Optimal MPG for FJ Cruiser

[Woodeye]

Questioning fill ups now after reading this thread...Just filled up gas light was on, receipt said 14.99G...Did I have five gallons left with the light on...???...I do a lot of city driving...I went 239 miles with 19 gallons, I get 12.57 MPG...with 15 gallons I get 15.9 MPG...91 octane just went over $4...will have to keep a close eye on it...also trying lower octane...more to follow...

Hey guys,

The first long trip I made with my 07 MT6 was from Lexington, KY. to Williansport, Pa. through KY, WV, MD, PA, and back. Loaded with some tools and a few suitcases for me and my honey. Nothin' but mountains all the way. Every tank full on the interstate at 70 mph on c ruise control, I got 20 and 20.5,20.7, 20.1 mpg. Around town, I get about 16-17.5 depending on how I play with the Jeeps and other 4x4's next to me. I've been burning the mid grade since she was new and tried the 91 and 92 octane a few times. Can't see any difference except when towing my 3500 lb trailer. Let's not talk about that mpg. I've used the 87 octane when the mid range isn't available. still can't see much difference. Most of the time I drive like an old fart, but I like to stomp thing too, especially next to a Jeep or Hummer.

One thing I don't do is let her warm up more than a minute or two, even in "0" deg. weather. According to the manual, it says not to warm up the rig just drive steady. Goes against my religion but you get zero mpg while ideling.

Woodeye

 

[ckline]

One thing I don't do is let her warm up more than a minute or two, even in "0" deg. weather. According to the manual, it says not to warm up the rig just drive steady. Goes against my religion but you get zero mpg while ideling.

Woodeye

FREAKIN LOVE IT!!! CAN I GET AN AMEN?

I sacked up and got the TRD CAI. Changed the fluids to sythetic, since I found out that the 07 didn't run synthetic. Changed the spark plugs and got close to 20 mpgs on my last tank...not driving it much different than I used to. I'm gonna try the Woodeye "old fart" driving style and re-test to see if I get better than that.

 

[Mountainclimber]

Amen Brother!

I've been putting off buying one of those TRD CAI's but I may just have to do that this spring.

20 is a good thing. I bet with full synthetics, a non-aggressive driving style, and just generally easing around in the thing, you may get even better than that.

It is really difficult to keep my foot out of the throttle just because its just so much fun. But at a price.

 

[REKCUT]

I just drove 298 miles on I44 interstate right at 80mph the whole way. The gas guage was just above e and the light had just turned on when i pulled into the gas station. Only took 14.7 gallons so I must be able to go below the empty mark. By may calculations thats 20.272 miles tothe gallon. Not very flat going into st louis either. I am running revo 285's

 

[REKCUT]

Also running royal purple if that add to it.

 

[Mountainclimber]

Rekut,

Are you running a 6 speed or the Automatic?

20 mpg is phenomenal at 80 mph.

 

[REKCUT]

Auto. I am heading home tomorrow and will try and repeat the process. I will top off when I leave and see what it ends up with. I do have close to 30k on the truck and most cars take that long to break in. All my old desiel trucks would not get optimal mpg until they had 20 to 30 k on them

 

[Sanderhawk]

What is a TRD CAI?

Ok i`ve been reading about all these different ways to bring up the milage and I keep seeing TRD CAI.What is this and since it is TRD does it cost under a grand? Is it the intake? cat back exhaust? Both? Best thing I have found for bringing up the milage is drafting a truck on the way to work, Now I don`t mean tail gating but hanging back 5 or 6 car lenths and the milage really does go up. I have gone from useing 3/4 tank or more to just a half tank a week. I have a 3" lift and 285/70/17 Nittos Steel Bumpers and Rock Rails so my mileage can really suck. I thought about taking the rails off but I offroad to much and it takes about a hour to install so not worth it. Don`t carry around tons of recovery gear you don`t need it, Take all stuff out of the back of the FJ and that will help MPG also.

 

[tddfj]

cai is cold air intake. from reading these will improve mpg a little if you dont have a heavy rt foot. exhaust will help also tha t is the way i am going first to try to gain some mpg back from lift and tires. i too try to draft to and from work big vans and semis work good for me.

 

[REKCUT]

Auto. I am heading home tomorrow and will try and repeat the process. I will top off when I leave and see what it ends up with. I do have close to 30k on the truck and most cars take that long to break in. All my old desiel trucks would not get optimal mpg until they had 20 to 30 k on them

Running home i was in a faster convoy. 80 to 85 compared to 75 to 80 on the way up. mileage went down to 16.8 so around 3mph loss for 5 mph faster

 

[kp66]

Well i will add to this convo....

Being i am in Canada and not sure how to calculate MPG i give you all this. lol
I just did a real acurate test over 3 tanks and this is how it went down.

Averaged out 3 tanks all city driving on a AT 24 000 km on it and got 532 KM on 69.398 Litres on Mid grade fuel 91 Octane. I have arb bumper, winch, sliders, OME lift, air raid CAI, and stock tires/wheels.

Not sure how to work out the MPG here maybe one of you can and see where my fj is at on fuel drinkin.
Thanks

 

[Mountainclimber]

Well i will add to this convo....

