4runner 2004 v8 with 10mpg..

Hello.
Got my 4runner 2004 v8 last month. The car has 133,000 miles on it.
The mpg on the computer is 10mpg. Sometimes go up to 10.2, but always within the same figure.
Is that make any sense? From what I understand, this mpg figure is accumulated.
Majority of my ride are within the city, no more than 30 mins each ride.
From what I can see, people are getting combined mpg of 15.
Thanks fellows.

 

Up

 

My 89' sbc 350 gets about 10 mpg. But I have 36" iroks

 

that computer is notoriously inaccurate. Are you getting 10mpg when calculating by hand?

 

Actually, the car is with me less than a month.. Managed to have full tank twice, now I'm still on the second (not driving much).
Based on the first full tank, I got like 12.5 per gallon.
Driving only inside the city, alone, no cargo, a/c is not always on.
Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

A 4Runner is pretty heavy to begin with, so I don't expect it to get good gas mileage. If you want that, buy a Prius. Our Shelby gets about 12 mpg when driving in town. Since it isn't a daily driver, it doesn't matter anyway.

 

Are the tires stock size? That seems low.

My '03 got around 14-15 city, 18-19 HWY. I averaged 17-18.

 

That does sound low, check your air pressure, maybe add a couple pounds to each tire. Does it seem to be running good? Maybe a little tuneup would help, plugs, wires.

 

^^^^this, too. Check tire pressure. I think those ran at 32 PSI. Check air filter, etc..

Also, with city driving, the V8 will guzzle gas if you're heavy on the throttle. Watch the RPM's while you're accelerating. If you're hitting 3-4K regularly, your mileage will definitely suck.

 

Tires are 265/65 R17 (firestone), air pressure is about 33psi (should be 32-35).
To be honest, I'm getting heavy on throttle pretty often.. Love the pulling of this old guy!
I will try to be softer and check milage "by hand".
Another question, maybe it's obvious but I would like to confirm - mpg figure on car is accumulated, correct?
Some cars this figure reset each 4 hours, some cars is accumulated.
I'm asking that because the car has 133k miles, the car with me for less than a month and I saw the mpg figure changing few times (10/10.1/10.3 etc).. Extremely weird for me that my few hundreds miles affected the accumulated mpg which based on 133k.
Thanks a lot experts!

 

Yes, the MPG estimate is accumulated. You can reset it with a button near the display, if I recall correctly

 

yes, there are two buttons just to the left of the fuel display on the center console. one is labeled Mode, that will change the estimated MPG to a 'distance to empty' display. the other is Reset, push and hold that one when the MPG mode is displayed to reset it. I reset mine every fuel up pretty much. The distance to empty display will reset automatically when you fuel up. Neither display is very accurate though.

 

I've got the same yr 04 and v8. hwy ave is 16-17.5mpg. you must have a VERY heavy foot . but like they said, its is a heavy (truck frame) SUV. the tune up and stop doing rabbit take offs and it may come up a few mpg's.

 

Thank you all guys.
I'll start driving with bare feet.. Next time with full tank I will reset the mpg and hope for better results. At least to scratch the 15mpg from below.

 

I tend to get around 13-14mpg around town with my V8 and up to the mid 20's when exclusively on the highway. The around town figures are me driving and keeping under or up 2k rpm. I just go by the lie-o-meter as well. I really need to start using the computer thingie in my Kenwood stereo/nav system to do this but am too lazy. And it is a bit complicated...

 

Did your Fuel range in miles change? I used to get approx 315 miles a tank since I owned my V8 from 2008-2015. I was always rocking dumflops though. I got stationed in Japan for 3 years and left my runner at home with family. Came back to the cat codes being thrown, did the repair of cats and sensors, but I’m now getting 240 miles in range, on a full tank.
I’m working with a 4x4 V8 and I’ve had the borla dual exhaust on ever since I’ve owned it. Yes I did put Goodyear wrangler duratracs on in 2020 but I really can’t explain losing 75 miles per tank on range which used to be spot on. I also just recently replaced the spark plugs but that made no difference. I’m thinking I’m burning fuel too hot but have not been able to isolate anything. I don’t believe the tires are to blame for 75 miles off my range.

 

Unfortunately, my fuel range is about the same (11 mpg). I'm getting about 250 miles per tank.
Few months ago I lifted the vehicle just a bit (daystar kit, 2.5/1.5), change the tires to AT 265/70R17, and my mpg is about the same.
In few weeks I'm gonna clean the sensors, hope it will improve the mpg, but to be honest - I accept this is the way my vehicle is, and can only dream of getting 14-16 (combined) like other people.

 

250 miles per tank is better than 11 MPG. It's still not great, but lifted and city driving aren't helping any. Do you wait until it's on E or fill up sooner? I thought it was usually around 19 gallons when the light came on.

