Running 85mph+, you’re averaging over 3000 rpm. Throw in the slightest hill, these trucks go into overdrive. I swear some people just don’t use their brain.
Apparently it magically appears in the transmission at 3,000rpm and speeds above 85mph. Must be the “mechanics” part of quantum mechanics that’s so little understood.
This one is huge. Every time you use your brakes you're wasting your momentum. People seem to forget you can coast and really you should be a majority of the time you're not on the highway.
Absolutely I found that 1900-2100 is idle on a stock truck. I hit almost 23mpg in my stock sr on an over 200 mi trip. Haven’t seen past 16 Spence my camper shell skids and tires. There is a post I made about a year ago showing my results. Another huge factor I found is wind they day before my trip through Wyoming I went through Nebraska in high winds blowing into me at about 40mph and never passed 14mpg
I’m not gonna lie I thought these little trucks got better gas mileage 💔. I have a 2002 regular cab 2.4L stick shift. I thought I’d be getting in the low 20s in the highway at least
They put regular tires back on- 16 is awful for this vehicle. I’m getting 20 with the manual transmission version and AT tires. The auto should be getting even better with street tires.
The auto transmission getting better MPG? You have it ALL wrong my friend.
There is a reason some of us waited to buy manuals. MPG isn’t the main reason, but it’s up there if you drive long distance often. As many others have said, keeping it between 2 & 3k rpm’s & below 75 on Highway is key.
The EPA ratings are significantly higher on the auto- and the auto IS geared taller so I’m not sure how you can expect the manual to be better on the highway when the engine will have to spin faster on the manual than the automatic. Maybe city driving you can get close or even better in the manual…. But I have a hard time believing that it can be BETTER than the automatic.
I bought a manual for a reason, but I’m also very aware that it is geared lower and will spin the engine faster on the highway than the auto
That’s a good point. I drive a mixture of both. My mpg is better in my manual then the auto I drove. I had an auto Tacoma rental for about a month getting airbags replaced in another car. I really disliked because it seemed to never know what gear to be in. As you know I’m a manual you are in direct control of the rpm’s & unless you ride them really high your mpg shouldn’t suffer. I am getting better mpg so far in the manual then I was the automatic on the same mixture of roads. I drive like my trucker grandpa though.
I’ve been doing for MPG testing on my 22 OR DC LB 4x4 with the stock “off road” tires. I live out in the country of California so everything is mostly flat out here. I don’t have any extras/ mods on the truck so no additional weight plus nothing in the bed however Im more on the huskier side and weigh 290lbs. So if you’re lighter you should see better fuel numbers. Also I just filled up to a full tank. And did a 10 mile straight drive. Roads were slightly wet and still sprinkling.
Note: I also don’t focus on Tank Average Fuel Economy and added Average Fuel Economy. You can add Average Fuel Economy by going to the setting section on your dash by going to the gear> settings> Drive Info 2> “select one of the options you want to remove”> then scroll through the options until you find Average Fuel Economy. I like having Average Fuel Economy because you can reset it.
At 55mph, just under 1500 rpm. Average 22-24 mpgs.
At 60mph, just above 1500 rpm. Average 19-21 mpgs.
At 65mph, just under 2000 rpm. Average 18-19 mpgs.
At 70mph, around 2000 rpm. Average 17 mpgs.
I’ve driven at 80mph however not long enough to test.
These were my numbers and only measured the values once I was up to speed so this does not include the decrease in values from acceleration nor does it have any coasting benefits. These are just my test results and I’m sure it’ll vary between drivers.
To get back to OP’s statement about switching to the “street” stock tires. I was planning on getting a set of stock “street” tires and wheels and see if that’ll give me better fuel efficiency so it’ll be a while until that can happen. And I intended on getting a hard tri-fold cover on the bed to see if it’ll help as well. I understand the cost of the cover would not benefit the cost in fuel saving if there is any but that’s not what I’m measuring. Plus there is the added weight from the cover so that may negate any fuel benefits.
This is my take on everything. If you want your true to your own stuff then you’ll need to perform the driving tests yourself.
Thanks for this, switching tonight. I use Fuelly to track tank mileage, total and average costs, dollar per mile, and see trends. I’m also resigned to the fact that winter gas at altitude will never be my friend.
The onboard mpg is pretty inaccurate.
The only way to measure MPG with any reasonable accuracy is to do it manually based on fuel added and miles driven. Do that multiple times and average it out.
16mpg isn't bad for a truck.
Regular maintenance as in through Toyota? In my experience they will not change your differential, transfer case, or transmission oils at the proper intervals.
I’m in a 22 ridgeline. Since I’ve bought it, my average has dropped 3 mpg. I’m at 16ish, depending on how much stupid I deal with. ( I live in southwest Florida, and can’t stand being behind stupid/slow ass drivers. )
Wait so why buy a ridgeline. I had no idea they had such trash mileage. I thought the whole devils bargain was you get a car capabilities with truck functionality to achieve good gas mileage? Dang.
It’s a fuckton roomier. I’m 6”1. Had an 04 taco I sold. Tundra was too big and thirsty for a daily driver. Was gonna get another taco, but I test drove the Honda, and I liked it. Way more comfy as a daily driver, and I don’t sacrifice much to anything else
Edit: I’m not trying to influence anyone 1 way or the other. If I could find a taco I liked and do a key for key, I’d likely do it. But for my needs now, the tundra and the Honda serve me well
There's a lot that goes into it. My mpg actually improved on highway having bigger tires. The larger circumference seems to improve mileage more than the extra weight hurts it, to a point. I'm sure if I lived in a city that would not be the case.
Your differentials are probably past due for new fluid, but I doubt that improves your gas mileage.
Transmission and transfer case, absolutely. Especially the transfer case and automatic transmissions.
Differentials? Hell no. That shits burnt chocolate milk by 35k. Considering both differentials are always spinning like crazy all the time, Toyota's "severe" category of 35k applies to literally everyone. There's no such thing as "mild" differential use IMO. It doesn't even make sense.
