Horrible MPG on my 2003 4.0 V6

[gabrielzeng]

Hi guys,

I have read quite a few posts about the gas consumption of 4th Gen 4runner. But I probably have the worst MPG so far. around 12. I bought it second-handed, now it has 148000 Miles. I have changed the spark plugs, the tires are properly inflated, no excessive weight carried, oil changed. However, I live in Edmonton, Canada, where winter temperature drops to around -20 to -30 degree celcius, and I drive mostly in the city. Do you guys think it's normal? Thanks for any advice and happy new year!

 

[xxaarraa]

Hi guys,

I have read quite a few posts about the gas consumption of 4th Gen 4runner. But I probably have the worst MPG so far. around 12. I bought it second-handed, now it has 148000 Miles. I have changed the spark plugs, the tires are properly inflated, no excessive weight carried, oil changed. However, I live in Edmonton, Canada, where winter temperature drops to around -20 to -30 degree celcius, and I drive mostly in the city. Do you guys think it's normal? Thanks for any advice and happy new year!

I don't know if it works the same way in Canadia, but in the US, you can safely add about 1-1.5 MPG to winter MPG due to winter blend gas (higher butane, among other things).

If its the same up there, you are getting 13.5. Even considering city driving, I would say that's low. I live right in Boston and when I do all city, I still get in the 16ish and I have 3-400 lbs of armor and heavier AT tires.

 

[NJshadow93]

For winter blend fuel, I'm sure that's not too far from normal if you do a lot of city driving.

 

[RunnerAK]

How long is your commute? If you have a short commute, your engine never gets up to operating temperature, which will drag down your fuel economy. Do you keep it in 4WD most of the time (assuming it is a 4X4), and do you idle it much to warm it up (0 mpg)?

I only get about 11 mpg in my V8 during the winter months because of the combo of winter blend fuel and a short commute (~2.5 miles of city driving one way).

 

[Mchabot001]

since a did a 800 miles trip last week i did restart the on board calculator and after couple days of rough winter temp I am at 10.5mpg with the V8 on city only driving

 

[Minn3sota]

If your like most of us up Nord here factor in all the idleing times for warming up / leaving on whilst you run into the store or possibly in your case Tim Horton's :yo: . I have seen a 2-3 mpg drop just from all this extra time running.

 

[gabrielzeng]

yeah I do short commute most of the time. But I rarely drive in 4WD. otherwise it's gonna cost even more fuel. I gave up on spending 10 min warming up, it consumes tooooo much gas. What I do now is just a short 1min warm up. I don't think that is a main factor.

 

[gabrielzeng]

I don't know if I should take it to the dealer and let them take a look at it.

 

[rsteurer]

Fuel filter?

 

[Martinjmpr]

No one has asked yet, so I will:

How are you measuring your MPG? If you are going by the gauge on the dash, just know that gauge is worthless. Might as well put it on a different setting (I keep mine on the "range" setting.)

The only accurate way to measure fuel is by actual consumption: Fill the tank to full, set the trip odometer to zero, then drive until it's time to fuel up.

When you fuel up, make sure you fuel up the same way (i.e. if you stop pumping after the first time the pump "clicks off", or after the 2nd time, always do it that way.) It also helps if you fuel up at the same station.

Take the miles driven and divide by the fuel put in. That's your MPG, not the lie that the dashboard gauge shows.

Also, if you are running bigger than stock tires, you'll need to correct for your tire size. When I run my 255/75/17s, I have to add 5.5% to my miles driven to get the actual mileage (basically I take the miles off the odometer and multiply x 1.055.)

If you really want to be picky about monitoring fuel consumption, you could consider investing in a Scangauge II or similar. Unlike the silly dashboard computer, the SG can be calibrated to adjust to your specific vehicle, including adjusting for bigger tires. You can also recalibrate at every fuel up to keep it accurate. Mine is accurate to within 5 miles which is good enough for me.

 

[Mchabot001]

if you want to monitor closely you fuel consumption register (free) to that site and keep track of all your fuel up... this is the accurest way to check the mpg

https://www.fuelly.com/

heres mine after a couple fuel up

4 Runner (Toyota 4Runner) | Fuelly

 

[gabrielzeng]

Yeah, I know the dash gauge is inaccurate, so I measured it by calculation.
Thanks Mchabot001, I have registered at fuelly and I am going to record every refill!

My friend told me that I should do a Electrical Fuel Injection cleaning service. We will see...

