way past the light by 25-35 miles on the way back and put in 16.5. I know it is an 18 gal tank so I'm thinking I could have gone another gallon and half = 20 miles maybe.
Anyway, I ran a bottle of gumout for a full tanke - I think it was this stuff: Gumout® - Regane® Complete Fuel System Cleaner
Filled up, took it from Reno to the Bay area on a trip. Got 17.8 mpg doing down and 17.4 on the way back. Coming back I added a bottle of STP fuel injector clearner.
Current tank I am running without an additive but still seems to be getting good mileage. I'm at half tank and it says 150 miles on my Trip A. Figure the light will come on at 250 or so.
Not sure how many gallons I put it when the light came on. I think 14.5 was about right. I drove it way past the light by 25-35 miles on the way back and put in 16.5. I know it is an 18 gal tank so I'm thinking I could have gone another gallon and half = 20 miles maybe.
MAD 69
New member
I have avg'ed 18.5 mpg over my last 5 fillings. A big part of that number is a half hour ride to work on the highway at 3am with no stopping and some city driving, I avg well over 20 mpg on highway.
I plan on getting the Ultra gauge - for 4Runners 1998 and older this is the best bet since our trucks don't have the factory trans temp sensor like the '99+ it also costs about $60 - I plan on getting one this week.
I plan on getting the Ultra gauge - for 4Runners 1998 and older this is the best bet since our trucks don't have the factory trans temp sensor like the '99+ it also costs about $60 - I plan on getting one this week.
Ive just been reading through this thread and thought i might throw out a few thoughts, my gas gauge seems to be working quite fine, when the gas light comes on ive gone about 180-200 miles, this takes about 16.5-17.5 gallons to fill up, I think if you have a lift on your 4runner it could mess with you reading a little bit, for example most rigs that are lifted on here arent sitting level...the rear is higher, could defiantly be messing with the reading on your fuel gauge right....? also if your running a bigger tire than stock your odometer isnt completely accurate, you've actually gone farther than what it says, how much farther..just depends on how much bigger tires your running, but probably not to much of a difference, but it all adds up in the end, around town i get 10.5-12mpg, the best ive gotten on highway was 14.25mpg and that was on a road trip, im figuring most of this is due to my 295/70/17 Toyo M/T's, cuz when i was bone stock 5 months ago i was getting 22-24mpg highway, and the only things that have changed since is tires, lift, and intake. so just my opinion....tell me if im completely wrong....??
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