How much gas can you fit in your 4runner..and how far can you go?
- Thread starter nyvram
- Start date
newoldwave
New member
I have a 1999 4runner limited, auto,a/c, and I'm getting 14.2 mpg in town. From the mpg numbers above, it looks like I'm not getting the mileage i should. Does anyone have a suggestion to improve my mpg?
blue dog
New member
I have 270k miles on mine with v6 and 5 speed, average 15-16 mpg. I have no idea how some of you are clicking 20 mpg and 400 miles per tank. I do the math by miles ran and gallons filled every time. Bottom line, my 8000 lb dodge 4x4 diesel on 35's gets better milage then the old 3rd gen 4runner.
zooroadbaja
New member
I don't either, but maybe its possible. With plate front and rear bumpers, sliders, ome lift and 285's, I'm getting 15.2-15.7mpg and that's with the speedo off. So I should be getting at least 1 mpg better or more. Factory says its 15 mpg town, 16 mpg combined, and 18 hwy.
My buddies 12 valve is getting worst mpg then that, but then it doesn't help that he's running a gt42 twin turbo setup haha
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/18245.shtml
zacattack20
New member
Yeah it suprises me too a little. Mine is a V6 automatic with almost 180k miles. I've been keeping track of mine for a couple years so it just wasn't a one time thing, it's consistently like that. Everytime I fill up I reset the trip on the odometer. So when I fill it up the next time I write down the miles in my phone and how many gallons it took to fill it up. That's why I never go past when it clicks off so that its always accurate. I always go to the same gas station too. I have all new suspension but its still at a stock height and have stock size tires. I'd probably get better mileage too if most of my driving wasn't stuck in traffic from Orange County to Los Angeles everyday. And when I do get a break from traffic I tend to drive it pretty hard and fast.
blue dog
New member
I commute from long beach to the west side of LA everyday, it just plain sucks.
My dodge has a 6 speed manual, cummins engine that puts out 505 hp to the ground and clicks 23 on the highway if kept below 65, i have come to the conclusion that one does not own a 4runner, tacoma or fj if they want good milage. And don't get me started on the tiny gas tank they decided to put in the 3rd gen 4runner, i would be totally happy if it had a 25 gallon tank.
nyvram
New member
Are the fuel tanks identical on all 3rd gens? Toyota didn't modify them at all throughout the run? Those of you who don't get more than 15 gallons.. how empty is your tank? Do you always stop after the nozzle clicks? I can get as much as 4 gallons in after the click.. All of that can't be in the filler neck right? I just pump slow after it cuts off.. It will typically click 4 or 5 more times even pumping slow but I can tell when it's from slosh.. Wait 5 seconds and keep going. Been doing this for years.. Ive never put less than 18 gallons in if the needle is on the bottom hash mark.
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Bigmikelakers
New member
On a good day, I can drive 100 miles until my needle drops down to 3/4 if I "overfill". Then after that, the needle slowly drops faster then after half it drops really fast. Overall, I can get 300-315 miles on a full tank (after fuel light is on) on LA freeways and streets so that ain't bad for an engine with almost 180k miles on it. If I did all highway driving, I bet I could probably get 330 or possibly more.
steezemcqueen
Moderator
I got 245 miles on my last tank. It was pretty empty though. Add 15% for the larger tires too so i actually got 282 miles
fish0281
New member
I have no idea how you're getting anywhere near 20 gallons. I have run mine dry more than once (i.e., ran out of gas) and the subsequent fill - to the pump click - has never been above 18.5. I don't think the filler neck is 1.5 gallons... no idea how you're doing that.
That being said, right now with this winter-gas-crap they're selling right now, I get about 250-270 miles per tank (~17 gallons; not adjusted for 265s) and it doesn't really seem to be affected by the way I drive. A friend of mine gets close to or over 400 on every tank and she's got about 150k on the clock. No effing idea.
Brian757
New member
The most I've managed to put in my tank was roughly 18 gallons. I had let it get extremely low.
With a full tank, I can get roughly 240 miles out of it.
I get roughly 12 MPGs right now in the cold. I usually get 16-18 MPGs in the hot and when I'm taking highways. My lift and tires really jacked me up.. get it? get it!
