Maximum Range. What's your best?

[jross20]

Moab utah to the magic valley area in souther Idaho. 3-5k elevation most of the trip. One mountain pass to go over from price to Spanish fork utah.

Mine does 38-40psi cold well for the road trips. Load C tire and 6112/5160 billies make it really plush in my opinion. Load C tire is the biggest contributor to comfort there. The E tires I had were like riding on wooden wheel compared to the C’s. My opinion is skewed though, I’m that guy that grew up in old cab over semis with Hendrickson walking beams and leaf sling pickups with front shackles…. Everything rides nice to me after being in those.

It does really well when you set the cruise and forget it. If your in and out of the throttle, driving fast or around town then it goes down significantly.

A good portion of the time my wife is following me as i tow our 34 ft glamper rig. She’s not usually following that close, but I suppose there could be some times where she is catching a bit of a draft behind me or other semi’s , and that could be helping improve fuel economy also.

It’s just a cheap rig to operate when you get down to it. Even off roading I average 15 mpg. Shoot, it seems like most other vehicles are down around that 10-12 range. I run the Pennzoil GTL full synthetic also. Not sure if that has much impact or not. Valves are in spec and it’s tuned up. I usually keep the air filters pretty fresh Since my local dealer give me the good guy price on Toyota parts air filters are only like 20 bucks.

Other than that, I don’t know if there’s anything much else special Except maybe the underbelly armor? It is really smooth and flat. I have everything covered except the pocket where the muffler is I wonder if that could be helping the fuel economy some?

Interesting. That was a good read! You know I talked about the undercarriage armor before with somebody, basically the two different opinions are either it does make it more aerodynamic, or even if it does the extra weight of it cancels it out. However I'm of the opinion that once you get moving on the interstate that I don't really think wait matters all that much anymore to a point.

But who knows really... Maybe someday we can get someone who will be willing to do like a super test or something.

You know speaking of this all, I recently finally found an alignment shop who actually knows what they're doing and my alignment is fixed for the first time in like a year and a half. Pretty much immediately since then I've noticed an improvement on fuel economy. Prior to the alignment issues I got to the point where I was probably going to be getting 19 daily, but since having all these issues the truck's been floating around in the 17 to 18 range. Only one Philip so far but based on what I'm seeing on the trip counter I'm pretty sure the next couple of fill ups are going to confirm it.

So it would seem that our rigs are, in terms of fuel economy, very sensitive to some things but not so sensitive to others things? Maybe...?

 

[Ed_C]

Stock suspension, stock size all-season tires. I checked my commute route on google maps and the indicated trip meter miles were pretty spot-on. Could've probably driven more but I was already home. This was 8 years ago, don't drive it much now though.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/1762296-post8083.html

 

[phattyduck]

A little unfair, but my 4Runner when it was new (V6, auto, 2WD, small wheels/tires) would generally average 24mpg and did 26mpg on a reasonable number of highway trips. Cruise set at 67mph, generally lightly loaded... that was when my dad owned it.

Now with modern E10 gas, 4WD, 32" load C tires and armor, I still get ~19-20 on highway trips. Last one was with the whole family (2 adults, 3 small kids) and a hitch carrier...

I fill up at 200 miles around town and push it over 250 regularly on highway trips. I'm sure there's some longer fill ups, but I'd have to search the log book over the last 300k+ miles to find it...

-Charlie

 

[jross20]

Stock suspension, stock size all-season tires. I checked my commute route on google maps and the indicated trip meter miles were pretty spot-on. Could've probably driven more but I was already home. This was 8 years ago, don't drive it much now though.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/1762296-post8083.html

Wow, you must have had like 1/4 a gallon left. V6 or 4 banger?

 

[JoeT4R]

Pre gears, tires, lift etc. I would get 350 before the gas light came on.

Jeez! That's awesome dude.

I typically get maybe 230 max per tank before the light comes on and I start to worry. I've got the 5VZ, lift, 285/75's and stock 4.10's. I also have a roof rack. And I run E15 gas, too. So all things considered I don't think I'm doing horribly. A couple years ago on a long distance drive home from a vacation with mostly highway driving and under full load with cargo and passengers, I think I managed like 270 miles to that tank? But that's about as high as I've seen it go.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[96Yinzer]

Hmmmm, have been having an issue with my gas gauge and have been using the trip-meter to make sure I don't run out of gas. I was using 200 as my "get gas" point, but I guess I will need to reconsider.

