Horrible Gas Mileage

[JMEJKE]

We've had my wife's 2011 4Runner Limited for about a month now, and I can't believe the poor mileage we're getting. Our 2004 SR5 4Runner never got less than 18.5 mpg, even with a lot of short trips around town, etc.
Our 2011 is only averaging 15.8 mpg! What is the deal? Is anybody else experiencing this?
Heck, my 2008 Tundra with a 5.7 liter 381 hp engine is a heck of a lot more powerful and is getting 14.7 mpg this winter!!!
What gives? Is anybody else let down with the mileage they're getting out of their new 4Runners?

 

[KevinG]

We've had my wife's 2011 4Runner Limited for about a month now, and I can't believe the poor mileage we're getting. Our 2004 SR5 4Runner never got less than 18.5 mpg, even with a lot of short trips around town, etc.
Our 2011 is only averaging 15.8 mpg! What is the deal? Is anybody else experiencing this?
Heck, my 2008 Tundra with a 5.7 liter 381 hp engine is a heck of a lot more powerful and is getting 14.7 mpg this winter!!!
What gives? Is anybody else let down with the mileage they're getting out of their new 4Runners?

Manual calculations or OB comp?

 

[ftlee20723]

Consider yourself lucky, I am getting 14.1 mpg.

 

[Dispense]

My truck has about 1500mi on it and is getting around 16.0mpg with almost all city driving, LOTS of stop and go...

That is with me trying to keep acceleration to a minumum and the green ECO light on. The T4R is rated for 17-18 city anyways, I'm sure that was under ideal gas-saving measures..

I don't expect it to get much better until I leave Biloxi in May and have to do more highway travel.

 

[azn-sensation]

I dont really trust the computer. My calculations from the fill up and reset of the od come out to about 17-18mpg mostly city. The comp tells me otherwise like 16.8

 

[JMEJKE]

Manual calculations or OB comp?

Computer... I'll try the manual after the next fill up.

 

[KevinG]

Computer... I'll try the manual after the next fill up.

My bet is it will be higher. According to my OBC I am now getting just over 15 mpg with allowing a warm up time of 15 mins during the work week (with the "winter gas") and manual calculations net me an additional 1.4 mpg

 

[JMEJKE]

My bet is it will be higher. According to my OBC I am now getting just over 15 mpg with allowing a warm up time of 15 mins during the work week (with the "winter gas") and manual calculations net me an additional 1.4 mpg

I hope you're right, because the manual calculation is the only one that matters!
Thanks.

 

[KevinG]

I hope you're right, because the manual calculation is the only one that matters!
Thanks.

Just like when it says you only have a few miles until empty and you fill up with only 19-20 gallons when the tank holds 23 gallons??

 

[Quentin]

Is your wife idling a lot before she starts driving?

I'm getting 20~22mpg even on this **** winter gas.

 

[JMEJKE]

Is your wife idling a lot before she starts driving?

I'm getting 20~22mpg even on this **** winter gas.

No. She never warms it up before driving. The sequence goes something like this:
- open garage door
- put kid(s) in
- sit in driver seat
- start engine
- idle five or ten seconds
- back out
- drive

 

[JasonCz]

Check your tire pressure. I've found that I can gain about 2 mpg by going from around 32 psi to 39 psi all around. This was measured on trips to and from work (highway driving).

This winter I'm getting around 20 mpg with about 70% highway, 30% backroads/city.

 

[Ft Myers Ken]

City driving 17.5 mpg's measure by the computer only... never have done manual calculation.

 

[NYRunner]

Check your tire pressure. I've found that I can gain about 2 mpg by going from around 32 psi to 39 psi all around. This was measured on trips to and from work (highway driving).

This winter I'm getting around 20 mpg with about 70% highway, 30% backroads/city.

Will doing this give me less traction on ice or snow? Thanks!

 

[Mijfwb23]

I get about 18, +-(1-2mpg) in a mix of city/highway. I calculate it every time I fill up. I am sort of anal about it. My computer is usually within 1-2mpg of my calculations. Try resetting the computer after every fill up.

 

[JB.]

Will doing this give me less traction on ice or snow? Thanks!

You'd actually get better wet, snow, and ice traction.

 

[4Robber]

80% city driving for me @ ~ 13.5 MPG.

But I accelerate quickly and drive pretty fast. I hate that green ECO light!

 

[kmiller8821]

I'm getting 19-20mpg every day - even with this cold weather. With summer gas, I was getting around 22-23 consistently. I've been surprised at how good the gas milege is. I don't drive it hard and I accerate slowly (slow enough to keep the ECO light on). I've been very happy with the gas mileage, it's actually much better than my 4th gen was. (4th gen was V6)

 

[JasonCz]

Will doing this give me less traction on ice or snow? Thanks!

You may actually get better traction on roads where the snow isn't very thick. When you add more air pressure, your tire stands up straighter, which gives you less contact with the road, BUT less contact with the road means the weight of the vehicle is more concentrated, and may push the lite covering of snow aside so you can get down to the pavement. World Rally Cars typically use very narrow tires in snow for this reason.

Now deep snow is a bit different, usually very low pressure is good because it allows your tire to spread out and allows you to ride ontop of the snow. You wont sink in and get bogged down.

 

[Jesse1983]

80% city driving for me @ ~ 13.5 MPG.

yup, that's about what i'm getting