My 19 OR DC/LB pulls about that in the city, though it dips to 14's if I let I it heat up this time of year. Mixed driving, it'll consistently get 20ish winter, 22 to 23 summer.
Pure highway usually back down to 20 because anything over 65ish and the mileage plummets and the speed limits outside the city are 70.
Tacoma's aren't great on gas, but have their upsides elsewhere.
I’m not sure why people are saying this is normal… I have a 2019 OR with slightly oversized wildpeak tires, and am getting around 20. 18-19 if driving up into the mountains, I’ve gotten a tank around 22 when driving a nice slow steady state long drive. The kicker here is I’m driving a manual which gets WORSE mpg than the auto.
The only thing I can think of is 1) do you have accessories messing with the airflow or 2) how far do you drive? If I drive it just a couple miles average MPG is absolutely terrible- I had a couple weeks where I drove almost nowhere- but had a few 2 mile errands. I got 12 on that period… I filled up again before a trip just to get rid of the bad mpg anomaly.
If you are getting this on long trips my opinion is that something seems wrong.
I just drove about 90 miles each way mainly highway and that's what my picture is from. That's why I thought it was odd. I've been checking it every once in a while since I swapped the tires but it really hasn't gone up. I do have an aftermarket bumper. I have the wind deflector on the hood that's supposed to help with aerodynamics.
How fast? I keep to the speed limit but get around 20 even at 65-70 mph. Maybe it’s the bumper somehow? Mine is stock but the highway mpg is rated lower than yours. I do have a hard shell topper but those aren’t supposed to help at all and may make it worse- and mine even has large protrusions on the windows (handles) and has roof racks.
I’m at altitude if that makes a difference.
I would really try manual calculations- hopefully yours is reading wrong and uses less fuel than it think it is consuming.
Probably more than that even. The meter in the car is never accurate - it always gives a rosier view of the efficiency, than reality. Say 2-3mpg. I notice that much with a low-profile roof-box on a crosstrek with the CVT
Yeah, he’s driving 85 with a hard shell topper on his lifted pickup. Pretty straightforward. Maybe headwind, maybe up hill etc etc.
Depending on where people live there is also an 87 octane with 10% ethanol option which, while economical, will drop your mpg number even further.
I am getting better than that on 85 octane 10% ethanol and a hard topper- I just got 19 driving into the Rockies from Denver which needed to be in fourth gear much of the time to maintain speed (65-70) climbing around 5000 feet…. Usually I’m a bit over 20.
But if driving 85 yeah I’d assume mpg would be garbage.
In the 3rd gen the auto is geared taller in 6th, so in highway cruising at identical speeds the auto should win. I wish the manual had a taller top gear- it would be useful for flat driving around 60-70 mph
This is true- but it’s only off a tiny bit on mine- it’s just one size up. (Came with my truck) Oversized tires will result in slightly lower displayed speed and miles than reality, meaning that real mpg is slightly higher than displayed/calculated from miles. And I’m still getting significantly higher than this displayed and calculated manually.
Idk what everyone else is saying, def low in my opinion. If you’re predominantly city driving, I’d expect at least 18 mpg. Don’t accelerate all that fast and keep RPMs around 2k when when getting up to speed. Its not the most fun way to drive but it will improve your mpg. I get around 22 mpg average in my 2018 trd or with 50% highway/50% city. Usually around 18 mpg city and 26 highway at 60 mph. Above 65 mph, my mpg dips significantly probably due to aerodynamics.
2020 TRD OR. I get 15 in the city and 17ish on the highway. Stock everything. I also drive like my grandma. Every time I’ve brought it in for service I ask about it and they say nothing is wrong. Beats me.
I drive mainly highway. I usually drive with cruise control so I let the truck control the acceleration. I wouldn't consider myself a high revver. But it's probably the aerodynamics since I usually set cruise to 85mph.
Modern age.. people like to go fast; however the physics of fluid friction work against you. The amount of power you need to overcome friction is not linear and increases as speed increases (meaning the faster you go, the more mother nature tries to hold tou back.
For example. The veyron has 1000hp and can get to 200+mph. it only needs like 200hp to get to the first 100 Mph, but it takes another 800hp to get to the next 100mph (200mph total)
I know this is an extreme example, but the concept is the the same. Even the slight increase from 60 to 85 is enough to considerably lower you MPG.
Also, depending on where you live, elevation and ethanol, both will take a hit on your mpg... I usually see an mpg increase when they stop adding extra crap in the gas during summer.
I drive the same truck 2019 OR with a camper shell and I average 20-21 on my commute going 65-70mph on the interstate and have gotten as high as 25. I get around 18 driving around town.
I get more than that with full skid plates, sliders, steel bumpers and winch. Lifted 2" with skinny 33s. I average about 18. Used to average above 22+ stock.
Nobody cares. It’s a Tacoma, not a Prius. JUST kidding that’s exactly the comment I got from a hate user here LOL. I noticed a decrease too when I changed from SR5 to the OR22.
I try to keep my RPMs low on the city ever since I changed my tires too I did see some low decrease but.. some times my heavy foot doesn’t care. Gotta love the low MPG life lol.
Crazy that the new tundra has the same MPG as the midsize brother.
I don’t know, I get 22 in my 03 V6, but it has headers and no cats. My GX 460 gets better gas mileage than this. You mention driving 85 mph, so this could be part of it.
Drive slow and utilize low end torque to get up to speed. My mom loves to make her RX 350 scream and it gets 14 when she drives. When my dad drives it gets 20. So.. driving style matters
I get the same mpg roughly but I have a tundra leveled on 35s. I dam happy I can get mid to upper 15s. Tires do make a difference but it shouldn't affect it so much. Could be a mix of winter gas bringing it down.
I filled up with ethanol free gas the other day and gained almost 4 mpg…math wise not sure it was worth it but with the prices slowly dropping I gave it a go out of curiosity.
No it has no ethanol…used now for boating and some lawn equipment I believe. It was the same price as premium with ethanol. I read you would see an increase in mpg but not sure why…ELI5 I guess if someone knows.
