High fuel cost - anyone have MPG suggestions?

[IdahoDoug]

With fuel prices high and going higher, thought it might be a good time to start an MPG thread for the 80 series. Ever since I was able to drive, I've made the claim that I would not change my driving/vehicle habits until gas was $4 a gallon. So I tend to accept fuel costs as background noise since I've travelled enough to know we've got some really cheap gas here in the US. Even now.

But I've done a few things on the Cruiser to keep its MPG as high as possible. My wife recorded a tank at 16.7 MPG last week on her drive home from L.A. The range was 15-16.7 and that was at 75-80 constantly, moderate load.

To wit:

Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil
Mobil 1 synthetic wheel bearing grease
Amsoil synthetic birfield grease
Mobil 1 synthetic gear oil in all three diffs
Mobil 1 synthetic grease regularly on drive shaft zircs
Factory air filters changed on schedule, cleaned at least once between changes
Tire pressures 10psi above factory, original Michelin tire spec'd new
Chevron midgrade fuel 80% of the time
Annual dose of Techron injector/valve cleaner
Heavy third seats in garage unless needed

Most of this stuff is a very minor cost, but I seem to get notably higher MPG than most despite always having the lights on, factory and Thule roof racks, and heavily short trip use for the kids. I have no comparative data, since this has all been the case since new.

Anybody have something they're doing that is increasing your 80s MPG?

DougM

 

[GXO]

I have slowly replaced all the rubber inside the engine compartment (vacuum, intake, coolant, fuel hoses, etc). I have gone from 9 mpg when I bought the truck to 12-13 mpg city and about 14 -16 highway.

All this with a 3FE and 32s, with lift, etc.

woohoo!

 

[Brentbba]

Removing the third row seats may be a good idea. In 10 years, never taken them out. I know instructions are back by the seats. Assume it's a pretty easy procedure to take out and put back in?

 

[GXO]

You can pop them out easily, just a few bolts to get the whole seat and the bars out, or you can pop the seats off the bars.

 

[MoJ]

Have your spouse get an econobox then it averages out.

If you have to buy mid-grade fuel isn't your effective usage rate lower?

 

[Eduardo96FZJ80]

[quote author=Brentbba link=board=2;threadid=16099;start=msg153861#msg153861 date=1084219808]
Removing the third row seats may be a good idea. In 10 years, never taken them out. I know instructions are back by the seats. Assume it's a pretty easy procedure to take out and put back in?
[/quote]
Brent,
It's easier then removing the clubs from the back

 

[Brentbba]

Funny. hehehe I NEVER keep my clubs in the cruiser. To easily seen and stolen. Besides, golf balls don't like the high temps that a trunk or closed up truck generates. I'm loosing enough distance to age as it is. Clubs would just decrease the MPG to keep in the spirit of this thread without a complete hijack.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Jason,

This does not completely hold up to logic, but I've noted higher MPG when using high octane fuel at freeway speeds or when towing heavy. I did the math on a few occasions and determined it paid to buy premium under these conditions. We generally use midgrade to benefit from the nicer additive package on a daily basis since this rig is a keeper and presumably it will pay dividends to avoid cylinder deposits.

DougM

 

[Montana Cruiser]

16.7! I would LOVE to get that kind of mileage. Since recently buying my 97 FZJ80 I have avg 12.3 over the last 3 tanks :-\ I was hoping it would be better then that considering my 85 FJ60 has been at 14 or so around town/mixed driving. Sounds like you are doing something right, enjoy the mileage

 

[Doc]

A realatively cheap mod you can do that WILL increase miles per gallon is to increase your timing a bit.

I did this on my auto-xer Honda. Advancing my timing 2 degrees net'd be about +2 mpg.

I don't know the OE timing setting on the cruisers, but if you're running mid-grade fuel you might as well advance until you ping and then back it off 2-3 degrees. It's safe if you don't go crazy on the adjustment, and free if you adjust it yourself.

As an added bonus it also yields more power with the added fuel economy.

 

[Pskhaat]

The 1FZ-FE IMO is very wary to driver style. If I drive it like I do a carb'd vehicle (only using the throttle just enough to maintain my speed, no more (yes I know that shouldn't matter as much to the EFI)) and keep speeds down and NOT accelerate too quickly off the line I've been able to achieve 18 mpg. Most the time, however, I'm in the 12 range.

My point? A lot has to do with driving style. Adjust how you drive and see how much changes.

 

[Eduardo96FZJ80]

Doug,
I'm with you on the higher octane. I feel like it's mony well spent.
filled up this morning 91 octane was $ 2.40 a gallon :'(
I don't let the tank get lower than half a tank.. less shock when i go to the pump I know it's a form of denial, but it works for me

 

[cruiserdan]

The two best ways to reduce fuel usage are to toss everythig overboard that you do not absolutely need and slow down just like Presidents Nixon and Carter made us do. Before you cry foul let me share something with you:
A couple years ago my wife and I drove two vehicles from Albuquerque to Salt Lake City. I was driving my Dodge truck and was flat-towing a Dodge crew-cab truck behind it and my wife followed me in the Cruiser. The truck combo was very spooky above 55mph. As a result the Cruiser was forced to make the 600 mile run at 55 mph. At the time it was fitted with the Blower, 305 tires on steel wheels and the winch. No snorkel or sliders. It had her, our two small sons and light luggage on board.
From Albuquerque to Monticello UT (1/2 way point) it recorded 18.97 mpg and the second leg from Monticello to SLC it got 18.47 mpg. The return trip at 65-70 mph returned it's customary 14 or so mpg.

