I have an 2001 Tacoma, originally bought from California. It's now up here in Canada. I've owned it for 3 years now and totally not impresssed with the fuel to mileage ratio that it's getting, compared to say my former vehicle which was a '93 4Runner.

It has about 168,000 miles on it.

My Tacoma, if i'm lucky gets 200 miles/tank. (360km/tank). (My runner on average got 540km/tank).
At our ridiculous gas prices (3 times the amount of yours), this gets really expensive to drive. $70-$80/tank.

Has anyone else had any issues like this with their Tacomas? Is there anything I can do to increase the fuel mileage? preferably something that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

I've always wanted a truck, but now i'm regretting ever getting one. If I could find myself a 2nd gen 4 Runner, I'd probably go back to it.

 

4 cylinder, 6 cylinder? What's your calculated MPG? Trip divided by gallons filled? Don't forget to adjust for any oversized tires, or gearing changes. 200 miles per tank doesn't mean squat. Say you have a 42 gallon tank vs a 17 gallon tank, of course you're going to go farther on the bigger tank.

the 5vz-fe v6 you can expect 16-17mpg, the 3rz 4 cylinder, around 20mpg. The old 3.0s got around 14-15mpg, and not a whole lot better on the 22re. Too much data missing here...

 

My 98 3.4 V6 gets around 280+ per tank, so all things being equal, if you've got the same engine as me and same size gas tank, that ain't good mileage.

I get 19 highway. Drew is probably right on with 16-17mpg average, mixed town and highway.

No error codes? When's the last time the plugs and wires were replaced? Air filter? Brakes aren't dragging? And yeah, what size tires etc.

 

3.4 L V6
18.5 Gal tank
31x10.5xR15 Duratracs (same size as my 4Runner and it got waaaay better mileage)
Stock gears
K&N Air Filter replaced every 6 months
Automatic tranny
No error codes
Haven't touched the plugs or wires since I bought it.
Toyota site states 22mpg city, 25 mpg highway.

 

I used to have a '96 x-cab with a 3.4 that I would regularly get 19-21mpg with mostly highway driving.

 

Nobody's getting 22 city 25 highway, I'll tell you that.

But yes, there's something going on. That's bad mileage.

 

I am guessing you do no idle time at all Correct ??

In the winter my 2000 3.4 5 speed always loaded heavy (@1000 pounds) Tires are 235/75/15

I get between 10 and 12 mpg This depends if it is Interstate which I hate because traffic runs @ 75 MPH

I would venture 20 to 30 minutes idle time in the morning

It is a work truck the gas goes in I pay the bill.

I fill up every time the gauge gets close to 1/2 tank 3 times some days

 

I idle for about 5-10 mins before heading to work. (long enough for the choke to kick out and the engine/cab to warm up a tad. Usually rpm's are around 1200 when I start moving.

 

Figuring out actually miles per gallon will give people a better idea, but I agree you aren't getting good mileage. But to get a real estimate we'd need to know mpg. I mean I now you aren't filling up when the tank is bone dry, so "200 miles per tank" only tells us so much. Get your actual mpg and people can say how far off that is from what they're getting.

I'm still learning these newer trucks...in the past I would have said "check timing, spark plugs and wires, distributer cap and rotor, valve adjustment" etc.

But on these trucks...no distributer, timing is computer controlled, valves supposedly almost never need adjustment...so I don't know the things to check if you're getting terrible mileage.

People can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the great thing about the 3.4 is that it has more power than the 3.0, but pretty much gets the same gas mileage. So if you're comparing it to your 3.0, I agree...I'd be disappointed too.

 

the whole problem with MPG's is I'm in Canada. We don't use the Imperial system and it's a pain in the arse to keep converting back to it.
My friends 3L Jeep gets better mileage than me, my other friend has a Dodge Dakota with a 4.8 in it and gets almost twice the mileage I do. Same size tank in both.
Oh well I guess it's time to sell the Toy and buy something more economical.

 

Yugo ?? I here they get good mileage

 

Seems expensive to sell vehicles rather than fix/tune them, but if you won't be happy with the Toyota even if it's getting the typical 19mpg highway, then yeah, looks like something else will better suit you.

 

I'd go back to a 4Runner in an instant if it wasn't for the fact that they rot out so quickly.

 

So I did some work on my truck...
replaced, plug wires (NGK), put in 6 Iridium plugs (NGK), replaced the fuel filter (ACDelco), replaced the air filter (Wix). Found some items thaat needed to be replaced as well. (Timing Belt, other 3 serpentine belts, water pump, muffler/tailpipe was shot)
$1200 later, still getting low mileage per tank. Next in line is $600 on smaller size tires.
Looking at Toyo Open Country AT II's 235/75R15. (Which are slightly bigger than stock) Dunno what else to try.

 

If you don't off road at all, try the Open Country HTs. I have used them and they gave me better gas mileage over AT tires. Gas is an issue for me as I am also in Canada but my millage is absolutely affected by my driving style.

 

For comparison, I live in the highlands a hilly area, during the winter I average 380km on a tank, take it for a drive on flat land down south I get 500km easily.

 

I went from 31x10.50s to 30x9.50s and I get the exact same mileage with both tires.

It's not going to do anything for you.

 

Not knowing your driving style

I do notice engine rpm @ 3000 it is like using the after burners that is why I hate the Interstate 50 mph I am quite happy

How much weight you have in the truck.

Taking out the 400' of #01 welding cable out from behind the seats helped

The same with being empty or only a few hundred pounds.

Wind cross wind or head winds suck the fuel.

Switch over to locking Hubs

 

1999 4Runner. I check and log my fuel usage each time I fill up, so this s accurate.

In the summer I average 19mpg. On Winter blend gasoline (which the government pinheads think will save the planet) I get 16-17 mpg.

Here's the key...change sparkplugs every 30,000 miles. I use standard 2 prong plugs. Also change the air filter at that time and clean the Throttle body.

Make SURE three sensors are working 100% properly. The MAF sensor, the Oxygen sensor and the Fuel/Air Sensor.

Yes they are expensive. Yes you should ONLY use Toyota parts.

These engines are highly reliant on the sensors. If you ignore them you won't only get crappy mileage but you will do serious harm to your engine, i.e. Your injectors will dump too much fuel into the engine....which washes the oil from the cylinder walls and causes premature wear.

 

All of you have certainly come up with good suggestions to help WPGwelder. The only other thing I can think of to examine, check, and clean would be the Mass Air Flow unit. Then I would start checking your emission stuff. My wife and I have a 1999 Tacoma, which we use as our house truck with the exact same drivetrain as your 2001.
The truck, which we have had for years gets anywhere between 16 to 18 miles per gallon. The 3.4 5VZ-FE is not known for being a weak drinker when it comes to drinking. They have plenty of sting, but they make you pay for it a little.
I do think you are not getting gas mileage that you should be getting, though. Make sure you also check your fuel filter and fuel lines.