onesojourner

Its true. This is one of the only 2 sit downs I would ever own.

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98 4x4 limited 4Runner, e-locker, 4.30 gears

rearviewmirror

Ummm 20MPG.. no way.. especially towing. Those who think they're getting over 20MPG in a 4Runner most likely aren't calculating correctly or misinterpreting a one off. Either, way I doubt there are many pulling off over 20MPGs, and especially not pulling something. See the thread below for more economy discussions:

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/we-need-m...runners-86034/

__________________
2000 4Runner Limited 4WD
Millennium Silver
Toyota OEM NAV
OME springs/shocks F/R

VZN185L-GKPZKA 4.300 With P265/70R16

cackalak han

Are you talking about towing or no? Not towing, I've gotten 21-22MPG. But that was with 80-90% on the highway and 10-20% in town. You have to be specific what kind of driving you're talking about and how aggressive you are while driving. I usually granny it around town and on the highway (avg. 70MPH). I've done this in my 98 4Runner, 02 4Runner and 01 Tacoma (all 3.4L, and stock everything).

Plenty of people have gotten over 20MPG. Don't know why you're so skeptic?

Here is a part of a spreadsheet I keep of my 01 Taco:

Date-----Miles----Gallons---MPG----PPG-----Highway / City (percentage) Avg. highway miles per hour

4/9/08---196.9----9.424----20.89---$3.079---80/20----74
4/11/08--252.5----12.339---20.46---$3.079---70/30----72
4/14/08--236.6----11.996---19.72---$3.079---60/40----75
4/18/08--290.4----13.961---20.80---$3.249---70/30----73
4/21/08--191.4----9.752----19.63----$3.219---70/30----72
4/23/08--241-----11.21---21.49----$3.199---80/20----73
4/25/08--189.6----9.074---20.89----$3.199---80/20----74

And from my 02 4Runner:
5/10/07--184.6----8.168---22.60----$3.019---90/10
5/14/07--201-----10.636---18.90----$3.069---20/75
5/16/07--224-----10.432---21.47----$3.059---70/30
5/21/07--193-----9.866----19.56----$3.059---80/20
5/23/07--180.8---8.512----21.24----$3.079---90/10
5/29/07--151.4---8.057----18.79----$3.119---40/60
6/1/07---294.5---12.837---22.94----$3.199---80/20
6/5/07---292-----14.076---20.74----$3.199---75/25
6/7/07---217.5---10.461---20.79----$3.109---60/40
6/9/07---231.2----10.58---21.85----$3.129---80/20
6/12/07--199-----9.402---21.17----$3.199---80/20
6/14/07--266.1---12.424---21.42---$3.089---80/20
6/16/07--219.9---10.282---21.39----$3.099---75/25
6/19/07--252.2---11.685---21.58----$3.149---70/30

EDIT: I will add that increasing the tire size to just +1 (265/75/16) dropped my MPG's from 21MPG to 18MPG on the highway. Very significant drop. I also compensated for the larger tire size in Excel. All of the above figures are from a 100% stock vehicle (265/70/16).

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01 Tacoma DC TRD OR 4x4

onesojourner

This is a pretty cool website. Most of this is stuff I have been doing in the honda for years but its cool to see it all in writing. I never go as far as turning the car off (unless I am going to be going down a huge will and clutch start it with out the use of a starter, obviously not an option in an auto 4runner though) Does any one have any idea how long it takes the efi to get back into a groove after you pull the fuse? We are about to pull the skis on a 4 hour road trip. I have used up about a quarter tank with out pulling so far.

Oh and for the guys asking I tow the skis with over drive on. They don't really weigh enough to need it off. hit it for some of the big hills but thats it.

__________________
98 4x4 limited 4Runner, e-locker, 4.30 gears

onesojourner

Like I said before my towing will be a straight shot on a small highway going 60-65. There will be very little stop and go.

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98 4x4 limited 4Runner, e-locker, 4.30 gears

denpacc

Yes way! I was getting 20+ mpg's pulling trailers on the highway with my 97 3.4 litre 5 spd 4runner stock. And no I am not calculating it incorrectly, nor am I misinterpreting anything. I consistently got 20-22 US mpg's pulling my apprx. 1200# tent trailer and loaded 4runner with family inside on several occassions. The key is to not be a lead foot; I drove between 55-60 miles per hour, and was easy on the braking and taking off. My best mpg was just a hair under 22.5 US mpg and my worst was 19.1 US mpg. All of this was done pulling the trailer through the Rocky Mountains, including 3 mountain passes.

As an experiment I drove 70-80mph for one trip and my mpg's dropped down to 15-16mpg's.

