Not to start a pissing match but I do track this very closely. I just filled up this morning after a weeks worth commuting back and forth to work and trips at lunch time to get food. Here is how I get my MPG.

I reset the Trip ODO at every fill-up. I use it as my fuel guage since mine reads low.

This morning there were 267 miles on the trip ODO and I put in 15.020 Gal @ $3.12/gal for a total of $47.00

267 / 15.020 = 17.776 MPG

On my last Trip to the airshow in Oshkosh, WI with a fully loaded 4Runner, A/C blasting the whole time, and a bum O2 sensor I still averaged 18.407 for the whoile trip. That included tooling around WI to go visit family.

It almost seems like a crap shoot if you are going to get good mileage or not. I have no problem getting 19-20 city if i drive it like my Grandmother would. But that takes all the fun out of it!

I would love to particiapate in that tracking study.

 

^ I don't think you are starting a pissing match at all. I just have to question those people that time and time again pull mpg in the low 20's; 3 to 4+ mpg over EPA ratings and that of other 5VZFE-powered vehicles. Statistically speaking, mileage in the low 20's is not within normal distribution.

 

I have been keeping records on my cars since 1986 with every fill up. I keep it in an Access database for charting and graphing. Location of fill up, PricePergallon, milage and date. Interesting how prices change.

My wifes auto gets about 2 mpg better over my 5 speed. This was before mine has been modified. I range between 14 - 18 mpg. My wife consistantly gets about 18 - 20. We live out of town so most of our driving is highway with a little city.

 

You guys got the wrong gen 4Runner...my 85 on 37s gets better gas mileage than a 3rd gen any day of the week...20+ mpg on the highway.

My 2000 4Runner never got better than about 15 mpg, but if you want an economy car, buy a Prius.

 

How you like to accelerate has a lot to do with MPGs too and I like the on-ramp sprints and maintaining 80 on a slight hill doesn't help either.

 

My '97 Runner averages right around 20 MPG, with a few spikes up into the 22-24 range. It's riding on BFG All-Terrain T/A's, and has 113K miles on it. This is also with a 5-speed, and I know that the Automatic holds lower rpms at highway speeds.

 

There are some people on this board that can confirm my 20+ mpg claims. Several of us have traveled together on the same roads at the same speeds and I average 20-21 mpg highway. I have a 5-speed though, regardless of what the EPA ratings say, seems to return better mileage than the automatic-transmission equipped 4Runners.

 

My 20+ MPG was no fluke. I tracked the results in a spreadsheet for several months, and even went to the same gas pump most times, using the same "technique" of filling slow until it stopped, then one full-squeeze top-off. Anal maybe......but I know FOR SURE that I was getting the gas mileage correct.

 

I am not talking about periodic deviations from the "norm." I am talking about those that say they consistently get this type (20+) of mileage; day in and day out with the 5VZFE. And for the record, I am not calling anyone a liar here , I am just curious as to why, if their math is correct, they are seeing such better results then the rest of us.

Based on the responses I have seen recently and over the years, the main differences are:

1. Driving style
2. Maintenance/condition of the vehicle
3. Mods
4. Location (hills, altitude, temp)
5. Transmission type

Anything else we can add to the list?

 

Add that 5-speed tranny to the list.

My 6-month average was about 20.5 if I remember correctly.

It's true that the mods you guys all have may be killing the MPG. Mine is 100% virgin stock. Zero mods. I don't drive it rough, but no "granny" shifting either. My wife drives it most of the time now, but she's no sissy driver.

 

During a trip to New Mexico last year, flat Texas highway, driving in the cool night I got over 320 miles per tank. So I believe it can happen. I also have a 2WD auto. So I think it is possible. However, day to day I drive in city traffic with a heavy foot, so I don't get it here.

I don't think 20+ mpg is unreasonable based on my experiences. Anyway, it really doesn't matter, gas is too damn expensive anyway.

 

um, heres one thing i dont think you guys are considering...most people on here have larger than stock tires, so the milage on your odometer will be incorrect. if you figure your MPG by dividing miles driven by gallons of fuel, you'll be off. this could account for some of the MPG anomolies...

 

Good point, but most of us have a corrected formula in Excel compensating for this. But that was where my "math" comment came from.

OK, carry on.

 

Most people that regear or increase tire size will correct for that in their formulas (I hope).

I average around 18 MPG (16-18 in the winter and 18-20 in the summer). On long trips with strictly highway driving, going the speed limit, I have gotten as high as 22 or 23 MPG, but that's rare. There are, however, quite a few tankfuls that have given me over 20 MPG (only on mostly highway driving in the summer, though)

 

I noticed a decrease in my mileage as my Runner ages. I *think* its because I added AT tires (around 50k), so my plan is to see how "street" tires do when I get new ones this year.

 

I think there are many factors that can make one 3.4 v6 mileage differ from another.

I think the 4X4 4Runner Limited = poor gas mileage compared to others because

1. 4x4
2. Tire size 265 70 r16
3. Gears 4:30
4. 3.4 v6 engine vs 4 cylinder

+ Supercharger I get (13 - 19).

I think with a 4x2, smaller tires, and higher gear ratio, you can get 20+ mpg with the 3.4 v6 engine. Mileage varys depending on your options and if your engine is reasonably tuned. Iv'e also read in one of the forums that winter gas may also affect your mileage. My factory window sticker stated I should avgerage somewhere between 17 - 19 and I think that was pretty accurate before my supercharger.

Just my opinion
koda4

 

lucky, i get barely 14 if im lucky

 

What about the use of Air Conditioning? I rarely (ever) use it?

And a large portion of my driving is done with the windows down (rear up).

(Additionally, I've double-checked my speed/mileage against my GPS.)

 

I actually get better mileage in the "city" than on the highway. I live in a rural area so city driving isn't very stop and go. Normal city/rural road driving I get about 21mpg, while a long highway trip where I'm averaging 70+ Mph I get about 19mpg. This is probably due to the gearing in my 5speed. It seems that all of the 5speed owners report better mileage than the auto owners. I can't say that I'm light on the gas, but I've never seen my mileage below 18mpg (except hardcore 4wd trips).

my runner is a 5 speed 4x4 on 265 70 r 16's with the deckplate mod

 

Ok, I'm on.
I was getting 300+ with 14.5ish gallon fillups-until I did the deckplate and ISR mods, that's why I have all these gas receipts with odo numbers on them. I do about 50/50 hwy and city. I gotta stop going for the WHOMMMMM!!! for better mileage.
Mine is a 3.4 manual 4x.
It's also azure blue pearl.
I'm sure that makes a difference.