I know everyone else is counting miles with the gas prices, but it just doesn't seem right to be getting about 17 mpg for a 4cyl. pulling a light piece of metal with small tires. What kind of gas mileage are some other 1st gen. receiving? Is there anything I can do to get better mpg?

 

You'll probably get the routine answers of tune up, drive carefully etc. I have always gotten 18-20 with 31's over 15 yrs of ownership on mine so don't expect tons of improvement.

 

I get between 17-18 mpg in town to and from school. My best is 24 mpg on the highway with my old tires that were practically bald but they were also really unbalanced do to wear from bad shocks. I'm hoping to get some cheaper road tires to drive this summer since I got some new offroad tires that dropped my mpg below 18 mpg. Is your rig an auto or manual? Mines a manual so I just go easy on the acceleration and let the granny's pass me and I shift early to try to save on gas. I also try to cut out short trips. There are a whole list of things people try, but I say first check your spark plugs, cap and rotor and other tune up stuff. Others will list all the cool things they've done

Erich

 

sounds normal . my 87 is the same .. even with good tires and good shocks .. but its worth the tradeoff right now i may change my mind in the future ...

 

I'm getting around 17-18 mpg with my auto V6 and 211,000 miles.

 

I'm running just under 20mpg average. Highway isn't much better although I have managed 32mpg on one highway test (almost all downhill, lots of coasting )

 

With the climbing price of liquid dinosaur, keeping the truck tuned up is getting to be more important all the time.
Have you given a thorough tune up lately: spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, clean the 02 sensor, check the TPS (assuming EFI), make catalytic converter in good shape, fuel filter, tire inflation...all sorts of little bits to make it run better and getter better mileage.
I have this is mine:

and even with the 94mm pistons, taller cam, 31" MTRs, stock gears and something of a lead foot I have been getting close to 20mpg with in town driving.

 

My carbed 84 gets around 200 miles on a tank. The best I've figured is thats about 16 mpg.That's with 276,000 on the clock,5spd, 4:30 gears and 31's...

Chuck

 

On my brand new 22r (like 4000 miles) I can get 260 miles on a tank in my 82 pickup. I shift at 2000 rpm though. Takes a while to get going.

 

so which 1st Gen are you referring to? truck,4runner or Tacoma? my '81 gets 19 -21 with 33's.
my '86 4runner got about the same with '31's and my '97 tacoma was 18-21 with the 2.7. Thought I would cover the different 1st 6ens

 

how bout the camry???? my wife has one of those, and gets a constant 36 mpg...!!

 

Guys, this topic is over 4 years old...

 

When I had my 96, I was getting 19mpg consistantly half city/half highway.
Stock 3.4L Manual on stock 31" tires. I had all my maintenance done, all synthetics, tonneau cover, K&N drop-in with deckplate mod (always open)...

 

oh crap. I was trying out my new so called 'smart phone' and logged in to YT to see how well the internet worked on it. This one came up under new posts

don't i wish, she gets 24 around town with the 4 banger...i think her foot is heavier than mine...

 

ha, i know those newer 4 bangers have some giddy up! well. c'mon GIDDY UP!!!