95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

We need more 3rd Gen 4Runners!

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Old 05-16-2006 | 08:00 AM
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rearviewmirror's Avatar
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From: AUSTEX fiveonetwo
We need more 3rd Gen 4Runners! (Fuel Economy Tracking)

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=garage

I've been tracking my fuel economy on the www.fueleconomy.gov website since last year. Problem is, when comparing to other 3rd Gen 4Runner's it only shows two. I download their printable tracking sheet, keep it in the car, then every month or two I bring the form in to update the on-line tracking. This is really a cool way to track your mileage, it shows a graph comparing mileage on the vehicle and fuel economy. You track it two ways, on your own or you can just put the vehicle mileage, gallons, and price. Either way I'd like to have more vehicles to compare to, right now my bone stock 4Runner doesn't look good, of course I use this vehicle for recreation only, so usually it's hauling gear or out in the hills.

(My MPG since last September, I could post the whole excel spreadsheet w/ mileage and fuel price and what not because it didn't format well one here.)



MPG

17.121117
15.374268
16.033863
15.742251
15.4107065
15.0036955
15.126284
14.153111
10.816859
13.98829
12.51703
15.23923
14.908736
15.48341
15.18653
14.007655
13.232181
13.80611
11.5459585
15.30312
16.14029
17.111788

Last edited by rearviewmirror; 05-16-2006 at 08:02 AM.
Old 05-16-2006 | 08:57 AM
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This is an interesting post b/c I saw a recent one where 3rd gens were claiming over 300 miles on a full tank. Your numbers are more inline w/ mine.

People that can get 20+ miles/gallon on a 3rd gen - I just can't believe it.
Old 05-16-2006 | 08:59 AM
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From: N34* 06.000 W084* 27.000
I've been tracking my gas purchases since 2003 for both my car (now sold) and my 4Runner. Unfortunately, I never tracked mileage or MPG. Just the date, gallons purchased and price paid per gallon. Makes an interesting spreadsheet when you look at the data.

I've vowed to start recording my MPG, but failed to write down the mileage on the last tank. I'll get it this go around, if I can remember...
Old 05-16-2006 | 09:00 AM
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From: N34* 06.000 W084* 27.000
Originally Posted by ebelen1
This is an interesting post b/c I saw a recent one where 3rd gens were claiming over 300 miles on a full tank. Your numbers are more inline w/ mine.

People that can get 20+ miles/gallon on a 3rd gen - I just can't believe it.
I regularly averaged 20/21 with a couple highs of 23/24 when I had crappy Dunlop tires. Since I dropped them, I average between 18.9-19.8mpg-ish.
Old 05-16-2006 | 09:06 AM
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From: AUSTEX fiveonetwo
Originally Posted by ebelen1
This is an interesting post b/c I saw a recent one where 3rd gens were claiming over 300 miles on a full tank. Your numbers are more inline w/ mine.

People that can get 20+ miles/gallon on a 3rd gen - I just can't believe it.
I don't see it either.. The times when I've taken road trips I've still only managed 17-18 MPG. My 4Runner is stock with just under 50k miles. I admit I'm a little hard on the gas pedal. I am going to try the ECT test for the next fuel tankfuls, this site will make it easy to see if there's an improvement.
Old 05-16-2006 | 09:11 AM
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From: AUSTEX fiveonetwo
Here's the sheet I keep in my 4Runner to track mileage.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/Fuel_Purchases.pdf
Old 05-16-2006 | 09:23 AM
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I will get mine on there - I have a 99 with 115k and i just got over 17 on the last tank - more than half highway. I had a bad winter as far as mpg in the 15-16 range.

The most I ever got was averaging around 19 - mostly highway.
Old 05-16-2006 | 09:28 AM
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I have been tracking my mileage for a couple years. I am sitting pretty consistently at 16.5 mpg with my current mods. I drive pretty hard, but notice a gain of 1 mpg or more when I go easy on the skinny pedal.

I would like to see the math or method of the guys claiming over 20 mpg. Having owned (5) 5VZFE-powered rigs and NEVER seeing MPG over 20, I am pretty skeptical of those claims.
Old 05-16-2006 | 09:37 AM
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From: AUSTEX fiveonetwo
Originally Posted by <96 Runner>
I have been tracking my mileage for a couple years. I am sitting pretty consistently at 16.5 mpg with my current mods. I drive pretty hard, but notice a gain of 1 mpg or more when I go easy on the skinny pedal.

