I've got a '99 Ltd. all stock. Had a complete tuneup, wires, plugs, oil change, throttle body, (cleaned), transmission flushed, new bearings/seals in rear end, fuel filter, air filter, flushed power steering fluid, and new exhaust from cat. back, bled brake lines, and fresh brake fluid. With all that done, I checked my MPG, and got 20.6. I guess thats not too bad. BTW, I have 126,000 miles on my 4Runner. (Note, about 40% in town, and 60% HWY driving).
MPG on your 3rd Gen?
- Thread starter clarkie470
- Start date
Gerdo
New member
If I'm doing the short store hops I'll get 8-10mpg. I usually get 18-19mpg on a tank of mixed driving. One route that I take, I'll get upwards of 28mpg. Consistently, the first tank on my way Denver to Moab, up hill, heavy wheeling/camping load I get 24mpg +. Rock crawling I get ~5mpg.
You get 18-19 mpg mixed with your lifted and armored runner? :wow2:
Gerdo
New member
Yep. That is usual for me. 65-75 on the highways too. That is a calculated mpg from tanks of gas, including the 5% difference in tire size.
32s, full belly armor, 4"+ of suspension lift, heaver front and rear bumpers, tire carrier, roof rack, winch, cargo/sleeping box.
The other mpgs are from my scangauge.
A.Wilson013
New member
If such is the case, build yourself a sleep platform and camp out in the lot!
Nunyabiz
New member
I get 12-13mpg city and 18-19mpg highway.
I need to stop topping off also, been so used to doing it for soooo long that it is hard to not do it, I have a habit of rounding off to the nearest dollar or the nearest gallon so usually go past the first click virtually every time.
In a car older than I think it is 96' I think you can top off til it runs out the top without any problems.
I have been driving since 1975 and never had a car newer than a 96' until about 2005 (wifes 1999 Lexus) and now my 2002 4Runner that I have had like 8 months.
So for 30 straight years I topped off to the brim probably 95% of the time without a single issue.
If you fill up at a gas station that has the vapor capture or what ever they call it the gas nozzle itself will "suck up" the excess gas and you probably wont have a problem.
Also as long as you get in your car and drive a few miles after you fill up you also probably wont have a problem.
It is when you fill up on a hot day at say Costco gas station then drive 100 yards and park while you go in and shop where you might have a problem.
Then it could expand and mess up the canister.
I need to stop topping off also, been so used to doing it for soooo long that it is hard to not do it, I have a habit of rounding off to the nearest dollar or the nearest gallon so usually go past the first click virtually every time.
In a car older than I think it is 96' I think you can top off til it runs out the top without any problems.
I have been driving since 1975 and never had a car newer than a 96' until about 2005 (wifes 1999 Lexus) and now my 2002 4Runner that I have had like 8 months.
So for 30 straight years I topped off to the brim probably 95% of the time without a single issue.
If you fill up at a gas station that has the vapor capture or what ever they call it the gas nozzle itself will "suck up" the excess gas and you probably wont have a problem.
Also as long as you get in your car and drive a few miles after you fill up you also probably wont have a problem.
It is when you fill up on a hot day at say Costco gas station then drive 100 yards and park while you go in and shop where you might have a problem.
Then it could expand and mess up the canister.
elcidsurfer
New member
Not trying to raise a dead (and obviously repeated) thread here, but Im in the market for a 3rd. Gen (currently have a 1st Gen.) and MPGs are important to me.
In the "buyers guide" on this forum it states "MPG (miles per gallon) is rated at 16/19 (city/HW). Real world numbers on a well-maintained, stock vehicle are more like 18/20+"
So what gives, why are most of y'all getting less? Lifts, heavy on the pedal, all in town driving? I have a friend with a friend with a Stock '97 Limited, 4x4, with Auto Tranny and he says he averages 20-22mpg (mixed city/hwy).
