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I'm guessing 13 MPG is not normal for a 2015 4Runner

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by rbr, Jun 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM.

  1. Jul 2, 2025 at 8:34 AM
    #31
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    As others have said. Check for dragging breaks, bearing noise, Change PCV valve, have the spark plugs been replaced? How did you confirm throttle body was cleaned? Air pressure, disconnect battery overnight and most importantly stop using no-name gas. Only tier 1.
     
  2. Jul 2, 2025 at 8:34 AM
    #32
    mcat707

    mcat707 MURDERED TURD PRO

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    If it makes you feel better, my rig gets 11-12mpg on average.

    :mad:
     
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  3. Jul 2, 2025 at 10:14 AM
    #33
    94hokie

    94hokie New Member

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    As others have said, that isn't the typical MPG. My 23 only has 10k on it, but I have a complete set of Talons garage aluminum skids (engine/transmission/transfer case) along with a steel RCI gas tank skid, steel RCI sliders, and steel SSO front bumper with a Warn Evo10 winch and still get 16 in town. Granted I drive like a grandpa, but even so.
     
  4. Jul 2, 2025 at 11:16 AM
    #34
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

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    I am in Ramona, Ca. And I drive up and down the 67 hwy. My 17 SR5 is lifted and I run 285/75/17 Toyo RT’s 34”s I average 15.2 mpg.
    I forgot to add I use Costco premium fuel.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2025 at 1:45 PM
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  5. Jul 2, 2025 at 12:46 PM
    #35
    White TuRD

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    ^ this here

    I’ll add replace the air filter if you can’t positively confirm it’s been recently changed. Go with OEM.

    Confirm Ethanol content of the fuel you are buying. E15 blend will drop your fuel economy a bit.
     
  6. Jul 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
    #36
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    I pulled the air intake hose off of the throttle body and looked myself. I changed the PCV myself. The Carfax says that the spark plugs were done 42k ago, so that would likely help. I get no engine codes with my scanner. It coasts just as good as any other car and it does not pull to one side. So I doubt the brakes are the issue. They were done 9k ago at the Toyota dealer. I checked the air pressure myself with a digital gauge. Costco gas is "top tier" or tier 1. They sell 87 octane and 91 octane. My Tacoma takes the 87 and gets 19 MPG on the same roads. None the less, I'm going to try Chevron. We can't get E15 88 octane in California. King Gavin said that was against his will.
     
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  7. Jul 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
    #37
    mcat707

    mcat707 MURDERED TURD PRO

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    If it hasn’t been mentioned before I’d check your wheel bearings. Worn out wheel bearings might be the cause.
     
  8. Jul 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
    #38
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    Definitely something to look at. It has 130k on it. It was inspected before I bought it and it does coast good, doesn't pull to one side or anything like that but definitely something to look at.
    BTW I love your Murdered TRD. Nice Rig. I wouldn't complain about my MPG if it was lifted, had big tires, armor, rack etc. but mine is mechanically a stock 4WD trail or TRD off-road.
     
  9. Jul 2, 2025 at 6:39 PM
    #39
    ChessGuy

    ChessGuy New Member

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    Too many..... Performance: • Magnusum Supercharger • Gibson exhaust with dual black tip • Pedal Commander * PowerBrakes • Suspension – Old Man Emu BP-51 front and back with Medium load coils • Tires: AT3 Faulken Wildpeak – 285/70/17 • Wheels: Relations Race Wheels, RR7-H with -12 offset • Full roof rack and ladder by Westcott Design (removed the stock Yakima basket) • Molle storage panels by Rago fabrication • Front light brackets by Rago • Illuminator light bracket by Rago (roof rack location) Lights • Morimoto front and back with sequential signals • Morimoto fog lights and side mirrors with sequential signals • 40” Baja design light bar for roof rack • 20” S8 Baja design driving combo (winch location) • Squadron sport baja design ditch lights • S2 Chase lights by baja designs (mounted on roof) In the bay: • Odyssey 34-PC Battery • SDQH Aluminum billet battery terminals and bracket • Switch Pro 9100 with aluminum tray • Anytime front and back camera • ARB twin compressor Recovery & Protection: • Smittybilt X20 synthetic rope winch • Factor 55 fairlead and flatlink • Southern Style Off-road (SSO) low profile bumper • SSO stage 2 high clearance wings • Weekend warrior recovery kit by treaty oak • RCI – skid plates – entire vehicle + catalytic converter protection wings Interior: • Nano Ceramic IR – Avery Dennison Window tint – all windows • Several phone mounts • Upgraded Rear Hatch lift gate struts (ladder is heavy) • Boom blaster horn switch (featuring La cucaracha)
    I complain about my rig about this mpg dilemma, but maybe it isn't so bad after all. I get your mpgs and I got so many things on it. Although I use 93 at all times though. Keep adjusting and cleaning things up and I am sure your unit will improve.
     