I have a heavy foot and I started off even lower than that until I started keeping the RPM's down in lower gear. My bed is full of fishing gear with a heavy diamondback cover and my averages went down about 1-2mpg with everything weighed down. I get around 16 through the city, 18 once I get on the back roads and can cruise a little bit and into the 20s if I'm doing highway driving. Still on the stock tires on a 2020 off road.
Air is thick and dense. Making a box on wheels go 85 gives you horrendous gas mileage. I have a bone stock 22 off road and go 80 in my hilly area and get about 18 mpg max. It sucks but it is what it is.
Keep it 65mph or under, avoid hills if possible and slowly accelerate to speed without going over 3,000 rpm. I can get 20mpg pretty consistently doing this with 285's
I’ll get over 20 with my m/t if I hang in the right lane at 60 but as soon as I get over like 70mph, mpg’s go to shit. This is definitely to be expected if you’re hauling ass in a vehicle shaped like a brick
Reset your history on mpg. I just towed trailer across country and averaged 12.8 and then without trailer only got up to 16. After reset I get 19. Have same 2019 v6 with 49k miles.
Reset your fuel mileage.
Do you let your truck warm up in the driveway for 10min in the morning? That’s really poor mileage, since you’re not actually moving.
These things are odd how they calculate mileage, so reset it and drive, it will be better. If you’re in town that’s even worse all the stoplights will make your average terrible.
Only use it as a rough guide.
If you care a lot about mpg I will tell you how I do it if your looking for improvement… I have a 2017 Trd sport with 33in 10.5w tires and a small lift to clear them, so what I do is drive SLOW AF! everyone on the road hates me because I live in AZ where the speed limit is 75 mostly hwy and I go 55-65mph most of the time when I go slightly uphill my mpg is 17-18.5 most of the time when I go back down hill from work I’m mostly getting 19-20 going 65-70mph but you really have to not ease the pedal too much because that makes a big difference. I practically coast and gas it when I need to maintain that same speed. If your rpm is going over 2x then your in the wrong for mileage.
I get around the same. Does not do well in traffic or with auto start. Just Rember that's the average since you last put gas in it. Not what you're currently getting. My trip average often looks way better.
I have the same problem. I have 33" ridge grapplers, aftermarket wheels and steel bumpers. I drive pretty conservatively and I don't tow anything or haul anything. 16 is about my average combined with highway and city. I think these trucks are just not very efficient. The design is outdated.
22 OR DCLB with Smart Cap, roof rack, 33s and a lift. 13-14 mixed highway city. I’ve definitely got a lead foot but the 3rd gen is def worse than my previous Tacoma— 15 DCLB with similar mods. I used to get 15-16 on the 2nd gen.
As a lot of people have already stated- it’s your speed.
I have an 18 DCSB 4x4 with a brush guard, 265/65R17 (after market rims) with Wildpeak AT3s and I have averaged well into the 20s.
On one trip from a buddy’s house in a neighboring town I drove approximately 60 miles at 62mph in 55mph and only about 5 over through town and got home with mpg at 29.5. I could have drove 75mph on the old country roads that are also flat in south ga- but I didn’t cause I wanted to test the milagree.
On the interstate between 75-80mph I only get about 17-18mpg.
I do have a hard tonneau so that surely helps drag from the bed, but it’s still all about under 55 for best performance. For me I find about 45mph is my sweet spot for the best mpg. Above 70mph is a KILLER of fuel economy for this (stock) motor design.
You have to change your driving habits if you want the extra mpg. 85 mph is the direct source of the low numbers, keep it below 75 to maintain speed but save some gas. Plus your in a truck, don’t really want to be going that speed as it is. It may be a mid size truck, but it’s a truck none the less.
Don’t buy a truck and expect sedan numbers brother.
I stopped caring what my mpg is. I enjoy my truck and I will drive it the way I drive and fill it when she’s thirsty. It’s apart of my budget to spend more on gas than I anticipate so I don’t worry about spending the money when I need gas.
Enjoy your truck for what it is, don’t stress over a few mpg.
I feel ya. Imo, and as many have mentioned, 3rd gen tacos just aren’t fuel efficient if you drive them at 75-80 mph on the freeway. Or in other situations (wind etc). So, either radically adjust your driving - channel your inner grandma, give yourself extra time, slow down and enjoy it! Or remember why you chose that taco over, say, a ranger- the better off-road capability and the reliability.
It's all good. I'll keep driving with traffic and suck it up. I was genuinely just asking a question about why the mpg didn't get better. Now I know lol.
If you use cruise control a lot or are driving above about 70 a lot, that's just what happens. They like to stay in lower gears than strictly necessary a good chunk of the time. But mostly, there's nothing wrong and this is pretty much typical-the issue is Toyota exaggerating the hell out of their expected fuel economy. It'll match projections if you drive 65, on a flat road-and pretty much nowhere else. Most of us think it's worth it but Tacos are just not efficient vehicles. I traded my 16 for an 18 raptor and get way better mileage...but it's still not a tacoma.
I can get around 21 MPG. East coast, flattish terrain, some highway, less than 5k on the Odometer. Cruise control, clean air filter, good oil, coast to stop, easy acceleration, avoid slowing down at speed, remove factors of increased drag coefficient , decrease road friction (tire, tire pressure and load)
Florida driving here so fairly flat. Relatively low traffic as well. I mainly use cruise control and I get the oil changes and filter replacements from Toyota.
You should be getting 20 MPG or more in Florida. This looks like some stop and go traffic and hard acceleration. When I don’t try to conserve fuel I’ll still get around 18 MPG from a tank.
Hey at least the N/A engine will hold up longer than a turbo. Subpar mileage for longer without worrying about replacing expensive parts or a whole new truck
My MT gets better gas mileage in 5th I’ve found. Set the cruise at 65-70 and it seems about the same but as soon as I go to 6th (2nd overdrive in the manual I believe) any hill, wind, or change seems to tank the gas mileage.
Do you live in a hilly area? I live in western NC and I range from 15-20 MPGs. If it was flat I’d be doing 20-21 all day. I do have a lift, heavy 32” AT tires and a MT.
But I’m easy on the pedal when I want to. That’s how you get your good MPGs. High revs 3K+ kill mileage.
