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Engine & DrivetrainDiscussions about the engine and drivetrain of your vehicle.
This is a discussion thread titled "Real Milage", within the Engine & Drivetrain forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
Ok, I towed my 6,000 lb trailer 300 miles this weekend. On a climb, (Hwy 58) I used to pull in second gear @ 4,500 to 5,000 RPM, (about 60-64mph). With the blower, I STILL have to do that, but now the truck only gets 5mpg... I was getting at WORST 8.8 before the blower.
With all the BS that comes with it, the TRD blower is a waste of money. You spend $4k to make more power, but spend your life trying to reduce the effect of the blower to make the truck work. If it's not the ECU going into fuel cutoff to shift, it's the 9th injector drinking fuel. Not to mention the bypass actuator that offers 0 boost during normal cruise speeds. All the way down to $11 spark plugs, and $80 theromastats.
I'm really disapointed in the results I get with the blower, I wated it since I bought my truck, and 3 years later when I actually got it, I find out that if I use my truck for anything it intended, it's a total waste.
If you want to drag race the Tundra, then the blower is a good choice, but if you want to tow with it, it's a joke at 5mpg going up hills that the blower should have make the tuck pull with no problem.
I never thought I'd say this, but I'm considering a Ford PowerStroke now.
Toyota put a bad package together. Mind, you, I'm a Toyota man by nature. I was an ASE and Toyota PRO mechanic back in 91. I'm disapointed at Toyota for making such a small engine, that it had to be tuned on the edge just to make decent power. All the way from the high compression to weak tranny. The gears are too low in the rear-end, so they can try and make up the milage, which they can't. Toyota has ALWAYS made fuel efficent cars, and this is the best they can do with a v8? And why, if the truck gets such bad milage, would they only put a 23 gallon tank on it?!
Sad as it is, I can get more towing power, and better milage out of a 1970's Chevy truck with a 350 in it.
larry, sorry to hear that. the S/C is definately not practical for much more than going faster quicker. my naturally aspirated V8 tows nicely, but i've never towed 6grand... that's heavy. 5mpg is pretty sad, you could at least get 8-9 with the ford V10 towing the same amount.
Granted, I still love the truck, and I love to pull Mustangs, and Firebirds off the line.. It's nice when I can walk them, and I don't have my foot all the way in it. Heh..
My dad has an F350 PS, with the Banks power package on it, and he tows a 40 foot 5th wheel and gets 10mpg on any day.
Larryf, why not wait till 06 and get the Toyota diesel when it's released. Yes it's coming for real with the next gen Tundra!
Thats an option, but I'm afraid it'll be a small diesel, and probably not turbo or supercharged. That'll cost 10k extra..
Oh well, like I said, I'm disapointed, but a lot of it is that I live in CA, where our gas sucks, and we pay twice as much as the rest of the country for it.
Maybe when I get my Methanol injection setup done, the truck will work properly.
Anyone know were to get A-Piller guage holders for the Tundra? Can you get one with two guages in it?
If your looking for gas mileage while towing go diesel. The new ford 6.0 diesel sucks, if you were to get one get a cummins or the 7.3 ford powerstroke. Dont get the V10 for towing, my dad has one and my brother has the 7.3 and 7.3 is alot nicer towing. And today basically all diesels are turbo. I mean seriously, if toyota were to come out with a NA diesel motor i would never even consider it. Not to mention if would make pathetic power.
Larry your not alone, there are people with the TRD superchargers and they complain about the same problems, but I think most of the people that reply try to convince them that they love there supercharger and it makes more power, and the gas mileage is the same before and after install. Their replies usually sound like, Just change the spark plugs, or change / disconect the vacuum line, or run raceing fuel or, install a cold box , or some other thing, and most of all they just love it, I think they must work for TRD or Toyota parts,or mechanics, they want you to think your the only one with a problem, problems that arise after the install, I am sure there will be a reply, to this about how happy they are with nary a problem and the intense and copious increase in power yatie, yatie, There was a post by a TS member about a chip co. that may produce a power chip for the tundra. they rated the supercharged Tundra at 286 HP. stock is 240-245 but with the new chip it could produce over 350 HP or so documented, (HAllelujah), I would wonder if the chip will sell in the neighborhood of what $600.00- $1000.00, O yes there will be some that buy or sell the chip and they will marvel at the increase of power and that there vehicle now performs like a 911 Carrera, and fuel mileage of a Prius, when another person purchases it they notice nothing,or fuel mileage goes away, or the check engine light now is a constant reminder of money spent. TRD suggested that the SC would generate an increase of 100 HP and torque right out of the box. and Put a smile on your face, well maybe not a smile. Hears a Quote From DR. BILL WATENBERG ON KGO RADIO 810 AM, "(Save the money of increase in fuel costs,use regular unleaded, put the money saved in a fruit jar and when you have enough saved take your wife or girl friend out for a nice dinner, she will make your motor purr better than any high test gas ever could)".
