I decided to change my own oil today for once and I was surprised at the sharp strong stench of the oil. You could smell it from a car length away.
Can a perfectly running 6cyl gas guzzler be running rich while not exhibiting
an engine light or performance issues?
You know the 3rd gen v6........you can watch the gas gauge drop unless your driving like gramma moses at 55mph!

Kenny S>

 

What is your gas mileage?

 

Did you spill any oil on the engine...?

Could have and its burning away as the engine is hot..

 

Granted..........it's been a long time since I did a oil change but no, there was no burning oil. I know what that smells like. This was the actual oil.

My mileage varies from 16.5 up to 20 depending on wind and driving speed but much like most 3rd gen V6's............you feel like you're always at the gas pump if you travel a lot.

Maybe it was just normal nasty dirty oil.

Kenny S>

 

well my 3rd gen gets >400 miles a tank so I know my 5vz doesn't chow gas abnormally. and my oil doesn't stink. if you label your 5vz a gas guzzler it is not 'perfectly running' 22mpg per tank highway 19 city with careful driving is normal.

 

sounds to me someone went alittle past the oil changing point.... make sure you change oil eaxactly on time to manufactures sepcs or every 2000-3000 miles. if go too long it will get very burn and smell bad sometimes. If gas milage is bad and the stink can be cause from a faulty PCV system. Check engine light? if not no worries... maybe i'm going to far and you have just never smelled oil before? burn oil does stink but its not a a bad thing... make sure you change it when supose to though or you will regret it.

 

What the freak have you done to get 400 miles out of one tank in your 3rd gen? Any special mods?

 

That must have been when AAA towed him in for service from 125 miles out. I usually get between 250 and 300 if I stretch it on the highway. 18-20mpg are the norms for mine.

 

I got 350 out of my dads 99 2wd 2.7 5speed.
that was with very easy driving and mostly highway, I think when I filled it up after that it still had another gallon left..

 

i have never gotten close to 400 miles EVER

 

:coughbullcough

 

I might see that number on a 5 speed but my runner is quite sensitive to the way it is driven.
Drive 60 -65 on the highway with auto trans with minimal winds ,an empty rig and you'll get good mileage (20) but it's simply not realistic or real world driving if you really drive your rig..
This is a topic which sends threads through the roof at least once a year. So many various numbers thrown out there.

 

i might be able to do 400 miles....my 98 5spd runner gets 22-24 on the highway.

 

The most I have ever gotten is around 350-360 and that was babying it

 

incorrect. 100% stock, 99 limited, >160,000 miles, always did the major service at dealers and run Michelin LTX M/S at 38 psi all around. mobil 1 from day one, I am original owner. had this since 1998.




I use a scangauge II hooked to my OBD port at all times.

I program in my fillups, and I use the same pump. and i watch the percentage offset.

then I drive on the interstate (I drive 350 miles every Saturday) and I pin it at 65 miles per hour. I get 22.1 to 22.5 mpg
with summer gas. winter gas it drops a lot, like lucky to get 20mpg. last two weeks, it is back in the 22's


in town, 45 miles per hour average...19 mpg or so. making short trips and lots of errands that drops to 14 sometimes.

the secret is, don't drive like a dip and you can get 400 miles for 18 gallons.

I can't help you if your 1) 5vz sucks due to neglect or 2) you drive like a 13 year old