my 2T4R ltd dilemma ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[03_4x4Runner]

I removed my 3rd row seats a long time ago. The pair of them weighed 100 lbs. I do not see where there is another 200 lbs. in the overhead airbags. If it makes you feel any better I only got 20 mpg one time. It is always less with either my stock 20" tires or my 17" bfg KO2 tires.

 

[DougR]

I trust EPA mileage figures and their testing methodology like a fart after eating romaine lettuce.

Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes (with soft OEM tires)—and report fuel economy results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 15%–20% of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory. Testing is performed on a dynameter and the results adjusted for the vehicles wind resistance and weight. If it was your responsibility to determine and report mileage estimates, how would you conduct the test?

My 2011 4WD gets 17.8 to 18.0 MPG in the city, about 1 mpg better than the controlled test result (moderately aggressive driving).

Eat more Romaine lettuce.

 

[DougR]

This topic has been discussed in other posts....

1engineer wrote, "If I try REAL HARD I can get almost 23 mpg on highway. My 34K lifetime average that includes every city and highway mile is 19.98 mpg and thats with two winters under it's belt. On trips I get 21 easy at 68-75 mph. From what I've read here the sticker (mileage) values are right on."

Jaker wrote, "In my Limited 4x4, I routinely get 23.5 mpg on the highway. If I'm not trying, I get 20.5 to 21 mpg combined (about 60% highway, 40% city) ."

OP gets 21 and 24 MPG, which is about equal and better than EPA estimates.

Read past posts for clues on reasons why the mileage is different.

 

[DougR]

3 mpg difference isn't much in terms of yearly cost if driving 12k miles per year. Assume price of gas is $3.00.....12k miles at 21MPG is 571.4 gallons. At 24MPG, 500 gallons. The difference in cost is $214/year at $3/gallon, or $250/year if regular costs $3.50/gallon in your area. Is that high enough to be a concern?

 

[Craigy]

3 mpg difference isn't much in terms of yearly cost if driving 12k miles per year. Assume price of gas is $3.00.....12k miles at 21MPG is 571.4 gallons. At 24MPG, 500 gallons. The difference in cost is $214/year at $3/gallon, or $250/year if regular costs $3.50/gallon in your area. Is that high enough to be a concern?

Idk about you, but $200 is a lot of money to me. :noidea:

If I had two identical vehicles and one magically got 3mpg worse than the other, I'd be bummed.

Seems like the guy is trolling but if I was in the same boat I would be peeved.

 

[Louise]

Idk about you, but $200 is a lot of money to me. :noidea:

If I had two identical vehicles and one magically got 3mpg worse than the other, I'd be bummed.

Seems like the guy is trolling but if I was in the same boat I would be peeved.

I'd be bummed too. I think what the OP is experiencing is the law of averages. They just have 2 vehicles that are on different points in the spectrum.

To the OP, I have 2 4runners, same year and trim. I started getting way better gas mileage at around 10-15k miles. (I got 18 mpg the first 10k and then 20-21 after.) I know the break-in period, whatever that means in today's engines, is 1k miles, but I've experienced it differently. The best thing to do is trust that everything was built correctly and let it do its thing.

 

[Toffees]

3 mpg difference isn't much in terms of yearly cost if driving 12k miles per year. Assume price of gas is $3.00.....12k miles at 21MPG is 571.4 gallons. At 24MPG, 500 gallons. The difference in cost is $214/year at $3/gallon, or $250/year if regular costs $3.50/gallon in your area. Is that high enough to be a concern?

3mpg maybe isn't a large cost difference, but it's a large difference, using 14% more fuel

But considering OP's question, anyone willing to trade in a perfectly fine vehicle to save $200 or so in gas a year needs their head examined

 

[Hans Moleman]

My 4Runner must be busted because I avg 16mpg city/highway and 19mpg if straight highway.

 

[LAMGOESHAM]

My 4Runner must be busted because I avg 16mpg city/highway and 19mpg if straight highway.

Same lol

How the hell are you guys getting 20mpg+ mixed

 

[ColoradoToyota]

I know that i might loose the 3rd row airbags and such ... still I'd like to use the 3rd seats them every once in a blue moon

For what it's worth I think they all have 3rd row curtain airbags. I totaled a 2016 SR5 premium with no third row and every airbag in the truck went off - including curtain airbags in the rear. Whether that's true of all 4runners I can't be sure and it's worth researching but it would seem they are standard based on my experience

 

[toyflx]

Where are you getting that from?

both are AWD
btw I don't think you can get a 2WD in NE

 

[toyflx]

3mpg maybe isn't a large cost difference, but it's a large difference, using 14% more fuel

But considering OP's question, anyone willing to trade in a perfectly fine vehicle to save $200 or so in gas a year needs their head examined

hey -any excuse to trade up (to a 4runner) works for me
and its not about the fuel savings
its about what is exceptionally good in one of my 4runners
that makes it get 24mpg consistently - and that's not on even on the highway :|

computers ? (fuel maps)
recalls ? (techs that did a un-requested software update)
type of oil used in the TCases or Transmission
wheels geometry ?

if it matters the better mileage runner was build 1st and
I have taken possession of the truck at 2miles unwrapped

the other has a built date that is 4 months older (if I recall correctly)
It was delivered to me about 200 miles from out of state -via the i95 highway
the average mpg when delivered was showing 12mpg -so I felt that the good delivery guys had something to do with it
I had to get a inspection sticker and only by chance I had them look at the wheels geometry.
It was out of specs so I had it fixed under warranty.

 

[JerseyDevil5]

Same lol



How the hell are you guys getting 20mpg+ mixed

Same here. 13-14 mpg in town, 17-18 mpg on highway.


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[toyflx]

Same here. 13-14 mpg in town, 17-18 mpg on highway.


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Rural ME - i guess - almost like a highway if not better
I rarely get to go over 60