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Toyota 4Runner Real World MPG
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Comments
As for gas mileage, my V-6 has been incredibly good. I average 19.22 MPG in my 2005 SR-5 4WD with 36,500 miles on it.
So for me the V-6 was the way to go because I don't tow that often and when I do it's only 90 miles round trip. I wanted to get the best mileage I could while still having better towing capacity than, say, the Highlander.
As a comparison, the '05 Highlander V6 AWD that I replaced with the 4Runner averaged 20.52 MPG. And it could only tow 3500 lbs.
Hope that helps.
John
v-6 sr5 4x4
Anyone know how to take this off and any suggestions on this procedure.
Also, is it necessary to replace the plug wires or will replacing the plugs suffice?
I have the sport model and I typically get 19-21 MPG's in 50/50 hwy/city driving, but I'm not lead foot and I coast a lot.
Thanks in advance
Tim
My best was driving KC to DC, back seats down & cargo area full of moving boxes, plus 3 bicycles on a hitch rack, driving 60-65 mph when I got 24 mpg. That was at about 50K mile point.
Did anybody reply to your question about how to improve it?
Marcus Peterson
marcuspeterson65@aol.com
hway 20-22
90K miles, 1 owner
At 70+ tho. aerodynamics take over and mileage takes a dive.
thx tho
I have been recording every fill up since I go it new.
Living in LA with a daily 40 mile drive up and down PCH to Malibu...
18 mpg is my average.
14 mpg worse case (slow bumper to bumper freeway trips like to Temecula)
23 mpg best case (free speedy drive down to Yuma)
Such a handy car/truck to lug around and haul items. It is a necessity, really. I just wish I could also have something like a Prius (but not so...uh...space-ship-looking)
I also notice if I keep it at or below 60 MPH, I improve my city/hwy combined to 26.7.
I've been fortunate because the MPG have averaged 23-25 since I drove it off the lot a year ago. I do drive it light, coast up to lights, and now tend to stay out of the left lane. I have also, like others, verified the MPG with the tank empty/full test.
I'm happy, but someone needs to design or market an aftermarket hybrid /battery
system so we can keep these machines for years to come.
My most recent fillups have shown that I'm getting about 17.5 mpg in mixed city and highway driving, about 2 mpg less than the computer reading. I'm driving with a light foot, keeping highway speed about 60 mph, coasting to lights, turning off the engine while stopped at traffic lights, etc.
check out www.fueleconomy.gov
You can register and see what other owners are getting....we need some 4runner owners on there, because right now there are only 2 of us sharing info.
I used to get 20 highway, 16 city. That was in the USA.
My vehicle is now in Thailand, I am working here. I do plenty of highway traveling (2 hour drives at 70+mph) It seems that my computer never reads more than 16.6mpg. what gives ? I have tires inflated to 35psi. I have always kept up with maintenance.
It seems that I first started noticing the lower MPG after I tried a couple tanks of the gasohol that they sell here. Could it be that the gasohol caused a problem ? I switched back to gasoline (95 octane) and I am still getting only 16.6. seems my computer is stuck on this number. most of my driving is highway.
any ideas what I can do to improve MPG ? I always used to get 20+ highway in the states. once I hit 24. Could it be that the gasohol caused problems with the computer ?
Gas here is 39 baht per liter. I have an 80 liter tank. 33.40 baht to the dollar. thats $100 a tank.
:confuse:
mpg optimistic. I run regular 87 octane gas, but have experimented with 89 octane and seem to have gotten a mile or two better mileage although obviously not under controlled conditions. I think if I really tried and drove like a hyper miler never going over 50 mph etc I could get 23 or 24 real mpg.
:lemon:
I just bought it used a two weeks ago and right from the start I noticed it using a lot of gas. I was encouraged to test it and told that they really do not do too badly so not to worry. Well after driving it for about 1,000 miles I have verified that it gets between 10.2 - 14.4 MPG and that is taking it easy, keeping it around 65 on the open road.
I have gone back to the Toyota dealer I bought it at and ask for some 'warrenty' work to be done to bring it up to better MPG. They told me that all checks fine on the computer - no error codes and I owe them for the bill. The 'warrenty' apparently only covers MAJOR items.
