FJ60 MPG Question (1 Viewer)

[1st times a charm]

Howdy, I daily drive an '83 FJ60 and was wondering about how many miles I should be getting per tank. Right now I get about 110-115 depending on how heavy I am on the throttle, but that seems a bit low as I was told a well running FJ60 can get up to 12 MPG, which seems a lot better than my 5 MPG. If this is lower than usual, is it as easy as tuning my carb or do I need to do something else.

 

[Skreddy]

I get about 12, was getting about 10 before recent work. I have 33’s and a 5 speed.

Are you all stock, desmogged, Webber carb, checked valves lately, checked vacuum for leaks, checked engine vacuum, timing, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, functioning emissions components if still in place?

 

[Sumguy]

Only have about 4k miles worth of data, but I'm just over 11mpg of mixed use and a relatively stock engine (still has smog, original carb, no AC, stock 4-speed manual, 31" tires). Of course, that's down here at 1000' elevation with mostly flat driving, not above 5k and elevation change which will eat a little. Most I've put in is 18 gallons, looks like 15 is most common with ~170 miles showing on the trip.

Sounds like you're way down on efficiency somewhere. Could be a varnished carb, poor jetting, need for tune-up (plugs, valve adjust, wires, etc...) or something mechanical like dragging parking brake (mine were very sticky, could engage but didn't like to let go), old/heavy weight gear oil, bad alignment, etc.... too much to list and I'd forget or miss something anyway.

 

[zeeklafreek]

Yeah, even by 60 standards, that's low. My 86, de-smogged/headers/stock suspension and shoes get ~12-13 mpg. Are you dragging an anchor?
But yeah, as mentioned, it could be a myriad of things and I'd start with log hanging fruit first. YMMV, literally.

 

[CruiserTrash]

9.5-10.5 city
14-16 highway
Front and rear steel bumpers, sliders, roof rack, dual batteries, 33s w/ stock 4spd. Heavy truck. I daily drive and my data is extensive.

These things are thirsty, but not 5mpg thirsty. Do the basics: air filter, oil change, fuel filter, set the timing, replace the spark plugs (and wires if they've never been replaced), ferret out any vac leaks (or just replace all the vac lines for $50), and do a lean drop tune on the carb. When you do the mpg math make sure to compensate your trip odometer if the tire size is different than stock (29"). If no change after that ... time to start digging deeper.

I'd be interested in hearing how the truck actually drives. Wild guess: sluggish because it's way too rich and possibly misfiring.

 

[OSS]

I never got below 12mpg under any condition, including off road (dirt roads).
Consistently got 15mpg on the freeway - keeping up with traffic, and about 12mpg driving around town with stop lights etc.

 

[Roonie]

I daily drove mine a few years back for 3 years. It would get around 10-14mpg consistently as mentioned above.

 

[adamsfly]

Are you dumping raw fuel out somewhere? Seriously, I don't know how it's feasible to get that poor gas milage.

 

[bj70bc]

dragging brakes?

 

[Ian Crawford]

10-10.5 MPG

How many gallons does it take when you fill it up? I believe factory fuel tank is just under 24 gallons.

I was having a similar issue and it turned out the fuel pickup in the tank was not as low as it should've been in the tank. Mine was a new Toyota pickup that must've been bent in storage or shipping, if yours is original it could be rusted off.

This is my bet!

I dropped the tank, bent back into the proper position and have been getting 200-220 miles out of a tank ever since.

Well, except the time I changed the brake pads/rotors a few months back and reassembled and tested everything, I couldn't figure out why I was getting 8.5 to 9mpg and realized I'd left the hubs locked....

 

[CruiserTrash]

10-10.5 MPG

How many gallons does it take when you fill it up? I believe factory fuel tank is just under 24 gallons.

I was having a similar issue and it turned out the fuel pickup in the tank was not as low as it should've been in the tank. Mine was a new Toyota pickup that must've been bent in storage or shipping, if yours is original it could be rusted off.

This is my bet!

I dropped the tank, bent back into the proper position and have been getting 200-220 miles out of a tank ever since.

Well, except the time I changed the brake pads/rotors a few months back and reassembled and tested everything, I couldn't figure out why I was getting 8.5 to 9mpg and realized I'd left the hubs locked....

Could also be the send & return lines are plumbed backwards. The hard lines stub out at the firewall next to the starter and my previous 60 had the hoses going to the fuel pump routed backwards. Ran out of gas way too early and scratched my head a bunch until I figured out I needed to switch the lines!

 

[jayp2]

In the snow my 40 with same 2F would approach the MPG/GPM threshold......1/1

 

[bj70bc]

smiles per gallon

 

[AndersBror]

I'm new to the FJ world( 6 months) but my FJ62 gets a pretty consistent 12 mpg as a daily driver with 40/60 city highway driving. 31" tires and all CA smog .

 

[bj70bc]

go for a drive then touch the hubs to see if they are hot to check if its the brakes

 

[1st times a charm]

Thank y'all! My tank and fuel system is brand new so its not that and my hubs are unlocked. It is definitely my carb and probably my brakes but I will go through everything that y'all mentioned to make sure I don't miss anything.