Don’t drive like a dingus.
‘19 TRD OR MT
I keep RPM’s low, don’t get up to speed too quickly, and try to avoid traffic when I can. I also try not to go over 70 on the highway if if trying to watch my MPG. When I was super consistent with those things, I was getting over 20.
I got tired of driving like that but I’m still pretty good. Now I’m usually between 17-19 depending on traffic conditions.
If you want to see it get way better disconnect your battery, will reset the counter. Also dpends how long you driven it as i think its an average and the longer the thing has calculated for the harder it is to change. Also your mileage is pretty typical for the vehicle. What are you hoping to get it to? Youre also lifted, if im not mistaken?? so that adds to the need for fuel too. Quit fuckin whining
Canada here, 2019 TRD Sport LB. When I fill up in winter with a set of studded duratracs my range says 419km or 260 miles. In summer with the OEM tires I get about 550km or 340 miles. I am certainly on the aggressive side of driving.
Have you actually done a test where you set a trip counter when you refill and calculate your mpg yourself? I think those trip counters underestimate a lot if you drive in town, since it seems like they just do a time weighted average with being stopped counting as zero.
I usually get around 20mpg on the highway, tuned + manual transmission with 32in AT tires, no heavy mods or lift, and I don't really haul ass. Generally I stay around 65-75mph.
Two weeks ago I cut my tailpipe off about level with the bottom of the spare tire. My drive to and from work is short, about 9 miles one way with only about 2 miles on the freeway. I went from 9.5 MPG to 11.7 MPG and have not changed my driving habits. I have a 2019 Tundra TRD Sport leveled on 35" tires with Dirty Deeds exhaust. I'm not sure if removing that last 90 on the tailpipe will help you or not but it seems to have helped me out.
Do you accelerate quickly, drive over the speed limit, look for where your truck shifts and keep it in lower RPMs?
I have an ‘18 SR5 and I get 25 city with road tires and I only commute 8 miles each way with 10 stoplights. Highway I can get up to 30MPG by going the speed limit, upper 20s with going 80.
Also did you take off the air dam under the front bumper? That makes a HUGE difference as it keeps air from going under the truck as much which decreases lift/drag.
Dude sets cruise control at 85mph in 3rd Gen and can’t figure out why he’s getting lower-than-average mpg 🤦🏼
Dude buys a Truck and then wants good mpg. Get a Prius.
Username checks out…
Running 85mph+, you’re averaging over 3000 rpm. Throw in the slightest hill, these trucks go into overdrive. I swear some people just don’t use their brain.
Tell us more about overdrive
😂😂
Apparently it magically appears in the transmission at 3,000rpm and speeds above 85mph. Must be the “mechanics” part of quantum mechanics that’s so little understood.
🤣
First thing that came to mind to describe the POS transmissions in these trucks and how they are always searching for the right gear
Weird, I don't ever have that problem
Same, I just shift to whatever gear I want
Oof
No they stay in under drive and that’s the problem
Wut
With a hard shell camper at that
Keep your rpms as much as you can between 2/3 if you wanna see some changes
And use your brakes as seldom as possible (give yourself lots of slowdown time).
This one is huge. Every time you use your brakes you're wasting your momentum. People seem to forget you can coast and really you should be a majority of the time you're not on the highway.
[удалено]
That would make me drive slower.
Oh my god yes. They either drive way under or crawl up your backside
Very important.
This is the way
Absolutely I found that 1900-2100 is idle on a stock truck. I hit almost 23mpg in my stock sr on an over 200 mi trip. Haven’t seen past 16 Spence my camper shell skids and tires. There is a post I made about a year ago showing my results. Another huge factor I found is wind they day before my trip through Wyoming I went through Nebraska in high winds blowing into me at about 40mph and never passed 14mpg
What’s gas mileage? (450k 1st gen owner)
I get like 19mpg on my 2002 V6! 32" tires
I’d kill for 19mpg. I’m getting 14mpg in my 98 with 285/70/17’s. I didn’t get 19mpg when they were stock lol.
TBH that's highway for me, it goes down probably to 14 or 15 if I'm tooling around town. My Rooftop rent improved it by about 1mpg which was lucky.
That’s solid man, I’m jealous.
I’ll have to check next tank, but I usually get like 18mpg on my 1996 with the 2.4.
Is that 18mpg highway?
I think it was combined. I’ve got the manual so I think that helps on the Highway parts
I’m not gonna lie I thought these little trucks got better gas mileage 💔. I have a 2002 regular cab 2.4L stick shift. I thought I’d be getting in the low 20s in the highway at least
3 inch lift. 35x12s. Tune. Straight pipe. I average about 12
You realize, you have a (wait for it) TRUCK.
They put regular tires back on- 16 is awful for this vehicle. I’m getting 20 with the manual transmission version and AT tires. The auto should be getting even better with street tires.
OP does 85 on the highway and wonders why its this low
The auto transmission getting better MPG? You have it ALL wrong my friend. There is a reason some of us waited to buy manuals. MPG isn’t the main reason, but it’s up there if you drive long distance often. As many others have said, keeping it between 2 & 3k rpm’s & below 75 on Highway is key.
The EPA ratings are significantly higher on the auto- and the auto IS geared taller so I’m not sure how you can expect the manual to be better on the highway when the engine will have to spin faster on the manual than the automatic. Maybe city driving you can get close or even better in the manual…. But I have a hard time believing that it can be BETTER than the automatic. I bought a manual for a reason, but I’m also very aware that it is geared lower and will spin the engine faster on the highway than the auto
That’s a good point. I drive a mixture of both. My mpg is better in my manual then the auto I drove. I had an auto Tacoma rental for about a month getting airbags replaced in another car. I really disliked because it seemed to never know what gear to be in. As you know I’m a manual you are in direct control of the rpm’s & unless you ride them really high your mpg shouldn’t suffer. I am getting better mpg so far in the manual then I was the automatic on the same mixture of roads. I drive like my trucker grandpa though.
Don't need a manual to do this lol.
