I got 10mpg last tank

[2003Can4runner]

I was getting approx. 14mpg consistantly but on my last tank i got 10mpg and the tank i'm on now looks like i'm gonna get about the same...
whats the deal? i drive with gas mileage in mind...i'm not using A/C or anything right now obviously! do u need to change the fuel filter or something?

 

[RunnerUp]

try cleaning your MAF, throttle body, seafoaming your engine, going to a brand name gas station to get "good" gas, how many miles, what kind of runner?

 

[pat161]

Is yours an 03, if so I would say this belongs in general discussions. I know here in central MA they change the gas formula in the Winter and that always costs me at least 1 mpg, I let the car warm up on cold mornings which uses fuel and the a/c does kick on in defrost mode, so perhaps a combination of those things. And of course if you are using 4wd that will hurt mileage. If you are only getting 10 that does sound a bit extreme, but down from 14 is not so bad. I thought averaging 16 in my 02 was terrible, now I don't feel so bad.

 

[2003Can4runner]

No mine is a 2000 Limited with 160 000kms. Sorry i didn't clarify that. I made that username when i was posting on behalf of my dads old 4runner. since then, i have picked one up for myself.

Can i just run seafoam through my gas tank instead of pouring it directly into the engine? Where do i pick up Seafoam? or do i have to order it online.

i only had it in AWD for half of the last tank.

 

[p nut]

14MPG? 10MPG???!!!! Are you lifted with 33's or something? I've never heard of a 3rd gen getting that low of a gas mileage. That's more like Land Cruiser area.

Have you done a tune-up recently? Everything running ok?

 

[4RUNR88]

Ive Actually been averaging 12mpg myself also, I dont lead foot either its just been like that for a while. Im looking for answers too.

 

[p nut]

There must be something going on with your 4Runners. I get 15/18, but I'm supercharged.

 

[2003Can4runner]

yeah everything works great! runs perfect...just horrible gas mileage. if i take it in for a tune up and tell them i get horrible gas mileage what kinda things will they do?

 

[RunnerUp]

p nut, with a supercharger and appropriate fuel mods, non-lifted you should be getting 18-20 mpg, somethings not right with your truck

2003CanRunner, yes you can put seafoam directly in your gas tank, but it will not remove the carbon from your engine. its REALLY easy to do this to your truck, and very worth it

you can pick it up at your local auto parts store, white can with red lettering on it, abt 6 bucks a can, i used two (one thru the engine, half of the second one in the crank case (oil) and the other half in a half full gas tank)

pour it out of the can and into a water bottle, or better 3 water bottles (make sure they are dry) put equal amounts in each bottle. pull of your PVC hose from this 90* nipple

just kinda twist it while pulling so it will come off easier (oh, practice with your engine off and then replug it back in to start the truck

here is a bigger pic showing you which end of the hose to pour it in

STEP 1:while its running, remove this hose and put your finger over it (if it gets too much air it will cause your truck to stall) then very quickly and carefully, start to SLOWLY pour this stuff into your motor. let the motor choke a bit but not stall. after you empty the first bottle, replug the hose and manipulate the throttle a little bit, smoke will start coming out.

STEP 2:with this second bottle, have a friend in your drivers seat and tell them to shut the truck off IMMEDIATELY when you say, pour this one in the same speed, but towards the end pour it in a little faster. when its empty, tell your friend to shut off the truck. let it sit in ther for about 30 minutes, start the truck back up (it will be kinda hard to start so just hold it) and lots of smoke will come out.

STEP 3:for the last bottle repeat step 2 and shut it off and leave it over night. this will kill your spark plugs and you might want to pull your o2 sensor out, but its so worth it, my MPG jumped from 13.5 to 16 immediately!!!

 

[p nut]

yeah everything works great! runs perfect...just horrible gas mileage. if i take it in for a tune up and tell them i get horrible gas mileage what kinda things will they do?

They will rape you and continue to do so, until your wallet is completely empty.

Your CEL is not on, is it?


RUNNERUP - I was getting 20-21 on the highway. Then I switched to a bigger tire size (265/70/17) and that's why it's down a couple of MPG's. Plus, I'm not what you call an "easy-on-the-gas" kind of a guy.

 

[RunnerUp]

yeah, honestly, you can change your spark plugs and wires by yourself, thats easy, you can also change your air filter, clean your fuel injectors and pretty much do anything they are going to do, all while spending what they wanted in LABOR to buy the CORRECT parts (not crap like ac delco) and get it done in half the time. i dont believe people pay 20-30$ for an oil change on these trucks, i can change the oil in my truck in 10 minutes, and that includes putting on a new filter, i use synthetic so it still cost me around 30 bucks, but hey, i know its done right!

