Will someone please help me regain my 17-22 MPG back?

2004TR4-SR5

2004TR4-SR5

New member
exactly what the title says...im seriously getting tired of watching my MPGs fall everytime i drive it...my 01 camaro ss is getting better gas mileage then my 4runner..went from 397 miles per tank to 293 per tank...help please??
 
Register to hide this ad
Put some fresh plugs, air filter and some fresh oil. If it's a V6 the plugs are supposed to be changed at 30k.

Once those items are done confirm the tire pressure is correct and reset the engine computer by pulling the EFI fuse for a few minutes.
 
V6 change oil every 3000 miles..synthetic too...the plugs are practically brand new changed them before last winter and changed them to iridiums too..I only drive it nov to april..air filer is new..tires are new...I pull the efi, efi 2 and ects fuses everytime I fill up..it gets to 17 but then drops. . . Boggles the sh.t out of my mind..at one point I got 405 miles out of a tank

What do you mean clean it?
 
2004TR4-SR5 said:
V6 change oil every 3000 miles..synthetic too...the plugs are practically brand new changed them before last winter and changed them to iridiums too..I only drive it nov to april..air filer is new..tires are new...I pull the efi, efi 2 and ects fuses everytime I fill up..it gets to 17 but then drops. . . Boggles the sh.t out of my mind..at one point I got 405 miles out of a tank
Click to expand...

Wow..:confused:
 
The iridiums work really good for me so unless they are getting fowled ie. oil passing the rings, then that should be an issue. Depending on the mileage will determine the plug coil replacement timeframe. (Mine are original) What about the fuel filter? (Mine is original) Just a thought assuming you get no codes on the computer......Look at the CAT converters at night and see if they glow at all.
 
Last edited:
How are you calculating the mileage? If you are going by the onboard trip computer it will not be accurate if you don't reset it regularly. It calculates miles remaining using the MPG it calculates from averaging your fuel burn over the distance travelled since last reset. If you haven't reset in a long time you will get inaccurate and poor readings.

If you hand calculate it then I'm out of suggestions over what others have said. Get a computer diagnostic done?
 
It might be your O2 sensors. I had a similar thing happen with my '98... I was used to averaging 19.6mpg and then it started to drop with no symptoms and no CEL. I ended up running a scan and saw a code that hadn't tripped the CEL yet. It was something like, "O2 sensor slow to respond"... don't remember exactly.

I ordered new O2 sensors (pre- and post-cat), installed them, and my mileage went right back up to where it was.

Hopefully, that will work for you, too.

Good luck,
~Doozi
 
jetboy1975 said:
How are you calculating the mileage? If you are going by the onboard trip computer it will not be accurate if you don't reset it regularly. It calculates miles remaining using the MPG it calculates from averaging your fuel burn over the distance travelled since last reset. If you haven't reset in a long time you will get inaccurate and poor readings.

If you hand calculate it then I'm out of suggestions over what others have said. Get a computer diagnostic done?
Click to expand...

i acctually pull the efi efi 2 and etcs fuses before i fill up and put them back in when im done then reset the mpg on the info...when i do that it gets to about 17 but starts to drop after a while

Doozi said:
It might be your O2 sensors. I had a similar thing happen with my '98... I was used to averaging 19.6mpg and then it started to drop with no symptoms and no CEL. I ended up running a scan and saw a code that hadn't tripped the CEL yet. It was something like, "O2 sensor slow to respond"... don't remember exactly.

I ordered new O2 sensors (pre- and post-cat), installed them, and my mileage went right back up to where it was.

Hopefully, that will work for you, too.

Good luck,
~Doozi
Click to expand...

and i believe i may have found my answer..i remember when i was lookin for a 4runner..i found one i was gonna buy and the dealer let me take it..ended up having it for like 2 weeks and i remember the o2 sensors had to be replaced because i noticed bad mileage...i also ended up giving that truck back because one morning it wouldnt go anywhere..so that lead me to this one....now i feel like a fool for forgetting about that...if this work i bow to you sir..hahaha

thanks soo much guys!
 
Let us know if replacing the 02 sensors changes things. I'd love to get back the 1-2 mpg that I've lost.
 
winter gas out yet?

just throwing it out there, do gas stations have the winter mix gas yet? Winter mix gas sure reduces mpgs

ed
 
2004TR4-SR5 said:
.tires are new...I pull the efi, efi 2 and ects fuses everytime I fill up
Click to expand...



First of all did you put factory the tire size back on?


Plus why do you pull your fuses every time? Do you actually see a performance difference by telling the computer to unlearn your driving habits?
 
yea tire are factory size...i do that because the computer can get all confused and would cause the bad mileage and it actually does work.....for a little bit..then it progresses back down to like 15 or 14
 
You need to calculate the MPGs manually and forget the LCD readout.

Let us know if changing the O2 sensors makes a difference.
 
Great question- thanks for posting.
I have a similar problem. Did full maintenance but mpg SUCK! :beer:
O2 sensor? Thats new to me to chnage them for possibly better mpg. Any links to "how to" on the forums? Is it easy to do on my driveway? Anyone have avg prices for new o2 sensors 2 of them as others stated.
If MAF is cleaned, still poor mpg could it need replacing?
 
Unless you've thrown a code for failed O2 sensors, I wouldn't touch them.

There are a number of typical things to check as possible "smoking guns" to poor fuel mileage. Most have been mentioned already but I can't recall and am too lazy to reread to see if fuel filter replacement has been mentioned. Another possible since the OP is from PA is the winter fuel or the stations he buys from are using a higher % ethanol than previouisly. Being in Havertown doesn't help any (I grew up in Philly). Definitely do your maintenance items including running a tank or 2 with Techron or SeaFoam.

Start hand calculating your mileage and leave the darned fuses alone.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 467 (members: 3, guests: 464)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,106
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top