Larry your not alone, there are people with the TRD superchargers and they complain about the same problems, but I think most of the people that reply try to convince them that they love there supercharger and it makes more power, and the gas mileage is the same before and after install. Their replies usually sound like, Just change the spark plugs, or change / disconect the vacuum line, or run raceing fuel or, install a cold box , or some other thing, and most of all they just love it, I think they must work for TRD or Toyota parts,or mechanics, they want you to think your the only one with a problem, problems that arise after the install, I am sure there will be a reply, to this about how happy they are with nary a problem and the intense and copious increase in power yatie, yatie, There was a post by a TS member about a chip co. that may produce a power chip for the tundra. they rated the supercharged Tundra at 286 HP. stock is 240-245 but with the new chip it could produce over 350 HP or so documented, (HAllelujah), I would wonder if the chip will sell in the neighborhood of what $600.00- $1000.00, O yes there will be some that buy or sell the chip and they will marvel at the increase of power and that there vehicle now performs like a 911 Carrera, and fuel mileage of a Prius, when another person purchases it they notice nothing,or fuel mileage goes away, or the check engine light now is a constant reminder of money spent. TRD suggested that the SC would generate an increase of 100 HP and torque right out of the box. and Put a smile on your face, well maybe not a smile. Hears a Quote From DR. BILL WATENBERG ON KGO RADIO 810 AM, "(Save the money of increase in fuel costs,use regular unleaded, put the money saved in a fruit jar and when you have enough saved take your wife or girl friend out for a nice dinner, she will make your motor purr better than any high test gas ever could)".
A coworker of mine has one, no complaints from him, cept it needs more power! Gas milage really shouldn't change much, but if your running 20% methanol, that will reduce milage big time. Friend of mine has a late model dirt car, uses 6 gal to run a 20 lap race 1/3 mile track!
Last week, I pulled a 6,000 pound trailer about 520 miles and got 11.4 mpg doing it. Then I pulled the 2,100 pound empty trailer back home and got 14.2 mpg doing it. My Tundra is an Access Cab SR5 4WD with a stock V8. Who needs a supercharger?
Last week, I pulled a 6,000 pound trailer about 520 miles and got 11.4 mpg doing it. Then I pulled the 2,100 pound empty trailer back home and got 14.2 mpg doing it. My Tundra is an Access Cab SR5 4WD with a stock V8. Who needs a supercharger?
Well, see, you have a 4wd. I bet your Axel code is B06A right? Mine is A01A, and I'm going to a B06A next weekend. 3.31 is a SAD towing gear.
BTW: The 20% Meth mix gives me the same milage with or without the blower, if I keep it under 60. If I start going 63-65, the truck kicks out of OD, and up to 3,000 rpm, and there goes my fuel.
...With all the BS that comes with it, the TRD blower is a waste of money. You spend $4k to make more power, but spend your life trying to reduce the effect of the blower to make the truck work. If it's not the ECU going into fuel cutoff to shift, it's the 9th injector drinking fuel. Not to mention the bypass actuator that offers 0 boost during normal cruise speeds. All the way down to $11 spark plugs, and $80 theromastats...
Larry
As much as I have wanted to add an SC to one of my Toyota's, I have resisted.
I researched everything I could and kept finding a red flag here and there. I found Gadget's site and realized no matter what kind of money he dumped into his Toyota it was no longer as efficient or dependable as it would be if he just left it stock.
Same here, I read post of happy SC owners that are now spending big money on this, that and the other to make it better or to correct a problem.
Once you start down this path it has no end...
I'm leaving mine stock. OEM from intake to tailpipe.
However, I'm interested in what the Tundra PnP Unichip will do for a stock 4.7L :0
Larry, thanks for speaking up.
__________________
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Tinted Windows
OEM Rubber Bed Mat
OEM All-Weather mats
OEM Towing Package with Remote Transmission Cooler
As much as I have wanted to add an SC to one of my Toyota's, I have resisted.
I researched everything I could and kept finding a red flag here and there. I found Gadget's site and realized no matter what kind of money he dumped into his Toyota it was no longer as efficient or dependable as it would be if he just left it stock.
Same here, I read post of happy SC owners that are now spending big money on this, that and the other to make it better or to correct a problem.
Once you start down this path it has no end...
I'm leaving mine stock. OEM from intake to tailpipe.
However, I'm interested in what the Tundra PnP Unichip will do for a stock 4.7L :0
Larry, thanks for speaking up.
