New 09 DC 4x4 TRD TUNDRA MILEAGE INCREASE

[GrounD~PoundeR]

Just purchase a new Tundra and wanted to get imput on some ideas of what I can do to help increase my mpg. I am thinking about changing the AIM and exhaust out so the engine can breath better. I was hoping to get input on what combos that yall have tried & what if any increase or decrease did you see. Has anyone took off 2 of the 4 converters? Not sure if will pass emissions though.. Thanks in advance and yes I'm also searching through the different threads.

[Badfish]

The best increase in MPG I've found is in my right foot. Keep it light.

[vt650]

Originally Posted by Badfish

The best increase in MPG I've found is in my right foot. Keep it light.

AND stay at around 63 mph, AND do not go 80 mph because it will really drink the gas then.

[matrix77]

Originally Posted by vt650

AND stay at around 63 mph, AND do not go 80 mph because it will really drink the gas then.

I'll get lots of HONKs and FLASHINGs if I go 63mph.

[Badfish]

Originally Posted by matrix77

I'll get lots of HONKs and FLASHINGs if I go 63mph.

And middle fingers.

[DrBundy]

1. Slow down.
2. Stock air box breathes just fine, but if you want to change that, there's threads a-plenty on every brand. Pick your favorite.
3. Exhaust topics have been exhausted as well. Pick a brand, and settle in for a long night of reading.
4. Slow down.
5. There was a thread a few weeks back (it got closed for whatever reason) that discussed removing some or all of the cats.
6. Slow down. What's the rush, anyway?

Just a few quick tips. In all seriousness, if you do a lot of highway driving, a tonneau cover will give modest gains at best. I get AT MOST a 10% increase with the tonneau, and that's under optimum conditions (hardly the norm). I also air up my tires a bit over the recommended pressure (35psi instead of 30-31). Ride is ever-so-slightly more bouncy, but I live with it just fine. Keep the RPM's below 2k.

Cheers!

~A

[the_greenhorn]

yes, all very good tips. i can tell you that i have all the mods that *could* make a difference - trd cai, trd exhaust, tonneau cover, slightly over-inflated tires, etc. All of this gets me a whopping increase of 1 to 1.5 mpg if i'm lucky. the main point is RPM's, RPM's, RPM's.

I was told by a Gulf States Toyo employee that Toyota hired a guy to drive around in a Tundra and try to get the best possible mpg out of it he could (you might have read about this guy - he's done the same thing with other manufacturers models too). At any rate - here is what he did to get the best possible gas mileage while driving in both city & highway conditions:

1) kept rpm's under 1800 wherever possible (even upon acceleration)
2) kept cruise control on during flats
3) turned cruise control off during inclines or hills and kept same rpm's over the hill (this of course slowed down the truck) but still kept up *minimum* highway speeds
4) left MORE than two second rule of distance between him and the car in front of him - this gave him a *chance* to be able to keep the truck moving when rolling up to a stop light (if the light turned green before he got to it, he didn't have to start again from dead stop)
5) chose routes that had the least amount of stop signs and/or stop lights to keep the truck from coming to a complete stop wherever possible.

Now all of this sounds completely lame to those of us who absolutely cannot drive like this (I can't drive 55!) - however, the point of the story is that currently available mods just aren't going to get you any better mpg. it's all about rpm's and driving style - plain and simple.

[ninja ed]

im averaging 16-17 right now in my 4x4 crewmax. just gotta keep the right foot in check. but even when i get on it i still can get the miles back up by cruisin again. and hey the more you cruise the more people will get to stare and drool at your sick truck. the more youll be able to see hot girls. and the more miles to the gallon youll get. haha

[toolowtrh]

Trade it in on a 4 banger compact..........

[Art64]

Leave exhaust stock.

[GrounD~PoundeR]

LOL, words of encouragement. I've been searching for other thread, but I believe I'm using the wrong key words to search.
I understand about the driving style. I just thought some people may have tested intake & exhaust combos to see what gains may have been made or lossed. Since this is my first Tundra I just thought I'd ask and save time searching through everything.

[WRXRacer111]

Honestly... price out the intake/exhaust you want, and compare the purchase price to how much you'd save gaining a hypothetical 1-2mpg. If mpg is your only motivation for getting those parts, you're probably not going to be able to justify the purchase. At least, my spreadsheet didn't.

[run8]

I might be wrong, but unless you do a header to tailpipe change I dont think you will beat the factory. Unless of course you want to change the tone of the truck.
As far as your air box, I did the air box mod, and put a k&n filter in it. You can also take out the mesh filter in your air box that is for California emissions.
Good luck with the gas mileage.

[Skyssx]

There's no mod in the world that will increase your mileage enough that you'll save even as much as you spent on that mod.

Mod your truck if you want to mod it, and enjoy whatever MPG gains you get. However, you will have spent more in the long run than just leaving it stock.

EDIT: Except for drastic weight reduction, that is. Like removing everything in the extended cab area of the truck. And carpet. And interior panels. And noise dampening. You know, all the stuff that makes this truck so nice.

[eharri3]

My brand new 09, first highway trip, not even broken in yet, got 16.6 and that was while cruising at 70-75. Im quite sure if I would have set the cruise at 60-65 somewhere between 17 and 18 would have been quite possible.