I would like to see the math or method of the guys claiming over 20 mpg. Having owned (5) 5VZFE-powered rigs and NEVER seeing MPG over 20, I am pretty skeptical of those claims.
Again.. I have to agree.. even driving gingerly I can't get 20 MPG and certainly not 300 miles per tank. I encourage those who are claiming this fuel economy to please sign up using the links above. This will elimate human error from the math portion of this, and will allow you to keep a consistent record of your fuel purchases and mileage.
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:05 AM
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I get a regular 16.5 since I started using the ECT with mostly city driving and a bit of a leadfoot.
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:18 AM
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From: N34* 06.000 W084* 27.000
I don't have an ECT button, but I've changed the table of my database to include mileage. We'll start tracking it starting with the tank I've got in there right now.
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:22 AM
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My lifetime mileage is better than 19.6. I pull a boat so I removed everything below 17 mpg to get my average. I'm sure some of the 17 mpg tanks were partly with the boat but I left them in thus the "better than " statement.

During this period my odometer started at 33k and is now 82k. Also, I have plus one tire sizing (30x9.5R15). My ODO correction is 1.055 with new tires and 1.045 with worn tires (measured with GPS and mile markers, I drove to Seattle and needed something to keep me awake).
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:27 AM
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My 4 cyl can only get 21 mpg on trips.

rearviewmirror- how did you manage to get to only 10 mpg
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:28 AM
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From: AUSTEX fiveonetwo
Originally Posted by DOT3
My lifetime mileage is better than 19.6. I pull a boat so I removed everything below 17 mpg to get my average. I'm sure some of the 17 mpg tanks were partly with the boat but I left them in thus the "better than " statement.

During this period my odometer started at 33k and is now 82k. Also, I have plus one tire sizing (30x9.5R15). My ODO correction is 1.055 with new tires and 1.045 with worn tires (measured with GPS and mile markers, I drove to Seattle and needed something to keep me awake).
That's 2 MPG higher than the EPA average for a 99 4WD 3.4l. I wish my 4Runner was an over-achiever too.
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:32 AM
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sweet, i just signed up and hope to keep track of it..thanks!
but on my own, i average 18 mpg for the past 5 years in city and 20 for hw
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by rearviewmirror
That's 2 MPG higher than the EPA average for a 99 4WD 3.4l. I wish my 4Runner was an over-achiever too.
Not many of those miles were severe city. I suspect that the severe city number would be just shy of 19. Mine is a 5 spd.
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:46 AM
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From: AUSTEX fiveonetwo
Originally Posted by DOT3
Not many of those miles were severe city. I suspect that the severe city number would be just shy of 19. Mine is a 5 spd.
5 speed definitely helps.. wish I had one.

It's funny, but the EPA mileage for the 5 speed actually drops 1 MPG for the highway. I guess the overdrive in the Auto must help.
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:57 AM
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13.5 city/stop & go highway, 18.5 on a recent 160 mile trip averaging 78-82mph.

Given my mod list, I'm pretty happy with the highway numbers. I think the lousy city numbers are from a leaking O2 bung along with a new torque convertor.
Old 05-16-2006 | 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by rearviewmirror
5 speed definitely helps.. wish I had one.

It's funny, but the EPA mileage for the 5 speed actually drops 1 MPG for the highway. I guess the overdrive in the Auto must help.
I think the 5 spd has slightly different gearing which should help the city number. Since I have plus one tires, I think the gearing difference is nulled and the auto/manual mpg's should compare.
Old 05-16-2006 | 11:01 AM
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Yeah, 5-speed here as well. When I went to 4.30 gears (from 4.10) my mileage dropped about .5 - .75 mpg on average (I can see the step function on my mpg graphs). The engine is turning a higher RPM at highway speeds, I suspect that is the reason. And yes, I did correct the formula when I went to different gearing.

A while back, before I was supercharged, I nearly pulled 20 MPG at 7000ft and driving easy. Thin air must have something to do with mileage as well.



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