What can I do to get better MPGs.

NorcalGPS44

NorcalGPS44

New member
I have a Stock 2001 Limited 4x4 with everything on it. It has 125,000 miles, I just got the oil changed and I checked the tire pressures. I average 16-18 mpg in mostly freeway driving (65mph) and town duty. As low as 14 mpgs. I keep my foot out of it. When I lived in Chico I would see as high as 22mpg, as of late, if I'm lucky I can get 18 mpgs. My tire size is 265/ 70 R 16s and my axle ratio is 3.91:1. Could it be winter blend or some external factor in California. If there is a Guide or this is a repost of the same question can you link it. Anyway Thanks for reading the wall of text.

Cheers
 
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Lots of possibilities: Maintenance may need to be done - Plugs, Air Filter, Fluids, etc. 16-18 MPG's really isn't that bad.. I know some guys who get 22mpg's stock but they seem to be far and few between.
 
There are lot's of threads here, just search 'mileage' or 'fuel economy'. There is a comprehensive thread around here, but I couldn't find it.

Maintenance is always the first thing you should check. The cold(ish) weather will not help, even if it was off the factory floor. The winter fuel will also hurt as well.

There are mods you can do to help MPG. If you are doing mostly highway, you can get taller tires and/or final drive. If you are doing mostly city, you can get shorter for both. There are also aerodynamic mods you can do. Some might be "cool", some might not (depends on the crowd). If you install a belly pan, but wrap it up in some sort of "armor" nomenclature, you can get away with the "cool" factor. You can also get a taller front bumper/air dam (meaning closer to the ground), which will help force air up and to the sides around the vehicle, rather than under where there is a lot of problem areas.

I'm a member on ecomodder.com. It's all about improving FE, so you might find something handy there.

Oh, and I know it was a joke, but don't sell your 4R for a Corolla. I have both and believe me, you will not be happy! :cheers:
 
If you are getting 16-18mpg then at best you "might" squeak another 1-2mpg on the highway if your lucky.
100% city driving 14 is about it probably.
I tried everything in the book and the only slight improvement I got was when I changed out my old stock muffler with a Borla, of course any free flowing muffler will do, plus changing my Intake to get rid of the silencer, basically an ISR mod, and also a better air filter.

That freer flowing exhaust both IN and OUT gave me between 1-2MPG better on the highway and at best 1mpg in city.

One of the biggest affects on MPG that I noticed while on a very long trip was just WHERE you are located.
 
You can buy a supercharger. Then you'll get better mpgs. But you might as well spend the $2k on gas instead and you'll be ahead for years unless you drive a lot.

I got 21.8 mpg on the highway at 70 with a supercharger.
 
You could go with manual locking hubs on the front. Thats what I'll be doing here as soon as I get my money back from the gov.
 
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Jack the 4runner off the ground and make sure all the wheels spin freely, specifically the rear wheels. Let me know what you find.
 
Jack the 4runner off the ground and make sure all the wheels spin freely, specifically the rear wheels.
 
o Come on guys.. Go easy on OP.. All of us hope for better MPG.

OP.. I got about 21-22mpg on stock tires.. Now with a slight lift and bigget tires I get 18 average..

However it is not too bad for a SUV. Keep that in mind. Other trucks get less.
 
These threads have been very prevalent recently. Winter blend gas will reduce MPG. The cold and in some cases bitter cold temperatures being experienced across much of the US this Winter, will reduce MPG even further.

My comment wasn't intended to be hard on the OP. Rather, it's simply reality.

The 4Runner is not an economy car.

Beyond those facts, his MPG is right where it's expected to be.

Fuel Economy of the 2001 Toyota 4Runner 4WD
 
@ turbo8, I checked my rear end when I changed the front brakes. I also checked the codes, all clear. For some reason in California we get winter blend even though we don't need it, It was 70 yesterday, and its raining here and 50. I have thought about and exhaust and intake, that might help. Any suggestions to that end, brand, style, etc. Flowmaster is close to me so they can fab something up for me. Would chancing the octane improve mileage, I run 87 cause its the cheapest, would switching to 91 make a difference? Thanks for the posts.

Cheers
 
I agree with the above. Driving slower and not racing to red lights like everyone seems to do are the only way you will improve your gas mileage. When you start driving slower, you'll realize it really doesn't add that much time to getting from a to b.
 
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