Do all 3rd Gens have the same gas tank size?
And at what level should the low fuel light come on?

 

[KhaoticAlcoholic]

Wow, you must have had like 1/4 a gallon left. V6 or 4 banger?

I get about 21 mpg and it has 340,000 miles on it 1999

Sent from my moto g stylus 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Outrider]

Hmmmm, have been having an issue with my gas gauge and have been using the trip-meter to make sure I don't run out of gas. I was using 200 as my "get gas" point, but I guess I will need to reconsider.

Do all 3rd Gens have the same gas tank size?
And at what level should the low fuel light come on?

I think all 3rd Gens have the same fuel capacity.

Not sure what level should trigger the reserve light, but there is a very common problem with the fuel gauges being either a little flakey, or going full retard. I put up with that for a very long time, until fixing it last year. There are numerous thread here on that topic that you can find with a search. Fixes seem to range from pulling the tank and replacing the sender (major PITA and expensive), to adding a little ground jumper wire under the rear seat (simple and cheap, which is what worked for mine).

 

[JoeT4R]

Hmmmm, have been having an issue with my gas gauge and have been using the trip-meter to make sure I don't run out of gas. I was using 200 as my "get gas" point, but I guess I will need to reconsider.



Do all 3rd Gens have the same gas tank size?

And at what level should the low fuel light come on?

Max capacity I believe is 18.5 gallons. But I've never filled above 17. Hell, I don't know if I've actually ever filled much above 16 before.

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[Romeo1]

Interesting. That was a good read! You know I talked about the undercarriage armor before with somebody, basically the two different opinions are either it does make it more aerodynamic, or even if it does the extra weight of it cancels it out. However I'm of the opinion that once you get moving on the interstate that I don't really think wait matters all that much anymore to a point.

But who knows really... Maybe someday we can get someone who will be willing to do like a super test or something.

You know speaking of this all, I recently finally found an alignment shop who actually knows what they're doing and my alignment is fixed for the first time in like a year and a half. Pretty much immediately since then I've noticed an improvement on fuel economy. Prior to the alignment issues I got to the point where I was probably going to be getting 19 daily, but since having all these issues the truck's been floating around in the 17 to 18 range. Only one Philip so far but based on what I'm seeing on the trip counter I'm pretty sure the next couple of fill ups are going to confirm it.

So it would seem that our rigs are, in terms of fuel economy, very sensitive to some things but not so sensitive to others things? Maybe...?

I think your right. They’re sensitive to lots of things for mpg.

Alignment’s are a big deal. It’s added resistance.

Thing to remember also, 80 mph speed limit didn’t exist back when these were getting built.

 

[Romeo1]

A little unfair, but my 4Runner when it was new (V6, auto, 2WD, small wheels/tires) would generally average 24mpg and did 26mpg on a reasonable number of highway trips. Cruise set at 67mph, generally lightly loaded... that was when my dad owned it.

Now with modern E10 gas, 4WD, 32" load C tires and armor, I still get ~19-20 on highway trips. Last one was with the whole family (2 adults, 3 small kids) and a hitch carrier...

I fill up at 200 miles around town and push it over 250 regularly on highway trips. I'm sure there's some longer fill ups, but I'd have to search the log book over the last 300k+ miles to find it...

-Charlie

My results are similar. More often than not, I’m in that 19-20 range. Still great numbers in my opinion. Part of why I like the third gen’s so much. Lots of goodness packed in a small fun package.

E10 is a great point too. Economy always takes a bit from the lack of BTUs. I’m not looking forward to the wide adoption of E15. We burn almost half the U.S. corn crop because of ethanol now. Kinda crazy to think about it that way. Thank ol Dubya for that one….Food costs way more now because of it.

 

[cruisectrl]

Longest I've recorded is 322 miles and filled up 16.018gal (20.1mpg). I usually fill up around 250 miles though.