 

I full tank when the light is on and the computer shows like 10 miles to empty.
Today I filled 19.5 gallons. Distance to empty is more than 250 miles, but eventually I need to fuel again before that.
In addition, I realized from several people that the computer isn't so reliable. So even when I score 11ish mpg (which should give me above 250 mile), it's never the case.

 

I forgot to mention I have the Daystar spacer lift installed as well. I can’t imagine the tires on the same size stock 17 inch sport rim causing a range of 325 miles to 240. I also fill up at the 10 mile to empty mark.

The cats going bad and throwing codes was what I thought I would have to overcome For fuel burn mixture/correction. The computer can’t just feel new tires on fill up, and predetermine a lower max fuel range. I know bigger tires and lift and weight can change actual mpg calculations, but this wasn’t anything new to how I have driven since owning the vehicle with mods.

ive left the computer without reset plenty of times on fueling, and I’ve reset to calculate manually just to be sure. It’s been so long together getting the same data. I knew I’d have over 300 miles in fuel range every time.

something is off, given the time with this 4runner and these conditions. I can’t explain the fallout in range after the cats threw those codes, and the 3 years I was not driving due to being overseas. The spark plugs were changed last month. what brand I don’t know what Toyota replaced them with. Good plugs will make a difference. That is a fact. But this was before they changed the plugs.

My last ideas are the MAF sensor being dirty after all this time. Or Toyota pulled a page from the Apple handbook and flashed my computer when I wasn’t looking and lowered my fuel range via fuel burn but that’s too far down the conspiracy hole.

 

I’m talking 330 mile range down to 315 Mile range with Daystar, spidertrax, borla dual exhaust added in 2008 from a 2005 4runner.

Now it’s 240 miles/range on a full tank. That’s my issue. I can’t explain that drop.

 

Sounds like it's time for a tune-up. Sitting for a long time is no good for an engine in general, fuel varnishes in lines, oil can seap and also take in moisture. Could be injectors, a bad plug would make it run rough and eventually throw a code. I'd be curious to see what running live data says, if you have an obd2 reader then can monitor live data, would be useful

 

DO GET OUT OF THIS HABIT. Your fuel pump and filter are in the fuel tank. Fuel cools the pump. When you run below a quarter tank, it's not sitting in fuel anymore and will start to get hot. This will cause the pump to get weak and eventually fail. Fuel rail pressure is around 42psi, so you want to be sure the pump stays healthy. Also running that low on fuel will cause the pump to suck up all the sediment that's collected in the tank and clog the filter. It's a bit of a project to change that unit out, easier and safer to try to keep a 1/4 tank in it, only go below if you are in a bind.

 

1. Check for sticking left front brake caliper. If the caliper is rusted or the piston has seized, upgrade the front to 5th gen parts. Use painted calipers and rotors to reduce risk of rusting. See Rockauto.com for painted calipers for about $60/each. You should replace the rear calipers also with a brake job if they are older than 7-10 years old. Use Akebono ceramic pads for the front and Raybestos painted rotors as well as Power Stop painted calipers (use 5th gen parts but not model year 2016 since the bolts won't line up; use model year 2010 or 2011). The rear 4th gen brakes I believe are the same as the 5th gen. Use Advance Auto Platinum semi-metallic brake pads (they are stronger than ceramic pads and should still last a long time since they are in the rear) and premium painted rotors. Change the brake fluid.
2. Grease the propeller shaft
3. Consider flushing the transmission fluid
4. Check wheel alignment
5. Check tire pressures are 32 psi
6. Check for bad wheels or tires. Balance the tires if you notice vibration at highway speeds or if it has been 12,000-15,000 miles. Rotate the tires every 10,000 miles.
7. Check/replace air filter
8. Change spark plugs
9. Keep an eye on heavy acceleration from stop lights and when you are not in a hurry keep the rpms low - if the speed limit is 40 mph, try to stay under 50 mph.
10. Can remove the HCF that is in the air filter housing.
11. Use Google Maps to warn you of heavy traffic or crashes that are clogging traffic.
12. Avoid unnecessary idling.
13. Keep your car in a garage to allow it to heat up quicker in the winter.

Around Chicago city limits, there is too much stop and go traffic. It takes 5 miles for the car to warm up. Still you should be able to get 12 mpg city and about 16-17 mpg highway. Probably need to use cruise control and stay below 65 mph to get the best mpg on the highway.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

that mpg computer has a mind of its own. its certainly not accurate but gives a ballpark estimate i feel. I reset each time I switch from street driving to highway.
Highway in 06 v8 avg around 18.6 Street avg around 17.4

But depends on how the driver drives..ya know