MPG, how to improve? (1 Viewer)

[mtnracer]

I have tried lots of things to improve mileage (including adding acetone to several tanks of fuel) and the only things that really make a difference are:

- Tires (stick with stock or 32s, P or XL rated, NOT E-rated)
- A light foot in city traffic
- Avoid going over 65 on the highway
- Premium fuel (87 lowers the MPG)

No increase in MPG:
- Headers (improved power but not MPG)
- Cold Air Intake (power and sound are nice but no extra MPG)
- Acetone "octane boost" is complete BS
- Other octane boosters

The biggest thing is to slow down. The cruiser can actually give you 20-21 if you can cruise easy at 35mph without stop and go. Also, coast as much as possible.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Everyone does understand that the bigger tires are throwing your odometer off, so you need to adjust your mpg calculations accordingly.

Biggest and about only meaningful factors - tune up, proper air pressure, and driving habits.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Everyone does understand that the bigger tires are throwing your odometer off, so you need to adjust your mpg calculations accordingly.

Biggest and about only meaningful factors - tune up, proper air pressure, and driving habits.

I was accounting for the tire size difference in my numbers. But yes. I think highway mpg stay similar even with bigger tires because of the higher top gear.

 

[PADDO]

I either call bs on a lot of these posted numbers.

my best to date, usually get 13.5 around town, 17+ highway loaded with dogs, kids + crap. Pulled 20mpg (uncorrected from stock 275 to 285/60s) the other day on back roads sitting around 55-65 mph. High 18's for 330 mile round trip on this occasion.

Stock '03, 285's, 31 psi front /33 psi rear, M1 fluids, 118k, original o2 sensors, MAF and TB cleaned each oil change, run BG44 thru once a year - oh and untrimmed mudflaps with spare attached

 

[TrekboxX]

I don't get it. I have essentially the same vehicle, tire size, and I run them at 35 psi. Granted, they are mud tires. But, even when it was bone stock I never saw better than 14-15. And yes, I am figuring in the tire size. With that in the equation, my optomistic nav system is pretty darn close. And I actually saw a slight decrease with premium fuel (~.5-1mpg). Wanna trade?

Oh- and my best mileage is in stop and go traffic. 65+ kills it. Best I've seen was coasting thru yellowstone at 35-45 mph.

 

[sk8salomon]

Bone stock setup, 14.5 mpg every time.

Buying a cruiser & worrying about mpg is like buying steel toe boots and wondering why you can't run marathons in them very well...don't waste your time dude.

 

[hoser]

We use Gasohol (E10) in CA. 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Gets less fuel mileage than 100% gasoline. Watch out for E15.

 

[TwiceWithHair]

Cruise control at 55. Coasting up to 57. Perfect speed for the Tahoe to Sacramento decent.

 

[TrekboxX]

Bone stock setup, 14.5 mpg every time.

Buying a cruiser & worrying about mpg is like buying steel toe boots and wondering why you can't run marathons in them very well...don't waste your time dude.

Yes, and no. I'm not "worried" about it. I didn't think it was a Prius when I bought it. I just think that the mileage I'm getting seems low considering the weight and shape of the vehicle, and it's pathetically underpowered engine. Coupled with the fact that others may be getting much better mileage and I've heard many comment on the "V-8 power" of the 100's, it makes me think something may be wrong with mine. I never drive fast, but I have tried and I can't stay at 80 on flat ground in top gear. That doesn't seem strange to you in a $50k suv with a modern v-8?

I have new plugs from cdan (awesome no bs guy) and after that, I'm outta ideas.

 

[azcarguy]

I accidentally filled my tank with 87 the day I purchased the truck and with about 50% highway, 50% city I averaged 12.37 mpg. While I can't imagine why this truck needs premium fuel I went ahead and filled it with 91 on the last tank and with all city driving averaged 13.6 mpg. I would guess that highway miles will be even better. The hi octane fuel clearly makes a difference.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Yes, and no. I'm not "worried" about it. I didn't think it was a Prius when I bought it. I just think that the mileage I'm getting seems low considering the weight and shape of the vehicle, and it's pathetically underpowered engine. Coupled with the fact that others may be getting much better mileage and I've heard many comment on the "V-8 power" of the 100's, it makes me think something may be wrong with mine. I never drive fast, but I have tried and I can't stay at 80 on flat ground in top gear. That doesn't seem strange to you in a $50k suv with a modern v-8?

I have new plugs from cdan (awesome no bs guy) and after that, I'm outta ideas.

Maybe. I think the people talking about v8 power came from slower 80s or 60s. My LC and my old civic were fast or slow but in different ways.

I've been using 87 octane the entire time and got 14-17 when stock. But im at sea level. In the mountains it's a dog.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

and it's pathetically underpowered engine.

You need to drive some earlier Cruisers. You'll think the 100 is a drag car after owning a 3FE.

 

[TrekboxX]

I totally believe you. That just tells me Toyota has been making anemic land cruisers for decades. Not impressive. But I can only compare it to similar displacement "truck" engines. Hopefully what it lacks in power and efficiency it makes up for in reliability. Or I'm selling... J/k.

I was really hoping the premium fuel would help as others have described. I gave it 5 full tanks, and didn't see benefit in power or mpg.

 

[re_guderian]

It is by far the most reliable engine to date in a Cruiser, IMHO. No rear main leaks, no oil gallery plugs, no head gasket, no phh, no smog pump issues, few if any, EGR issues. They tend to kill coil packs at high mileage, but super easy and relatively cheap fix, no overheating issues like on 2F's or 1FZ-FE's, etc.

As to power, it's what others have said. Compared to my 60 and 80 it has gobs of power. Done several cross country trips with the family, all our crap, and one with a loaded u-haul. It'll do 95 on the flats all day long...

Only reason for more power would be to tow larger loads consistently, and for that there are better platforms than a LC...

 

[re_guderian]

...it makes me think something may be wrong with mine. I never drive fast, but I have tried and I can't stay at 80 on flat ground in top gear. That doesn't seem strange to you in a $50k suv with a modern v-8?...

unless you have a massive headwind, or obscenely heavy tires, something is wrong...

 

[mister bean]

Best I've seen was coasting thru yellowstone at 35-45 mph.

We got well over fifty mpg in our TDI Sportwagen in Yellowstone. Made me wonder what the Land Cruiser would do there.

 

[re_guderian]

That's funny, my best tank (half) was from Big Sky to West Yellowstone...

 

[TrekboxX]

Yeah, it doesn't make sense. But I feel she runs like a top. Don't get me wrong, it'll do 95, but at 3500+ rpms at about 3 mpg...

As to the cross country trips, we recently did 3200 miles. Just the wife and me and all our gear. I was very dissappointed at the lack of top end, passing and hill climbing power, without winding the guts out of her. West from Idaho to Portland we had a very, very stiff headwind. Averaged 8.8 to 9.4 mpg, and we often struggled to keep 60-70 mph. I'm not kidding.

Anyone local who's seeing better numbers and power want to drive mine for a bit and tell me what you think?

 

[re_guderian]

Wind her up! It'll do that all day long too. Do you have four speed or five speed? RPM's at a given speed can be calc'd based on tire size and top gear ratio and diff ratio. With a stiff headwind, mpg's are gonna suck, but you're not always driving against the wind...

 

[mtnracer]

For those saying the power / mpg is not great for a modern V8, please realize that this engine was introduced in 1998. What kind of power / mpg can you get out of 1998 Chevy Tahoes or Ford Expeditions with 4x4?

A modern V8 would be the new 4.6 in the GX460 or even the 5.7 from the Tundra.