Sorry to here you guys are not happy with the S/C...I have had more problems from my truck in "stock" form than the S/C...I have had no problems due to the S/C, other than it spitting out misfire codes b/c I forgot to wire in the floating ground fix during the S/C install...I will admit that the TRD ECU limits the S/Cs performance, but it does not cause any problems...Everything you read about: the UniChip, pulleys, Level 10, water injection, ect., are all ways to maximize performance from the S/C and the I-Force...Just like all the aftermarket mods that are out there for the L, SVT Cobra, Camaro SS and just about any other performance car...That is what hot-rodding is all about...So if y'all expected the TRD S/C to be the "end all be all" that simply is not the case, but it does offer big advantages out of the box - like big performance gains and a warrenty...but if you are like me and most people who mod their vehicles you always want more...Just for an FYI I installed my S/C about 4000 miles ago and after taking a few roads trips, hauling the jet skis and camping gear around this is what average my mileage has been:
everyday driving mostly city type - low 11.5(first tank) now I average about 14 mpg
Hwy driving to Houston - 16.7mpg
Hauling the camping gear and jetskis through the hill country - 15.2 mpg
This is about a 3 mpg drop on the hwy and 1.5 for the others...one of the things i notice now is my truck does not have to downshift while in cruise control to make it up the hills through the Hill Country, which it constantly had to do w/o the S/C...
I just towed my 18' bobtail trailer and my 1967 mustang(APPROX 5000lbs), to Calif for a car show and back home ,I got 12.2 MPG at 70 mph. I am sorry to hear of other peoples problems. Our fuel here in Nevada is just as bad as Calif fuel, and right now it is more expensive. Normally i get 14mpg city driving, and 17 on the hwy not towing. The Trd supercharger might be expensive, but it definatly addspower without decreasing mileage. It is very reliable and i have no problems with it or how the engine runs. TRD does alot of R&D, so when you add more HP you still have 100% factory warranty. The biggest diff in mileage from the last time i towed (8mpg) was that i did not use overdrive this time.
In overdrive the vac gauge was 3in, out of OD the vac gauge read 12in. The owners manual tells you not to use OD when towing. HMMMM maybe they know something afterall.My S/C has been on 13,000 mile no problems.
I agree with TURBO_Tundra--> Just like all the aftermarket mods that are out there for the SVT Cobra, Camaro SS and just about any other performance car...That is what hot-rodding is all about...So if y'all expected the TRD S/C to be the "end all be all" that simply is not the case, but it does offer big advantages out of the box - like big performance gains and a warranty
__________________ 2002 TUNDRA AC 2WD = NOT STOCK
MODS: TRD LSD w/4.88's| TRD Headers | Flowmaster 50 Series SUV | TRD Supercharger | Hellwig Rear Sway Bar (custom end links) | TOYOTA Power Antenna | Rear "AIR RIDE" w/ on board compressor | De-badged | Raybrig Headlights & Nokya yellow Foglights | Keyless Upgrade to Full Alarm | Toyota Air Filter | Horn Mod | Map Light Mod | Back Seat Mod | STUBBS Sliders | AXIS Wheels w/315/75-16 Yokohama Geolander MT + | Home Link | SUPERLIFT Tru-speed-speedo Recalibrator | McKesh Mirrors l 3" Body Lift w/Poly Body Mounts l Gap Gaurds l Stainless Brake Lines l Poly Sway Bar Bushings l Poly Rear Leaf Spring Bushings l Clear/Red/Clear Tailights l Black Corners & Headlight Assy's l Diff breather Mod l Nu-Image Blue Flame Gauges l Eclipse AVN5435 w/ Rev Cam & 8 disk changer l Custom rear roll pan w/lights l RCD 6" lift w/ 3" blocks and AAL l Camburg UCA's l High Lift Jack l Daystar Front & Rear Bumpers l 4 Hella Black Magic Lights l Budbuilt Trac Bar l ICOM 706 MKIIG l Doran tire pressure sensors
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I just towed my 18" bobtail trailer and my 1967 mustang(APPROX 5000lbs), to Calif for a car show and back home ,I got 12.2 MPG at 70 mph. I am sorry to hear of other peoples problems. Our fuel here in Nevada is just as bad as Calif fuel, and right now it is more expensive. Normally i get 14mpg city driving, and 17 on the hwy not towing. The Trd supercharger might be expensive, but it definatly addspower without decreasing mileage. It is very reliable and i have no problems with it or how the engine runs. TRD does alot of R&D, so when you add more HP you still have 100% factory warranty. The biggest diff in mileage from the last time i towed (8mpg) was that i did not use overdrive this time.
In overdrive the vac gauge was 3in, out of OD the vac gauge read 12in. The owners manual tells you not to use OD when towing. HMMMM maybe they know something afterall.My S/C has been on 13,000 mile no problems.
I'm not unhappy with the blower, I'm just still working things out to make it run like it should. My biggest problem is with ping. Lemme guess, you too have a 4wd? If so, you have a much better towing gear than I do. This is I think a major problem to my towing. Without the blower, I'd get 8mpg towing. If I baby the truck, I can squeeze 10 out of it. With the blower the same story, except, if I don't baby it, I get 5. So the blower can REALLY suck it down if it wants. What kind of R's are you turning while towing out of OD? I'd be at 3,000 R's @ 61, out of OD, getting about 6.7 MPG, while IN OD, I'm 1,900 @ 61 getting 10mpg.
My trailer isn't 18 inches like yours It's a 14' Carson, loaded with about 4,500lbs of gear, leaving me at about 6k towing.
I'd be intrested in your axle code, (look inside the door frame for something like B##A, or A##A.
Real Milage
