Geting very frustrated/ 85 pcik up for sale

[jake allard]

OK I just recintly got a 1990 4Runner and I've had nothing hell from ther. I finaly got most the problems solved but now my bigest head ach is my fuel milage! First problem is don't know the size of my fuel tank, it's a stock tank, I'm just to stupid to figure it out on my own. Well hers the problem I'm geting maybe 33 miles to a 1/4 tank and I don't think thats right at all and have no clue what could be the cause. The 4 runner has the 3.0 v6 motter with over 223000 miles on it. If any one can help I need it. I'm not familer with EFI I'm use to carbarated so I'm lost here.

 

[Cube Dweller]

Jake- bummer on the gas mileage. I've gotta tell you though, it doesn't sound out of line. I've got a 91 with a v-6 and mileage is very poor. So with that many miles on the truck it doesn't sound out of line. I probably get 10-12 mpg, though that's with 35's.

Good luck.

 

[bkg]

are you using the gas gauge to get your mileage numbers? My 96 gets about 30-40 miles to the last 1/4 tank - it's normal; that's how the gauge works. You need to do a complete fill to complete empty (or at least until the light is on), then calculate real-world mileage.

And before being too frustrated, do a complete tune-up...

 

[ExtremeToys]

3.0 mileage

The last time I checked the mileage on my 3.0 it was getting almost 17 MPG. The truck was running 38/12.5/15 Swamper TSLs with 5.29 gears and open diffs at the last time I checked it . I can tell the mileage has dropped of since I have locked the diffs changed to 4.88s and now run 37" Irok radials. I have never bothered to check by the 1/4 tank just from full to almost emtpy. My truck has the 17 gallon tank and seems to get a good bit more than what your are saying out of yours the 4runners may have a smaller tank in the 13-14 gallon range but Im not sure I have only owned 1st gen 4 runners and they did have the small tanks. Just my .02worth.

 

[jake allard]

Thanx for the responses I'm curently in the procese of duing a full to empty check. I'm at 65 miles and just over a half so I'm hoping it will start looking a little better as the tank keeps going down. I'm fixin do get a full tune here soon and that might help out a bit.

 

[Bob_Garrett]

What size tires? Auto or manual? Gas tank holds about 17 gal as I recall.

I had a 90 with the V6, Auto and was equipped with 31" tires from the factory. Gas mileage was never real great, about 13-14 in town and 16-17 hwy. As I recall, the top and bottom 1/4 of the tank went real fast.

 

[cruiser88]

o2 senser

 

[Jonathan_Ferguson]

My Crew Cab Hilux averages 15 MPG of Diesel
I think my Tank holds 55 Litres = 14.5 fake gallons
Which allows me to do 350.03km = 217.5 miles

 

["N8"]

Check for slight leaks in the fuel lines while running i.e. while fuel pump is on.

 

[jake allard]

Thanx for the input it's a stock 3.0 I'm runing 32 12.5 I now thats efecting it
The o2 senser is a good place to check dint think of it thanx
yes fuel does go quicker on the 1st and last 1/4 tank
I've been noticeing that it is showing a little better now that I'm doing full to empty I'm at 113miles at just under half right now so lets see if it keep looking beter as time goes on.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Aaaaa HA! Bigger tires will give you a false mileage reading. You are going farther than your odometer is saying. Look on the info sticker either on the door jam or under the hood on the fire wall to see what size tires were stock then we can figure out just how much farther you are going.

 

["N8"]

my buddie nat runs 32's on his 4-runner and says that he has to fill when the odometer hits 200 miles but the gps comfirms that he is at least travling more than 250 miles.

 

[KLF]

Three suggestions:

* Don't trust the stock gas gauge, they are very inaccurate. Mine ('87 xcab) shows empty at about 150 miles, but when I fill up I can only get about 7-8 gallons in. It's an 18 gallon tank, so I use my odometer, fill up at around 250 miles instead.

* check your odometer on a long trip on a highway with mileage markers.

* have you pulled the codes on the engine ECU to see if there is an error?

 

[yotawheeler]

OK I just recintly got a 1990 4Runner and I've had nothing hell from ther. I finaly got most the problems solved but now my bigest head ach is my fuel milage! First problem is don't know the size of my fuel tank, it's a stock tank, I'm just to stupid to figure it out on my own. Well hers the problem I'm geting maybe 33 miles to a 1/4 tank and I don't think thats right at all and have no clue what could be the cause. The 4 runner has the 3.0 v6 motter with over 223000 miles on it. If any one can help I need it. I'm not familer with EFI I'm use to carbarated so I'm lost here.

those milage numbers sound pretty crappy....my sisters 88 P/U gets in the ball park of 20 mpg....with the V6. a tune up might help your numbers a bit...new air and fuel filters might help you milage a bit if you havnt just done them...hope this helps

 

[theo]

Three suggestions:

* Don't trust the stock gas gauge, they are very inaccurate. Mine ('87 xcab) shows empty at about 150 miles, but when I fill up I can only get about 7-8 gallons in. It's an 18 gallon tank, so I use my odometer, fill up at around 250 miles instead.

* check your odometer on a long trip on a highway with mileage markers.

* have you pulled the codes on the engine ECU to see if there is an error?

Only follow this advice if you want the truth.
You can pull the sending unit off the tank (hassle) and bend it to read more accurately. The highway "Test your speedometer" markers will tell you how much correction factor you need. The codes are always a good idea.

Also, you can refill the tank after using most of the gas and you'll know for sure how much you used. A lot less guessing.

 

[jake allard]

Thanj you everyone so much I'm geting some exalent tips. I even used most of them I've found that my mileage is off and more so then just from the tires. After keepin track and changing my air and fuel filter I'm right at about 190 miles to the tank. Going off the odomiter and asuming it is a 13 gal tank I'm geting about 14 to 15 mpg.

 

[lunyou]

this is how i figure fuel mileage.......

Fill up the truck and top it off. Drive it normally. When you have driven suffieciently and need to fill up again take and fill it back up.....top it off.....now take the amount of gas used to fill it back up and the miles you drove on that amount of gas.......if you have over/under sized tires make sure you account for that on the odometer.

lunyou

 

[lunyou]

i can drive about 200 miles on a tank in my wifes 91 4runner with 31 10.50s on stock gearing

lunyou

 

[KLF]

Thanj you everyone so much I'm geting some exalent tips. I even used most of them I've found that my mileage is off and more so then just from the tires. After keepin track and changing my air and fuel filter I'm right at about 190 miles to the tank. Going off the odomiter and asuming it is a 13 gal tank I'm geting about 14 to 15 mpg.

Don't ASSUME how many galllons you're using per tank, read it on the pump when you fill up.

 

[Kyle95sr5]

gas mileage is always pretty crappy in the 3.0. I was averaging right around 11 with mix highway and city driving. Im up to around 14-16 now with aisin hubs, MUCH needed tune up work, exhaust, and the ISR mod.