Being i am in Canada and not sure how to calculate MPG i give you all this. lol
I just did a real acurate test over 3 tanks and this is how it went down.

Averaged out 3 tanks all city driving on a AT 24 000 km on it and got 532 KM on 69.398 Litres on Mid grade fuel 91 Octane. I have arb bumper, winch, sliders, OME lift, air raid CAI, and stock tires/wheels.

Not sure how to work out the MPG here maybe one of you can and see where my fj is at on fuel drinkin.
Thanks

KP,

By my sliderule it looks like you're getting 7.67 kml which works out to 18.03 mpg.

It would be interesting to try a tank of high test and see what happens.

What does fuel run per litre now in Alberta? Just curious.

 

[kp66]

right now we pay $1.23/ L for reg 87oct, $1.26/ L mid 91oct, and $1.30/ L high grade 93+oct

thanks for MPG conversion now i know.

 

[Brock]

my FJ has 2000 miles on her and just took her in trip from Charleston SC to Wash DC for business today. Left at 7am....and 550 miles later I avg about 17mpg. Here were the parameters;

1- not had first oil change yet...still in breakin period
2- drove 2000-2200 rpms, 70-75mph entire way
3- ran air conditioner second half of trip
4- mostly flat with rolling hills some places
5- 3" ToyTec OME lift, 295x70x17 Nitto Terra Grapplers (8 ply)45# tire pressure all around.
6- Auto tranny, roof rack, budbuilt rock sliders,

Guessing that after I do oil change and am able to convert to AMSOIL for oil and air filter...put on Magnaflow exhaust...that mileage will be about 19mpg under same conditions. Going to track way home on Friday and compare notes.

 

[Mountainclimber]

right now we pay $1.23/ L for reg 87oct, $1.26/ L mid 91oct, and $1.30/ L high grade 93+oct

thanks for MPG conversion now i know.

That works out to 4.65 / gal; 4.76 / gal; 4.92 / gal; in ascending octane order.

Here in Virginia, near Washington DC, this week we had 3.67/g; 3.87/g; 3.98/g; again in order.

That works out to 1.39/l; 1.47/l; 1.51/l; just for reference.

I didn't want to take us off topic here too far but I was just curious. I spent most of last year in various parts of Canada and most everything is pretty expensive up there by comparison.

We're a bit more expensive here than in other parts of the US by far.

Of course you're using Loonies (Canadian Dollars) as well. So if we factor in the exchange rate.... We won't go there.

I do remember when one bought Canadian fuel in Imperial Gallons.

It really fowled up my mpg calculations back then until I figured out that there were 5 quarts in an Imperial Gallon.

Thanks

 

[Mountainclimber]

my FJ has 2000 miles on her and just took her in trip from Charleston SC to Wash DC for business today. Left at 7am....and 550 miles later I avg about 17mpg. Here were the parameters;

1- not had first oil change yet...still in breakin period
2- drove 2000-2200 rpms, 70-75mph entire way
3- ran air conditioner second half of trip
4- mostly flat with rolling hills some places
5- 3" ToyTec OME lift, 295x70x17 Nitto Terra Grapplers (8 ply)45# tire pressure all around.
6- Auto tranny, roof rack, budbuilt rock sliders,

Guessing that after I do oil change and am able to convert to AMSOIL for oil and air filter...put on Magnaflow exhaust...that mileage will be about 19mpg under same conditions. Going to track way home on Friday and compare notes.

Brock,

If you're able to get 19 mpg instead of 17 mpg you would more than able to justify the costs of converting to synthetic oil.

Every 10,000 miles you drive you would save $226.00 in fuel alone. This figure would more than offset a couple of synthetic oil changes, filters, etc.. It would still leave money in your pocket as well.

This calculation was based on paying $3.65 per gallon for fuel. If your average fuel price would rise, so would your savings.

Eric

 

[flounder]

Yesterday I drove 99.5 miles in my 2008 TT Edition FJ. Drove with cruise on at 67 MPH according to the GPS. I got 21.215 MPG and only have 2,200 miles on it.

I'm very pleased!

 

[woooody]

My experience (18,000 miles) is that you really need to run a full tank to determine mileage. there is ~2 gals of "fudge" at the top of the tank, and sometimes the pumps shut off early.

With a non-california nozzles, you can hear them fill up.

Also, octane definitely changes mileage -- California has 87, 89 91. When we were in Utah and Nevada, it was 85, 88, 91. Cali also has oxygenates added, which reduces mileage.

That having been said, running Mobil 1, and 91 octane, I averaged 17.5 with a max of 19.2-- longest I went after the light came on was 70 miles -- there seems to be ~4 gallons reserve for me. Max miles / tank was 336, taking 17.5 gals.

 

[kp66]

I always fill to top of neck where the cap threads start. As for Gas prices here finally our $ is higher then US after 20 years and still we pay more for gas and alberta is where its comin from lol.

 

[Mountainclimber]

I always fill to top of neck where the cap threads start. As for Gas prices here finally our $ is higher then US after 20 years and still we pay more for gas and alberta is where its comin from lol.

Now if we could only get an FJ to run on Oil Sand....