Gas Mileage ????

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dreadlockm3

dreadlockm3

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 30, 2007
Threads
45
Messages
147
Location
Oxnard
Hello All so I am getting only 11 mpg around town ,22re, have done just about everything I can think of but just cant get any more. I have done a fi flush set timing clean tb and afm spark plugs are good and new wires and air filter. Is there somthing I am missing to improve my milage or am I doomed to only get 11mpg. Granted it is a religious 11 as I have checked several times but I would like more if I can get it. Could it have anything to do with the auto tranny as we all know sticks get better any ways now I am rambling any help would be much appreciated thanks.
 
I am only running 11.50 15s that should'nt throw it off that bad would it. I don't think its the cat cause it passed smog with flying colors and how would I check my ecu to see if there is somthing wrong with it thanks.
 
I don't know if you could check it exactly. I would maybe just try to get another off a wreck cheap and try it. The ecu runs all kinds of things. It could be any number of other probelms but I know I've had different ecus act quite different on the same engine and the same set of parts.

Another good one to replace is the O2 sensor, that could do it. Are you throwing any codes?

Somebody is bound to have better advide than I do...

I once got as bad as 13 mpg on oxegenated gas but on good gas and tuned up with 35" tires and 5.29 gears I can still get 18-21 mpg. Heck, my 1980 with 33 inch tires and stock gears still gets 20. Something has got to be wrong...
 
I agree that something is wrong to get that low mileage. My 80 series Cruisers get better mileage than that, not much more though.:D I assume the tire size you said is a 31"? That will throw it off like mentioned above.
 
yeah, diameter helps...

Other things that come to mind are; TPS, driving habits, not factoring in tire diameter to speedo corrections... Great big 'ol steel wheels or factory aluminum...

correct plugs, correct wires... correct filter?

Truck or 4Runner?
 
Both my old 4runner, and my mini truck have gotten 12mpg around town, and around 16 on the highway.

Even stock, my mini truck would get 15 in town, and 16-18 on the highway.
 
I generally get 20-22 depending on what I've done for driving.

Check the ECU for any codes. A bad or disconnected O2 sensor won't always turn on the CEL, but it will make the engine run very rich and waste a lot of gas.

I would also be jacking up all the wheels and checking for something dragging, like a sticky brake caliper or brake shoe.
 
I dont have any codes or cel may try the sticking brake idea or go to the junkyard and get a ecu just frustrated when I have done everything possible to it and 11mpg is the best I can do. I am pretty sure it has to be electronics as like I said it is a constant 11mpg.
 
Check the O2 sensor as well. When it fails it send the engine into a rich running condition. Left unfixed this can clog the catalytic converter. Together power and fuel economy can take a real dive.

The only way I can see the auto affecting this is if the torque converter is unlocking a lot. You know when it unlocks, it's that first increase in RPM before it down shifts from 4th. If you have over sized tires, thus too-tall of gearing, you might be spending a lot of fuel heating transmission fluid.

Still, 11 MPG sucks even for a 3.0 V6 auto in the dead of a Chicago winter. I'd have to think that something like timing, O2 or other sensor is way out of wack.

Frank
 
I just purchased a used ecu going to put it on this weekend, I don't think it is the o2 as it passed smog with flying colors not to long ago may change it if ecu does not change. I know it has nothing to do with the torque converter it is brand new but I am going to try driving it around in the power mode part of the tranny instead of the etc mode see if that does anything. Thanks for all the suggestions and help tryin it all
 
dreadlockm3 said:
I just purchased a used ecu going to put it on this weekend, I don't think it is the o2 as it passed smog with flying colors not to long ago may change it if ecu does not change. I know it has nothing to do with the torque converter it is brand new but I am going to try driving it around in the power mode part of the tranny instead of the etc mode see if that does anything. Thanks for all the suggestions and help tryin it all
Click to expand...

What else did you check/test before buying a new ECU?
 
I get over 20MPG with the auto, average 22. So it's not just your auto tranny.

Maybe check the TPS... when I got my 4runner it was stuck and not letting the idle switch engage. When you jumper the connector to set the timing, check the "check enging" light for a code. I can't remember what the code was (11?) but what was happening was that I was setting the timing wrong and got poor mileage until I figured it out.
 
maybe replace or at least check the condition of the distro cap and rotor...those can have a huge impact on MPG, but maybe not that much...:meh:

the worst MPG I ever had in a Hilux was the 1980 2WD at 13 MPG...cap/rotor/wires made a big difference up to 23 or so
1980 and '84 Hilux were always around 17.5-21 MPG

I have also noticed over the tens of thousands of miles that clean oil helps alot in these old engines (20R, 22R). I would notice a steady drop in MPG after 2000 miles on an oil change, and would change at the interval of 2200 miles wherever possible for that reason.

I would always lose AT LEAST 2 MPG after having 2200 miles on an oil change.
 
First, 11.50-15 tires? I'm going to assume you mean 32x11.50-15 which will toss your speedo off by 15%. Still, that's only 12.7mpg. Something else is wrong. My 4Runner with 33's gets 17mpg on a good day, but usually a bit less around town. It doesn't matter if they are my 33x12.50 GR/MTR or my 33x10.50 BFG/AT. You would think the tires would matter, but empirically, they don't.

So, keep looking. Plugged cat has been suggest along with bad Ox sensor. Those are my two votes. Make sure you replace the Ox with a Denso (OEM) or NTK. Accept no substitutes. Bosch will get you by, but not for long. You can buy Denso and NTK online for much less than the dealer.
 
oh great just bought a Bosch today everyone has suggested o2 so I figured what the heck its easy how long do I get out of the Bosch and thanks for correction on tires they are 31 though.
 
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