eric-the-red

Here's a link to a real world test from edmunds.com on gas saving tips, the biggest savings they noticed was in driving habits, slow down a bit and avoid hard acceleration.

http://money.cnn.edmunds.com/ownersh...2/article.html

jwbehm

I think the problem is the gearing. I just found out that my car has 3.909 gearing and had 225/75/15's stock. Now it has 265/70/16 so if I want normal gas mileage I would have to get 4.10 gears (not going to happen)

Does this all sound right? I am new to this whole gearing thing. I think I am just going to leave it the way it is and get 4.56 and 33's eventually.

goldtaco9

16" - 4.10 and 265/70 is what I have on my '00.
I am trying to get to 4.30 and 265/75.
I get between 16 & 17 MPG. 19 highway. My MAF went out yesterday, just a couple hundred miles over 100,000......
We'll see if it changes now.
Mike

TheDarkKnight

Hmmmm.... I am in a '98, and I am currently getting around 20-21mpg. I've got over 172k on the engine.
Although I am in the "city", Detroit is pretty rural compared to NY, LA, or even Chicago.

Mods I am running which may improve milage:
- Tornado. Yes, it does work. I was at 16 when I bought the rig, and took it up to around 18.
- Fuel Magnet (?. the magnet thing for your fuel line - it was a present).
- No spare tire. This improved the milage at least 1mile! I have a can of fix-a-flat instead (I hope i never shred my tires!!)
- Deck plate w/ K&N filter.

Also, I considered the pros and cons floating around the net regarding acetone, and decided that at the current gas prices, might as well give it a try.
I have tried adding couple ounces of acetone to the tank, and it does seem to improve milage about 10%. I am just too lazy to carry it around with me.

tdk.

jwbehm

Update:

Drove like a grandma this tank (never shifted above 2000-2500 rpms) and got 15.6 mpg. . . I cant imagine how bad it iwll be when i get 285's. . .

Jimmeh

While I have to agree that shifting earlier and driving slower does help you out, I would think that shifting at too low of RPM's can not be good for the engine itself. Maybe I am just being a noob.

I drive fast at times, but most of the time, out on the highways I keep it under 60, and I get close to 24 MPG (mostly highway, because thats mainly all Montana is).

I would definetly do some routine stuff if I were you. Is your truck running rough?

BruceTS

Actually you have 4.10 gears and came with 265/70-16 goodyear RTS tires. My speedometer was reading similar to yours as well. When my rig was stock, I averaged 17-21mpg, the dealer sticker for the 5-speed was rated at 17-19mpg.

Change the sparkplugs, both filters and all the oils, this should help increase your mileage. The first modification I did to my rig was go to BFG AT's 265/75-16, my mileage dropped to 15-17mpg, but the speedometer was reading more accurately.

jwbehm

How do you know it came with 4.1 gears? I have a fullsize 225/75/15 spare (some firestone AT tire).

tulsa_97SR5

Do you have the v6 or 4cyl? I assume v6 but haven't read either way.

edit: i think the only 4runners with 3.9 gears were 2wd, my 97 5spd 4cyl came with 225/75/15 and 4.10 gears. When I went to 32" tires I measured my odometer off by 10% using gps over a 1000 mile road trip. Your MPG may not be as low as you think if you are running tires that oversized.

Tacoma Dude

Is this 15.6 going straight off of the trip meter or odometer?
If your problem really is the gearing and/or tire size then this calculation will be off.