Horrible Gas Mileage

[scanny]

I may just need to come to terms with the brick. However come spring I intend to do a test run at the limit of 110 km/h on stock tires. By that point the engine should be well broken in with over 6000 km. If I can't get at least 10 L/100km I will file a complaint with Toyota and the Competition Bureau; perhaps then with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan if there is no satisfactory response. What I'd like to know is if other SUV/Trucks have similarly bogus highway numbers.

Last winter I made 2000 km trip (both ways) to Quebec and reset mileage on computer at the beginning of the trip. when I came back home it showed around 12 L/100km . But it was on winter gas, about maybe 300 km off highway driving, truck was loaded with our skiing gear and big chunk of the trip was in 4x4. Range never dropped under 560 km at full tank. I'm stock except tires which I run at 36-38 psi.

In summer on long highway trips my mileage was consitently about 10.6 L/100km driving with traffic (110-120 km/h), lowest I saw was 9.2 for probably half hour at about 100 km/h and then I got in traffic jam. Normally I try to get off 400 series higways as soon as I can and then small towns are getting my mileage up to lower 11-ish. But it's all according computer, I quit calculating real mileage a year ago : )

In the matter of fact I found fuel consumption satisfactory comparing with other vehicles I drove, but there is always room for improvement. It would be interesting how Toyota responds on your complaint if you file one, keep us posted.

 

[veloindy]

2000 miles on the odometer, and 19.7mpg last fill up. Mix of city / hwy, but mostly city. There were also a few miles in 4 hi, through the slush. The computer is still showing 18.5, strange, usually they're slightly higher. Overall I'm happy. It's disturbing the low numbers people are reporting. If I was getting 12 -13 mpg, I'd dump it in a heartbeat.

Haven't seen much of hit with the Duratracs. I don't know what the mileage would've been with the stockers...

 

[Bourbonator]

I still get 21+ mpg on my 405 commute from LA to OC in crappy rush hour traffic.

 

[1engineer]

So I have to chime in here on the 4Runner having horrible highway mileage. I actually find the posted figures bordering on fraudulent.

I have had a new 2012 since August. Around town I am a very gentle driver (don't even need that ECO light, it's almost always green when I drive). As such I've done better than the posted 12.6 L/100km. On the gauge and by gas tank estimate I've been closer to 12 but that has gone up since the snow hit. Plowing though the streets has pushed it up close to the rated 12.6.

Anyhow long story short I just took it for the first real freeway trip. My mileage got WORSE! By the gauge and tank refills I was over 12.5, close to 13! Now I understand the posted numbers depend a lot on driving style etc but this is ridiculous! The official highway mile is 9.2 L/100km and I'm getting around 40% above that. I've never seen the highway mileage be worse than city. I've got the tires at 36 PSI and this is pretty much steady 4 lane cruising.

I am going to do another test with exact odometer readings and fillups next month. If it's still this bad I am going to write the 'Energuide' people. This is completely deceptive. I plan to use this ride for a lot of highway cruising and this was a number I paid particular attention to. This kind of outright fiction means over $5k NPV in gas over the life of the vehicle.

So after that rant :rant: I went over to the Energuide site and reviewed the testing.

I think one factor is the brick like aerodynamics of the 4runner. While I think that should be accounted for better in the modeling estimates that a lot of the test is predicated on, and also in a more realistic top speed in the highway test course (it tops out at 97 km/h and averages 77 km/h; I don't know who drives the freeway at these speeds), I still don't think it should be off by that much. In the interests of full disclosure my cruise speed is just under 120 km/h, lets call it 74 mph for the US crowd. Other than winter tires my ride is stock.

I may just need to come to terms with the brick. However come spring I intend to do a test run at the limit of 110 km/h on stock tires. By that point the engine should be well broken in with over 6000 km. If I can't get at least 10 L/100km I will file a complaint with Toyota and the Competition Bureau; perhaps then with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan if there is no satisfactory response. What I'd like to know is if other SUV/Trucks have similarly bogus highway numbers.

So you want to get an equivalent of 23.5 mpg? At over 70 mph? Good luck. For those of you who are not familiar with the conversions here is a little chart:
9L/100km = 26.13 mpg
10L/100km = 23.5 mpg
11L/100km = 21 mpg
12L/100km = 19.6 mpg
13L/100Km = 18 mpg
14L/100km = 16.8 mpg
15L/100km = 15.7 mpg

Now I know a few things are better in Canada but I think the energy produced by a litre of gasoline is the same there as it is here.

If you would read the thread you would see that most with unmodded vehicles are getting between 11-12L/100km here in the states.

