gas milage seems really bad at 12 mpg anyone else?

[ProfessorP]

Same here. I start nicely around 70-75, but within 15 minutes of watching the same cars trying to pass each other with a 1mph differential, it drives me nuts and then I find myself going at least 85.

When my daughter was born 17 years ago, I promised myself that I would quit speeding and stay within 4 mph of the speed limit (70-74). I was an 80-90+ mph driver prior to that for almost 20 years.

After getting over the initial frustration of feeling like the slowest vehicle on the planet, I realized that my stress level while driving melted away. I no longer have to worry about looking for cops or strategizing (weaving) to get past clusters of cars. My frustration and anger level behind the wheel just went away. Now, I set my cruise control at or slightly above the speed limit and just let the war zone to the left of me go at it!

As a result, I haven't had a ticket in 17 years, I get around 20 mpg with my lifted 4Runner, my blood pressure is perfect instead of borderline and my wife stopped b!tching at me on road trips.

 

[rockwind1]

So you’ve never reset your MPG counter?
Do you keep a notebook for hand calculating MPG for each fillup?

i bought the 4runner used about 2 months ago or less. it had 27,500 miles + when i bought it. still learning the steering wheel "menu" and how to look at/reset stuff. i actually accidently pushed a button and saw the 12.9 mpg statistic. took a few days but i finally figured out how to duplicate what i did to find it again.

my next trip i am going to be more vigilant in hand calculating mpg's. i have only taken it on the one trip really

 

[rockwind1]

The door sticker is only valid for OEM equivalent tires, if you are running E range tires 30psi is way underinflated and contributing significantly to your poor mpg

Lookup a load-inflation chart for your tires, you should probably he over 40psi

thanks! very helpful, did some more research and increased my inflation.

 

[ElectroBoy]

i bought the 4runner used about 2 months ago or less. it had 27,500 miles + when i bought it. still learning the steering wheel "menu" and how to look at/reset stuff. i actually accidently pushed a button and saw the 12.9 mpg statistic. took a few days but i finally figured out how to duplicate what i did to find it again.

my next trip i am going to be more vigilant in hand calculating mpg's. i have only taken it on the one trip really

Now that it’s yours you have to re-viginate the display! Get rid of the previous owner’s MPG data. With the key on, use the DISP button on the steering wheel to toggle through the display screens. When you get to the Average screen press and hold the DISP button for a second or two to reset the MPG counter to 0.0. Then your MPG is calculated from that point forward. I do this after long trips or usually after each fillup. I find it to be pretty accurate with my hand calculations.
You can also toggle over to the Elapsed Time counter and reset it also. I don’t see much use for this timer and I rarely use it. Maybe you could use it for rally driving or navigating.