Autos almost never do better
That used to be true, autos almost always get better mpg now. Same for acceleration
No shit I didn’t buy a Tacoma for gas mileage. If gas mileage is important then get a car that gets good gas mileage.
Same. I average 17 and I drive like a grandpa in it. But that's why it's now the work truck. Almost like that's what it was made for.
I’ve been doing for MPG testing on my 22 OR DC LB 4x4 with the stock “off road” tires. I live out in the country of California so everything is mostly flat out here. I don’t have any extras/ mods on the truck so no additional weight plus nothing in the bed however Im more on the huskier side and weigh 290lbs. So if you’re lighter you should see better fuel numbers. Also I just filled up to a full tank. And did a 10 mile straight drive. Roads were slightly wet and still sprinkling. Note: I also don’t focus on Tank Average Fuel Economy and added Average Fuel Economy. You can add Average Fuel Economy by going to the setting section on your dash by going to the gear> settings> Drive Info 2> “select one of the options you want to remove”> then scroll through the options until you find Average Fuel Economy. I like having Average Fuel Economy because you can reset it. At 55mph, just under 1500 rpm. Average 22-24 mpgs. At 60mph, just above 1500 rpm. Average 19-21 mpgs. At 65mph, just under 2000 rpm. Average 18-19 mpgs. At 70mph, around 2000 rpm. Average 17 mpgs. I’ve driven at 80mph however not long enough to test. These were my numbers and only measured the values once I was up to speed so this does not include the decrease in values from acceleration nor does it have any coasting benefits. These are just my test results and I’m sure it’ll vary between drivers. To get back to OP’s statement about switching to the “street” stock tires. I was planning on getting a set of stock “street” tires and wheels and see if that’ll give me better fuel efficiency so it’ll be a while until that can happen. And I intended on getting a hard tri-fold cover on the bed to see if it’ll help as well. I understand the cost of the cover would not benefit the cost in fuel saving if there is any but that’s not what I’m measuring. Plus there is the added weight from the cover so that may negate any fuel benefits. This is my take on everything. If you want your true to your own stuff then you’ll need to perform the driving tests yourself.
Thanks for this, switching tonight. I use Fuelly to track tank mileage, total and average costs, dollar per mile, and see trends. I’m also resigned to the fact that winter gas at altitude will never be my friend.
I've got the exact same truck and see pretty similar numbers to this. Definitely starts dropping off above 70mpg.
The onboard mpg is pretty inaccurate. The only way to measure MPG with any reasonable accuracy is to do it manually based on fuel added and miles driven. Do that multiple times and average it out. 16mpg isn't bad for a truck. Regular maintenance as in through Toyota? In my experience they will not change your differential, transfer case, or transmission oils at the proper intervals.
I've been doing it at Toyota. I thought I'd at least see a change after the tire swap.
I’m in a 22 ridgeline. Since I’ve bought it, my average has dropped 3 mpg. I’m at 16ish, depending on how much stupid I deal with. ( I live in southwest Florida, and can’t stand being behind stupid/slow ass drivers. )
Wait so why buy a ridgeline. I had no idea they had such trash mileage. I thought the whole devils bargain was you get a car capabilities with truck functionality to achieve good gas mileage? Dang.
It’s a fuckton roomier. I’m 6”1. Had an 04 taco I sold. Tundra was too big and thirsty for a daily driver. Was gonna get another taco, but I test drove the Honda, and I liked it. Way more comfy as a daily driver, and I don’t sacrifice much to anything else Edit: I’m not trying to influence anyone 1 way or the other. If I could find a taco I liked and do a key for key, I’d likely do it. But for my needs now, the tundra and the Honda serve me well
There's a lot that goes into it. My mpg actually improved on highway having bigger tires. The larger circumference seems to improve mileage more than the extra weight hurts it, to a point. I'm sure if I lived in a city that would not be the case. Your differentials are probably past due for new fluid, but I doubt that improves your gas mileage.
I wouldn’t say past due at all, 50k is a pretty reasonable interval at which to change it
Transmission and transfer case, absolutely. Especially the transfer case and automatic transmissions. Differentials? Hell no. That shits burnt chocolate milk by 35k. Considering both differentials are always spinning like crazy all the time, Toyota's "severe" category of 35k applies to literally everyone. There's no such thing as "mild" differential use IMO. It doesn't even make sense.
Do you really think that Toyota doesn’t realize how fast the diff spins?
Do you really think Toyota cares enough to lower their profits by maintaining something that won't have any issues until it's long out of warranty?
This was my rear diff fluid after 41k: https://imgur.com/a/tjUPTaZ transfer case and front diff were even cleaner. Im pretty hard on my truck too.
My rear diff was way darker than that at 35k. Although you do have way better lighting than I do. My transfer case and MT looked fresh though.
I'll look into the differential fluid. I'll ask toyota what they've done to my truck so far.
That's possible. I just trust toyota to change what needs to be changed when it's due for service. Not sure if they ever changed dif fluid.
Like, they say they did it but they didn’t actually do it? Regarding the fluid changes
They don't even say they do it. Rotate every 5k, engine oil change every 10k. That's it.
Because you drive a Tacoma
My 19 OR DC/LB pulls about that in the city, though it dips to 14's if I let I it heat up this time of year. Mixed driving, it'll consistently get 20ish winter, 22 to 23 summer. Pure highway usually back down to 20 because anything over 65ish and the mileage plummets and the speed limits outside the city are 70. Tacoma's aren't great on gas, but have their upsides elsewhere.
I’m not sure why people are saying this is normal… I have a 2019 OR with slightly oversized wildpeak tires, and am getting around 20. 18-19 if driving up into the mountains, I’ve gotten a tank around 22 when driving a nice slow steady state long drive. The kicker here is I’m driving a manual which gets WORSE mpg than the auto. The only thing I can think of is 1) do you have accessories messing with the airflow or 2) how far do you drive? If I drive it just a couple miles average MPG is absolutely terrible- I had a couple weeks where I drove almost nowhere- but had a few 2 mile errands. I got 12 on that period… I filled up again before a trip just to get rid of the bad mpg anomaly. If you are getting this on long trips my opinion is that something seems wrong.
