Real MPG, Range, Cost Averages based on 25+ fill ups

[jeremyc74]

If you had larger tires it would always be on. With the stock gearing and early shifting without ect on makes the 4runner a dog. Shifts out of the power band.

Large tires brings up a good point. If you're trying to calculate your actual mileage using the OD, you have to take into account any inaccuracy that's built in if you're running larger diameter tires.

Mine loses about 6 miles for every 100, so when the trip OD is reading 285 I've actually gone 303.

If you have a 16 gallon fill-up that's actually 18.9MPG instead of 17.8, so you may be doing a little better than you think. :hungry:

 

[BamaDrewski]

I'll try it out. I'm pretty sure the previous owner always had it on.

I have stock 4:30 gearing with 285/75R16 tires.

When gas prices were at the $4+ range, I thought maybe by taking the ECT off, I would get better mileage. I left it off for about 3 fillups and NOPE - big drop in gas mileage. I understand it takes some time for the ECU to learn the new driving manners with the ECT off but I have nothing positive to say about leaving the ECT in "Off" mode. Not sure if anyone else on here has had the same experience but my rig loves the ECT being "ON" ALL THE TIME.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

Yup.

I always factor the tire size differential (which is 7%) in my MPG.

If ODO reads 150 miles, x7% is actually 160.5 miles travelled.

 

[Bstrom]

Large tires brings up a good point. If you're trying to calculate your actual mileage using the OD, you have to take into account any inaccuracy that's built in if you're running larger diameter tires.

Mine loses about 6 miles for every 100, so when the trip OD is reading 285 I've actually gone 303.

Hmmmm, that is an interesting resale value point. So, my new to me '99 with 184k and 265's is really an even higher mileage vehicle?

I just did the TB gasket trick and nulled out the computer by grounding the two battery cables and am monitoring fuel use by the minute. I am on my second partial fill up and I have used 3/8ths of a tank and am 140 miles, which is more like 130 miles of actual travel, right? It looks like I should get at least 300 miles to the tank at this point. Will know soon enough...good thread, y'all.

 

[cashmoney]

These vehicles came stock with 265/70's (or at least mine did) so my mileage is accurate. If yours has been run with 265/75's all of it's life or part of it's life then yes the mileage is off and is actually higher than what is being displayed. Taller tires travel a farther distance per revolution but your computer doesn't know that. It just sees the one revolution of the tire and thinks it's still on the stock size tires that it is calibrated to.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

Hmmmm, that is an interesting resale value point. So, my new to me '99 with 184k and 265's is really an even higher mileage vehicle?

Stock Tire size is 265/70R16 no?

 

[SpidermanGeek]

These vehicles came stock with 265/70's (or at least mine did) so my mileage is accurate. If yours has been run with 265/75's all of it's life or part of it's life then yes the mileage is off and is actually higher than what is being displayed. Taller tires travel a farther distance per revolution but your computer doesn't know that. It just sees the one revolution of the tire and thinks it's still on the stock size tires that it is calibrated to.

Yeah, this.

Plus, (and I'm generally speaking here, this part of my post has nothing to do with the quoted post) I really wish that people would learn that 265 is NOT the value of a tire's height. You really can't tell a tire's height from that number, you need the combination of all 3 numbers.

265 (is the tire's width measurement in millimeters)
70 (is the tire's sidewall height, which is the % of the width. In this case, 185.5 mm)
16 (is the diameter of the wheel the tire can be mounted on. This measurement is in inches)

So to know the overall height of a 265/70-16 tire is:

Sidewall Height (185.5 mm x2 =371mm → Coverted to Inches: 14.6") + Wheel Diameter (16") = Tire Height (30.6")

...in comparisson, a 265/75-16 is 31.65" Tall

 

[jeremyc74]

Yeah, this.

Plus, (and I'm generally speaking here, this part of my post has nothing to do with the quoted post) I really wish that people would learn that 265 is NOT the value of a tire's height. You really can't tell a tire's height from that number, you need the combination of all 3 numbers.