    rbr[OP] likes this.
  10. Jul 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
    #40
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    Yes, that's what I'm thinking. Try different gas, try higher octane, Try a tune up. Run some fuel injector cleaner through the tank. I also got a 90 day warranty with it so I can take it back and have them check it out for free, so I'll probably do that too.
     
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  11. Jul 2, 2025 at 7:20 PM
    #41
    ChessGuy

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    Too many..... Performance: • Magnusum Supercharger • Gibson exhaust with dual black tip • Pedal Commander * PowerBrakes • Suspension – Old Man Emu BP-51 front and back with Medium load coils • Tires: AT3 Faulken Wildpeak – 285/70/17 • Wheels: Relations Race Wheels, RR7-H with -12 offset • Full roof rack and ladder by Westcott Design (removed the stock Yakima basket) • Molle storage panels by Rago fabrication • Front light brackets by Rago • Illuminator light bracket by Rago (roof rack location) Lights • Morimoto front and back with sequential signals • Morimoto fog lights and side mirrors with sequential signals • 40” Baja design light bar for roof rack • 20” S8 Baja design driving combo (winch location) • Squadron sport baja design ditch lights • S2 Chase lights by baja designs (mounted on roof) In the bay: • Odyssey 34-PC Battery • SDQH Aluminum billet battery terminals and bracket • Switch Pro 9100 with aluminum tray • Anytime front and back camera • ARB twin compressor Recovery & Protection: • Smittybilt X20 synthetic rope winch • Factor 55 fairlead and flatlink • Southern Style Off-road (SSO) low profile bumper • SSO stage 2 high clearance wings • Weekend warrior recovery kit by treaty oak • RCI – skid plates – entire vehicle + catalytic converter protection wings Interior: • Nano Ceramic IR – Avery Dennison Window tint – all windows • Several phone mounts • Upgraded Rear Hatch lift gate struts (ladder is heavy) • Boom blaster horn switch (featuring La cucaracha)
    So don't feel bad...look at my mpgs on this trip for example, awful I think.

    20250329_152521.jpg
     
  12. Jul 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
    #42
    semprenissart

    semprenissart Mèfi

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    Am I the only one to think OP’s mpg is not out of the ordinary?

    Mainly city driving with a lot of hills, that looks normal mpg to me. The 5th gen is terrible on gas on short trips and uphills. I can easily get the same mpg without even going on a hill if I drive in the city, even worse with traffic. Now, if I just cruise on the freeway or surface roads at constant speeds, I’m closer to 17-18 mpg

    @rbr if you can try to get on the freeway or highway with little amount of traffic so you can stay at a constant speed (I know, hard to do in California) and set your cruise control at 65 mph. You should be getting 17-20 mpg. If you’re getting 15 or less then yes something is going on.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2025 at 8:48 PM
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  13. Jul 2, 2025 at 7:52 PM
    #43
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    Good point. I've had it for about 45 days and a couple of times I've had it on the freeway for 45-60 minuets. I didn't look at the MPG those times but I should try that. I'm starting to think that maybe this isn't too far off. I get no engine codes, it coasts just fine (no brakes or wheel bearings dragging), Tires are good, filters are good, PCV is good etc. I was just hoping that it would close to my Tacoma that gets 18-19 MPG. My Gen 4 4Runner was 16-18 on the same roads.
     
  14. Jul 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
    #44
    andrewtheadventurer

    andrewtheadventurer New Member

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    My mpg dipped when i was in San Diego. I ran costco gas from the misson city costco. I noticed the stop and go plus hills around SD really made my mpgs drop by 2-3. I was there for 2 months.
     