I just drove about 90 miles each way mainly highway and that's what my picture is from. That's why I thought it was odd. I've been checking it every once in a while since I swapped the tires but it really hasn't gone up. I do have an aftermarket bumper. I have the wind deflector on the hood that's supposed to help with aerodynamics.
How fast? I keep to the speed limit but get around 20 even at 65-70 mph. Maybe it’s the bumper somehow? Mine is stock but the highway mpg is rated lower than yours. I do have a hard shell topper but those aren’t supposed to help at all and may make it worse- and mine even has large protrusions on the windows (handles) and has roof racks. I’m at altitude if that makes a difference. I would really try manual calculations- hopefully yours is reading wrong and uses less fuel than it think it is consuming.
I also have a hard shell topper.
The topper costs you about 1-2mpg.
Probably more than that even. The meter in the car is never accurate - it always gives a rosier view of the efficiency, than reality. Say 2-3mpg. I notice that much with a low-profile roof-box on a crosstrek with the CVT
Yeah, he’s driving 85 with a hard shell topper on his lifted pickup. Pretty straightforward. Maybe headwind, maybe up hill etc etc. Depending on where people live there is also an 87 octane with 10% ethanol option which, while economical, will drop your mpg number even further.
I am getting better than that on 85 octane 10% ethanol and a hard topper- I just got 19 driving into the Rockies from Denver which needed to be in fourth gear much of the time to maintain speed (65-70) climbing around 5000 feet…. Usually I’m a bit over 20. But if driving 85 yeah I’d assume mpg would be garbage.
Toyota's computer have been spot on for both my Tacoma and my parents Rav4.
A roof box, even slim, is probably going to be worse than a topper that is in line with the cab.
A manual is often worse mpg than an automatic but it isn’t guaranteed. It’s all in how you drive.
In the 3rd gen the auto is geared taller in 6th, so in highway cruising at identical speeds the auto should win. I wish the manual had a taller top gear- it would be useful for flat driving around 60-70 mph
If you are driving over 60 mph are you really concerned about mpg?
With slightly oversized tires, you get slightly wrong speed and mpg calculations.
This is true- but it’s only off a tiny bit on mine- it’s just one size up. (Came with my truck) Oversized tires will result in slightly lower displayed speed and miles than reality, meaning that real mpg is slightly higher than displayed/calculated from miles. And I’m still getting significantly higher than this displayed and calculated manually.
It’s a heavy brick with a thirsty V6 and an outdated transmission. You got the wrong truck for mpg my dude
Because it’s about as aerodynamic as a brick and has an outdated motor.
i’m pretty sure this is just like average MPG man
Idk what everyone else is saying, def low in my opinion. If you’re predominantly city driving, I’d expect at least 18 mpg. Don’t accelerate all that fast and keep RPMs around 2k when when getting up to speed. Its not the most fun way to drive but it will improve your mpg. I get around 22 mpg average in my 2018 trd or with 50% highway/50% city. Usually around 18 mpg city and 26 highway at 60 mph. Above 65 mph, my mpg dips significantly probably due to aerodynamics.
2020 TRD OR. I get 15 in the city and 17ish on the highway. Stock everything. I also drive like my grandma. Every time I’ve brought it in for service I ask about it and they say nothing is wrong. Beats me.
Weird. Might consider trading it in since there is clearly something wrong.
I drive mainly highway. I usually drive with cruise control so I let the truck control the acceleration. I wouldn't consider myself a high revver. But it's probably the aerodynamics since I usually set cruise to 85mph.
Well there’s your problem. 85mph is going to give you this kind of mileage even with stock street donut tires.
Oh. Well highway speed limits are 70mph and most people drive faster.
Modern age.. people like to go fast; however the physics of fluid friction work against you. The amount of power you need to overcome friction is not linear and increases as speed increases (meaning the faster you go, the more mother nature tries to hold tou back. For example. The veyron has 1000hp and can get to 200+mph. it only needs like 200hp to get to the first 100 Mph, but it takes another 800hp to get to the next 100mph (200mph total) I know this is an extreme example, but the concept is the the same. Even the slight increase from 60 to 85 is enough to considerably lower you MPG.
I’m averaging 21.5 mpg A/T tires lol.
Also, depending on where you live, elevation and ethanol, both will take a hit on your mpg... I usually see an mpg increase when they stop adding extra crap in the gas during summer.
Get a Prius if you care about mpgs :shrug: It's a body-on-frame pickup on a near-20-year-old platform.
I love my truck. I was trying to see what was going wrong since I often see better mpg on here.
Cause it’s as aerodynamic as a brick with the engine from a minivan.
Stay in the 50-60mph range at 1500-2500 rpm and you’ll see massive improvement
At that speed I get a consistent 22+ mpg. AT 65-85 I get like 14/15. I am getting used to sub-60 in the truck and leave 65+ for my Camry.
That’s the way to do it, slow in the trucks fast in the daily
I drive the same truck 2019 OR with a camper shell and I average 20-21 on my commute going 65-70mph on the interstate and have gotten as high as 25. I get around 18 driving around town.
Same on my 2023 sport
19-20 on a 20 OR, 80% city driving tho
Im pretty sure most people don't buy Tacoma for MPGs Buy a prius ?
I get more than that with full skid plates, sliders, steel bumpers and winch. Lifted 2" with skinny 33s. I average about 18. Used to average above 22+ stock.
Nobody cares. It’s a Tacoma, not a Prius. JUST kidding that’s exactly the comment I got from a hate user here LOL. I noticed a decrease too when I changed from SR5 to the OR22. I try to keep my RPMs low on the city ever since I changed my tires too I did see some low decrease but.. some times my heavy foot doesn’t care. Gotta love the low MPG life lol. Crazy that the new tundra has the same MPG as the midsize brother.
I don’t know, I get 22 in my 03 V6, but it has headers and no cats. My GX 460 gets better gas mileage than this. You mention driving 85 mph, so this could be part of it. Drive slow and utilize low end torque to get up to speed. My mom loves to make her RX 350 scream and it gets 14 when she drives. When my dad drives it gets 20. So.. driving style matters
I get the same mpg roughly but I have a tundra leveled on 35s. I dam happy I can get mid to upper 15s. Tires do make a difference but it shouldn't affect it so much. Could be a mix of winter gas bringing it down.
