This blog is about my search for better fuel economy for my truck. I have a 2004 Toyota Tundra Double cab with a V8 engine, four wheel drive, and a four speed automatic transmission. Of all the years the Tundra has been available it appears that the 2004 DC truck, because of its size and engine/transmission configuration, gets the worst mileage of all the Tundras. The Gross Vehicle Weight of the truck is 6600 pounds and the EPA fuel economy rating for the truck is 14 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the freeway. In all honesty these fuel economy figures are both generous and unrealistic.
I have a personal Blog with more detailed information about my testing and my findings. Detailed spreadsheets of my fuel economy and test conditions can be emailed from my email account at highwaylizard@gmail.com
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog here on this forum through the RSS feed or my personal Blog.
Thanks for looking and ask any questions you may have.
I have a personal Blog with more detailed information about my testing and my findings. Detailed spreadsheets of my fuel economy and test conditions can be emailed from my email account at highwaylizard@gmail.com
Please feel free to subscribe to my blog here on this forum through the RSS feed or my personal Blog.
Thanks for looking and ask any questions you may have.
MPG Numbers 6-14-2009
Posted 06-24-2009 at 11:36 PM by Highwaylizard
Filled up today:
These numbers are the result of pulling the trailer in town while running the mowing route. The mowing route involved some 24 start-ups and shut-downs from one property to the next. The numbers also seem to have taken a hit from the failed O2 sensor on the passenger exhaust manifold. Interestingly the mileage took a small spike previous to this failure. Having noticed that I took a look at the fuel economy numbers with the last O2 failure (driver’s side exhaust manifold) and found that immediately before the failure of that O2 the numbers took a slight increase as well. I am wondering if the imminent failure somehow results in a temporary lean condition resulting in improved fuel economy before the ultimate failure.
Even though these numbers fall within the range of the 12 to 14 miles per gallon that I should be getting while pulling a trailer in town I would still like to see them higher. For the most part I have been getting 14-16 miles per gallon so when the numbers do not come in where I expect them to I know it right away and I begin looking for the culprit.
I am beginning to think that there is a correlation between what gas station I buy my gas from and the mileage numbers. I need to design in a way to keep track of that information as well and see if there is any connection between the station and the mileage. Even though all gas comes from the same break out delivery farm there may be individual factors from one station to the next that affect the properties of the fuel while in the storage tanks. This could be an interesting investigation.
As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to email us. For more information about my testing take a look at my personal blog at Tundra Fuel Economy. Feel free to drop in, look around, and drop some comments or ask questions.
- 181.5 miles all city driving
- All trailer
- 13.241 gallons Shell87
- 13.7074 MPG
- 2.1806 decrease in MPG since last of in town with trailer driving
These numbers are the result of pulling the trailer in town while running the mowing route. The mowing route involved some 24 start-ups and shut-downs from one property to the next. The numbers also seem to have taken a hit from the failed O2 sensor on the passenger exhaust manifold. Interestingly the mileage took a small spike previous to this failure. Having noticed that I took a look at the fuel economy numbers with the last O2 failure (driver’s side exhaust manifold) and found that immediately before the failure of that O2 the numbers took a slight increase as well. I am wondering if the imminent failure somehow results in a temporary lean condition resulting in improved fuel economy before the ultimate failure.
Even though these numbers fall within the range of the 12 to 14 miles per gallon that I should be getting while pulling a trailer in town I would still like to see them higher. For the most part I have been getting 14-16 miles per gallon so when the numbers do not come in where I expect them to I know it right away and I begin looking for the culprit.
I am beginning to think that there is a correlation between what gas station I buy my gas from and the mileage numbers. I need to design in a way to keep track of that information as well and see if there is any connection between the station and the mileage. Even though all gas comes from the same break out delivery farm there may be individual factors from one station to the next that affect the properties of the fuel while in the storage tanks. This could be an interesting investigation.
As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to email us. For more information about my testing take a look at my personal blog at Tundra Fuel Economy. Feel free to drop in, look around, and drop some comments or ask questions.
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