There are many things that influence mpg's when pulling a trailer such as aerodynamics of the trailer, outside environment (rain/wind/traffic flow), vehicle, driver (biggest one), and trailer miscellaneous (tire pressure and freshly packed bearings etc). So it is definitely possible to break 20mpgs consistently with the 3.4 pulling a trailer, barring unforseen circumstances like traffic flow and weather.

My 2 cents from experience.

Cheers

__________________
1997 3.4 4Runner, 5spd, e-locker, SS#1.1 Lift, 265/75/R16 Dick Cepek FCII
Coming soon: ARB front bumper with T-Max or Warn winch, sliders, snorkel, etc.

onesojourner

thats what I like to hear. You are my inspiration. I will check my mileage on my trip this weekend and report back. I am not hoping for much since I just reset the EFI.

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98 4x4 limited 4Runner, e-locker, 4.30 gears

run4her

I used to. I sold it and am going to buy a newer one with more power for barrelrolls. I had all Blowsion footholds, handholds, one-way valve and all that stuff.

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1990 4runner. 42/14/r.17 irocks, spool in front. Sas, lc coils and triangulated 4-link. 1in bodylift, 7in front screen linked to 14in flip down in rear, Chopped, Bobbed 33". Wheelbase stretched 7".

1984 extra cab pickup. 7" suspension lift, 36" Radial tsl's, Bobbed 12"

BigBallsMcFalls

Hey ya'll,


I have a 99 4runner LTD 4wd, 3.4, locker, auto, roof rack and air deflector
for the sunroof and air deflector for the rear window.
Running boards removed. Michelin LTX MS 265/70/R16 at 37 psi all around.

and I use Scangauge II on my OBD II port. calibrated every time I fill up, which has been about 34 times now. It is dead accurate.

I am getting (absolutely, no question):

Highway
22.1-22.5 mpg when driving 150 miles with cruise control locked on 68 miles per hour
this drops to 18-19 when I have my large Saris ski box on the roof.

*drops down to 21 if I go uphill a lot, or through more than 3 tool booths.

20.5 mpg when going 72 miles per hour

18 mpg when driving the way I used to, fluttering between 75 and 79

17 mpg when driving like a dip
-----
City

18-19 when doing errands with occasional highway, and few stops

17.2 mpg when drivin, doing 4 and 8 mile errands, and avoiding the hills in my area

15-16.2 mpg when not avoiding some of the steep hills in my area
-----

these are the true facts for a cali-emissions dual-cat 1999 4runner with 150,000 miles, new plugs, spray-cleaned original MAF, new A/F sensor, new air filter, and it's third severe maintenance done (timing belt, all the belts, all the fluids, greased driveshaft) and pumping
'early spring new england formula' Exxon 87 octane.

no I have never used bg-44k or sealame I mean seafoam



PS: if towing a trailer, what counts is how the trailer is balanced, including it's wheels. Tire pressure,
and how you accelerate. you'd be surprised how low your initial takeoff mpg can drop when accelerating.

For instance. The throttle position sensor is at 20 most of the time on the highway getting 22 mpg.
But if you put it to 20 taking off, your mileage drops to 4mpg. or less. TPS at 13 is the best you can do, and then your mpg
is about 12-15 taking off, but you are going slow for a long time. there is a fine balance between getting
moving and wasting gas. Only a computer like scangauge can show you the sweet spots. sometimes
it is better to mash it and get up to speed then cruise. with a trailer, all bets are off. once up to speed you
should get at least 20mpg below 70mph with 1000 lbs and a top notch trailer.

Man4God

BS. I don't think you people are calculating your mileage correctly. For those who claim this great of mileage, post your method for determining it.

__________________
'97 4Runner Limited 4x4 w/Locker
Grey (Red & Blue) Wire Mod
2Lo Mod
Tundra DC Non-TRD front with stock Tundra Tokicos (2.5")
Downey 3" rear lift with Monroe Reflex Shocks (Thanks Chaplain!)

Soldier for Christ.

cackalak han

It's not rocket science. Any idiot should be able to figure out the MPG. Fill up, drive, fill up again. Divide miles driven by how much you just put in = MPG. There will always be variables due to the inaccuracy of: your actual miles (odometer), gas pump auto-stop, climate, etc. That's why you need to do it multiple times. I commute 100 miles per day. Terrain and miles per hour all stay consistent. My 3 year average is over 20MPG.

Instead of calling BS, maybe you should try to put some thought into what you could be doing that's hurting your MPG's or potentially taking care of some maintenance items on your 4Runner.

__________________
01 Tacoma DC TRD OR 4x4

Man4God

Not to get into an internet fight with you, but seriously, my truck is in outstanding condition. The only thing that I haven't done is clean the injectors (physically take them out and send them off) or replace the front 02 sensor that was already replaced 40K ago.

