Belize Off Road Team

Lately alot of people have asked me how i accomlish such a high number with the 3.0 V6. And so i wanted to clear the air by posting the things on my truck that would affect fuel economy. So here is my list
Smooth running, very loved and babied 3.0 with only 187,000kilometers or roughly 113,000 miles,
K&N Drop In Filter cleaned every 6 months, more often in dry season due to dust,
Removed Catalitic Converter
Removed Muffler
265x75R16 Toyo Open Country M/T @ 43PSI
or 31x10.50R15 Pro Comp Xterrain
No Running Boards
No sun roof or hood deflectors
Lund Sun Visor
Lund Wind deflectors
A/C on
closed windows
5th gear
average 90-100km/h or 55-60mph
Automatic Disconnecting Differential (ADD Hubs), soon manual hubs which may give me more MPG
Spare Tire Swing Arm
Soon removing intake silencer
Soon snorkel

I first got this mileage while moving down here from Canada. after 12 consecutive days of driving i got 25MPG every day. 100% highway, 8 hours a day. and i used Regular, so i may have gotten more with Premium, i dont know.

MY BIGGEST RECOMMENDATION IS TIRE PRESSURE.
There was a commercial not to long ago that said 5PSI made the world of difference in alot of different area's including traction and fuel economy.
I was just told by a fellow member that had taken my advise and pumped up their tires, and now get greater fuel economy with their 2nd gen 4Runner.

So my recommendation for anyone who wants 25MPG is tire pressure.
Yes, i am expecting some people to tell me that this will cause un even wear pattern on the tires and wear them out sooner. So let me ask you this...
Is saving 100 bucks a month for 4 years and buying new tires 6 months sooner than normal Better or Worse than getting crap fuel economy?

Matt16

2000rpm, 5th gear- 26mpg.

Brenjen

The removal of the ADD plates might give you a little mpg gain but not much, every little bit helps but I just thought I'd give you a heads up on that, I think I gained in the point zero one category (.011756899476856 lol, you get the idea)

mt_goat

That's about what I got too LOL.

PCE91V64x4

Going 65-70 I get 22mpg with tires inflated per the owners manual. I do not think that overinflating my tires will get me an additional 10%, but my truck is stock so maybe some of your mods have had a positive effect on mpg. I also have almost 190,000 miles on my engine and I have the full exhaust, which is about 2 years old.

Does the gas in Belize have any ethanol? Most US gas has 10% ethanol, which reduces fuel economy, but from 25mpg it would probably only drop to 23 at most, more likely 23.5-24mpg.

HelliphinoN8

Right on! I have a 93 pick-up 22RE with 31's and I'm averaging 25 mpg. I only achieve this by driving like an old man and having my BFG muds jacked up to almost 50psi. I'm sure I can gain plenty, it's just hard to get out of the habit of gouging on it everywhere I go. Google hypermiling and see what I'm talking about.

Belize Off Road Team

Well, if you want to achieve great fuel economy, driving slow is the only way to do it. And for highway, unless your in a race, there is no need to go really fast.

Noltz

That's where the original 55mph came from - US Gov't EPA found @ 55mph cars got their best mileage.

I'm averaging about 17-18 mpg, pure city driving. For Highway, I take the 4 cylinder sedan that gets about 28.

1990Runner

i actually think i get better milage in the city versus highway because when im doin 70-75mph on the highway im runnin like 3400-3600 rpms. at 40mph in 5th gear its at like 1300-1500

Matt16

That's going to depending on gearing, aerodynamics, where the engine makes it's torque. But I imagine not everyone overthinks this so much so 55mpg is a good starting point. My 4Runner cruises well between 50- 55mph in 5th.

mmcpeck

That 55mph being the most econimcal speed thing may have been true in the 70's during the gas crisis when they came up with it, but I bet for cars now, it's a little higher.

With modern fuel injection systems, engine monitoring systems and way better machining, I bet 65 is the old 55.

bigtrucknwheels

eh, 55 is still the great trade off number. engines actually achieve their greatest (in most cases) mpg's between 2-3k RPMs. ever notice that almost every vehicle you drive, top gear puts you right between those numbers at 55? that and 55 is really the threshold where speed vs wind drag evens out to be the most economical, its pretty much proven.

try driving a whole tank at 65 then a whole tank at 55, you will see a big difference.

Marc

Just wondering what kind of gallons you are doing your calculations with?

US or Imperial?

Djlarroc

Good info. I agree w/the 55 and recently saw on the bad news, that they are considering lowering the speed limit in an effort to help people save gas. It won't lower the price per-se, but it will help people be more efficient.

I constantly get between 36-38MPGs HWY on my 5 series BMW. It's awesome.

JasonWin

Actually...

Link

So really it depends on how fast your going.

Brenjen

Mythbusters is for entertainment & Wikipedia is wrong so often I wouldn't consider using it as a source.

I saw that episode myself btw; when I was a kid & we drag raced it was common to roll up ypur windows to reduce drag & that was before the intardnet & in a part of the country where having more than one tooth in your head qualified you as a dentist.

I also read somewhere on a news story which had their sources listed but I can't remember what they were; claimed that in modern vehicles with fuel injection & ECM's that the A/C compressor running doesn't use any more fuel than not running it. I also remember everyone saying the A/C would cut your H.P. & use more gasoline when I was younger. I can attest that in older vehicles the compressor would drag down an engine when it kicked on....my 4Runners doesn't. Not very scientific but neither is Mythbusters most of the time.

Belize Off Road Team

A/C DOES NOT USE MORE OR LESS FUEL ON OR OFF. That is a common misconception. It only seems like it because it puts great strain on the engine and everyone just puts their foot down harder to get more power. SO it only uses more fuel if you drive like a bat out of hell with the A/C on.


JasonWin:
Good point, but again i was going 55-60mph with A/C, so again it helps me achieve 25MPG. Same goes for a pick up right? tailgate up or down makes a difference?

Mr Priceless

i think 55MPG is a great starting point!!!

just tell me what i need to do with my 22r

82yota

I notice a big difference in my diesel between 55mph and 65-70 mph. At 55mph I can get 30mpg when I do do 65 mph I definately don't get that. I've never gone that fast for a whole tank to see what mileage I did get because the gauge started moving down too fast. Most of the time I'm sitting between 55 and 60 mph. It likes it between those speeds.

just a 22re

i get about 23- 26 mpg in my rig all highway no city here, and all i have is 4.10's 31x10.50r15's and aired up to about 50psi i think 5-speed and a sorkle with a camshaft and a new motor and im smoking the tyres off this thing rev limit all the time and 55 in 5th gear is about 2,300rpms i only sometimes go to about 70 but thats when im passing


ok i lied when she hits the rev limit all the time and i get on her really bad to hear the intake i get about 16- 19 maybe even 22mpg so i dont get it


ah i see i have a 22re and you have a thirsty V6 i get it now sorry thats some darn good mpg's there buddy