 

[brown_eyes]

2003CanRunner, yes you can put seafoam directly in your gas tank, but it will not remove the carbon from your engine. its REALLY easy to do this to your truck, and very worth it

If poured into the gas tank, wouldn't it go through the fuel lines, through the injectors and into the engine? Thus cleaning the internals? That would be a lot more easier to do.

this will kill your spark plugs and you might want to pull your o2 sensor out, but its so worth it, my MPG jumped from 13.5 to 16 immediately!!!

i read elsewhere that after you use a seafoam treatment on an engine, the motor oil, spark plugs, o2 sensor should all be changed. The carbon deposits exiting the motor would build up on the o2 sensor, spark plugs and might clog up the catalytic converter.

I suppose the best time to do a seafoam treatment would be during an major tune up when all the filters and oils are changed.

I'm seriously considering doing this seafoam treatment on my 4R, however, I'm still skeptical and worried. I read that if its poured down too quickly, there runs a risk of hydrolocking the engine. Bad news. Don't know of any local shops that can do it for me.

I need to research some more before I try it.

 

[RunnerUp]

If poured into the gas tank, wouldn't it go through the fuel lines, through the injectors and into the engine? Thus cleaning the internals? That would be a lot more easier to do.

if poured into the gas tank, it will go through the fuel lines, through the injectors and into the engine, where it will immediatly be combusted with the rest of the fuel, so it would not clean the internals of your motor.

i read elsewhere that after you use a seafoam treatment on an engine, the motor oil, spark plugs, o2 sensor should all be changed. The carbon deposits exiting the motor would build up on the o2 sensor, spark plugs and might clog up the catalytic converter.

you would only need to change your motor oil if you put seafoam in your crank case, not if you use the brake booster or PVC way. the spark plugs it will indeed foul, like i mentioned above, but hey, spark plugs are cheap and easy to replace. the o2 sensor is a bit of a mystery, some people have it destroy their o2 sensors, others run it through yearly and havent had an issue yet. you can easily avoid this problem by simply removing your o2 sensor before you seafoam. seafoam is actually good for your cat, and will remove any nasty smells it produces.

I'm seriously considering doing this seafoam treatment on my 4R, however, I'm still skeptical and worried. I read that if its poured down too quickly, there runs a risk of hydrolocking the engine. Bad news. Don't know of any local shops that can do it for me.

I need to research some more before I try it.

i strongly suggest you follow your instincts and research it WAY more than you have, from the many pages and threads i have read on this treatment, i decided i would try it. only a few people have managed to hydrolock their motors, and honestly, they were just stupid by either letting the vacuum produced by PVC to suck up unknown amounts of seafoam instead of measuring it out first, or by just putting it in the wrong place. this is not something you pay a local shop to do, unless you would also pay them to do something like... change your wiper blades. its stupid simple and not difficult at all. but, like you mentioned, you need to research this alot more before you try it. if you have any questions go ahead and ask, ill try to point you in the right direction

 

[2003Can4runner]

hmm i should get that stuff. sounds pathetic but i would probably take it in to get it done. my truck, while it is MY truck, the company i work for pays for all my maintenance because i do a few deliveries with my truck. so no matter what gets done, i usually take it in. although, i changed my own wiper blades yesterday! haha.

so what kinda stuff would the shop to my truck to get more gas mileage?

 

[fireteacher]

the only post i have read on people hydro locking their motor are the idiots that just took the hose and put it IN the bottle instead of pooring moderate amounts. big no-no!

it is easy to do, pointless to paysomeone and you learn about your rig. dont be scared...anyone. i would just recommend pulling your o2 sensor out do to the debate on that.

like metioned above, plugs, clean MAF and throttle body, new airfilter and you should be tuned up! when you do the maf, reset you efi fuse (small one). it will "learn" the new air/ fuel mixture faster.

JUST DO IT!

also, if you are in a winter wonder land...you will get maybe 2 mpg less do to the "winter gas".

post up where your from and maybe someone can come buy and guide you through it for a beer....or 2

 

[RunnerUp]

well, it depends, they could actually find whats wrong with it, or if they know you arent paying for it, they could:

replace spark plugs and wires
replace o2 sensor
replace/clean MAF
new air filter
change oil
new oil filter
check tire pressure
clean fuel injectors
clean throttle body

 

[2003Can4runner]

thanks very much guys! I'm gonna check into seafoam today and see what i can do.

I will report back after having things done and if my gas mileage has changed

 

[2003Can4runner]

just thought i would post up update...
i took it in, they said they MAF was filthy so they figured that would solve my problem.
Not at all, i finished the tank of gas i had when i took it in and got 9mpg...so far on this tank i'm at half a tank with 100kms
problem not solved.

 

[phebe_girl02]

For what it's worth, I just made a road trip where I got 21.77 on avg. I generally get 16.5 to 19 in town depending on my foot.
97, auto, 4x4, 123k miles

 

[phebe_girl02]

For what it's worth, I just made a road trip where I got 21.77 on avg. I generally get 16.5 to 19 in town depending on my foot.
97, auto, 4x4, 123k miles