was this for an entire tank full? Or just a calculation based on a trip segment?
MPG, how to improve?
- Thread starter watchknut
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From past posts on other threads if I remember right if you use preminum gas you will get better MPG that makes the price difference between regular and preminum not a factor. Anyone have any facts to back this up???
I don't feel like removing the roof rack yet, but I'll definitely look at cleaning the throttle body. Thanks!
Funny thing in all this is that a strong headwind or tailwind affects these rigs enough that I have seen my mileage on my commute from Dallas to Austin vary by the better part of 5 mpg. I once got 18.9 mpg before correcting for tires. I had a 15-20 mph tailwind that day the whole trip. A few days later, same leg with a 10-15 mph headwind and it was more like 14.5 mpg before corrections.
Not saying folks shouldn't chase problems and inefficiencies. Just get lots of data and be aware of external forces. Oh....and I challenge you to get that 19 mpg on a regular basis. It isn't going to happen without an "external force", be it wind or altitude change, etc.
Not saying folks shouldn't chase problems and inefficiencies. Just get lots of data and be aware of external forces. Oh....and I challenge you to get that 19 mpg on a regular basis. It isn't going to happen without an "external force", be it wind or altitude change, etc.
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I second the slow down statement. Driving 65 instead of 75 gets me at least 16-17 mpg instead of 14-15 on the highway.
I still don't believe the 18-19 mpg number on the way to Mojave road. It doesn't make sense.
My scan gauge doesn't lie. It was probably slightly down hill. On the way home, I only got 14 mpg, but I was doing 75+ mph... The past week I only average about 13.5 with mixed street and freeway driving.
Scan Gauges are not reliable for fuel mileage numbers.
For the past six months, I have kept track of my mpg manually (millage tracked via my Kenwood GPS nav to account for larger size tires) and through the scan gauge. 99% of the time, the numbers are within .2 mpg of each other. The biggest factor in keeping it accurate is one needs to try and full up at the same pump each time since different pumps have different cut off points so you can measure the correct # of gallons pumped.
I have definitely proven this out that when driving roads with elevation change that the premium cost was not only easily offset but was in certain cases cheaper. It was years ago but somewhere on mud I worked it out $-wise in a post.
Long story short during college football season I would take 6 adults, food, drink and the full compliment of everyone's tailgating crap. 250mi round trip with some ugly tailgating traffic coming and going. I could do this trip every time on one tank of premium but could NEVER do it on regular. I always had to stop and fill up. Too many downshifts to pull the hills on the interstate kills you. The same hills the 2uz was downshifting to pull on regular I could pull in OD with premium. That was pretty well the only difference in driving pattern.
I will also note that I gained an easy 1mpg or more back when I changed out a bad O2 sensor.
06 stock.
Fresh oil
Best mileage ever!
Sent from my phone
Fresh oil
Best mileage ever!
Sent from my phone
So last tank I average 14.4 mpg after a fresh oil change. My commute is 25 minutes covering 18.6 miles each way and is half interstate. My 2000 LC (4 spd) had stock everything. I think I drive average. Not the first off the light nor to it. I always fill up with Premium.
Today I took off the roof rack crossbars, rear wind deflector, and aftermarket sunroof deflector and pulled the 3rd row seats. I'll fill it up again tomorrow and see how it does next week.
Next experiment might be trimming the rear mudflaps and removing the spare. For the spare - has anyone had any luck doing this? On one hand, it'll make it lighter. On the other, there will be a big hole underneath making the underbody aerodynamics even worse.
Today I took off the roof rack crossbars, rear wind deflector, and aftermarket sunroof deflector and pulled the 3rd row seats. I'll fill it up again tomorrow and see how it does next week.
Next experiment might be trimming the rear mudflaps and removing the spare. For the spare - has anyone had any luck doing this? On one hand, it'll make it lighter. On the other, there will be a big hole underneath making the underbody aerodynamics even worse.
You're kidding, right? Trimming the mudflaps? Underbody aerodynamics? You know you bought a 6000 lbs brick that will last a half million miles or more but never get more than the 15 or so MPG you've experienced.
I wouldn't say it's a brick - the windscreen is less upright than some...
It's biggest mpg killer is probably the full time 4wd. Either way, if I could net 1 mpg that would put me 23+- miles further per fill up.
It's biggest mpg killer is probably the full time 4wd. Either way, if I could net 1 mpg that would put me 23+- miles further per fill up.
Yes, that's about it.
MODS please close this thread. The final word has been delivered.
I either call bs on a lot of these posted numbers or I have something wrong. I was averaging 11-12, then did the following to improve mileage: throttle body, maf, wheel bearings, inspect brakes, adjust parking brake, fresh synthetic, ocd on tire pressure, and switch to brand name 91 octane. Also tried the power button for 3 whole tanks. And the result- mileage got worse, if anything. I have to struggle to keep it above 11.5. Also, if I drive any faster than 70 or so my mileage drops even further. All in all, I'm not impressed Toyota.
What tire pressure is everyone running?
38-41. The biggest mpg factors other than driving style and traffic are tire size and the waste in the driveline.
I went back to the stock tire size for a few weeks with a full LabRak roof rack, hi lift, sliders, tools, spare tire etc. hit 15-17mpg. I put 295/75/16s back on and went right back to 12mpg.
Point being, your under body aero dynamics, weight savings, etc won't help in a noticeable way. Getting stuck at one red light would affect your average more. Getting a scan gauge might help some. And this is coming from a buy who used to hypermile a civic.
I drove without the spare or skid plates for awhile. No effect on mpg. I bought a 125mpg scooter I use to commute as often as possible and stopped caring about the LCs mpg.