I'm not trying to stir the pot, just seriously wondering if I buy one can I expect to get around 20mpg (mixed city/hwy) with a well maintained and tuned up truck. (PS: Im looking at 5-Speeds, so I know that will help some)
Thanks!!!
In the "buyers guide" on this forum it states "MPG (miles per gallon) is rated at 16/19 (city/HW). Real world numbers on a well-maintained, stock vehicle are more like 18/20+"
So what gives, why are most of y'all getting less? Lifts, heavy on the pedal, all in town driving? I have a friend with a friend with a Stock '97 Limited, 4x4, with Auto Tranny and he says he averages 20-22mpg (mixed city/hwy).
I'm not trying to stir the pot, just seriously wondering if I buy one can I expect to get around 20mpg (mixed city/hwy) with a well maintained and tuned up truck. (PS: Im looking at 5-Speeds, so I know that will help some)
Thanks!!!
Nervo19
Member
With a maintained 3rd gen you should be able to count on 20 mpg or better. On highway trips my '00 gives me 24 mpg consistently. It was tuned about a year ago and changed the fuel filter a couple of months ago. I use cruise control whenever possible and usually don't have to travel in much traffic. I use cheap gas, don't have a roof rack and have Michelin LT tires.
spectre6000
New member
I keep close track of my fuel economy as a habit. Back when my newest vehicle was 50 years old, a dip in fuel economy was a good indicator to check the tune. I verify the accuracy of my speedometers (my daily read 17% high until I sold it for my 4Runner which is dead on), correct if necessary, then do my best to fill up at the same pump to one click every time (older cars without sealed fuel tanks don't like being topped off).
Since the 4Runner is a new to me 13 year old car, I'm still in diagnosis mode (keeping an eye/ear out for anything that might indicate something is amiss). My daily commute is roughly 25 miles each way with about 2,500' elevation change. The truck is a rock stock '99 SR5 Limited with a 5-speed; the sway bar links up front were broken on both sides and have been removed.
Typically I see between 20 and 23mpg on a tank. The worst mileage I've managed was on a trip down to Texas. The speed limit was 75 (so I was going 80), it was hot so the AC was on. I got 16.9 mpg at the worst of it. That said, on the way back I had the same 75 mph speed limit AND the truck was fully loaded with car parts (enough to make the suspension sag noticeably), and it was almost all uphill, and I got 20 mpg.
Since the 4Runner is a new to me 13 year old car, I'm still in diagnosis mode (keeping an eye/ear out for anything that might indicate something is amiss). My daily commute is roughly 25 miles each way with about 2,500' elevation change. The truck is a rock stock '99 SR5 Limited with a 5-speed; the sway bar links up front were broken on both sides and have been removed.
Typically I see between 20 and 23mpg on a tank. The worst mileage I've managed was on a trip down to Texas. The speed limit was 75 (so I was going 80), it was hot so the AC was on. I got 16.9 mpg at the worst of it. That said, on the way back I had the same 75 mph speed limit AND the truck was fully loaded with car parts (enough to make the suspension sag noticeably), and it was almost all uphill, and I got 20 mpg.
Dementedfish
New member
I've found that I usually get about 280 miles to my tank before the gas light comes on.
thatgreentruck
New member
I consistently get 16.5 mpg w 70% highway.
Oddly enough my fuel sender crapped out and after replacing it and relocating the mounting point per the instructions in the box it now only goes down to 1/2 way when it's really on empty. Now I just fill up whenever the odo reads 250.
Oddly enough my fuel sender crapped out and after replacing it and relocating the mounting point per the instructions in the box it now only goes down to 1/2 way when it's really on empty. Now I just fill up whenever the odo reads 250.
kobusLifeRemotely
New member
Blue's MPG
Well we are driving from Seattle to Argentina, and just entered Panama with just over 12500 miles under our belt on some roads that should not be on a map and some mountains that are ridiculously steep.
Our current overall MPG on our 97 SR5 is 17.8.