__________________
'97 4Runner Limited 4x4 w/Locker
Grey (Red & Blue) Wire Mod
2Lo Mod
Tundra DC Non-TRD front with stock Tundra Tokicos (2.5")
Downey 3" rear lift with Monroe Reflex Shocks (Thanks Chaplain!)

Soldier for Christ.

denpacc

Like I said, that was my experience(s) with my 4runner and tent trailer (8ft. Coleman) and I forgot to mention that I had my Thule box on the roof of my runner too. Keep in mind, though, that my tent trailer was relatively aerodynamic compared to your set-up. Someone mentioned earlier about you getting a wind break or something like that. That might help if your mpg's suck.

Now I have a big, huge hard body travel trailer that's 4200-4300#'s loaded to the nuts with all our family's gear and my fuel mileage has dropped significantly (avg. 12.5-13 mpg at 60-65 miles per hour). I can still get 15-16mpg's on gentle rolling hills driving 40-55 miles per hour (where speed limit is posted at 50mph), otherwise the drag from my travel trailer causes my mpg drop to what I said above any time I drive faster than 55mph. It's amazing what pulling a big square box can do to your drag coefficient. LOL.

Good luck and definitely post your results. Hopefully they are close to or better than mine.

Cheers

__________________
1997 3.4 4Runner, 5spd, e-locker, SS#1.1 Lift, 265/75/R16 Dick Cepek FCII
Coming soon: ARB front bumper with T-Max or Warn winch, sliders, snorkel, etc.

cackalak han

Well, I don't know what else to tell you. You've seen my spread sheet above. And I've got plenty more that say the same--from 3 different vehicles. Hard to argue with that.

Oh, and my 98 had 130k miles, my 02 had 90k miles and my current Tacoma has 106k miles.

Also, look at what kind of driving you do. Mine is 80-90% highway and I have my cruise set at anywhere between 70-80MPH. If you do lots of city driving or idling maybe that's where you're getting the lower MPG's.

__________________
01 Tacoma DC TRD OR 4x4

Whitey13

I am also extremely skeptical that some people here can get 400 miles out of a tank of gas. I must have about 10 kilos buried in my truck somewhere because I'm not going to see 20+ unless I drive off a cliff.

denpacc

To the skeptics all I can say is believe what you want. I know what I get and as Cackalak said above it's not rocket science to calculate.

Some people accelerate hard, some are off and on the gas and brakes more than others, some are calculating city/highway combined, some people have extremely poor driving habits, some people live in poor traffic flow or windy regions, etc., who knows. I've got 4.10 gears and a 5 speed with a high mileage (150+K) 3.4 litre and I posted what I got. My mileage was all 100% highway with a couple of slow downs where the highway goes through a town or something of the like.

I know what I got and it was calculated over multiple 400+ mile trips pulling my tent trailer. As for Man4God, what kind of method are you asking me to post? Let's see here, fill up and drive a bunch of miles, fill up and calculate. Repeat that numerous times and vioala, you get your average mileage. Plus I use a slide rule mileage calculator with number of gallons/number of miles and it gives me the mpg's. Simple. I've checked the accuracy of the slide rule numerous times and it's spot on perfect (government issued calculator). Again this is not rocket science. I've seen posts where people get good mileage and bad mileage with the same brand and make and year/motor of vehicle. Does that mean the people with good mileage are lying? My brother gets phenomenol fuel mileage with his Dodge one ton Cummins, the next guy gets crummy mileage with the same truck/motor and complains to the dealer. Maybe I'm lucky, I don't know. I welcome your skepticism, but I can assure you my calculations are correct.

Just cause your vehicles can't get the same mileage doesn't mean it isn't possible for others.

Cheers

__________________
1997 3.4 4Runner, 5spd, e-locker, SS#1.1 Lift, 265/75/R16 Dick Cepek FCII
Coming soon: ARB front bumper with T-Max or Warn winch, sliders, snorkel, etc.

jjrgr21

call BS all you want, it's a fact. using regular 85 octane from grand junction CO to cisco UT, i got 23 mpg w/245/75/16 cooper ST-C's, 10w30 mobil 1 syn, and royal purple in the diffs. i towed throughout a 10,000 mile trip my M-416 trailer loaded with all of our supplies, and had a drawer system in the bed with the dogs. my average while west of the mississippi river was 21.5 mpg, and ocasionally got a bit better. my average speed was 63 miles per hour.

the reason i'm regearing is towing up hills the 3.4 was screaming. and i'm running 255/85's now.

i think the altitude help, and having a lower octane, my average here in MD with the coopers was 19-20mpg all day long on the highway

__________________
2003 4WD TRD Tacoma
1986 4Runner

Whitey13

You're talking apples and oranges. A 4Runner and a Tacoma are not the same vehicle.