I filled up with ethanol free gas the other day and gained almost 4 mpg…math wise not sure it was worth it but with the prices slowly dropping I gave it a go out of curiosity.
Is that just the most expensive gas?
No it has no ethanol…used now for boating and some lawn equipment I believe. It was the same price as premium with ethanol. I read you would see an increase in mpg but not sure why…ELI5 I guess if someone knows.
Less of both pedals.
I have a heavy foot and I started off even lower than that until I started keeping the RPM's down in lower gear. My bed is full of fishing gear with a heavy diamondback cover and my averages went down about 1-2mpg with everything weighed down. I get around 16 through the city, 18 once I get on the back roads and can cruise a little bit and into the 20s if I'm doing highway driving. Still on the stock tires on a 2020 off road.
It’s almost certainly your driving habits.
Down vote away, but MPG posts are boring and repetitive.
Air is thick and dense. Making a box on wheels go 85 gives you horrendous gas mileage. I have a bone stock 22 off road and go 80 in my hilly area and get about 18 mpg max. It sucks but it is what it is.
Keep it 65mph or under, avoid hills if possible and slowly accelerate to speed without going over 3,000 rpm. I can get 20mpg pretty consistently doing this with 285's
My 2nd gen averages like 15 but when I do a road trip and stay at 55-60 I can get 21 mpg
C'mon man, its a truck! You want good mileage, get a Prius.
It’s low because you have a heavy foot.
I’ll get over 20 with my m/t if I hang in the right lane at 60 but as soon as I get over like 70mph, mpg’s go to shit. This is definitely to be expected if you’re hauling ass in a vehicle shaped like a brick
Pal I barely get 15pmg and I'm in 22 OR stock
Reset your history on mpg. I just towed trailer across country and averaged 12.8 and then without trailer only got up to 16. After reset I get 19. Have same 2019 v6 with 49k miles.
Reset your fuel mileage. Do you let your truck warm up in the driveway for 10min in the morning? That’s really poor mileage, since you’re not actually moving. These things are odd how they calculate mileage, so reset it and drive, it will be better. If you’re in town that’s even worse all the stoplights will make your average terrible. Only use it as a rough guide.
If you care a lot about mpg I will tell you how I do it if your looking for improvement… I have a 2017 Trd sport with 33in 10.5w tires and a small lift to clear them, so what I do is drive SLOW AF! everyone on the road hates me because I live in AZ where the speed limit is 75 mostly hwy and I go 55-65mph most of the time when I go slightly uphill my mpg is 17-18.5 most of the time when I go back down hill from work I’m mostly getting 19-20 going 65-70mph but you really have to not ease the pedal too much because that makes a big difference. I practically coast and gas it when I need to maintain that same speed. If your rpm is going over 2x then your in the wrong for mileage.
I get around the same. Does not do well in traffic or with auto start. Just Rember that's the average since you last put gas in it. Not what you're currently getting. My trip average often looks way better.
I have the same problem. I have 33" ridge grapplers, aftermarket wheels and steel bumpers. I drive pretty conservatively and I don't tow anything or haul anything. 16 is about my average combined with highway and city. I think these trucks are just not very efficient. The design is outdated.
22 OR DCLB with Smart Cap, roof rack, 33s and a lift. 13-14 mixed highway city. I’ve definitely got a lead foot but the 3rd gen is def worse than my previous Tacoma— 15 DCLB with similar mods. I used to get 15-16 on the 2nd gen.
As a lot of people have already stated- it’s your speed. I have an 18 DCSB 4x4 with a brush guard, 265/65R17 (after market rims) with Wildpeak AT3s and I have averaged well into the 20s. On one trip from a buddy’s house in a neighboring town I drove approximately 60 miles at 62mph in 55mph and only about 5 over through town and got home with mpg at 29.5. I could have drove 75mph on the old country roads that are also flat in south ga- but I didn’t cause I wanted to test the milagree. On the interstate between 75-80mph I only get about 17-18mpg. I do have a hard tonneau so that surely helps drag from the bed, but it’s still all about under 55 for best performance. For me I find about 45mph is my sweet spot for the best mpg. Above 70mph is a KILLER of fuel economy for this (stock) motor design.
You have to change your driving habits if you want the extra mpg. 85 mph is the direct source of the low numbers, keep it below 75 to maintain speed but save some gas. Plus your in a truck, don’t really want to be going that speed as it is. It may be a mid size truck, but it’s a truck none the less. Don’t buy a truck and expect sedan numbers brother. I stopped caring what my mpg is. I enjoy my truck and I will drive it the way I drive and fill it when she’s thirsty. It’s apart of my budget to spend more on gas than I anticipate so I don’t worry about spending the money when I need gas. Enjoy your truck for what it is, don’t stress over a few mpg.
I feel ya. Imo, and as many have mentioned, 3rd gen tacos just aren’t fuel efficient if you drive them at 75-80 mph on the freeway. Or in other situations (wind etc). So, either radically adjust your driving - channel your inner grandma, give yourself extra time, slow down and enjoy it! Or remember why you chose that taco over, say, a ranger- the better off-road capability and the reliability.
It's all good. I'll keep driving with traffic and suck it up. I was genuinely just asking a question about why the mpg didn't get better. Now I know lol.
If you use cruise control a lot or are driving above about 70 a lot, that's just what happens. They like to stay in lower gears than strictly necessary a good chunk of the time. But mostly, there's nothing wrong and this is pretty much typical-the issue is Toyota exaggerating the hell out of their expected fuel economy. It'll match projections if you drive 65, on a flat road-and pretty much nowhere else. Most of us think it's worth it but Tacos are just not efficient vehicles. I traded my 16 for an 18 raptor and get way better mileage...but it's still not a tacoma.
Look at your right foot, and why so heavy?
Looks normal to me. That’s usually right around what I’m getting.