 

[Mchabot001]

before going to a full service on your injector you can try simply a run or two of seafoam... i did it on mine with the plus as well and look like my mpg is going down. For sure the full job would be better but the price is way higher too

How to Properly Perform a Fuel System Cleaning - YouTube (there is many video on youtube that show you how to do it) but it still very simple. One third of the can in the fuel tank, one third in the motor oil and the last third in a vacuum hose near the throttle body

It cost around 10-14 $ a can depending where you get it and it is VERY easy to do ... the only thing that is a bit more harder to do is find a good vacuum hose. Usually you will have couple rubber hose (some smaller, some bigger) that plug on the top of the throttle body. You need to find a hose that has a good vacuum so you can put the last third of your seafoam can slowly into it.

 

[earthrealm]

just my 2cents...the v8 is full time 4wd........

lso check if ur calipers are stuck

 

[xxaarraa]

before going to a full service on your injector you can try simply a run or two of seafoam... i did it on mine with the plus as well and look like my mpg is going down. For sure the full job would be better but the price is way higher too

How to Properly Perform a Fuel System Cleaning - YouTube (there is many video on youtube that show you how to do it) but it still very simple. One third of the can in the fuel tank, one third in the motor oil and the last third in a vacuum hose near the throttle body

It cost around 10-14 $ a can depending where you get it and it is VERY easy to do ... the only thing that is a bit more harder to do is find a good vacuum hose. Usually you will have couple rubber hose (some smaller, some bigger) that plug on the top of the throttle body. You need to find a hose that has a good vacuum so you can put the last third of your seafoam can slowly into it.

Don't they say you have to change out your plugs right after you seafoam?

 

[axle167]

Hi guys,

I have read quite a few posts about the gas consumption of 4th Gen 4runner. But I probably have the worst MPG so far. around 12. I bought it second-handed, now it has 148000 Miles. I have changed the spark plugs, the tires are properly inflated, no excessive weight carried, oil changed. However, I live in Edmonton, Canada, where winter temperature drops to around -20 to -30 degree celcius, and I drive mostly in the city. Do you guys think it's normal? Thanks for any advice and happy new year!

I think my gas mileage is almost as bad as yours. I have a 04 v6 with 240kms and stock everything and mostly city driving.

I'm in Vancouver Canada, and usually run on 2wd.

Just filled up 77 litres (20 gallons) today with 417km (260miles)

That's only 13mpg or 5.4litre per km.

My 97 4runner had better mileage than this. Anyone have any idea?

 

[Brazenhead]

Hi guys,

I have read quite a few posts about the gas consumption of 4th Gen 4runner. But I probably have the worst MPG so far. around 12. I bought it second-handed, now it has 148000 Miles. I have changed the spark plugs, the tires are properly inflated, no excessive weight carried, oil changed. However, I live in Edmonton, Canada, where winter temperature drops to around -20 to -30 degree celcius, and I drive mostly in the city. Do you guys think it's normal? Thanks for any advice and happy new year!

Our winter fuel blend is sh-t! Unfortunately this is the price we pay to run our 4th gens. My wife's 05 v6 just ran an 11.5 mpg on the last tank according to fuelly and my last tank in my 03 v8 was 10.2 mpg.

Winter = sh-tty fuel economy!

Try and keep your block heater plugged in when possible it will at least help get your vehicle up to operating temp quicker.

 

[Izlu]

You call that horrible? My mileage is 8.9 mpg sometimes according to the dash gauge but my engine is only 2700cc :sobbing:

It's -15C to -20C here so I have to warm up 5 minutes at least though it doesn't help much with differential oil. The car just wouldn't go forward the first few kilometers till the differential oil warms up too. The most of my trips are short and I spend lot of time in traffic.

I always run on 4wd in winter for peace of mind, the fuel saving on 2wd seems negligible to me. All said, my mileage is pathetic but as many others pointed out in other threads I'd buy Prius if I wanted good mileage.

My highest mileage was 23.5 mpg on highway in summer so I'm just waiting for summer to come eace:

 

[wnelax04sr5]

You call that horrible? My mileage is 8.9 mpg sometimes according to the dash gauge but my engine is only 2700cc :sobbing:

It's -15C to -20C here so I have to warm up 5 minutes at least though it doesn't help much with differential oil. The car just wouldn't go forward the first few kilometers till the differential oil warms up too. The most of my trips are short and I spend lot of time in traffic.

I always run on 4wd in winter for peace of mind, the fuel saving on 2wd seems negligible to me. All said, my mileage is pathetic but as many others pointed out in other threads I'd buy Prius if I wanted good mileage.

My highest mileage was 23.5 mpg on highway in summer so I'm just waiting for summer to come eace:

is that hand calculated 8.9 mpg? or the 4runners trip computer

edit: i just reread, its the dash readout. thats why your mpg sucks so bad, id be willing to bet you're in the mid to high teens for actual mileage, the warming up period kills your mpg on the display cause it just drops every minute its idling. hand calculate and you won't be getting anywhere close to 8.9

 

[BOSMECH]

Yep my winter mileage went down or lets say they are ripping me off even more.