Our best millage was in the US at around 19.5 and our worst was on the 250 mile stretch though Belize at just over 13MPG
We are due for a Oil, filter and plug change when we get to Colombia in about 3 weeks. that would put us on 9000 miles on Synthetic oil, Plugs and filters.
The only issues *touch wood* we have had was two busted rear axle seals... It looks like the weight we are carrying in the back is wearing out the coils. I'll replace them in Colombia as well.
Well we are driving from Seattle to Argentina, and just entered Panama with just over 12500 miles under our belt on some roads that should not be on a map and some mountains that are ridiculously steep.
Our current overall MPG on our 97 SR5 is 17.8.
Our best millage was in the US at around 19.5 and our worst was on the 250 mile stretch though Belize at just over 13MPG
We are due for a Oil, filter and plug change when we get to Colombia in about 3 weeks. that would put us on 9000 miles on Synthetic oil, Plugs and filters.
The only issues *touch wood* we have had was two busted rear axle seals... It looks like the weight we are carrying in the back is wearing out the coils. I'll replace them in Colombia as well.
Awesome stuff!
Why so bad in Belize? It's pretty much all flat! That being said, I didn't buy gas in Belize I had enough in my tank to go from Mexico through to Guatemala on my motorcycle.
Overland travel is great. Sadly I had to turn around in Guatemala.
Are you doing a travel blog?
marcelluke
New member
I can get up to 22mpg on the highway going to work. As long you as you keep your speed steady you tend to get better gas mileage the higher your speed, up to a certain point. Around city however my gas mileage can get so terrible I don't even want to mention it here, but thats pretty reflective of how I drive.
masphx
New member
Your travel blog is amazing! And I am freaking out over driving from Phoenix to Yakima, WA. :lookout: Is Blue an Auto or Standard Trans? How many miles on her? Your threw some ideas into my head about travel. Hopefully in the future I can do something similar.
Mason
I track my fuel using Fuel Log (Android App on my phone) and I average between 17-18 MPG with a mix of city and highway. a little over 18 when I do all highway. I have a roof rack and need to change my fuel filter and O2 sensor still but I'm still right in the average zone for these trucks.
WU7X
New member
I just completed a round trip dash to the midwest and back. Started in Spokane, WA, and ended the first half in Red Wing, MN, along the Mississippi River. Three days later, reversed the route and came home. Total distance 3,232 miles. Driving time one way 26 hours behind the wheel. I tried to keep it at the posted 75 mph interstate highway limits at all times (lots of roadwork slowed me down though). In MN, lots of secondary roads, in-town driving and interstate 90 at 70 mph. I checked the speedometer with a GPS system to insure maximum legal speeds. Tires were 265/70R16's. I had a rooftop tent mounted on my '97 SR5. I used the cruise control to help maximize the mileage.
The best mileage I got was in eastern MT with a very strong tailwind; 22.3 mpg. Worst coming home, crossing NE WY (Buffalo to Sheridan) 16.8, into a strong headwind and thunderstorm conditions. Overall average mileage for the total distance was exactly 19.0 mpg.
I am guessing that if one had a lighter foot and kept the maximum highway speed down to 60 mpg, one could easily see 22 mpg.
I average ~18 mpg on gravel roads in 2WD. In 4WD, my average fuel consumption drops dramatically; down to ~14-15 mpg. Your mileage may vary. :naughty:
The best mileage I got was in eastern MT with a very strong tailwind; 22.3 mpg. Worst coming home, crossing NE WY (Buffalo to Sheridan) 16.8, into a strong headwind and thunderstorm conditions. Overall average mileage for the total distance was exactly 19.0 mpg.
I am guessing that if one had a lighter foot and kept the maximum highway speed down to 60 mpg, one could easily see 22 mpg.
I average ~18 mpg on gravel roads in 2WD. In 4WD, my average fuel consumption drops dramatically; down to ~14-15 mpg. Your mileage may vary. :naughty:
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