LX470 Gas mileage and Exhaust... (1 Viewer)

[planomateo]

LOL, good luck with 13-15mpg. I'm in the 11-12 mpg range.

 

[gregnash]

Remember though... MPGs depend a lot on driving habits. Wife and I driving the same vehicle get pretty different results.
She - normally averages 16.8 to 17.5mpg with her weekly commute
Me - normally average 18.2-19mpg with my weekly commute (when I have the 4runner for an entire week)

She is definitely much more of a lead foot, sudden braker and the like. I am more cautious driver, usually only go 5-10 over the speed limit and am more aware of my surrounding. She gets a few speeding tickets and "unattentive driver" (aka phone) tickets a year, whereas I have not even been pulled over, let alone had a ticket in over 10yrs (knock on wood).

On top of that, wheel "upgrade" in size, armor and all the other stuff we carry plays a role in that as well. My mileage always drops around this time of year because the afternoons/evenings tend to be windier than normal (storms rolling over the sierras with 20+mph head/side winds).

 

[wsudu]

For perspective, I have an 06 LX470 w/ 130K with sliders, roof rack, ARB front, and Labs rear with spare and jack all on 33s BFGs. With new plugs, filters, fluids, I'm getting 9.5-10ish with a RTT going 75. I have not changed any coil packs or injectors. I live in KS and it is murder when the wind is bad on 70 or 35, then I get 7.

 

[wsudu]

Smelling exhaust gas on startup means you have a manifold leak, which is common these vehicles.

Can you tell us more about this? I am in the exact same position as the OP where I smell strong exhaust at start up, not rich unburned fuel, more like that sweet exhaust smell. When I began noticing it last year, I got a CEL which pointed to O2s so I changed those and the A/F sensors as well. All fine but the smell is there still. Is there something in Techstream that would indicate a leaky manifold or something else related? Fuel trims are ok, not great.

 

[2001LC]

I was getting 9mpg on my 2007 LX and that was empty or hauling one motorcycle. Long story short.... had to change a leaky radiator and did my timing belt / fuel pump when doing that. The Timing belt looked like it had never been changed (170,000 miles and actually broke when I was turning engine to timing marks to change it) so I did the plugs, fuel filter, injector cleaner, new K&N air filter etc. and am now getting a solid 14mpg when empty.
So all that is to say... hauling that much weight on these things.... 7mpg sounds about right sadly. Wish they would have given us the diesel option that other countries got. I get about 26mpg in my BJ74 and around 20 to 25 in my HZJ75.

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Why so bad at only 170K miles. Desert, arctic, overheating ???

 

[Mungrol]

Why so bad at only 170K miles. Desert, arctic, overheating ???

That is a good question. I assume it was due to never having had any of the preventive maintenance done? I know that after changing the plugs, air filter etc it is much better now. Still not great but in regards to overheating, or artic etc... nah. Just normal driving here in the PNW. It was new to me early this year so hopefully will get better as I continue to get it back to like new mechanical condition.

 

[CBeckFJ]

This is why we sleep in our truck

Or get a pop up. We averaged 12-14 towing our OPUS

 

[abuck99]

Too bad you weren't headed the other direction, you might have gotten 22mpg.

If you havent driven across KS- the wind blows in both directions- (it at least seems that way).


@100junkey
If youre still smelling fuel from your exhaust after its warmed up, could be fuel pressure regulator. Is there heavy black soot around the tail pipe?

 

[CLEcruiser]

I would imagine different campers of the same weight could be 1 or 2 mpg different when towing, based on shape. If it's taller or wider that kills mpg.

 

[AllLC]

I tow a small hard side camper. The worst thing about it isn't the weight its the aerodynamics. its wider and taller than Ellsie. My first huge rookie mistake was using the cruise control. I got about 6 mpg for a 70 mile trip. I figured that out in a hurry. I know this seems silly and simple but sometimes its a challenge... slow down, you're on vacation. I try to keep it around 65, makes a huge difference. also i have a set of "summer" 33" mud terrains and a set of winter tires that are just under stock 31". If i'm going on a long haul i throw the smaller tires on. Helps the breaks, helps the noise, helps the MPG's , and she even seems to pull a little stronger (marginally more torque). If everything is properly tuned with your truck i would think about buying a nice used second set of tires and wheels. I get around 10-11 fully loaded family of 5 with all our gear and camper.

 

[FxFormat]

If you havent driven across KS- the wind blows in both directions- (it at least seems that way).


@100junkey
If youre still smelling fuel from your exhaust after its warmed up, could be fuel pressure regulator. Is there heavy black soot around the tail pipe?

Drove through Kansas on my way to CO and i gotta say, uneventful, hot as hell, lots of hills, i thought it would be flat.

 

[flintknapper]

If you havent driven across KS- the wind blows in both directions- (it at least seems that way).

Lived there for 6 years actually.