Gas Milage Talk

[achha64]

Hey guys,

We love all our 3rd Gen 4Runner but this beautiful and reliable truck still a ages model of SUV that with time can cost us a lot in Gas milage.

I want to open a discussion to list from your experiences the main causes that can make this 4runner become expensive in term of Gas.

Please List all what you can.

Thank you

 

[Project_Mutt]

For me personally my gas mileage plummeted when I put on 33x.12.5 KM2's, front and rear plate bumpers a winch, and a transfer case skid... I get about 12-15mpg depending on how I drive and where. One good thing that will let you rationalize getting bigger tires is if you drive LOTS of highway miles the larger tires keeps your rpm's down (if you do not rehear) but thats not really useful in reality. If I remember right a stock 3rd gen gets around 16-19 right? not actually that surprising. pretty much the same as any mid sized SUV except for the brand new ones with loads of technology. Which you will surely pay for.

Also I know every intake advertises it but putting an aftermarket air intake on can give you better gas mileage as well as more horsepower...theoretically...

Keeping your tires properly inflated will improve gas mileage too! (might even risk running a little over inflated if your feeling dangerous)

 

[Nunyabiz]

Hey guys,

We love all our 3rd Gen 4Runner but this beautiful and reliable truck still a ages model of SUV that with time can cost us a lot in Gas milage.

I want to open a discussion to list from your experiences the main causes that can make this 4runner become expensive in term of Gas.

Please List all what you can.

Thank you

I think regardless the two main things affecting mileage are "Modifications" such as larger tires, lifts, racks, heavy bumpers.
And one that you really can't do too much about which is your particular location in the country.
Some cities/geographical areas just plain suck for gas mileage.

BUT even dead stock living in flat land Kansas 3rd gens are just not good on mileage, period. There are big diesels right now which weigh almost twice what the 4runner does, have twice the HP and 3X the torque and 4X the towing capability that get 25MPG. and that is even with the rather ignorant "Diesel Particulate Filter" being forced on every diesel engine to remove soot, which is a good thing in theory however it cost in MPG and maintenance to the point to where it is a wash at best. These diesels could be getting probably 30+mpg without it.
Newer engines are better on mileage because car manufacturers are being forced to make engines more efficient.
Should have happened no later than the 70s.
In fact today we should all be driving 4X4 Electric/Hydrogen 4Runners with an electric engine for each wheel with twice the torque we have now getting about 150MPG of Hydrogen of which we all produce ourselves at our home from rain water.
That will happen when people rise up and tar and feather every oil company CEO and stop them from buying/running the government.

 

[02SE]

I want to open a discussion to list from your experiences the main causes that can make this 4runner become expensive in term of Gas.

It's a high ground clearance body-on-frame SUV, that was designed at a point in time when good aerodynamics were not as high of a priority for the manufacturers.
It is fairly heavy for it's size.
It has heavier duty drivetrain components than it needs, if it were just designed for on-road driving. This over-built design hurts efficiency, however.
It lacks some of the technology that quite a few modern engines have to improve efficiency (Variable Valve Timing, Direct Injection, etc., etc.)

When it was being designed in the early to mid 1990's, it was very competitive in it's class as far as MPG.

 

[achha64]

Maintenances

Yes except the customization of the truck, the car will stay on lower gas milage.

But what about the Maintenance?

What need to maintaint well to improve or keep a good milages?

for me I used to check up:

- Spark plugs
- Air filter
- Oil Filter
- Tyre pressures

anything else?

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Driving habits, cheapest thing to fix. Even with my tube bumpers and rack I could get 21 on the highway, or, I could drive fast, accelerate fast, not maintain a steady throttle position (get a scangauge!!!!) and get much worse.

 

[98WhiteT4R]

Driving habits, cheapest thing to fix. Even with my tube bumpers and rack I could get 21 on the highway, or, I could drive fast, accelerate fast, not maintain a steady throttle position (get a scangauge!!!!) and get much worse.

This is a big one, once you fix your habits it changes everything.

 

[achha64]

What the good drving habits?

What is for you a good driving habit for this kind of truck?

Curious to know.

 

[98WhiteT4R]

What is for you a good driving habit for this kind of truck?

Curious to know.

Mainly keeping the RPMs down, I do 65 or 60 on the way to work which seems to help. Just basic stuff

 

[Ruiner]

For me personally my gas mileage plummeted when I put on 33x.12.5 KM2's, front and rear plate bumpers a winch, and a transfer case skid... I get about 12-15mpg depending on how I drive and where. One good thing that will let you rationalize getting bigger tires is if you drive LOTS of highway miles the larger tires keeps your rpm's down (if you do not rehear) but thats not really useful in reality. If I remember right a stock 3rd gen gets around 16-19 right? not actually that surprising. pretty much the same as any mid sized SUV except for the brand new ones with loads of technology. Which you will surely pay for.

Also I know every intake advertises it but putting an aftermarket air intake on can give you better gas mileage as well as more horsepower...theoretically...

Keeping your tires properly inflated will improve gas mileage too! (might even risk running a little over inflated if your feeling dangerous)

thats about what i get with FJ wheels and All-Terrain T/A KO, you can see my mileage dip when i put them on

 

[Ruiner]

It's a high ground clearance body-on-frame SUV, that was designed at a point in time when good aerodynamics were not as high of a priority for the manufacturers.
It is fairly heavy for it's size.
It has heavier duty drivetrain components than it needs, if it were just designed for on-road driving. This over-built design hurts efficiency, however.
It lacks some of the technology that quite a few modern engines have to improve efficiency (Variable Valve Timing, Direct Injection, etc., etc.)

When it was being designed in the early to mid 1990's, it was very competitive in it's class as far as MPG.

dont forget the short gearing

 

[Arnezie]

thats about what i get with FJ wheels and All-Terrain T/A KO, you can see my mileage dip when i put them on

What app is that ?

 

[Ruiner]

What app is that ?

Road Trip

 

[Arnezie]

Thanks

 

[masphx]

If you are looking for the best mpg go for the 5speed. Ours was getting 21-23 70/30 city hwy. 24 mpg on hwy during longer trips. Now with all the cap I have weight it down with I get around 17-19.

 

[4'running'26]

Here is how my latest 210 mile trip broke down:

--6 miles of stop and go/city driving
--170 miles on interstate, averaging 72-73 MPH
--34 miles on 2-land highway, a few stops, slow downs, passes, etc, usually around 62 MPH

20.2 MPG

That is nearly all stock.

I have gotten 22.5 before keeping the speed around 65 MPH. As others have said, it really comes down to three things in my opinion. Routine maintenance (plugs, filters, etc), driving habits, and time of year/conditions. Of course, if you start moddding heavily, you will pay the price with your MPG, but if you are modding heavily I don't think MPGs are your main priority anyways.

Cheers.