I was thinking of running higher octane during the winter months to reduce the amount of times I visited the gas station.
Is this a good/bad idea?
With a full tank, I can get roughly 240 miles out of it.
I get roughly 12 MPGs right now in the cold. I usually get 16-18 MPGs in the hot and when I'm taking highways. My lift and tires really jacked me up.. get it? get it!
I was thinking of running higher octane during the winter months to reduce the amount of times I visited the gas station.
Is this a good/bad idea?
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fish0281
New member
Unless the higher octane is ethanol free (or cleaner in general), you won't notice a difference in anything except your wallet. The only thing higher octane does is prevent pre-detonation on higher compression-ratio engines... of which ours is not.
Brian757
New member
Cool! Thanks. Never did the homework, just pondering.
nyvram
New member
you do realize that initial 'click' is the gas touching the nozzle right?
that happens from the turbulence 'wave' of gas pouring in under pressure from the nozzle end or bubbles from the gas sloshing onto the end of the nozzle. your tank isn't full.
if you don't believe me, next time it clicks, pull the nozzle halfway out of the tank (so the little coil at the end of the nozzle that senses gas doesn't get splashed on) and S L O W L Y add gas..you will be amazed how it keeps going and going and going for several gallons.
if you watch closely..you'll see a bunch of bubbles/froth coming coming out of the tank as it fills..that's actually what is triggering the sensor.
and if you LISTEN closely..you can tell when your tank is actually full..you'll hear the tell-tell sound pitch change when gas is coming up the filler tube and not simply bubbles/froth.
that is completely different than the bubbles/slosh touching the nonzzle end and forcing it to cut off.
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fish0281
New member
Don't get me wrong, I definitely believe you - I don't usually assume people to be complete liars from across the internets! 
I'm just surprised to hear it, particularly considering the Toyota specs lists an "official" fuel capacity of 18.5 gallons... that seems like critical information and to be off by even a gallon seems odd (being off on interior volume spec is one thing...).
Next time I fill up I'll give it a shot.
I'm just surprised to hear it, particularly considering the Toyota specs lists an "official" fuel capacity of 18.5 gallons... that seems like critical information and to be off by even a gallon seems odd (being off on interior volume spec is one thing...).
Next time I fill up I'll give it a shot.
Qyota
New member
All of this just to avoid filling up today instead of tomorrow? I don't get it. I fill until it clicks once...then move on with my life. I know that in 225-250 miles, I'll need to do it again. If I sit there and slowly put in 2 more gallons, I'm just delaying the inevitable by a day or so. Whatever floats your boat, though!
I've never put in more than 16 gallons. Putting in 20 or 21 does indeed sound impossible to me.
I've never put in more than 16 gallons. Putting in 20 or 21 does indeed sound impossible to me.
nyvram
New member
i'll pull up my fill up records..i think they are categorized by exxon since i'm using their card for grins.
also please note i am NOT saying this is OK to be doing..i'm hoping y'all talk some sense into me..just that i've been doing this for a very long time..maybe i'm rolling the dice..?
as for the toyota specs, its entirely possible they have a "Fill line" much like you do on a 2 quart plastic container in your kitchen that is considered FULL just so idiots like me won't try to put 20 gallons in and there is some 'play' over that spec.
i know you are really going to call BS but i actually got 21 gallons in one time..hold on and let me dig up my reciepts..i swear i'm not lying!
also please note i am NOT saying this is OK to be doing..i'm hoping y'all talk some sense into me..just that i've been doing this for a very long time..maybe i'm rolling the dice..?
as for the toyota specs, its entirely possible they have a "Fill line" much like you do on a 2 quart plastic container in your kitchen that is considered FULL just so idiots like me won't try to put 20 gallons in and there is some 'play' over that spec.
i know you are really going to call BS but i actually got 21 gallons in one time..hold on and let me dig up my reciepts..i swear i'm not lying!
hwell:
fish0281
New member
While we're on the subject, I don't hear a lot about people fouling (correct adjective?) their charcoal canisters very often... is the concern there realistic? I understand the logic of how it happens, but I am not really familiar with the part - what does it do with the gas fumes that are normally collecting in there?
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