NViejeP

I filled up my tank when the gauge said it was empty. I filled up 14.8 gallons. The meter went up all the day to full. Right now, I'm at below half way mark, but above the next mark (1/4 or 1/5). I have 97 miles on this tank of gas.

Here are some facts about me and my car:
-I drive a 2000 T4R. I purchased it used at 68k miles. Right now it is at 68800 miles.
-My air filter is stock and is very clean.
-My oil level is between those two markings, the color of the oil is golden or light brown.
-I sometimes do hard accels, and sudden stops. I once in awhile floor it. But recently, I've been driving softer and not as hard.
-My PSI right now is at 33-34. I just filled it up from 26 yesterday. I have 31x10.5x15 tires. The maximum tire PSI is 40 or 50.
-In San Francisco, the mornings are cold, and the weather is generally cold, it does warm up latter in the day. But only somtimes. But sometimes it is warm.
-I do not use ETC, I have stock everything except head unit lol.

Would anyone recommend anything to get better gas mileage? Could it be the fuel gauge meter out of synch?

4RUNN!N

The fuel gauge has never been an accurate way of checking fuel consumption on the 4R. Since you live in SF, I'm asuming your going up hills which would affect the gauge read out.

Looking at the oil color and transparency isn't a good way to check if the oil is good or not, just change it on a regular interval.

I'm assuming you have a 3.4 auto?

I have a 97 Limited 4WD and with mixed city/highway (30%/70%), with one tank, I can usually get around 16.5-17.1 mpg and anywhere from 240-260 a tank.

From reading what you wrote, I would say your fuel comsumption is around average IF your doing mostly city driving, since thats what most people in SF do anyway.

NViejeP

I have thought about the fuel gauge not reading properly.
I have a 3.4 auto 2wd. With maybe 10 of that 100 miles highway. I drive almost all city.

So your saying that under halfway is accurate for 100 miles?

FUZION

Same thing happened to me. I filled up for a trip and after about 100 miles I only had a 1/4 tank left. After that it never happened again.

Beartracker

You can not check your gas consumption by your gas gage! It will not even be close.
1. Fill your tank and write down the mileage on your odometer.

2. The next time you fill your tank, write down the number of gallons you purchase and the mileage on your odometer.

3. Subtract your old odometer reading from your new reading to figure out how many miles you have traveled since you last got gas. Divide that figure by the number of gallons of gas you purchased, and you'll have a rough idea of how many miles you get to the gallon.

Your mileage will vary depending on the mix of city and highway driving you do. You will have a more accurate idea of your car's overall fuel efficiency if you perform these calculations periodically and average the results.

NViejeP

I see. I'm just worried because I filled up 14.8 gallons, and after 100 miles i'm already below halfway!

I drive basically all city.

Beartracker

Thats why you can't get a good idea of your gas mileage by watching your gage. On my 01 Tacoma when the gage hits the empty mark I can still go 40 miles before it goes below empty and then another 20 miles before the warning light comes on.Also it will drop fast when I first fill it up and then the last half goes much slower.
The real truth is that you will probably not get real good gas mileage where you live because of all the hills. Fast take offs are a big gas robber as well as speed. Hope you can figure your gas mileage now and let us know what you get, Mike

theryanator

Welcome to the wonderful world of Toyota Trucks...I have learned as you are that if you want a fuel efficient Toyota you need to be lookin at least at a corolla or a prius perhaps. I have a 99 3.4l 4runner and I get about 14 mpg city driving in the winter and about 17 mpg city in the summer...the highway tends to be much higher. Depending on the weather it can be anywhere from 19-23 mpg.

rimpainter.com

Like others said, don't pay so much attention to the gauge itself vs. the actual MPG calculation. Some of these rigs have a known fuel sending unit TSB out on them. I don't think the 2000 did though . Anyway, what happens is that the needle will drop like a rock the 1st half of the tank, then go slow after the halfway mark. This thread explains what I found in greater detail:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...l+sending+unit

X-AWDriver

Jack rabbit starts and full throttle acceleration also are big factors with the 3.4 and it's gas mileage.
My mom regularly sees over 260 with her '99 Limited but I had it for two weeks and I managed to lose over 20+ miles on her tankful due to my driving style.

Beartracker

One thing I have never done and will do this summer is keep track of the mileage with different gas companies. We have three of them in my town but I have always just used BP station.
Winter and summer fuel can also make a big difference as theryanator already stated.
I do know that with the price of gas heading the way it is I will not be in any hurry to go anywhere....Just call me an old man,...hell , I am an old man!

4RUNN!N

I use gasbuddy.com to log my fuel mileage and I have found out that I can ONLY use Shell gasoline and nothing else. I have tried filling up with both 76 and Chevron and the average I get with mixed city/highway but mostly highway using Chevron is 14.5 and 76 I get 15.6, yet with Shell I get 17.1, a huge difference. To make it accurate I filled up at least twice to get a good reading.

Beartracker

4RUNN!N, That is a big difference! I'm going to wait a month or so for them to switch to summer fuel and then give it a test. Thanks for the info, Mike

dragr1

iTrader: (3)

My gas gauge does the same thing-light comes on and when I fill up it only holds 14 or so gallons. There is a fix, but it requires removing the gas tank.

NViejeP

Hum.. almost getting to the point where I need to fill up the tank. I'll see how much my MPG is.

4RUNN!N

Do you happen to know the fix or a link to it?

dragr1

iTrader: (3)

It was a thread on here a while back. Do a search and see what comes up.

Rick F.

There is a TSB for the 2000 (and other model years?) 4Runners to fix inaccurate fuel gauges. Mine was done for free by the stealership.

dragr1

iTrader: (3)

Really? Got any more info on that?

NViejeP

So, my tank emptied at around 130, or at least it said empty. I bought 14.8 gallons for 130 miles.

Which is less than 9 miles per gallon. Problem is that I filled up again with only $10 worth of gas becasue my atm card wasn't working and I only had like $15 of money on me. So I couldn't actualyl see how many gallons I could fill in that tank.

So I'm PRAYING that it is either a one time thing like that one guy said, OR my meter is terribly off and I'm going to fill up only like 10 gallons worth of gas next time I try to top off.

And any info on the TSB?