V8 Full time 4WD MPG low?

As you can see in the link in my sig, I have averaged 15mpg since the end of October, but have been getting around 14 to 14.5mpg with 100% city driving (14mpg the past 2 weeks in very cold temps).

I wish more members here would sign up to fuelly and start tracking their fuel mileage on fuelly.... its a great way to compare.

Here are all the other V8 4Runners.... Browse All Toyota 4Runners | Fuelly


Edit to add: Here are some very helpful "Fuelly Tips" on saving gas..... http://www.fuelly.com/tips/

:)
 
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Ridger said:
As you can see in the link in my sig, I have averaged 15mpg since the end of October, but have been getting around 14 to 14.5mpg with 100% city driving (14mpg the past 2 weeks in very cold temps).

I wish more members here would sign up to fuelly and start tracking their fuel mileage on fuelly.... its a great way to compare.

Here are all the other V8 4Runners.... Browse All Toyota 4Runners | Fuelly


Edit to add: Here are some very helpful "Fuelly Tips" on saving gas..... Fuel Saving Tips | Fuelly

:)
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My last tank was 15.2 mpg (hand calculated) while the display said 18.1. Only 282 miles/tank. This was mostly highway driving at 75mph.

I am going to test my next tank doing 70mph on the highway, then 65mph on the one after. I want to see how large the mpg changes as speed increases.

Mods are in signature. Tires are currently at 35psi, i might raise them to 40 soon.


My old Tacoma 3.4L saw 3mpg increase going 65mph on the highway instead of 75
 
I am getting much worse MPG this winter too. I think the mix is crap this winter. I am probably getting maybe 15 or so on average now, but when I fill up next it will probably be lower (think I've gone like 160 miles and only have 1/4 tank left). I was getting at least 18 (hand calced with tire difference calculated) in mostly highway driving just a few months ago, even with the 255/75s.
 
Ours reads 17.4 on the computer, we get 20 MPG highway (hand calculated) driving to Florida, once we hit the southern states.

On the bad winter gas this year, My Tundra seems to be getting worse than normal mileage this year too.
 
bigwebb83 said:
what exactly changes in the winter gas mix? is it just more ethanol or what?
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The mix of additives changes to make the gas burn easier when mixed with cold air. That means the gas has a little less power when it ignites, so MPG tends to drop.

As for the OP's question, I don't think his mileage is that bad considering it's winter. Short trips, idling just to let the engine warm up, cold air, and winter gas all kill MPG. I'm around 12 MPG myself. All good tips given for ways to try to improve it, but I wouldn't expect much change.
 
just a little to add here. I changed my oil to synthetic 5w30, installed k&n filter, seafoamed the engine, changed diff fluids and transfer case fluids to redline synthetic and filled the tires to 38psi. I took about a 20 mile drive on the "highway" yesterday. Here's the thing though, it wasn't my typical highway driving where its open road with the speed limit at 65 or 70mph. It was at the end of rush hour about 6pm where the speed limit was between 45 and 55 with a few stoplights thrown in there and traffic was still pretty thick. I did all the coasting I could at stoplights and never went above 58mph. I know the dashboard readout is almost useless and is usually about 2mpg off but I was showing over 22mpg at the end of this 20 mile trip (i reset at the begining). My point in all of this is to say that if you do all of the little things that can make a marginal difference and then keep the SPEED DOWN (if safe) then you can get 20mpg with the v8 4runner.

BTW this was in 29 degree weather and the crappy winter gas mix here in KC so I can't wait to see what I can manage in the spring time.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys. Drove a fair amount of highway lately and averaged around 15.5mpg in the winter. I think this is about right for the winter blend/winter tires.

I've seafoamed the vehicle as well. Possibly helped? Not real sure but definitly didn't hurt it.

As for air filter, does anyone have a good diagram, location where this is in the 4Runner?

Resetting the ECU: Do I have to pull the negative battery? Or can I pull fuses like in this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/557334-post5.html
 
During the winter months I get 11-13MPG but during the Summer months I get 15-16 MPG. Try not letting it warm up in the Morning, and take off any anti-arodynamic things(Bug Sheild, Window Deflectors). Also adjust your roof rack to get the best arodynamic shape from your truck. That alone should add a couple MPG.
 
I have an '07 Sport with the V8 (96k miles). My mileage drops significantly in the Winter (Minnesota) and if I'm doing a lot of stop and go driving. I haven't done a manual calculation in quite awhile, but in the past the computer is about 1.6 mpg higher than reality. I've been averaging around 16.1 mpg on display this winter so I assume I'm getting around 14.5 mpg in reality. In the summer, the display would be more like 19, so 17.5 mpg.
 
I have an 05 Sport with the V8 and get around 14-16 mpg on the highway during the winter. Would it help to put an "octane booster" in the tank and would that hurt anything?
 
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