ElwayLite

I bought my prerunner used and my best guess is that it has the 4.10? Would it be cost effecient to change to something along the 3.73 lines since I dont mud/tow or plan to? Or am I just bored?

CoedNaked

It would be a waste of $$$ likely considering what you might save. Take the $$$ you'd spend changing gears and put it towards maintenance & more gas.

Maybe if you kept your truck a very long time it'd pay off. But I doubt it'd be worth it.

rngrchad

No, it wouldn't be cost effective. You may even lose mpg.
A cheap way to gain a little extra miles per tank would be to run synthetic gear oil in your diffs and run synthetic in your engine. Quick and easy and cheap too.

Roadtripr

The gearing you have is more likely going to be most efficient. Going to 3.73 would require more power to accellerate and more likely cost you at the pump (look at/search on the loss in MPG in people who upsized their tires).

ken.vs.ryu

buy a civic for what the parts and labor will cost.

trav12d

I was excited to buy my first Tacoma recently after having a 4-door F150 forever; that truck was too big for city living.

I now have an extended cab 2011 Prerunner V6 model but am getting horrible mpg, less than 20 miles/ gallon.

I am wondering if the stock gears are lower than I would like because of the tow package that I have?

I have 17" wheels and these are the RPM's I am getting on the highway:

55 MPH; ~2350 RPM
60 MPH; ~2500 RPM
65 MPH; ~2700 RPM
70 MPH; ~3150 RPM
80 MPH; ~3400 RPM

I never tow and am on the highway 75% of the time. Regrettably, the truck does not have overdrive.

I am not concerned with the mpg as much as I am in overworking the motor.

I am not mechanically inclined and would like to know if anyone would advise changing the gears to be more highway friendly at 4th gear?

Thx!

Dirt Driver

First of all, this is the '95.5-2004 Tacoma forum. Second, this was a really old thread.

How much less?

No.

Those are the kinds of RPM my truck sees when OD is shut off. I have the optional 31" tires. Your rim size doesn't matter; what's the tire size?

Uh, yes it does.

DailyDrive

You say it like it's a fact. I doubt highly that however.

Lower MPG means energy loss that's released through heat. Do you think diffs run considerably hotter with regular oil?

Dirt Driver

That guy hasn't logged in for over a year.

I think the logic behind synthetic is that it can be thinner (for less drag) without compromising protection. That may be true, but I doubt the fuel savings ever catches up with the higher upfront cost.

DailyDrive

It was more of a rhetorical question. So many myths are being spread around, and the vast majority beleive everything they read on the internet.

Dirt Driver

Much like the "sludge monster" fear mongering that oil manufacturers still use decades after oils had improved to the point that sludge became a rarity regardless of brand. Parity products, of which oil is one, are where you can see the lamest gimmicks and aggressive marketing. Oil, toothbrushes, energy drinks, tires, hand soap, TV dinners, etc.