98 Land Cruiser running 33" Trying to increase Fuel econ. (New User)

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COLandCrusher-

Where the heck you been for a year? First post 4/09, second 3/10...Guess you weren't that worried about it....ha,ha.

You should be used to the mileage by now- It doesn't get any better and I actually think you are on the higher side.
 
I can't seem to get anywhere NEAR 300 miles/tank... (unless all highway driving) I'm only around 240-270 miles/tank max. The latter happening rarely. I don't understand why... My truck is totally stock; including stock size tires. Just a tune up couldn't affect it that much could it? I only ever got 15mpg once; that was all highway driving.
 
Keep in mind you need to compare MPG to like models. My 04 has the 5th gear tranny that gives you a little better gas mileage when cruising on the freeway. Otherwise, a good tune-up can work wonders on how smooth your engine runs as well as increasing MPG.
 
I'm sorry this has taken so long guys. So heres the deal, Removing the front bug shield did absolutely nothing for fuel economy, and I noticed my hood moving up and down quite a bit. Driving to Reno through Nevada's gusty winds at 75 averaged me at about 8 miles per gallon! When I dropped the speed down to about 70 it helped. Driving from Reno through to Sacrament at about 65-70 I saw about 14 miles per gallon. The trip to the redwoods, and up hiway 5 to Vancouver Washington was about 12 miles per gallon. On the way home I cut back to 65 MPH and got on average 14 miles per gallon again.
SO, I did expect to do better with the freshly drained and filled oil but it made no dif. It does seem the ONLY way to get better fuel economy is to get the speed under 65. That's it. Obviously skinnier and smaller tires would do better too, but it's not an otion for me in Colorado. That extra clearance helps quite a bit in winter. Spark plugs may be done here soon, and that could potentially help out a bit too maybe.
 
FWIW I have tracked fuel economy twice now. the drive home from AZ new, I got just under 16 mpg with a light foot and 65 mph (already had 285 tires). After several hundred dollars in PM/fluids, I tracked it to Santa Cruz and back, just under 16 mpg, doing some 65-75 mph. I am mostly light on the peddles, so this is as good as I expect. I am considering a stock set of hwy wheels/tires for the 95% of pavement driving that I do, wondering if I can squeek a couple more mpg?..

Edmunds says: EPA Mileage Estimates: (City/Highway/Combined) Automatic: 12 mpg / 15 mpg / 13 mpg
 
You will get the best fuel economy with stock tires and ride height. My record was close to 400 miles on a tank running all highway at about 65. I think my mileage was about 17.5 mpg.

Now, running E-Rated 33s and a small lift I am happy to get 15.5 - 16 but no more. If I drive in the city a lot I get around 14.5 driving easy. E-Rated tires suck gas.
 
I've been trying to figure out this whole milage thing..
(UZJ100+2004)^n=1+nx/33!+(n(n-4.7) x^2)/(.78!)+⋯

Extra MPG never comes up in the sum.

With both my 98 & my 99, 33" tires took about 1.6-1.8 MOG away from me. My 98 totally stock at 60 MPH using the cruise control on the flat got 18.2MPG once. It averaged 14-16 in town and then with 33's on it it went right to 12-14 MPG.

Good luck.



(MOG = Miles O' Gallon, works with beer too)
 
The best way to improve your MPG is to put a for sale sign in it and buy a Prius. I didn't but a Cruiser for fuel economy. You'll never have the best of both worlds - unless you put a diesel motor in it.
 
i'm sure if you're really worried about your MPGs and are always pavement pounding, you could always install the Slee Part-Time kit and let us know how it goes...
 
kinda sad, but im jealous of the guys getting over 14 in the city. I switched from an M3 into a land cruiser, and some driving habits die hard. i.e.- ive seen my avg for a full tank be under 11. and thats on oem size tires. of course, if you do less than about 80-85ish on I-10 at commuter time here, you get run over.
 
just did a 1000 mile trip with my buddies stock 2003 4runner w/ same 4.7L v8 as the 100 and was amazed at how much better driveability, range and mileage he gets on road. not a fair comparison obvsiouly but here's what i think would be required to improve 100 series gas mileage:

1. reduce weight. stock 4runner is 1100 lighter than stock 100 and my 100 (33s, OME, Warn9000, ARB sliders and front bumper, slee rear) is probably closer to 1500 lbs heavier

2. 4 vs. 5 speed tranny

3. tires 265 vs. 295

overall i don't really care about the mileage but more would obviously be better. i think i'll just buy a second or bigger tank :D as the 100 is the perfect truck for me otherwise.
 
Anthony.L said:
This is very true, seeing the actual real-time MPG makes you more conscience of your right foot. Lately I've been watching the trip info screen on the factory NAV more and more while driving and it's definitely a reminder to lay off the gas.

FWIW, on my 04 LC with 295x75x16 (34") tires I get 14-16 MPG depending on how much is highway vs. city driving. Which means I get approx 315 miles per tank.
Click to expand...

Monitoring the factory NAV system while driving is very enlightening. It shows instantaneous mpg and average mpg. It doesn't take much to push the instantaneous mpg up in real time which, of course, results in a better average mpg. The answer, unfortunately, is to slow down on the freeway... which is hard to do on our freeways in SOCAL.

Utahfj62 said:
The best way to improve your MPG is to put a for sale sign in it and buy a Prius. I didn't but a Cruiser for fuel economy. You'll never have the best of both worlds - unless you put a diesel motor in it.
Click to expand...

Expectation management! My :princess: can complain about gas mileage, but she was warned before we made the purchase :D.
 
I have some big heavy 285/75 duratreck and I am averageing 11.3-12.8 mpg. The higher side closer to 13 is from short 20 min trips to and from work; I don't do much highway driving. Now I also have not altered my calculation for increased tire diameter over stock.

Does this mean my actual milage is slightly better or slightly worse than what I am calculating on fill ups?

If my brain is working right; Im actually traveling farther with the larger tires than what my odometer is reading. Is that correct?

So if I read 200 miles on the trip meter it could be an actual 210 or something? Or do I have this backwards?

I have been wanting a tag multi carrier so I can relocate my full size spare and run an aux fuel tank tank. I would like to be able to plan trips around a 400+ mile tank.
 
Aero or Cd is the biggest variable in highway fuel efficiency. The 100 may not be the most slippery shape, but the other variable is the sheer frontal area of the hundy being such a large vehicle. There's no getting around that. Lifting the car doesn't help here as it exposes a bit more frontal area with the tires being farther outside the bodywork, but also we're likely increasing rolling resistance with the A/T tires we slap on. On the lift, this is where the AHC IMO is such a boon over a static lift. It keeps the driveline angles at factory geometry so they are most efficient as well as obviously the ride height.

Only real way to keep the mpg's up with all the mods we will do with them is to keep the speeds down as others have already mentioned. 65mph seems to be the ticket. You'll find EV's and hybrids, with already very efficient aero designs, playing the same hypermilling game in the right lane. It's very likely the hundy can experience even higher gains than those guys playing these games.
 
Sorry to hijack your thread but will swapping a 5 speed GB from a 2005-2007 truck on the 98-99 LC help reduce fuel consumption. Is this possible?
 
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