Okay, I was getting a bit frustrated since I wasn't getting any better than about 22mpg, and I have a 4-cyl! I kept reading all these posts about guys getting 18,19,20, 21+ mpg with their V-6's.
Well, I decided to take my truck on a virtually all highway cruise today to test the waters. I'm quite happy to report that she got 28.1 mpg! I do live in the city and do mostly stop and go driving to work. I was only averaging abot 20 mpg and thought perhaps something was wrong, but now I know...the city driving just kills the mileage.
I filled up, then drove exactly 78.7 miles, mostly on the highway, varying speeds from 65-80 mph. Drove a few side streets and sat in some traffic for a few minutes, but the majority of the trip was at the aforementioned speeds. Pump shut off @ 2.7 gals., so I gave it one more squeeze and the final result was 2.803 gals.
^^^ That is amazing for a truck. Those 4 banger engines sure keep the green in your wallet. My best has been 19.8 mpg, and I average 17-18 mpg with mostly highway driving (above 70 mph though).
It's tough keeping homosexuality out of your mind eh?
hell, i wear pink shirts on a regular basis and I am able to do it because I am comfortable with my sexuality. I have a staunch record of heterosexuality that dates back to 1984!
Okay, I was getting a bit frustrated since I wasn't getting any better than about 22mpg, and I have a 4-cyl! I kept reading all these posts about guys getting 18,19,20, 21+ mpg with their V-6's.
Well, I decided to take my truck on a virtually all highway cruise today to test the waters. I'm quite happy to report that she got 28.1 mpg! I do live in the city and do mostly stop and go driving to work. I was only averaging abot 20 mpg and thought perhaps something was wrong, but now I know...the city driving just kills the mileage.
I filled up, then drove exactly 78.7 miles, mostly on the highway, varying speeds from 65-80 mph. Drove a few side streets and sat in some traffic for a few minutes, but the majority of the trip was at the aforementioned speeds. Pump shut off @ 2.7 gals., so I gave it one more squeeze and the final result was 2.803 gals.
'07 AC SR5 4x2 Auto Tranny (non-prerunner). Although my truck doesn't have the prerunner suspension and the bigger tire/wheel pkg, it still has the SR5 #2 pkg. which gives me all the convenience features like pwr lock/windows/mirrors, lthr.str whl., etc...
I really didn't want the prerunner and/or the TRD like I had on my Tundra...too bumpy for a daily driver.
Apparently I have been subconciously basing my mileage estimates off a "21 gallon tank". It is 21g, but it isn't empty when I fill it, either.
So the last couple times I filled up, I went to the same station, and did not top off. I latch the nozzle to the fillpipe, and when it cuts out, it's done. Keeping track of how far I go on however much gas was pumped since the last odo reading, I have revised figures.
Filling up within 30 miles of when the low fuel light comes on, my trip odo reported 428.4 miles. I let the same pump fill until it shut itself off and the amount was 17.94 gallons ($53.08). Thus, it is 23.88 miles per gallon. My last tank registered 23.72mpg. My former estimate was "about 21mpg".
This is pretty good, I feel. I drive about 2/3 to 3/4 highway, the balance short errands in the city (yeah, there are PLENTY of traffic lights, even in NH's Capital... it's sick for such a small city). My so-called highway time is actually half secondary "state highways", and half interstate, so I am bouncing back and forth between 4th and 5th gear mainly, with speeds ranging from 35 to 50 on the state roads, and 65 to 77 on the interstate. Bear in mind that while half the highway time is at a reasonable speed, it also involves speeding up and slowing down, and plenty of shifting, so it's doubtful that it amounts to better than interstate mileage. I also tend to wind it up a bit, having come from a car with 100 more horsepower, weighing 800 pounds less. It often feels like I could get out and push... but I guess I knew that going into this. I cannot deny the value of the utility of the truck, and have been taking advantage if it at every opportunity.
My next object of curiosity is the speedo accuracy. I know there has been discussion about the speedo being off by nearly 5mph (faster), and the resulting conspiracy theory that it is Toyota's master plan is to get them out of warranty coverage earlier than normal. I'm not so sure that is true, as the vehicle is inherently well-built, with an excellent reliability record. I AM wondering if the error is perhaps directed at inflating the mileage claims.
If my odo says I went 10 miles when I only went 9.25, then my 428.4 miles would only be 396.27 miles, yielding 22.09mpg, not 23.88mpg. These figures are for example only, I have not yet checked my odo with my GPS, but plan to do this today or tomorrow. My batteries were low the other day, and I did not have any spares to install. I've had my GPS for several years, and it is quite reliably accurate.
Anyone else have any thoughts on the speedo error possibly relating more to advertised mileage figures, rather than warranty obligation? I realize that all manufs are under great pressure to produce vehicles with good mileage figures, but it also seem to me that Toyota and Honda don't have much to worry about in that regard.
Anyone else have any thoughts on the speedo error possibly relating more to advertised mileage figures, rather than warranty obligation? I realize that all manufs are under great pressure to produce vehicles with good mileage figures, but it also seem to me that Toyota and Honda don't have much to worry about in that regard.
Using the convenient but possibly inaccurate mileage markers I found that the odometer on mine says 10 miles after 9.8 miles or 2% off.
The speedometer on the other hand says 65 but is roughly 61 or 6-7% off.
With different tires I expect your 4x4s error to be different.
