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20 mpg How do you do it?

116K views 347 replies 212 participants last post by  ragabash1  
#1 ·
I am wondering how some of the membes here are getting 20-21 mpg? I drive about 1000 miles a monthe just on the highway on long stretches of road at 70-75-80-mph, cruise control, RAPS air intake, Mobil 1, NO lead foot, hard bed cover with a 2wd 04 DC Tundra, Oh yeah new tires at 35 psi and tried 32 psi. Never have I ever gotten over 16.8 mpg. I drive between LA and Vegas and each way is the same. Also have a emission control system device on truck that gives me better mileage. www.emissioncontrolsystems.com

SO I would like to know how you guys are doing it. We have to drive at least 75 mph in order to not get a ticket, so what's the deal,

Thanks for your responses:ts::ts::ts:
 
#2 ·
Personally, I'm convinced that people don't know how to use a calculator:D
I've never gotten over about 15MPG.
Of course, I know plenty of guys who get 20+ in the Chevy's, yeah right:eek:
 
#3 ·
I agree I got around 13 mpg on my 2000 Tundra and now i'm getting 12 mpg on my 2006 Tundra.....i'm getting around 245 miles to a tank before the low fuel light comes on....The scary part is over 1/2 my miles are on the highway ...Still love my tundra though :)
 
#4 ·
Well guys/gals, I hate to break the news but ..... I am 54 years old and know how to use a calculator. I average 17mpg in town with my '05 2WD Access cab. Only have about 2345 miles on it right now. All milage is "in town" driving with the execption of a few 20 mile trips at 55-65mph on secondary State Roads.

I have yet to put the Tundra on the open road (Interstate travel), but would not be suprised to see 21mpg.

I always reset my Trip odometer after fill up. Right now it is sitting on 205.7 miles and the gas needle is slightly above the 1/2 mark.
 
#5 ·
tripleb said:
Well guys/gals, I hate to break the news but ..... I am 54 years old and know how to use a calculator. I average 17mpg in town with my '05 2WD Access cab. Only have about 2345 miles on it right now. All milage is "in town" driving with the execption of a few 20 mile trips at 55-65mph on secondary State Roads.

I have yet to put the Tundra on the open road (Interstate travel), but would not be suprised to see 21mpg.

I always reset my Trip odometer after fill up. Right now it is sitting on 205.7 miles and the gas needle is slightly above the 1/2 mark.
Hello, I have a 2006 Tundra DC , which is 2 months old with 2,500 miles on it. I, also, reset my Trip odometer after each fill up in order to check my mileage. I have always been interested to see if the mileage would improve after break-in. On my last fill-up, the mileage calucated to be 19.6. The first couple of weeks I had the truck, I was getting around 18.4. I do drive the truck a little on the easy side, though. For the most part, I keep the RPM's no more than 2,000. (Yes, I have pushed it down a few times, though, can't help myselft. I do feel I will get 20 MPG by the time I have 5,000 miles on it!... VERY well please with my Tundra!!!:tu:
 
#6 ·
Brand new 2006 DC, 4X4 TRD with about 1200 miles on the clock. Worst mileage was 15.8. And that was going into the mountains, even using 4wd low on a trail. Most of that trip was on dirt roads as well. I got nearly 17mpg on my last trip to Denver and back + 100miles of city driving after my return. This is a stock 4x4. No tricks or mods. I seldom lead foot it. I went 75mph the entire 200miles to Denver and back. I expect better when the truck is broken in and I am not doing so much stop and go. Newer Tundras have 5 speeds. I am sure that helps. 39 years old and knows how to do basic math :tu:.
 
#7 ·
I think something's wrong when you get less than 17mpg with cruise and only going 70 to 75. Around 6 months back we had a thread going and I posted my mileage on a trip to NC and back with a brand new truck. My best tank was 18.5mpg but that was near Atlanta in a serious rainstorm when everyone was driving about 50mph. My worst was about 14 in West Texas when most of the driving was over 90mph. My average when driving between 75 and 85 was about 17,4mpg.I'm not sure what to check, but I always suspect brakes hanging a bit when the mileage goes way down. I'm pretty sure the dealer won't help you though. I also know how to calculate mpg.
 
#9 ·
i can chime in also for an 04 DC 4x4. it has about 21,000 miles. during the summer with stock tires it gets a steady 16.8 in mixed driving city/hiway. i actually get a little better around town at under 50 mph. on the interstate only, the wind resistance seems to keep it from getting better.

i have basic mods: hard tonneau cover, lsd, hellwig, etc. didn't seem to change mileage much.

biggest change was moving to winter tires. dropped it down to 14.5 - 15 on average including 5% change in tire diameter.

from reading lots of posts about this topic, i think the biggest difference in mileage is probably due to having 4x4 vs. 2x4. most of the folks getting over 18 have the 2x4 AC or similar. most getting under 16 have the 4x4 DC or similar or carry a lot of weight. i think the 4x4 rigging adds about 400 lbs to the weight of the 2x4. i have a buddy here in town with an 03 AC 2x4 and he gets 20 or a little better on the hiway. with my 4x4 i've never seen better than 17.5 mpg.

odd thing is even running around on back roads at slow speeds with occasional 4x4 use doesn't seem to knock it down much. still get about the same. if i punch it a little, though, that changes everything!

from other posts - to get the best mileage possible, try to keep it under 2,000 rpms, don't carry a lot of extra gear/tools you don't need, keep the drivetrain lubed and clean oil in crank, diffs, etc, and keep tires aired up. that's about all you can do with a truck this size!
 