I somehow managed 17.5mpg and 20mpg tanks last weekend driving over Tioga Pass in Yosemite, down 395 to Barstow, and over 15 to Vegas and in the craziest crosswinds I've experienced. I had a completely filled Yakima cargo box centered on my roof and it got blown all the way to the edge of my crossbars. I've driven with that cargo box for 150k+ miles and it has never shifted enough to notice.

Otherwise, running 265/70R17 Falken Wildpeaks at 32psi, basically stock suspension (just tall rear coils) with no other weight/add-ons except the cargo box, which in reality was just a big sail.. for better or for worse.

 

[jross20]

My results are similar. More often than not, I’m in that 19-20 range. Still great numbers in my opinion. Part of why I like the third gen’s so much. Lots of goodness packed in a small fun package.

E10 is a great point too. Economy always takes a bit from the lack of BTUs. I’m not looking forward to the wide adoption of E15. We burn almost half the U.S. corn crop because of ethanol now. Kinda crazy to think about it that way. Thank ol Dubya for that one….Food costs way more now because of it.

Agreed, don't get me started on that stupid ethanol crap... Grumble grumble...

 

[Bad Luck]

Hmmmm, have been having an issue with my gas gauge and have been using the trip-meter to make sure I don't run out of gas. I was using 200 as my "get gas" point, but I guess I will need to reconsider.

Do all 3rd Gens have the same gas tank size?
And at what level should the low fuel light come on?

All 3rd gens have an 18.5 gallon fuel tank, but most have been dented so capacity will decrease some lol I fill up at 1/4 tank mark on the fuel gauge and its usually only 10-11 gallons to fill it at that point. My low fuel light comes on around 1/8 tank on the gauge but I usually have 5ish gallons left in the tank.

 

[jross20]

All 3rd gens have an 18.5 gallon fuel tank, but most have been dented so capacity will decrease some lol I fill up at 1/4 tank mark on the fuel gauge and its usually only 10-11 gallons to fill it at that point. My low fuel light comes on around 1/8 tank on the gauge but I usually have 5ish gallons left in the tank.

I SO wish we could get an extended tank....

 

[Bad Luck]

I SO wish we could get an extended tank....

How deep are your pockets? 3rd Gen 4Runner Long Range Auxiliary Fuel Tank 29 Gallons

 

[Ed_C]

Wow, you must have had like 1/4 a gallon left. V6 or 4 banger?

V6. I had a filled 2.5 gallon gas can with me, waiting to run out on the highway LOL

 

[phattyduck]

Do all 3rd Gens have the same gas tank size?
And at what level should the low fuel light come on?

All 3rd gens have the same size tank. There are a couple variables though:

- '96-'98 have a different sender (and thus low fuel light mechanism) than '99-'02
- The fuel fill vent tube may have changed with the above change (meaning different max fill level between years)
- The evap system changed for '01/'02, which also may have changed max fill level.

Generally though, the low fuel light comes on WAYY early (like 3-4 gallons left) and some/all may be missing some capacity at the 'top' due to the way the fuel fill vent works.

On my '99 V6 CA emissions, most 'empty' to 'full' fills are around 14.5 gallons (needle on the empty line to first stop click of the fuel filler), despite having an '18 gallon' tank.

-Charlie

 

[jross20]

V6. I had a filled 2.5 gallon gas can with me, waiting to run out on the highway LOL

Legendary

All 3rd gens have the same size tank. There are a couple variables though:

- '96-'98 have a different sender (and thus low fuel light mechanism) than '99-'02
- The fuel fill vent tube may have changed with the above change (meaning different max fill level between years)
- The evap system changed for '01/'02, which also may have changed max fill level.

Generally though, the low fuel light comes on WAYY early (like 3-4 gallons left) and some/all may be missing some capacity at the 'top' due to the way the fuel fill vent works.

On my '99 V6 CA emissions, most 'empty' to 'full' fills are around 14.5 gallons (needle on the empty line to first stop click of the fuel filler), despite having an '18 gallon' tank.

-Charlie

Say what? Early? I always thought a light should come on around 4 gallons of so. Much better than like 2 gallons lol

 

[octanejunkie]

2WD with stock tires and gears (4.10) : 330-350 mile range, depending on wind, mostly highway

4WD with 33s, armor, bumpers, 1" body lift and 4.88 gears : 269 miles, mostly highway