Also, does anyone have trouble with the 4-wheel drive not engaging at very cold temps such as I do here on the mountain (-15 degrees). It takes a full 2 to 5 minutes before it clunks into 4 wheel drive. I have tried driving slowly (15-20 MPH or stopping and shifting to Neutral then pausing and shifting to Drive or stopping and trying reverse, then neutral and drive. It just blinks and appears 'stuck' in limbo - not in or out of 4 wheel drive. Since the 4wheel drive worked when they looked at it; no repair work will be done.
When I talked to the dealer they told me that I should have bought a Lexus and that I have a 2nd rate vehicle - what did I expect for buying a 2nd rate car. (*!#!*&%)
The 4Runner has 120,000 miles on it and the dealer tells me now that it is worn out and I had better buy a new car at once. It looks just like new; I hate car sales BS especially when the dealer does not stand behind their sale 2 weeks later. (This is supposed to be a reputable dealer - lot of my family and friends have bought cars there with nothing but glowing reports...)
The 4Runner ran quiet at first, now it creaks and groans and sounds like it aged 10 years in a week. Still however it looks like showroom new. Is this just the nature of the beast; creaky, clunky, and all the rest? I hope not. They must have sprayed 10W40 in all the joints...
I have the V6 engine and it is a 2002 model. :
Thanks for your help.
:lemon:
Frustrated in Northern PA
I drive "conservatively", rarely exceeding 70 MPH. Got 86K miles out of the original Goodyear tires, and got ~120K miles out of the front brake pads. All in all, by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. At 145K miles, total unscheduled maintenance has been two brake light bulbs ($4), one nylon gear rack for the power antenna ($27), and a blower speed resistor for the HVAC blower ($24).
Smog test results have slowly improved over the years; the most recent test had the lowest emissions of all tests performed so far (every two years in CA). Oil is Mobil-1 10-30, changed at 5K miles. Vehicle is completely rattle and squeak-free despite frequent 4-wheeling in CA desert areas.
I intend to keep this truck for 300K+ miles.
I'm thinking about buying a 1999-2001 and want to know if they still get close to original MPGs when new.
Also, thinking about spending a little more to get a 2003+ as it has 5-speed Auto Transmission.
with my V6 certinly not.
With 145,000+ miles now on the odo, I am still getting the same fuel economy numbers I got once the driveline was fully broken in at around 20k miles. I have kept track of the mileage of every tank of gas since new, and the long-term average since new is about 18.7 MPG, on a 4WD version with the lower-than-standard (4.30:1) rear axle ratio that comes only with electric locking differential.The worst mileage i ever obtained was 15.78 mpg, and the best was 24.28 mpg. Tires are stock size 265-70R16, fairly hard at 35 PSI. So far, the only "failures" have been the plastic gear rack in the automatic antenna ($28 part cost + 1/2 hr to install), the HVAC blower resistor ($22 + 10 minutes to install), and 4 or 5 tail-light bulbs. Truly the best vehicle I've ever owned. Completely leak-free and uses zero oil (Mobil 1 10W-30) between 6K mile oil changes. The 2003 Gen-4 is a completely different vehicle from end to end. For 4WD use, I'd prefer a pristine, well-cared-for 1999 or 2000 Gen-3, before the electronic traction control system was introduced in 2001. The 3.4L V6 is looking to become another example of extraordinary Toyota engine reliability, with many examples going more than 300K miles without major service. I'm not sure how the long-term reliability of the later 4.0L V6 compares with the 3.4L engine. Regarding the 2003 model, as a general rule I'd never buy the first model year of a new model, even with a Toyota. There will always weaknesses uncovered that are corrected in the first two years of production, as well as detail improvements.
1. Being at 5500ft elevation, is it ok to use 85 octane gas and will I get similar gas mileage/performance?
2. Will shifting into neutral while coasting down hills then back into drive at about 40 mph harm the transmission over time?
Thanks in advance. I realize this may been addressed in other posts but I could not find it.
Shifting to neutral going downhill will burn more gas than leaving it in gear (not to mention that it can be dangerous and is illegal in most states).
Counterintuitive, but if you leave it in gear and take your foot off the gas, the fuel will shut off and the turning of the wheels will keep the engine running. If you put it in neutral, the fuel won't shut off and you'll waste gas keeping the engine idling.
Would you address the potential engine damage question? Thanks.
There may be a blurb about it in your manual too.
If premium is recommended you may get better mileage with a higher octane, but not if the engine is tuned for regular.
Hopefully an owner will pop in here with the real scoop before I stick my foot too far into it.
from my experience, when I coasting down hills from 8000 ft - 4500 ft ), I shift it to 3rd gear. ( so thats way I don't use my brake).