I am going on a roadtrip this weekend from Maryland to South Carolina and I think I am going to take the 1988 4runner. I have never driven this more than an hour away before and this would be about a 7-8 hour drive. My gas gauge doesn't work. Any rough estimates of about how many miles I should expect to get before running out? 22RE, manual, and probably averaging about 65mph.

Thanks!

 

i think the most ive gotten outta my 87 is 22 mpg, i could probably push to 300 miles on a tank but it would make me nervious to do so

 

Ok so if my trip is under 500 miles then I can stop once around the 250 mile mark and be ok it sounds like. I will have a jerry can in the back with a gallon or two just in case.

I checked the coolant, changed the oil, lubed the grease fittings and checked my tire pressure. Anything else you guys would recommend? I have been driving this truck about twice a week for about six months now and it seems to drive, brake, and shift pretty good. Only think I didn't check or change initially when I got it was the diff fluids and the transmission fluid.

 

Make it easy on yourself. Fill it up, drive 100 miles, fill it up again, do the math.

I can usually hit 20mpg on the hwy, but you have no idea what you're getting.

 

i gotta agree about 100 to 120 miles will be about 1/2 or so on my 87

Your mileage also depends on how much junk your taking along.

The wind can also help a strong tail wind gives you a push a cross wind or head wind it is like dumping the after burners as far as fuel mileage

drive 55 mph will increase your mileage as well with that square box type vehicle.

You say nothing about tire size or tread which can also effect mileage.

with all my vehicles I very seldom let the gas drop below half a tank.

 

Is your 4runner stock? With my experience with my two first-generation 4runners, I'd fill up every 200 miles just to be safe. But my mileage may be than yours lower due to 35" tires, lift, armor etc.

 

It is stock except for 31 inch mud terrains. I wont have much cargo, but I will be making the trip without the top. I also took the bikini top off so that it is not flapping in the wind for 8 hours. I will go ahead and stop after 200 miles and see how many gallons I have burned. How many gallons is the tank by the way? I have never filled it up from empty.

 

15 gallons I believe.

 

Dude... If your gas gauge dont work, and you dont know how many miles per gallon youre getting, Theres no way to tell how far you can go...
Do yourself a favor... carry at least 5gal in the back or something... Nothing worse than running out in the middle of nowhere, with no services for miles...

ETA: as said above tho... I would fill up, drive 100 miles, then fill up again and do the math so you have a better idea.

 

300 miles is my limit, i'd definitely fill up before then...250 sounds safe if your averaging 65mph. if you hit 75 i'd fill up at 200 cuz you lose 2-4 mpg between 65 and 75.
as stated above, safest way is to calculate your mpg after 100 miles or so, then you'll know. the tank is 14 or 15 gal, can't remember for sure

 

I get between 20 and 22 on the highway in my 87 Runner, 22RE, 5 speed, 31's on stock gears. That's after correcting for tire size. The tank is 17.2 gallons if I recall correctly. That means if you get 20 MPG and run it dry you could go 344 miles. I used to fill up at around 200 miles when my fuel gauge didn't work. I recently replaced the sender and now I confidently go until it's much closer to empty, usually approaching 300 miles.

 

I would bet I am getting close to 15-20 from most of my driving, but it has been mostly short trips around town. I will have a small gas can just in case, but I am traveling down I-95 and I-85 so I will not be more than about 20 miles from a station at any time.

And the only reason i really want to take this rather than my daily driver (Audi a4) is that I am going to a guys weekend with friends that own about 500 acres that we always go driving around and exploring.

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

I consistently get 250+ miles to the tank on my 86 with 31"s.
My truck is fairly heavy with tools for work and rescue but is probably about same weight a "camping trip" would weigh.

Stop every 200 and you'll be fine. Leave the gas can at home, don't need the fumes inside anyways.

 

I can back up the claim of 22 MPG on the highway with 31x10.5s. My gas gauge is shot as well and I usually fill up at 250 miles. The tank takes about 13 gallons at that point.

 

How do you get 22mpg out of 250 miles and 13 gallons??? Works out to 19.2 on my calculator.