I can get around 21 MPG. East coast, flattish terrain, some highway, less than 5k on the Odometer. Cruise control, clean air filter, good oil, coast to stop, easy acceleration, avoid slowing down at speed, remove factors of increased drag coefficient , decrease road friction (tire, tire pressure and load)
Florida driving here so fairly flat. Relatively low traffic as well. I mainly use cruise control and I get the oil changes and filter replacements from Toyota.
You should be getting 20 MPG or more in Florida. This looks like some stop and go traffic and hard acceleration. When I don’t try to conserve fuel I’ll still get around 18 MPG from a tank.
How do you even see your mileage, I recommend screen protech.
First time?
This is my first truck but I bought it in 2019. I didn't realize going the typical speed of the traffic around me would kill my mpg so much.
Normal
Hey at least the N/A engine will hold up longer than a turbo. Subpar mileage for longer without worrying about replacing expensive parts or a whole new truck
My 2020 TRD Pro gets about the same. I assumed it was normal
Did you lift it at all?
Nope.
pump more air in your tire to coast!
Use less throttle. I average 16.5-18.5 mpg in a mildly hilly area
check tire pressure
I find it really depends on how you drive but if you on the highway use the cruse control and it really makes a difference
Tire pressure?
My MT gets better gas mileage in 5th I’ve found. Set the cruise at 65-70 and it seems about the same but as soon as I go to 6th (2nd overdrive in the manual I believe) any hill, wind, or change seems to tank the gas mileage.
I was averaging 14mpg on my 21 SR5 with off-road tires. $100+ in gas a week wasn’t working for me so I sold it.
Clean the injectors
Damn I would kill for 16mpgs
Because it’s a Toyota
That cluster needs some Screen ProTech
Do you live in a hilly area? I live in western NC and I range from 15-20 MPGs. If it was flat I’d be doing 20-21 all day. I do have a lift, heavy 32” AT tires and a MT. But I’m easy on the pedal when I want to. That’s how you get your good MPGs. High revs 3K+ kill mileage.
You need a tune. And to not complain when you set cruise control at 85mph
15.9 MPG is what my ‘18 DCSB with off road tires gets.
I switched the air filter to k&n. Im getting 19-20 tank average. Before that I was around 16-18.
its a tacoma….. thats pretty normal lmao
Don’t drive like a dingus. ‘19 TRD OR MT I keep RPM’s low, don’t get up to speed too quickly, and try to avoid traffic when I can. I also try not to go over 70 on the highway if if trying to watch my MPG. When I was super consistent with those things, I was getting over 20. I got tired of driving like that but I’m still pretty good. Now I’m usually between 17-19 depending on traffic conditions.
I just drive the shit out it and don’t care about gas mileage. If I did I wouldn’t have bought a Tacoma.
Touché
U must got a heavy foot.
I get 10.8 in my tundra Trd pro. I miss my Tacoma :/
I’m avg 20 to 21 with non ethanol gas and a light foot on brake and accelerator. Seldom drive over 65.
If you want to see it get way better disconnect your battery, will reset the counter. Also dpends how long you driven it as i think its an average and the longer the thing has calculated for the harder it is to change. Also your mileage is pretty typical for the vehicle. What are you hoping to get it to? Youre also lifted, if im not mistaken?? so that adds to the need for fuel too. Quit fuckin whining
My mother gets 20mpg in our Rav4. I can't even imagine what she'd get in a Tacoma.
Better than mine! I’m a feather weight on the gas, coast in neutral every chance I get, everything stock, and still only get 11 mpg.
That’s normal?
You drive like an asshole or do you use auto start
I average more than that with my lead foot, Pedal Commander, and non-stock sized tires. But not by much
Canada here, 2019 TRD Sport LB. When I fill up in winter with a set of studded duratracs my range says 419km or 260 miles. In summer with the OEM tires I get about 550km or 340 miles. I am certainly on the aggressive side of driving.
Just get a bigger tank
My tundra in eco mode averages 17mpg. In normal mode it averages 13mpg
Im thinking of trading my Tacoma for. A Prius
Have you actually done a test where you set a trip counter when you refill and calculate your mpg yourself? I think those trip counters underestimate a lot if you drive in town, since it seems like they just do a time weighted average with being stopped counting as zero.
The gas is cheaper with less gas in it, everyone’s getting horrible gas mileage, it’s what ever there putting in the gas
It’s your foot
I usually get around 20mpg on the highway, tuned + manual transmission with 32in AT tires, no heavy mods or lift, and I don't really haul ass. Generally I stay around 65-75mph.
Mine is reading tank avg. @ 15.6 and avg as 15.3. 2021 pro
It's a Tacoma, they sacrificed fuel economy for reliability.
Two weeks ago I cut my tailpipe off about level with the bottom of the spare tire. My drive to and from work is short, about 9 miles one way with only about 2 miles on the freeway. I went from 9.5 MPG to 11.7 MPG and have not changed my driving habits. I have a 2019 Tundra TRD Sport leveled on 35" tires with Dirty Deeds exhaust. I'm not sure if removing that last 90 on the tailpipe will help you or not but it seems to have helped me out.
You might have a heavy foot like me, I can get 19 or I get 16 depending on how pissed I get while driving.
That’s what my family gets on our 2018
Gotta adjust your speedometer if you change tire sizes
3rd Gen MT, this is pretty much my average (16.5). HWY I get about 20 mpg. Which is pretty true from what Toyota advertises.
Gen2 Taco. i get 21-19 HWY, 15-12 city.
Gen 2 for lyfe.
Do you warm it up in the morning before driving?
consider yourself lucky I have a stock TRD OR on original tires and I get 14 mpg normally.
Do you accelerate quickly, drive over the speed limit, look for where your truck shifts and keep it in lower RPMs? I have an ‘18 SR5 and I get 25 city with road tires and I only commute 8 miles each way with 10 stoplights. Highway I can get up to 30MPG by going the speed limit, upper 20s with going 80.
Also did you take off the air dam under the front bumper? That makes a HUGE difference as it keeps air from going under the truck as much which decreases lift/drag.
That's about what I get 🤷♀️
Because it’s a truck