__________________ 2005 Impulse Red 4x2 Access cab 2.7L 5-speed SR5.
05 Toyota Tacoma V6, AT, 4x4, access cab:
Since the weather warmed up, I've been getting 21.6--22 mpg (EPA sticker said 17--21 mpg) with alot of cold start 7 mile trips & apprx. 50/50 city highway driving, flat terrain, using Shell 87 octane (owners manual recommends 91+ octane for best performance/fuel economy), 245/75/16 Michelin LTX A/S tires. Warm up time is apprx. 5-10 seconds. I gradually accelerate to 45-50 mph til normal operating temp, then 60 mph max. I coast (simply let off the gas) as much as possibe/gradually decelerate when approaching stops/turns. Basically gradually accelerating & decelerating. I don't know what my highway mileage would be now--23-24? This is the best mpg I've gotten for this type driving (50/50 city/highway) during the 15 months I've been driving the truck. I guess my results are a combination of truck getting broken in, driving style, summer blend gas/and/or warm weather, stock size (low rolling resistance?) tires, flat terrain, synthetic oil?, topper. Going to start trying some Lube Control FP60 & Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant for mpg increase.
UPDATE: Above was as of sometime in May, 2006. Since then, I've been using Lucas UCL (1 oz per 5 gal of gas), the weather has gotten warmer, and I've limited my top speed to 55 mph. I've also replaced oil in front & rear differentials with synthetic oil. I've been getting around 22.6--23.2 mpg. The 23.2 mpg was probably closer to 65--70% highway miles. I assume my 100% highway mpg would be around 24 mpg using the 87 octane with Lucas UCL and around 25 mpg with Shell 93 octane & Lucas UCL. Might try some E3 spark plugs for more mpg. http://www.e3sparkplugs.com/
Maybe those would put me close to 26 mpg (or close to 25 mpg the way I'm currently driving) for 100% highway mpg with Shell 93 octane & Lucas UCL??????
UPDATE:
23.826 mpg combined city/highway--average of apprx 1/4 tank using Amsoil 5W-30 (ASL) + 3 oz Auto-RX & apprx 1/2 tank using Amsoil 0W-30 (SSO). Amsoil lubricants throughout except power steering fluid. Using Shell 87 octane & FP60. Tires inflated to 35 psi cold.
With Shell 93 octane, I'd expect around 24.5 mpg combined---not bad for a truck with EPA rating of 18 mpg combined.
__________________
2005 Tacoma 4x4 v6 auto access cab, SR5 #2, super white
I'm thinking my 05 Taco (4cyl, 5spd, 2wd, access cab) fuel injectors may have been fouled a bit. On 5th tankful, it now seems to have more power, and the fuel economy is improving on a steady diet of Exxon regular (get 10% off the non-tax portion). Exxon, like all the majors, has to pass the stringent BMW fuel injector cleanliness test. The original owner may have been running off brand stuff all the time.
First tank, drive back from Winchester -- 22 mpg
2nd tank, put tonneau on during this one -- 23.5 mpg
3rd tank, aired tires to 37-38 psi -- 24.4 mpg
4th tank -- 24.8 mpg
Since the EPA on this one is the same 26 highway value as the 1996 I had, I expected to get ABOVE the highway value on average. The 1996 got 25ish in the winter and 28ish in the summer for overall average of 27.4 mpg over 90k miles. It got 30 mpg blowing and going at 80ish mph for 900 miles (2 tankfuls) up from Baton Rouge.
This one has direct fuel injection & viscous fan but has 300# more and a more "aggressive" front end than the old one. It also has the fuel being shut off when in gear and off accelerator pedal above 1,000 rpm.
We'll see how it goes. Still running on dino oil. Will switch to Mobil 1 at 48,800 miles.
__________________
Ralph
The natural gardener
God's original intent
Think we're getting there. Very likely the fuel injectors were clogged from the original owner not using major brand gasoline. Most major brands have to pass BMW's stringent upper cylinder cleanliness teardown test. It's been on a steady diet of Exxon since buying it about 5 tankfuls ago.
This tankful has gotten 160 miles to 3/4 tank. Previously it was 120-135-150 miles. At 1/2 tank, it went 280 miles. That's generally a good indicator because it seems to be exactly 10 gallons down. So, 28 mpg?
This is on my 2005 4 cyl, 2wd, accesscab model.
__________________
Ralph
The natural gardener
God's original intent
Think we're getting there. Very likely the fuel injectors were clogged from the original owner not using major brand gasoline. Most major brands have to pass BMW's stringent upper cylinder cleanliness teardown test. It's been on a steady diet of Exxon since buying it about 5 tankfuls ago.
This tankful has gotten 160 miles to 3/4 tank. Previously it was 120-135-150 miles. At 1/2 tank, it went 280 miles. That's generally a good indicator because it seems to be exactly 10 gallons down. So, 28 mpg?
This is on my 2005 4 cyl, 2wd, accesscab model.
500 miles before the light goes on should be a little over 28mpg, keep it up.
__________________ 2005 Impulse Red 4x2 Access cab 2.7L 5-speed SR5.
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I do live in the city and do mostly stop and go driving to work. I was only averaging abot 20 mpg and thought perhaps something was wrong, but now I know...the city driving just kills the mileage.
2005 Impulse Red 4x2 Access cab 2.7L 5-speed SR5.
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