Clearly, slowing it down had a significant impact on the ammount of fuel used.


It is important to also note that this was done with no synthetics of any kind on board.

 

[MoJ]

[quote author=IdahoDoug link=board=2;threadid=16099;start=msg153878#msg153878 date=1084220618]
Jason,

This does not completely hold up to logic, but I've noted higher MPG when using high octane fuel at freeway speeds or when towing heavy. I did the math on a few occasions and determined it paid to buy premium under these conditions. We generally use midgrade to benefit from the nicer additive package on a daily basis since this rig is a keeper and presumably it will pay dividends to avoid cylinder deposits.

DougM
[/quote]

Good point, hadn't considered the long term benefits/potential savings. Just figured if it was 10% more per gallon, does it increase MPG by 10%? Sorry, the economist in me gets a bit loony at times.

 

[Eduardo96FZJ80]

[quote author=Montana Cruiser link=board=2;threadid=16099;start=msg153886#msg153886 date=1084221254]
16.7! I would LOVE to get that kind of mileage. Since recently buying my 97 FZJ80 I have avg 12.3 over the last 3 tanks :-\ I was hoping it would be better then that considering my 85 FJ60 has been at 14 or so around town/mixed driving. Sounds like you are doing something right, enjoy the mileage
[/quote] are the O2 sensors original? my MPG had been dropping, right before I lost a sensor. I'm back @ the 13-15 range

 

[cruiserdan]

I forgot to mention :whoops: :


An off-list friend of mine with a blown 93 has brushed up against 20 mpg a couple times. His has stock tires and he is very conservative with the skinny pedal (even though he has a blower ) . his was on a flat ground trip at 55-58 mph with nothing but him in it. (He is all synthetics in his rig).

 

[Eduardo96FZJ80]

[quote author=cruiserdan link=board=2;threadid=16099;start=msg153892#msg153892 date=1084221652]
The two best ways to reduce fuel usage are to toss everythig overboard that you do not absolutely need and slow down just like Presidents Nixon and Carter made us do. Before you cry foul let me share something with you:
A couple years ago my wife and I drove two vehicles from Albuquerque to Salt Lake City. I was driving my Dodge truck and was flat-towing a Dodge crew-cab truck behind it and my wife followed me in the Cruiser. The truck combo was very spooky above 55mph. As a result the Cruiser was forced to make the 600 mile run at 55 mph. At the time it was fitted with the Blower, 305 tires on steel wheels and the winch. No snorkel or sliders. It had her, our two small sons and light luggage on board.
From Albuquerque to Monticello UT (1/2 way point) it recorded 18.97 mpg and the second leg from Monticello to SLC it got 18.47 mpg. The return trip at 65-70 mph returned it's customary 14 or so mpg.

Clearly, slowing it down had a significant impact on the ammount of fuel used.


It is important to also note that this was done with no synthetics of any kind on board.

[/quote]
C-Dan,
Excellent point, but I have a difficult time staying awake @ 55MPH

 

[concretejungle]

This is another one of those threads that won't die! I think we have beaten the point in the ground.The cruiser is what it is. And gas friendly it is not. Seems like no one has been able to get the gas mileage better than 17 mpg. Even with a muffler bearing repack!

 

[robbie]

Hello doug: I do agree with C-dan on this cruising slow is better on long trips. I did remove My drive shaft and ran the Trxus 35 on the rear and the MTRs on the front in Two by drive and with a full load out to moab I got 14.5 traveling at 75-80 from denver. This is with the 6 inch lift, fuel tank full, junk in the back and the fridge, dawer system I got a couple months ago. Two of my trxux was real bad so I went with the Mtr's in the front for a smoother ride. On the way back with the rear tank empty and traveling 80-85 I got 15 MPH even for the return trip. I think If I had MTR's all around I would get closer to 17. Any now My truck is well over 6500 lbs with a roof rack on. My daily comute MPH is around 14 constant with the same set up, with no fuel in the rear.
Just to calify. I have the Asian hubs in the front and the front drive shaft removed with the center locked. Synthetics in all diff's, t-case and engine. Tranny on conventional atf. I did notice that My wifes truck lost MPH by 2mph when I raised it. If you are running 33 or less tires going to the short stiff springs may help some also. Would it pay for it self, do not know.
I do run preminum fuel. Just remember that if at any time there is a knock the timing will shift and you will lose power, thus loosing ecomony. I do not reccommend to run any then less then 87 Octane in the engine. Just my experence. My wife around town runs Mid grade and on long trips it premnium. Truck just plains runs better on the higher octane.
later robbie

 

[ginericLC]

Driving style has a lot to do with it. My friend and I drove to Canada in back one weekend in his 80. He was consistently getting 16-17mpg. I would swap after a fill up and I'd be getting 13-14mpg. He logs every fuel up, every oil change, etc... Whenever I would drive the mileage would go down. And this happened on every trip we ever took in that rig. My 94 gets 16-18 fairly regular. Yesterday I was at 15.6mpg and I was disappointed. 80mph with wind is what did it. Typically my wife and I set the cruise right at about 80mph. We typically have mixed driving. 50-75 miles of city driving and then 150-200 of freeway. Right now we have gusts up to 58 mph I'm thinking the drive home is going to hurt my next tank.