Only 15mpg with my V6!

[vbhosehumper]

I bought my '03 4Runner in April with 60K miles. All PM was up to date (oil change, plugs, air filter). I cleaned the throttle body and aired the tires to about 35 psi. I hear many on this forum getting 18+ mpg on their V6's, and some on their V8's. My 15mpg is adjusted for larger BFG tires (265/70/17). What am I missing, or what have I NOT done to get better mileage? Thx all!

 

[03_4x4Runner]

What kind of driving do you do? You probably will not get 18+ driving around town. I lost aprox 1.5 - 2 mpg when I put 265/70/17 bfg all terrains and lift on my 03 V8, adjusted for the taller tires. I used to get 19-20 on the highway best case with few hills or a lot of stop and go with the stock tires and no lift. On a trip this summer to Flagstaff Arizona I averaged 15.9 over about 500 miles. This was partly highway 75-80 mph (with a lot of mountains) several days of off roading and some city driving. It takes more power to pull bigger heavier tires without changing the gear ratio.

 

[NJrunner11]

is that calculating your own MPG or using the dash MPG thingy?

from what i hear its not very accurate, but reguardless mine usually reads anywhere from 18-22

the only time its under 18 is when im late to work and driving like a maniac

i have yet to calulate my own MPG, i usually just go by what my truck tells me.. and averages about 20 most of the time

 

[vbhosehumper]

I drive 75% around town, 25% highway on flat terrain. I baby the gas pedal, rarely going above 2700 rpm. I calculate my mileage manually; my dash computer usually indicates 17-18mpg. Maintenance-wise, what else can I do to squeeze out more mpg's? It's frustrating to hear Tundra owners getting better gas mileage than me since I got rid of a Tundra and a Sequoia for my 4Runner to get more mpg's.

 

[NJrunner11]

it seems as if youve got everything covered. im not sure why your getting those results. the only thing that comes to mind is maybe getting a cool air intake. im not sure that it would make a huge difference, but i guess its worth a shot!

the CAI's in my opinion are a bit over priced. i modified mine by removing the stock tube and silencer and went with a straight 4" tube into the fender well. i think it increased my MPG by maybe 1 or 2 but its hard to tell, not sure if it really did anything at all. but maybe a true CAI might help you a little bit.

hopefully someone else here has some better info for you!

 

[SonRunner]

I drive 75% around town, 25% highway on flat terrain. I baby the gas pedal, rarely going above 2700 rpm. I calculate my mileage manually; my dash computer usually indicates 17-18mpg. Maintenance-wise, what else can I do to squeeze out more mpg's? It's frustrating to hear Tundra owners getting better gas mileage than me since I got rid of a Tundra and a Sequoia for my 4Runner to get more mpg's.

It sounds like it's your city driving that's killing you. I get about 20 doing the opposite, 75% highway, 25% city.

 

[vbhosehumper]

It sounds like it's your city driving that's killing you. I get about 20 doing the opposite, 75% highway, 25% city.

I've taken a couple of road trips that were about 95% highway and managed just 18 mpg. o2 sensors maybe? I'm not throwing a code, however.

 

[SonRunner]

I've taken a couple of road trips that were about 95% highway and managed just 18 mpg. o2 sensors maybe? I'm not throwing a code, however.

My daily driver is a Prius so I usually pulse and glide. Maybe that's why my mileage is better?

 

[pipspeak]

For mixed driving 15mpg is not too bad. I get up to 21mpg with 95% freeway (driving at 65-70mph) and as low as 12mpg with 95% driving around a city (barely getting above 20mph and stopping every couple blocks). With mixed driving over the course of a few weeks I average 15-17mpg, even with very granny-like driving habits.

 

[kn38ms]

Get the injectors cleaned

 

[bull]

I get 17 mpg city driving and i have a stock 2007 v6 sport edition. my computer reads about 2 mpg higher than the actual.

 

[plug4427]

Since the add-ons (K&N, Magnaflow, Unichip), I average 24 running 70-80 mph with my '04 V8.

 

[azmaxguy480]

Im averaging about 19-20, bout 50\50 with street\highway driving.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I've taken a couple of road trips that were about 95% highway and managed just 18 mpg. o2 sensors maybe? I'm not throwing a code, however.

I think you might be doing close to the best you can. I don't think many would argue the BFG's cost 1.5 to 2mpg. That means with street tires you'd be getting 19.5-20mpg on the highway and 16.5-17mpg in town.

I would air-up the BFG's a bit. 38-40 should help. There was another thread about BFG pressure and most said the ride tightened up a good bit. They also said the BFG's were tough on the mpg.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42363

:cheers:

 

[vbhosehumper]

I think you might be doing close to the best you can. I don't think many would argue the BFG's cost 1.5 to 2mpg. That means with street tires you'd be getting 19.5-20mpg on the highway and 16.5-17mpg in town.

I would air-up the BFG's a bit. 38-40 should help. There was another thread about BFG pressure and most said the ride tightened up a good bit. They also said the BFG's were tough on the mpg.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42363

:cheers:

I was actually getting about the same with my stock 31" tires. Would cleaning my injectors boost my mpg's? I've read mixed reviews on that.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I was actually getting about the same with my stock 31" tires. Would cleaning my injectors boost my mpg's? I've read mixed reviews on that.

Some have reported gains. Cleaning the airflow sensor seems to make a real difference.

 

[CZ75]

I was actually getting about the same with my stock 31" tires. Would cleaning my injectors boost my mpg's? I've read mixed reviews on that.

I have used injector cleaners on 2 of my vehicles that had over 80k on them and it did make a difference. They ran smoother and the engine light went of on both of them.

On the other hand, on my 06 4rnr V8, I was using Lucas upper cylinder lubricant that had valve cleaner in it and I was getting 17mpg. I have a Volant CAI and Gibson catback exhaust. When I stopped using the Lucas, my gas mileage went up to 18.8mpg.

I use Shell regular 87 and my driving is mixed about 50/50 but even the freeways in San Jose are like city driving.

 

[CZ75]

Since the add-ons (K&N, Magnaflow, Unichip), I average 24 running 70-80 mph with my '04 V8.

How long have you had your chip and how easy was it to program? Are you calculating your gas mileage at the pump or using your dash indicator?

Do you have an idea what the gas mileage gain was from installing it?

I have a Volant CAI and Gibson catback. They added about 1-2MPG with mixed driving. I can see the dash MPG meter go up when I am on the freeway much more after the Gibson was installed. The CAI didn't seem to make too much difference on it's own.

thanks for you input.

 

[firstyota]

I am going to change my 02 sensors this weekend. I change them about once a year on my LS1. I changed the plugs last weekend. The jack ass that owned mine before me NEVER changed the last two plugs on the driver side.

Also seafoam the engine when it has that many miles on it. Clean the MAF as well. I would change the Trans fluid and the rear end. Friction robs HP.