 

[Okki]

This does not exist in reality... Don't tell me you bought your 4Runner for the gas mileage?

When I bought mine, I calculated that gas has to cost $7+ before a hybrid becomes more cost effective over the life of the vehicle. and that was not using a 21mpg estimate.

For the vehicle that it is.. the use it was designed for... it does pretty well. A diesel would have been better on the torque and mileage front, but this truck is well within what realistically should be expected.

JMTC -- Okki

 

[Sungkyo]

I'm getting roughly 16-17 average highway/local mixed, 2012 limited 4x4 with 15k miles. I think thats pretty darn good given my 2008 CRV was getting average 21 with similar driving.

That mirrors my Mileage on my 2012 LE with 7,000 miles. I Dont know how you guys can keep the eco light on ALL the time. Its almost impossible once I hit 2nd gear without impeding traffic. I do have aftermarket wheels and tires and know they weigh more, I'm guessing since I went with the next size wider tire its costing me 1 mpg. On highway there is a big difference on in MPG for every 5MPH over the speed limit. There is a highway by my home that I occasionally take that is 75mph, so I average about 81mph and my highway mileage is approx 15.0 -15.5.

 

[WCVanHorne]

So you want to get an equivalent of 23.5 mpg? At over 70 mph? Good luck.

Well considering the posted highway number (which I have always come close to on other vehicles) is 25.6 mpg I don't think I'm unreasonable in being a bit peeved at getting 18.2 mpg. The biggest problem is I don't actually know if all truck numbers are similarly off on the Energuide, or just the 4runner. I've not had this discrepancy with previous cars, minivans, etc.

If you would read the thread you would see that most with unmodded vehicles are getting between 11-12L/100km here in the states.

I did read the thread. The fact that I'm doing 1-2 L/100km worse that even that is what has me posting. Particularly since I am getting pretty much the rated city numbers but am *way* off on the highway.

 

[1engineer]

Well considering the posted highway number (which I have always come close to on other vehicles) is 25.6 mpg I don't think I'm unreasonable in being a bit peeved at getting 18.2 mpg. The biggest problem is I don't actually know if all truck numbers are similarly off on the Energuide, or just the 4runner. I've not had this discrepancy with previous cars, minivans, etc.


I did read the thread. The fact that I'm doing 1-2 L/100km worse that even that is what has me posting. Particularly since I am getting pretty much the rated city numbers but am *way* off on the highway.

You mean in Canada Toyota says the 4Runner will get 25.6mpg? Here it states 21mpg.

I can tell you after going over 45K miles in mine that this vehicle is not efficient at higher speeds. At 70-73 mph I can get around 20 mpg. At 75-80 I am down in the 17-18 range. It's simply aerodynamic drag.

 

[WCVanHorne]

You mean in Canada Toyota says the 4Runner will get 25.6mpg? Here it states 21mpg.

You got it. In 2012 they were quoting 9.2 L/100km. They have upped it to 9.4 this year:

TOYOTA CANADA: TOYOTA.CA LANGUAGE

I can tell you after going over 45K miles in mine that this vehicle is not efficient at higher speeds. At 70-73 mph I can get around 20 mpg. At 75-80 I am down in the 17-18 range. It's simply aerodynamic drag.

You've certainly got it that the cross section is awful, far worse than I thought. If this is all normal This would be the first vehicle I've ever had that my standard 74 mph cruise gets worse mileage that my city driving.

 

[1engineer]

You got it. In 2012 they were quoting 9.2 L/100km. They have upped it to 9.4 this year:

TOYOTA CANADA: TOYOTA.CA LANGUAGE



You've certainly got it that the cross section is awful, far worse than I thought. If this is all normal This would be the first vehicle I've ever had that my standard 74 mph cruise gets worse mileage that my city driving.

The chart I posted above is US gallons. Canada uses imperial gallons I think:

"Worldwide usage of gallons

The imperial gallon is used in everyday life (and in advertising) in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and less frequently in Canada, including fuel economy expression in advertisements and other official publications. Gallons used in fuel economy expression in Canada is imperial gallons.[6][7][8]"

If you convert imperial mpg to US mpg then you get the same number.

 

[WCVanHorne]

The chart I posted above is US gallons. Canada uses imperial gallons I think:

"Worldwide usage of gallons

The imperial gallon is used in everyday life (and in advertising) in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and less frequently in Canada, including fuel economy expression in advertisements and other official publications. Gallons used in fuel economy expression in Canada is imperial gallons.[6][7][8]"

If you convert imperial mpg to US mpg then you get the same number.

I've never been talking or converting to Imperial mpg. L/100km is the same everywhere. 9.2 L/100km is 25.6 US mpg (same as your chart).