265 (is the tire's width measurement in millimeters)
70 (is the tire's sidewall height, which is the % of the width. In this case, 185.5 mm)
16 (is the diameter of the wheel the tire can be mounted on. This measurement is in inches)

So to know the overall height of a 265/70-16 tire is:

Sidewall Height (185.5 mm x2 =371mm → Coverted to Inches: 14.6") + Wheel Diameter (16") = Tire Height (30.6")

...in comparisson, a 265/75-16 is 31.65" Tall

Or you can save yourself some math and use this very good online calculator:

Custom rims, wheel tire packages for your ride - RIMSnTIRES.com

 

[BE4Runner]

Tire calculations are good and it's great to understand what the numbers mean, but I found the easiest way to verify mileage was with a GPS app on my phone.

I found a free one that measures speed/distance travelled via GPS, and tested it out over a long straight stretch of highway on a trip. 10 miles in and the ODO and app were still ticking over at exactly the same time - good enough for me.

 

[jeremyc74]

Tire calculations are good and it's great to understand what the numbers mean, but I found the easiest way to verify mileage was with a GPS app on my phone.

I found a free one that measures speed/distance travelled via GPS, and tested it out over a long straight stretch of highway on a trip. 10 miles in and the ODO and app were still ticking over at exactly the same time - good enough for me.

I agree GPS is the way to go, and the longer the distance you use the better. I set mine up on a road trip and checked it over three consecutive 300 mile tanks.

 

[Zamoros30]

IIRC it's model years '99 and '00 that were effected by this. Mine is a 2000 and it has the issue for sure. I was going to try and fix it but it's more trouble than its worth.

Guess I'll just keep a gas can in the back and test out how far I can really go.

 

[Bstrom]

Hmmmm, that is an interesting resale value point. So, my new to me '99 with 184k and 265's is really an even higher mileage vehicle?

I just did the TB gasket trick and nulled out the computer by grounding the two battery cables and am monitoring fuel use by the minute. I am on my second partial fill up and I have used 3/8ths of a tank and am 140 miles, which is more like 130 miles of actual travel, right? It looks like I should get at least 300 miles to the tank at this point. Will know soon enough...good thread, y'all.

Just filled up right on the half tank mark - 9.7 gallons at 190 miles indicated which is 203.3 actual miles with the 265 'tire factor'. So fuel mileage is 20.958762887 - like those decimals!? That's on 80/20 highway/secondary roads at or below 2000rpm with the ETC set to OFF with a regular/mid grade mix of fuel. Going to all regular for the next tank calculation and will make the following adjustments too.

It's had new plugs and air filter for a few thousand miles, so that's going to be close for now. Might yank the roof rack and spoiler to minimize drag. Gonna check tire pressures too and will recalculate again...

 

[Arnezie]

 

[gamefreakgc]

Didn't read the whole thread, but do you guys use Fuelly? Easy to track. Mine is bone stock except for the supercharger (which requires 91 octane).

 

[cashmoney]

199 miles. Gas light on all day. Put 13gal in.

 

[WallyWest]

I've got an '02, it seems the '01 and '02 models have a better gauge. If I hit the gas station right after the light comes on I'll get 16 gallons into it.

Most of my commute is highway, I get an average mpg of 20ish. And yes, I do drive like grandpa.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

I've got an '02, it seems the '01 and '02 models have a better gauge. If I hit the gas station right after the light comes on I'll get 16 gallons into it.

Most of my commute is highway, I get an average mpg of 20ish. And yes, I do drive like grandpa.

Contradictory to your usernamesake. lol.

 

[piecesparts]

I drive my 97 to work daily and I average 17 to 18 MPG. I also can get over 300 miles on a full tank. When I say full, I mean it is filled to the very top of the fill tube. My average speed in my daily trips is around 72 MPH. I have 8 miles of Interstate that I travekl at speeds of 75 to 80 MPH and the rest is on a state highway that is 65 to 70 MPH. I have a 6 cylinder automatic and standard size tires. I do have an ARB deer dinger bumper on the front with a 2" llift that also impedes some mileage, though. I guess the low gear range on the axles is the killer to these trucks, since my GMC with a 5.3 engine can get far better mileage at speeds of 78 to 80 MPH (major highways in Kansas).

 

[cashmoney]

That and a decade more of technology.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

Didn't read the whole thread, but do you guys use Fuelly? Easy to track. Mine is bone stock except for the supercharger (which requires 91 octane).

Yup, keep mine as my sig