Hey all, I just bought a 1994 4runner 4x4, 3.0. Just checked my gas mileage and it turns out I'm rockin 12mpg's, and yes I drive with a very lite foot. Can anybody tell me if that's normal. I was told it has a 3" lift and its got 3.x10.5x15's on it. It has stock exhaust, no cat, and a brand new thrush turbo muffler. I just went and bought a new o2 sensor hoping to solve some of my problem. Any other ideas to help improve mileage? Thanks,

Spencer

 

completely normal... you're lucky to get over 15ish around the city and MAYBE 17-19 on the highway...

There are things you can do to give you better gas mileage but not a whole lot. Do a little searching around the forums... youll find posts that will give you ideas like new intake mods, better gearing, etc.

 

Ok thanks will do, I would be quite happy to get it up to 15 if I could

 

Joe seems to be right on that one(not a 3.0'er , myself... but read on here lots)....

There is a thread for "Post your mileage"... Where MANY guys with 3.0's are claiming "I get 16-19/City-Hwy all day long"... and even 18-24mpg on 22RE's.... I'm not calling them liars, ... Just never can seem to get that out of the 10 22R/22RE's I've owned. Pulling 12-14city MAX right now in my 22RE... 20HWY, give or take 2mpg... so I DEFINITELY have something going on. My buddy WHOM I TOTALLY trust has a VERY clean rebuilt 3.0.... He's running around 15-16 City/17-19hwy all day long on his.... TOTALLY rebuild, well, 3.0, keep in mind.

 

I'm hoping my new o2 sensor will boost me up to that 15mph mark, and I might run some sea foam through it and see what happens. I suppose the roof rack probably doesn't help my sailboat at all. Some point I will also check for any vaccum leaks.

 

tbo o2 may help, but your roof rack won't make much of a diff.. its really not THAT killing of your aerodynamics unless you have a box rack.

There is a mod that will allow you to adjust your AFM that helped me out. check it out.

 

Ok ill look into it. Is sea foam or lucas going to do anything for me or is it just a waste of money?

 

chem-tool is cheaper than sea foam btw.

 

My dad got 18 with his 3.0, I got 21 city and 25 highway with me 22re and I get 20 city and 22 highway with my 22r. It's all about staying in the right RPMs for what you're doing. Lower isn't always better. I do very little city driving, mostly mountain roads, 45 mph, very few stop signs (definitely makes a big difference) From the little experience I've had with the 3.0 I found that you don't want to rev it too high or give it a lot of gas. It's got a little torque, you just gotta find the sweet spot. The 22re definitely liked to rev out the most of 3 in my experience. Look at it this way, you're setting yourself up for an easier 3.4 swap

I've found highway mileage drops off dramatically after about 70 mph due to the terrible aerodynamics of these trucks.

 

Might not be the worst idea to go through your motor and replace old vacuum lines, check the dip stick still seals etc... Of the two yotas I've owned, they've both had pretty god vacuum leaks at the dip sticks.

 

How long do you usually drive to work? I'm driving only about 2 miles to work now & my mileage dropped from 16.4 to 13.6. Cold engine sucks a lot of fuel.

 

A 4wd 3VZE(3.0) with a 3 inch lift and 31-10.50 tires 12 mpg city is just about normal.

Unless you overhaul and clean the engine your prob not ever going to get much better than that...

Things that may help:

-40 PSI in all tires
-NGK Platinum or better spark plugs gapped accordingly
-Check and or correct ignition timing. 5 degrees is about right for the 3.0
-Replace timing belt
-Air filter element
-Remove excess weight
-Change Differential(s) fluid
-Transaxle fluid
-Check for engine accessory drive pulleys for abnormal friction and resistance
-Switch to a synthetic base oil
-Replace thermostat

 

I drive roughly 8 miles each way to school and I live in the country on a small town so not much starting and stoping. kiroshu, thanks for the ideas. I'm still in highschool workin at the hardware store so I will do some of that stuff once I have a little extra cash. Since buying this 2 weeks ago I've discovered its much cheaper when I was driving the parents car

 

Years ago I had a 94 4Runner, 3.0, auto 4X4 with 31" Yokahama Geolanders. I could sometimes attain 17-18 MPG highway, but never any more than that. Mileage was typically worse. I sold the vehicle before it reached 100,000 miles, so the engine was in pretty good shape. Good luck, d00d.

 

Right now mine is at 205,000 so its getting a little tired I think

 

1990 v6 4wd 190k

stop and go city, around 15mpg
highway, 55 to 65mph, 20mpg

 

It's largely just 'technology, OP.... My bro-in-laws 99 LS1 Camaro does 160+MPH, 0-60 in 4-5 Seconds, but just driving normal, he's getting 25+ MPG, AVERAGE! lol. There is NO WAY it should be that way, twice the size motor..... other than through technology. Guys right now with 1UZ swaps are getting better mileage than myself with a 22REEEEK! lol.

As said, 'proper shifting at the right RPM', 'Where you live/hills, etc.', 'how much you're over 70mph' .... all have a huge effect, I've noticed as well. But, at some point, when I'm grandma'ing my 22RE, newly rebuilt, nothing HUGELY racy on it.... still getting 13-15MPG city, max, .... 20-21Hwy... I gotta at LEAST TRY to get it up a lil in town, somehow! lol.

Also, I live where it's a sea of red lights in front of me... Stoplight every 100 yards that is always red.... Only through 1-3 gears most often(3rd if I'm LUCKy that day, lol).... That HAS to have a huge difference from guys who drive 10 miles to work, no stop signs, 45mph average most of the way, IN 5TH, .... at 2200rpm.... IT'S GOTTA, I TELL YA! hahaha.

 

Pulling the larger tires that most of these yotas have(factory) and especially if they are 4WD these engines (Especially the 22r) have to work very hard to move these trucks around.

Its just the nature of the beast.

 

SUP, KIROSHU!?!?!?! Long time no talky! lol. Hope you're well, sir!

 

Well I decided to spring the money and buy a new o2 sensor since no one seems to have the connector to read the code so we will see how that does. My uncle also noticed the hose between air breather and throttle body is wrapped in duck tape. He said that will throw codes and may slightly effect my economy