Anyone know of any cheap(under $500) tricks to increasing my (the wifes)gas mileage on (her) '97 3.4L? Exhaust, K&N Air Filter?

Thanks!

 

A set of tires can make a big diference (specifically stock sized readials).

 

There has been a lot of questions recently about this and it seems people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars to gain a mile or 2 per gallon. Just a little math:

Lets say you spend $400 to gain 2 miles per gallon

If you currently get 20mpg you would then get 22mpg. Say gas is around $2 a gallon. As a result you are currently paying 10 cents a mile...

To make up the $400 spent for better fuel economy you would need to buy 2,000 gallons of gas since you are basically saving/making 20 cents per gallon. And at 22mpg thats 44,000 miles! That's about 3 years before you see any return on the investment. Also take into consideration that gas prices will hopefully go down in the next few years. If gas dropped to $1.60 then you are saving a mere 16 cents per gallon -> 55,000 miles and almost 5 years to see proffits.

Is it worth it? I don't think so...

 

Exhaust, k&N air intake, and throttle body didnt do ˟˟˟˟ for me. Well actually the intake improved it by 1 mpg. If i was to do that mod just for gas ecomony i wouldve wasted my money. The throttle body did nothing. The only reason it is still on there is cuz i looks cool.

 

If you're looking for magic, you may as well stop. Poboy's point should be heeded. The only things you can do are the usual things you probably should be doing to properly maintain a vehicle; tune-up, alignment, air filter, etc.. Other than that, try inflating your tires to their max rating and then reduce pressure to suit handling and comfort. Tire inflation and driving habits are probably 2 of the most impactful items that affect fuel economy.

 

put some little tiny, 2wd mini-truck wheels and tires on it!!!

 

Wow, where is gas $2.00 a gallon? Not only that, where/when will it be a buck sixty?

When and if it ever gets that low here, I'm up for putting a Supra motor in my Tacoma.

Fuel here is $2.47 for regular...cough, cough.

I would just make the mods and deal with the mileage.

Just my thought.

 

I figured I would get that response...but I also figured 20mpg was fairly high for most people. So they cancel each other out IMOP. Nevertheless, gas is 2.13 here in Phoenix and 1.80 in St. Louis.

 

As much as I would love to see gas prices go down (especially to $1.60) I don't see it happening because the oil producers are greedy bastards and will continue to manipulate prices to their advantage. The only thing keeping them from making gas much higher than it is is the fear of us coming up with cheaper alternatives to gasoline. I see gas prices dropping but maybe to $1.80 in my neck of the woods (Indiana) and going back up to where they are now by next summer...maybe higher. I know the producers have said they would like to see oil prices drop to $30 a barrel, but I will beleive it when I see it.

 

I wasnt saying it would...i was just throwing in the IF it did drop back down...either way - there are much better alternatives than dumping $400 for an extra mile per gallon in a 20mpg vehicle.

1. Corolla
2. Civic
3. Echo
...the list goes on and on

 

1. Whether it's your concern about money or the environment, pump your tires up to near max. inflation stated on tire and push down less on the gas pedal. Shift at lower rpms except when going uphill. I don't do any of these things most the time but I do get 21 to 23mpg with my 1990 22re 5speed runner (stock). Could probably do a bit better if I followed my own advise.
2. Get a Prius. Still would take awhile before the cost benefit paid off though.

Locally, I drive an old Mercedes 4cyl. diesel more than the 4 runner because it gets 27 to 38 mpg. Thinking about burning old french fry oil which would lower my cost and harm the environment less.

 

Fun with numbers.

If you're concerned about costs and thinking about getting a Prius, get an Echo instead. A Prius costs about $10,000 more than an Echo. At gas prices of $2/gallon, with the Prius making 60 mpg and the Echo making 35 mpg, you would have to drive about 420,000 miles before you would break even.

 

Here is food for thought concerning the fuel prices of today vs prices here (San Diego) a year ago.....

The average price per barrel of oil was approximately $28.00, and we were paying what we are today for gas.

Today, oil was a little over $55.00 per barrel and we are paying the same for a gallon of fuel as we were last year.

Yeah, the greedy bastards are lieing to us. Oil moguls SUCK!!

 

Check the weather forecast regularly, and plan accordingly....

then drive as much as possible with the wind at your back.

 

I pay $2.20 here in hawaii for regular and thats on the chep side. I did deck plate and TRD air filter. No noticable diff, however, you can tell the truck breaths easier.

 

bus passes should be under $500.

 

Like you, I too did an air box mod w/K&N air filter. I did not see an improvement in mileage. I then installed a Flowmaster Delta 40 and again no change, just louder. I will be replacing that soon.

 

you guys are funny and very entertaining I must add! Very insightful though... thanks for all of your advice... I appreciate your feedback!

doing nothing because of it,
Ben

 

people from my country go to your country to pay less on the go juice. I think I'm the one being ripped off here, I have to drive for 24 hours to hit the U.S.

 

I know it's not much but with a K&N drop in,plugs,wires and a tune up I gained about 20 miles a tankful and any little bit helps but if mileage ia an issue then don't drive a 4Runner.