Winter Guys...Fuel Mileage.

[MGH-PA]

Guys who live in snowy, colder states (PA, NY, OH, MI, NH, VT, ME, MN, WI, etc) and especially those on ethanol, what are you seeing in terms of your mpg? How much has it dropped from the summer blend mileage? Indicate your truck setup (DC, CM, RC, 4wd, 2wd, 4.7, 5.7, etc) and your driving conditions. I'm only asking because I'm seeing around 17mpg mixed with my 05 Tacoma AC 4wd with 265/75/16s, and will be below 17 on this tank. I'm driving a fair amount of highway, but also a very hilly backroad commute, but I'm seeing reports of 15-16mpg on the newer Tundras even in mixed winter conditions. Things like these usually need sorting out, because if these claims are true, I'm going to be second guessing my decision to purchase this and not a fullsize. In reality, I'm more or less curious about this. Most mpg topics on here turn into wars, and many people don't indiciate truck setup, driving conditions and location which are all pertinent (especially cold weather ethanol situations which I'm focusing on). I don't want to turn this into a mileage debate, just a discussion of winter blend effects on your mileage, particularly coupled with the much colder temps.

[mendonsy]

What you will get depends on how you drive it. I average about 17.3 in the summer and it drops to about 16 in the winter, mostly due to the 10 minute warmups to defrost the windows. The highway average doesn't change much.

[MGH-PA]

I don't let it warmup. I use gentle acceleration until the engine reaches proper temps. I drive fairly conservatively, about 60-65 on the highway, and 45-55mph on the backroads. My mileage usually stays the same no matter where I'm driving, unless I do a 3/4 or more tankful trip on all highway (have gotten up to 22mpg there in the summer). So, right now I get about 16.5-17.5 no matter what I'm driving...backroads, hills, highway, 4wd, 2wd, etc. I really like the Tacoma, and don't necessarily NEED a larger truck, but there are times I would certainly love the bigger bed, and more cabin space. I bought the Tacoma simply for the gas savings (and I got a screaming deal on it used). I paid it off in less than a year, so it's hard for me to change my mind, and jump into another payment, but the fact that I'm close to purchasing my own home, and I'm going to be hauling more (I have remodeling plans already), makes me start to wonder if I could use the extra utility. I know my winter mileage will always be worse than summer, but the OVERALL mpg picture between the Tacoma and Tundra (according to user reports on here) seems to be pretty close (although there were some reports of consistant 12-13mpg averages). Basically, I want to know your cold weather winter/ethanol mileage reports, because this is essentially your truck at its worst (in terms of fuel mileage that is).

[seadragon]

I average about 16.5 MPG in the summer and 14.5 MPG in the winter.

Both numbers should be higher, but we're on 10% ethanol year round.

Thanks corn gas.

[MGH-PA]

Originally Posted by seadragon

I average about 16.5 MPG in the summer and 14.5 MPG in the winter.

Both numbers should be higher, but we're on 10% ethanol year round.

Thanks corn gas.

Yeah, we're fortunate in that we only have the 10% blend in the winter months (most stations anyways). It was amazing how much of a difference I saw the very first tankful of that stuff. Still...a 3mpg difference (16.5 vs 19.5mpg) at old school gas prices ($4/gal...remember those) yields roughly a $600/yr savings assuming 15,000 miles driven a year. That's a decent amount I suppose.

[NickBrewer]

2007 Toyota Tundra RCSB 5.7L 4x4

Best Ever Mileage: 19.5mpg, summer
Average Mileage: 16.5 to 17mpg, summer (5.7L is way too much fun to put your foot into!)

Winter Mileage (limited warmups): 14 to 15mpg, winter blend gasoline
Winter Mileage (10 minute warmup): 11 to 13mpg, winter blend gasoline

[ClevelandTundra]

I live in Cleveland, OH (it was 3 degrees below zero F a few days ago) and I have definitely noticed a drop in mpg. I have an 2007 RCSB 5.7 2WD with 285/65 BFG AT/KOs. I drive VERY conservatively as this is my daily commuter - I'd say 50/50 highway and city driving. I have gone from ~18 highway to about ~15/16 highway. There was also a little bit of a drop from the bigger tires too though (I went from stock 275/65 Bridgestone Dueler HTs). Definitely notice a drop with the winter blend, this aint no myth (at least not around here)...I can assure you my driving habits are as normal and wussy as they get just so I can try and milk the mpgs .

[insaneR6]

2008 DC 4.7

I've seen 20mpg on some highways in this area (55mph though) in the summer, not even close now that winter gas is present. 16 or 17 i think on the highway last I checked. But in addition to the gas I've got 350lbs in the bed which would be a big difference because me and the wife combined don't even weigh 300lbs

So the payload the truck is hauling has doubled on top of the crummy gas. AND i just switched to heavier tires.

[pfischer1213]

guess I have the worst, in chicago land I've averaged about 12 mpg city driving....
Taking a trip up to WI on Weds, so we shall see what I get on that trip.

[sgirt]

I am in Wyoming. 10 minute warm up in the morning. I usually get around 17 summer and now getting 14 for winter.

[stltundra]

im in alaska, i drive about 5 miles to work everyday and warm up for about 5 to 10 mins. I get around 8 to 10 mpg. DC4WD

[stltundra]

i hope i start getting better mileage once it breaks in more i only have 5800 miles on it

[GORILLA]

hi this gas mileage thing is out of control.
i have noticed depending on what gas station i went to i got better mpg.
and
if i used 87octane or better ,up to 93octane , the mileage also changes.

and
it also makes a difference if i use 93 octane from bp, and shell.
so i gave up.
the difference is a maximum of 50 miles per tank full.
it is alot of difference, but not enough to start getting gray hair over it.
i tried everything.
as long as they sell 93 octane i will be using it.
my truck run's better and is faster.
and
that is what my unichip told me to use.
gorilla

[cwit]

I'm in upper northeast Ny. country hill driving 10 % ethonel at all times 18 mph is my best summer driving, 12 to 14 mph adv winter a lot of 4x4 driving. I get 7.8 to 10 winter towing.

[Dana_15]

Originally Posted by pfischer1213

guess I have the worst, in chicago land I've averaged about 12 mpg city driving....

Same here, 12 mpg. Single digits if I have it in four wheel drive for an extended period of time.