95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

ECT button is a blessing

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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:25 PM
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ECT button is a blessing

I've kept the ECT on for the last 4 tankfuls and my mileage went up almost 35 miles more a tank and I've actually been doing more city driving as of late and my driving is still a little on the leadfooted side. I went from maybe 215-220 a tank to a almost 255. So I'm up at about 17mpg.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by X-AWDriver
I've kept the ECT on for the last 4 tankfuls and my mileage went up almost 35 miles more a tank and I've actually been doing more city driving as of late and my driving is still a little on the leadfooted side. I went from maybe 215-220 a tank to a almost 255. So I'm up at about 17mpg.
holy cow.

ive been trying to see if it makes a diff for me, so far no luck

Im glad you got positive results...what gas did you use?
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:29 PM
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wow, I gotta give that a shot. I don't really know how that would work, I always thought it just let the engine rev higher before shifting, which would be worse, but to be honest, I left it on for a tank by accident a hwile back, and I did notice a little difference. Not sure how that happens, but I'm gonna give it a shot again.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:46 PM
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theoretically leaving the ECT on would decrease gas mileage. Hmmm I'll have to try....
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:47 PM
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I've done nothing different other than pushing the ECT button. Tire pressure has been at 34psi and I use the same station's 87 octane I've always used. My fuel light used to come on at about 200 or maybe 210 but this last one it shined at 233.9 and I still have a little ways to go so this tank will be at just over 250.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:51 PM
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Damn, last gas reciept in my truck was from 3/19/06, I might not know the results for a while, but when I get back to driving this rig in the summer, I'll let you know if I notice a difference too. Any advice for helping out the MPGs in my F-250? I could use a few hundred more miles out of each tank.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:54 PM
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Hope you guy's have the same results as X-AWDriver. I had just the opposite effect on my 01 Tacoma. It also Say's in the book that you should not leave it on as you will use more gas.
This button keeps it from shifting right away on take offs and as a result the RP M's go higher on the take off before shifting. It's meant to get you in the flow of traffic a little faster from a dead stop.It will also help keep it from shifting so much when towing or going up a steep grade but not without a trade off of higher RP M's and that sucks gas.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 01:56 PM
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is it a Desle? b/c crusing in them u get good milage.

I've accually got alot of time around F250 Desiles (damn i can't spell) and alot of the same stuff for 4runners "ususaly" applies to them. MY buddy installed a 2nd turbo charger on his Desile and accually got some gas milage increase, along w/ a litle tourqe b/c he lowered the PSI on the one 2 pounds, and then made the new one put out the same (think he's pushing 5-6 pounds outta each) and it provides more touqe and overlal power.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by norflaballer
is it a Desle? b/c crusing in them u get good milage.

I've accually got alot of time around F250 Desiles (damn i can't spell) and alot of the same stuff for 4runners "ususaly" applies to them. MY buddy installed a 2nd turbo charger on his Desile and accually got some gas milage increase, along w/ a litle tourqe b/c he lowered the PSI on the one 2 pounds, and then made the new one put out the same (think he's pushing 5-6 pounds outta each) and it provides more touqe and overlal power.
Nah, just the lowly 5.4 V8, I've actually heard the diesels do much better on gas, and make much more power. We usually beat the crap out of our trucks, I picked this up brand new amazingly cheap, and couldnt justify spending an extra 10gs or so on the diesel, I know you can't kill a iesel even a power storke, but I wouldnt want to keep one for 4 years, they start looking and feeling really bad after about 2.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 02:38 PM
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You sure it's not because were off the winter blend now?
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 02:44 PM
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Diesels do alot better on gas especially cruising. Stock 250's can get 20 MPG On the highway cruising, and u got the extra tourq when towing w/ the diesel. The kid i was talking about w/ the twin toubos' on his 250 uses it for mudding. he's got a 12" Skyjacker lift on it and some 38-39" TSL's. IT's a nice rig and still gets mid-high teens Gas milage

As for the ECT button, I always have it on b/c i cut ppl off sometimes pulling outta my neighborhood and need to get to 55 mph quick. haha. it's bad on gas milage, but meh'. i don't get how u improved gas milage with it though.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 02:45 PM
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I second the winter blend. I have been driving with my ETC switch on for ever and I still only get around 15mpg.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 03:37 PM
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ever since prices skyrocketed, i put the ect button on and laid off the gas a bit and im up to a record 17.something mpgs!
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 04:38 PM
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The truck drives sooo much better with the ECT button on... I turned it on last summer and left it on. It also works better with the SCr as it down shifts quicker when there is a load. And tons more power off the line! Summer gas rocks... I nearly hit 18mpg (mixed driving) on the last tank!! Not bad considering Lift, MT tires, & SC'd. I use to hit 20-22 on a regular basis (stock).
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Dublin
You sure it's not because were off the winter blend now?
That's what I would think too. My mileage has gone up about 10-12% this month compared to March. Ect off all the time.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 05:18 PM
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ive got the 3.slow with the AT and without the ect on it is a slug. With ect on, i atleast have a chance to keep up with traffic. I think it is better to have it on, the mileage has been about the same if anything it may have gone up a little bit.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 05:21 PM
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Leaving it on is like holding it in gear longer making the engine work harder.Hard to swallow.Maybe you not getting on it because it gives it more power.I left mine off for 3 tank fulls.It averages 2 more miles to the gallon with it off.
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Old Apr 27, 2006 | 10:36 PM
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I'm going to give this a shot as I go up and down a few big hills everyday and not re-geared yet...
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Old Apr 28, 2006 | 06:20 AM
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From: Littleton,CO
Originally Posted by Dublin
You sure it's not because were off the winter blend now?
I thought that too but I've never seen this kinda mileage per tank since I bought the truck back in Oct. '04.
I just filled up this morning and my mileage was just over 250 for a 16.7 mpg average. Over the last year my mileage has been jumping from almost 15 flat to just over 16mpg but never more.

On my first tank with the ECT on I also did several miles off road in 4lo and still got 240 to the tank.

I'm now going to do a tank with the ECT back off since my city driving has increased a bit so I'll give an update probably within a week. It might just be a fluke but it's a fluke in my favor so far.

Last edited by X-AWDriver; Apr 28, 2006 at 06:22 AM.
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Old Apr 28, 2006 | 08:53 AM
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I too drive with the ETC on all the time since I bought the truck used. It was not a winter / summer thing it just gave me better gas miles for my driving habits which is a city / hwy mix. I get approx 260-270 on a tank full by the time the light comes on. No mods, and 87 octane from who ever has it cheapest.
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