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 6-21-2009
Filled up today:
These numbers are really good considering the conditions under which they were generated. This is all in town driving with a trailer for more than half the miles and the air conditioning running all the time. Not only that but the truck idled quite a bit with the air conditioning running full blast at each property in an effort to have the truck as comfortable as possible after working in the heat. With my heat stroke several years back I have had to exercise extreme caution while working in the heat. The air conditioning is literally a life saver for me.
I need to contact Shell Oil here in Indianapolis and find out if the summer time grade of gasoline has reached this region. If it has that would explain the remarkable improvement in fuel economy over the past couple of weeks. I am curious to see how the new 02 sensor will impact fuel economy once it is installed.
I have started fabricating the new ram air scoop and will do a write-up of that in a separate post under that subject heading. I expect the new design to not only aid in fuel economy and power but also will be offering it as a kit to interested parties. Testing of the ram air intake thus far has yielded an increase of nearly 1.5 MPG on the highway and the truck does not down shift as much as it did before on hills. The passing power from 50 to 90 MPH is rather impressive.
I have three more significant modifications to do to the truck which I expect will place me solidly into the 22 MPG range on the highway. If one of my inventions works out then I could be as far as 25-26 MPG on the highway. The invention is currently undergoing patent status which is a mind blowing process and wallet draining nightmare. More on that when the time is right.
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.
- 209.0 miles all city driving
- Mostly trailer with A/C all the time
- 13.809 gallons Shell87
- 15.1351 MPG
- 0.0156 increase in MPG since last of city driving with trailer and A/C
These numbers are really good considering the conditions under which they were generated. This is all in town driving with a trailer for more than half the miles and the air conditioning running all the time. Not only that but the truck idled quite a bit with the air conditioning running full blast at each property in an effort to have the truck as comfortable as possible after working in the heat. With my heat stroke several years back I have had to exercise extreme caution while working in the heat. The air conditioning is literally a life saver for me.
I need to contact Shell Oil here in Indianapolis and find out if the summer time grade of gasoline has reached this region. If it has that would explain the remarkable improvement in fuel economy over the past couple of weeks. I am curious to see how the new 02 sensor will impact fuel economy once it is installed.
I have started fabricating the new ram air scoop and will do a write-up of that in a separate post under that subject heading. I expect the new design to not only aid in fuel economy and power but also will be offering it as a kit to interested parties. Testing of the ram air intake thus far has yielded an increase of nearly 1.5 MPG on the highway and the truck does not down shift as much as it did before on hills. The passing power from 50 to 90 MPH is rather impressive.
I have three more significant modifications to do to the truck which I expect will place me solidly into the 22 MPG range on the highway. If one of my inventions works out then I could be as far as 25-26 MPG on the highway. The invention is currently undergoing patent status which is a mind blowing process and wallet draining nightmare. More on that when the time is right.
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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