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  15. Jul 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
    #45
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    Yes, San Diego is hillier than most people realize. I'm going to try Chevron gas. Seafoam treatment. Freeway trips too. I'm starting to think mine might be pretty normal. I thought it would be similar to my gen 4 and my tacoma but it's not.
     
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  16. Jul 3, 2025 at 6:30 AM
    #46
    nimby

    nimby in the drink

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    Tacoma is lighter than 4Runner.

    Testing it on the freeway is a great suggestion and should be your next play.

    Stay around 65mph since these bricks aren't the most aerodynamic and mpg's decrease with high speed.
     
  17. Jul 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM
    #47
    djwantke

    djwantke New Member

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    I’m guessing this mpg isn’t normal on a 5th gen :anonymous: I’m currently below 12mpg

    image0000001.jpg
     
  18. Jul 3, 2025 at 9:36 AM
    #48
    RepentOrPerish

    RepentOrPerish New Member

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    I just averaged 21.38mpg over 207Miles..with the v8. Best I've seen yet with this rig. Driving very conservative and a different brand gas station last fuel up. Always run 91 octane.
     
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  19. Jul 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
    #49
    Schlappesepple

    Schlappesepple New Member

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    It's certainly possible (I'm getting 14 mpg doing similar driving, I think, relatively short trips with plenty of traffic).

    However, the big drop from his 4th gen is a clue something may be wrong (assuming the same driving conditions). Even though the 5th gen gets worse mpg, it shouldn't drop that much.
     
  20. Jul 3, 2025 at 11:09 AM
    #50
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    Lift each corner and spin the wheels. Regardless of brakes being done, one can drag. Has the front diffs and transfer case fluid been changed?
     
  21. Jul 3, 2025 at 11:28 AM
    #51
    Photon_Chaser

    Photon_Chaser 56,387 and counting…

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    OP, question about driving. Do you have the transmission in ‘D’ mode or are you running it in ‘S’ mode? This MPG difference could be attributed to not being all the way in ‘overdrive’ (5th gear) when cruising along on the highway.

    Here’s a reference shot of my vehicle’s run-time performance. 1 hr cruising across the Central Valley, into a low headwind. My rig’s lifted (2”) and has a good 400 lbs of permanent added weight due to mods. Running AT tires (stock size) at 38 psi. See if your RPMs match with the speed (you can see what I’m cruising along at (flow of traffic.)

    IMG_0822.jpg
     
  22. Jul 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM
    #52
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    The car fax I got says it was checked 27k ago and serviced 9k ago. I'm driving it in 2WD so the front diff probably isn't playing too much of a part.
     
  23. Jul 3, 2025 at 4:24 PM
    #53
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    My Tacoma weighs about 4,500 pounds it's RWD TRD Sport crew cab. My 4Runner weighs about 4,800 pounds and is part time 4WD (It's a Trail AKA TRD off road). Yes, taking it on a longish highway trip makes sense.
     
  24. Jul 3, 2025 at 4:27 PM
    #54
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    I'm driving around town in D mode. Half the time I'm climbing hills and half the time I'm coasting down hills. Stop and go with traffic lights.
     
  25. Jul 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
    #55
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    I'm starting to think this might be right. If I'm really gentle on the gas and try to coast as much as possible, I can get 14.2 MPG but I've still got to go up hills and stop at traffic lights.
     
  26. Jul 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
    #56
    rbr

    rbr [OP] New Member

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    Another thing I checked was my idle speed. The factory specs are for it to be between 690 and 790 RPM's. I put the parking brake on, shifted into neutral and let it idle. Sure enough, I'm right at factory specs.

    Any thought on an old, leaky or clogged fuel injector? I'm thinking this may be it. I'm going to run some Seafoam high mileage treatment through it, I just need to do so on a nearly empty tank.
     
  27. Jul 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
    #57
    kmeeg

    kmeeg New Member

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    When I don't have school runs ( when no long idle times on driving line) I have very good mpg on my 2021.
    I got 285/70R17 tires, rock sliders, every possible skid (I think). I'm using 87oct gas.

    Today -
    20250703_202319.jpg 20250703_202711.jpg

    Previous fillup -
    Screenshot_20250703_231910.jpg
    Screenshot_20250703_231937.jpg
     

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