 

[1000MPH]

I'm very happy with my mileage and it's only getting better. Posted my best recorded mileage yet on a trip to San Francisco for the WS.
26.33 mpg for a 187 mile stretch through the Sierras to Fairfield.
Around SF wasn't as good but I still managed 23.7 (calculated) for the whole trip (598 miles)
Maybe it's my stock tires at 38PSI?

 

[WCVanHorne]

I'm very happy with my mileage and it's only getting better. Posted my best recorded mileage yet on a trip to San Francisco for the WS.
26.33 mpg for a 187 mile stretch through the Sierras to Fairfield.

What was your highway cruising speed?

 

[calcrc]

I'm very happy with my mileage and it's only getting better. Posted my best recorded mileage yet on a trip to San Francisco for the WS.
26.33 mpg for a 187 mile stretch through the Sierras to Fairfield.
Around SF wasn't as good but I still managed 23.7 (calculated) for the whole trip (598 miles)
Maybe it's my stock tires at 38PSI?

That's absurd, it comes out to 8.9 litres/100km. It is even lower than the specs on the brochures at Toyota dealers.

I was getting 16.22mpg on highway for a 90mile trip from Montreal to Plattsburgh at 74mph.

What is going on here I know driving style and gas and psi with all out stock trucks to modified but come on something must be really wrong here. The gap difference is way out of sync between owners.

I was thinking if I switch from 265-70R17 to 265-65R17 will it improve the MPG ? I have also cleaned out my TRD air Filter but didn't get to see if there was a difference in MPG, I cleaned it yesterday.


So my question is, should I take it to the dealer and have them see if there's a problem with the truck or what ? Like I said I didn't buy the truck for saving on gas but this is just ridiculous. Can it be that the engine or gas pump or computer is messed up ?

I really am getting nervous out here, if the MPG is this worse and the car is 2011 WTH will it be when the car gets older ? 9MPG or worse .

 

[WCVanHorne]

That's absurd, it comes out to 8.9 litres/100km. It is even lower than the specs on the brochures at Toyota dealers.

I was getting 16.22mpg on highway for a 90mile trip from Montreal to Plattsburgh at 74mph.

What is going on here I know driving style and gas and psi with all out stock trucks to modified but come on something must be really wrong here. The gap difference is way out of sync between owners.

Well I think I'm going to phone Toyota tomorrow if I get a chance. They should be right nervous after what is going on with Hyundai.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Unhook the battery for 5 minutes to let the computer reset.

Check for frozen or sticky caliper pistons. And keep in mind, the winter blend of gas is out and that can hurt MPG. Also make sure that the ebrake isn't sticking.

 

[1engineer]

Well I think I'm going to phone Toyota tomorrow if I get a chance. They should be right nervous after what is going on with Hyundai.

Can you guys explain why Toyota Canada publishes 26 mpg and Toyota USA publishes 21 mpg? Same truck, same gas. Is Canada using imp gallon?

 

[scanny]

I was getting 16.22mpg on highway for a 90mile trip from Montreal to Plattsburgh at 74mph.

So my question is, should I take it to the dealer and have them see if there's a problem with the truck or what ? Like I said I didn't buy the truck for saving on gas but this is just ridiculous. Can it be that the engine or gas pump or computer is messed up ?

I really am getting nervous out here, if the MPG is this worse and the car is 2011 WTH will it be when the car gets older ? 9MPG or worse .

If I got it right 16.22mpg is 14.5 l/100km which is way to high for highway. If your truck is not modified and tire pressure is 34psi on shell regular winter gas you should have around 11 L/100km at that speed in winter. Providing of course that you driving steady and not uphill all the time. So take it to the dealer, maybe you got something wrong with your truck ro maybe gas has too much ethanol.

 

[1000MPH]

That's absurd, it comes out to 8.9 litres/100km. It is even lower than the specs on the brochures at Toyota dealers.

....

Speed through the mountain areas vary but I usually drive the 65mph limit until Auburn then it's 65-75 to keep up with the flow.
I'm back down to earth on my current tankfull. The computer is reading 17.5 on winter gas and longer warmups.
Long trip coming up so we'll see.

 

[calcrc]

Here is a picture of my truck. It was Demo 2011 TE modified. I bought it as is on the picture, I just modified the safari roof rack because it was too big.

Let me know what you think, I will post some pictures in the pictures thread also. I am just posting this here regarding the weak MPG it gets.

It had 2000km on it when I bought it. And one thing someone said they get 560km range on a full tank, I get 475 now. I used to get 530km range when I bought it so I don't know what went wrong. I bought it in June 2012.