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Poor mileage acceptable to Toyota - READ ONLY

69 messages,  Last post on Jun 24, 2003 at 5:04 AM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Tacoma, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Truck

Messages Page 6 of 7

#50 of 69 KB by sonjaab

Mar 26, 2003 (9:42 pm)

Also in winter in some parts of the country special additives are added to gas for easier
cold weather starts. And in summer they do the
same to cut high pollution in certian areas also.
This could also reduce mpgs.............

#51 of 69 scorpio by saddaddy

Mar 27, 2003 (2:08 pm)

u still running 4.10s?

#52 of 69 sad by sc0rpi0

Mar 27, 2003 (6:15 pm)

Yeah. Stock gears.....I'm staying with 31s, just gonna put them on 15x8 rims.

#53 of 69 Tacoma vs Tundra by lagitane

May 08, 2003 (12:05 am)

Just reading all the comments about mileage. Just bought an 03 Tundra V-8, 4x2. Terrible mileage. Getting just a hair under 16 mpg in the City and about 16.6 on the Hwy (just 500 miles on the odometer so far). Its rated at 15 and 19. Realize that it should get better over time, but still scared enough to maybe run right back to the dealer and get a V-6 Taco 4x2 Pre-Runner. Would lose a bundle in trade. Pretty much can just kiss my original down payment good-bye. Love the Tundra room and power. Very well built truck; solid; stong. But this is the worse gas mileage I've ever seen. Can't afford to keep driving it with this kind of mpg. Neighbor's F-150 Ford V-8 gets 19. Can't figure out what Toyota is thinking. Don't they realize how high gas prices are right now? Any feedback before I make take a big financial tumble and scale down into a Tacoma would be appreciated.

#54 of 69 lagitane by rlafaver

May 08, 2003 (6:13 am)

My son had a 2002 V6 Pre-Runner, and he did not get a lot more mileage than you are getting in your Tundra. I have worked diligently with my Tacoma, and here is what I've done to improve mileage. After you get a couple of thousand miles on it switch to synthetic oil, like Mobil 1 or Syntec. Use 89 octane gasoline. This helps tremendously on the highway but doesn't do much for city driving. At present I am getting a little over 19mpg in the city, which really sucks (sticker is 22). However, I am getting 26.5mpg on the highway, which is 1.5 better than the sticker number of 25. My next move will be a K&N air filter, which should help as much in the city as on the highway. Of course, all of this costs money. You get a good return on 89 octane gas on the highway. On a recent 800 mile trip I actually saved money by using the 89 octane. The air filter costs about $50, but this is a one time expense and might pay for itself.

#55 of 69 lagitane by rlafaver

May 08, 2003 (6:18 am)

Let me add that I test drove a Tundra, and I would have bought that or a Silverado, had they cost less. Both are much more comfortable than any model of Tacoma, and both have a much larger payload/towing capability, if that matters.

#56 of 69 lagitane by sc0rpi0

May 08, 2003 (9:18 am)

I have a 2002 4x4 V6 Tacoma, and I've gone through the same worries about gas milage as you. In fact, I figure out the milage every time I fill up.
You're still in break-in period, so don't worry. My milage went up by about 1-2mpg after it. I do run synthetic Amsoil oil, Amsoil air, but given the lead foot I have, I get very good milage (19sh on highway, 17.5-18 in the city).
 
Another thing to consider is this: you got a V8. Don't expect it to use same gas as a V6 Tacoma. 16-17 you get is fairly good for a V8.

#57 of 69 From what I have heard, lagitane by saddaddy

May 08, 2003 (10:49 am)

18 is probably as good as the Tundra will get; maybe towards 20. However, I thought 16-18 city/hiway was good for v8s. Ummm, I like Toyotas, but I too have been curious as to why the smaller v8 in the tundra gets comparable to worse mileage than larger competition. My v6 prerunner now gets 20+ easily after a K&N filter. But I struggled to break 18 for the longest. Ultimately its up to you, I would trade my little taco for your tundra with mileage woes in a hot second, if thats any consolation. Good luck and keep us posted

#58 of 69 another consideration lagitane by rlafaver

May 09, 2003 (8:57 am)

You will never get the mileage a small Ford V8 gets, and you can only dream about the 21mpg for a GM small V8. Your back seat is smaller than the Ford and FAR smaller than the extended cab Chevy. However, you have a Toyota, which is supposed to mean you will be good for the long haul. They are made for people who expect to exceed 200k miles on a vehicle, not that a Ford or Chevy won't. They also handle better, partly because they are smaller but mostly because of suspension design. Finally, the Tundra is hands down safer than any other pickup. The Tacoma 2WD is an excellent 2-seat car that you can haul stuff in, and not a lot of it. It does not handle crash tests very well, particularly side impact, and the Pre-Runner is too top heavy for good handling. The standard extended cab Tacoma (lower to the ground) can be equiped with a V6 only if you take a manual 5 speed transmission. So I suggest you think long and hard about giving up a Tundra for a Tacoma. You are going to spend $200 or $300 more for gasoline each year, but you can haul a lot more sand or bricks in yours than I can. Having said all that, I like my Tacoma, and it fits my budget.

#59 of 69 Thank you all for your advice by lagitane

May 09, 2003 (10:19 am)

From listening to you all, I think I'll keep the Tundra and just bite the bullet on the gas. I should have stuck with the original Tundra V-6 I had. I got 21 mpg on a 285 mile trip in April with it. It was a nice truck. Should have never test driven a V-8. Bad mistake. If you drive one, you'll want it! The difference was amazing, just had to have it. Just NOT a good financial decision. I'm a counselor; don't make tons of money, but do appreciate a good engine and power like everyone else. This puppy hauls ass and feels really grounded and strong (It's a TRD). After break in, I will try some of your suggestions about synthetic oil and the K&N filter. Can switch to 89 octane for long Hiway trips. Really scarey thing, though, is when you turn on the A/C & just watch the gas gage slowly but steadily drop. Ouch! I live in AZ, so not much chance of running this puppy w/o A/C. Gonna be a long, expensive summer. I gues, if worse comes to worse, I can always buy a fully-equiped camper and live in it. LOL Thanks again. Love this board. You people are much more helpful and SANE than those idiots on the Tundra board. They just argue and try to one up each other. It's annoying and juvenile. Wish Edmunds would do something to stop all the BS. Thanks again. You are appreciated. I'll visit here again to see what's up with Tacomas. I do like that new crew cab Tacoma they came out with this year; way cool. Dealers aren't dealing on it, however. Too popular. Have to wait.

Messages Page 6 of 7

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