#10 ·
I can drive 380 miles before the low fuel light comes on (70% freeway/30% city). At that point 20.5 gallons fill the tank, which translates into 18.5 mpg. My average speed on the freeway is 70 mph. I keep my tires at 38 psi and leave the tailgate up.
 
#12 ·
romaniac1 said:
I am wondering how some of the membes here are getting 20-21 mpg? I drive about 1000 miles a monthe just on the highway on long stretches of road at 70-75-80-mph, cruise control, RAPS air intake, Mobil 1, NO lead foot, hard bed cover with a 2wd 04 DC Tundra, Oh yeah new tires at 35 psi and tried 32 psi. Never have I ever gotten over 16.8 mpg. I drive between LA and Vegas and each way is the same. Also have a emission control system device on truck that gives me better mileage. www.emissioncontrolsystems.com

SO I would like to know how you guys are doing it. We have to drive at least 75 mph in order to not get a ticket, so what's the deal,

Thanks for your responses:ts::ts::ts:
Can you explain your emission control system?
 
#13 ·
I have a 2003 ac 2wheel drive.......I avg 16.9 to 18.2 with a mix of town and rural roads.......I have never broke 20 miles per gal, even at 65 on the interstate I got 19.7 or there abouts.......almost got run over.......on interstate only at 70 to 80 mix, I get 18 to 18.8.....as long as I keep it under 90, I see little change.......I do know how to do math, and always ck my milage every fill up....I have 69000 on it........
 
#16 ·
It does not matter. Just be consistent. I fill it 'till it clicks. Then pump 'till it clicks again, then a third time. This time I ran it until the light came on for low gas. I had 400 miles of mixed driving on it and it took 21 gallons with 400 miles on the trip odometer. That's 19 mpg. I drive city, highway, & forest roads. I usually get 18.5 to 19.5 in the city. I go easy on the throttle and do not race from light to light, try to anticipate light changes and go easy on the brakes. You gotta stay off the throttle. I save that for open roads with no traffic. Yes, I love the power of the V8, too. But if you put your foot in it your mileage will suffer badly. Everyone's' driving situation is different but I think you should get 18 mpg, easy. 20mpg? That's gonna take some work and special situations. I've never driven on the open highway far enough to try for 20mpg. I do love this Tundra.
 
#17 ·
Here in Oregon we can't pump our own gas. I have found that the mileage on the first shut off was a constant 15-15.2 in town & when I had them top it off it ranged from 13.6 to14.4, always fueling at the same costco. Being consistent seems to dissappear when it is topped off. Just my experience. Self serve might make the difference.
 
#18 ·
I've had my 06 DC 4x4 for about a month and a half.
First tank a dismal 14.6 MPG.
Second tank up to 16.7 MPG.
Most recent fill up was today and Im up to 17.8 MPG.
I try to keep it under 2200 RPM and dont hammer on it too much! :D
But I can see breakin the 20 MPG w/ no problem. Oh, I only have 1100 miles on it.
The 00 Ranger SC 4x4 I traded in got a consistent 18.6 MPG.
So I'm almost gettin the same mileage as a 4.0 V6.

I think we should all be thankful we don't have to bury gas $ into Ford, Chevy, or Dodge.

:tu:
 
#19 ·
meenkya said:
I think we should all be thankful we don't have to bury gas $ into Ford, Chevy, or Dodge.:tu:
As a general rule the 4.7 and 5.4 Chevy get the same city mileage and better hwy mileage. I know someone with an 2002 5.4 Fords that get 15mpg while towing their race cars and 19mpg in normal driving. As a general rule the domestic V8's from Ford and Chevy cruise at a lower RPM and as a result get similiar/better mileage to the vvt-i Tundra. Check out edmonds.com for a comparision of the EPA mileage but I have a friend with a V8 Ford and we had this conversation on another forum. Dodges just plain old suck the gas it seems.
 
#21 ·
mmarlatt said:
Can you explain your emission control system?
I was surfing the net and came accross this thing. I called the guy and we spoke about it and what it does. Basically as the fuel passes through it, the gas is atomized and thus it burns more thoroughly and this reduces emmissions and in return, more power and better mileage.

Thanks:tu:
 
#22 ·
i have an 106k mile 02 acess cab 4x4 with an are camper shell that is flush with the roof. i run the michelon M/s @ 32-34 psi with mobile 1 in the engine. I always set the cruise control at 65 mph on the interstates, my tach reads a tad above 2000 rpm in over drive. regular gas, 300 mile trip i get 19-20.5 mpg.
in town, i get 15 mpg... towing a 3k boat, i get about 13 mpg. hope this helps.
 
#23 ·
What the heck, I'll add my MPG. 06 Access Step side. First several tanks have yielded 18.2 to 19.3 and that is a mix of city and country backroads. No highway to speak of. Only mods are dual cat backs and a new K&N air filter. Just changed out to a set of 20 inch wheels and on first tank with these, from previous fillups, I will still be right around 18 to 19 MPG. I don't stomp on it, although once in a while I'll play and pretty easy to do lol.

Hawg
 
#25 ·
I would say the tires AND the tire pressure matching the type of driving.
On my long distance trip to the northern tip of Newfoundland several summers ago, I averaged 20 mpg with cruise control set at the speed limit or 75mph when possible. With the Tundra well loaded with camping gear, a Hobie Kayak on the roof rack of the Astro cap, and the Firestone Steeltex tires set at 40 lbs. of pressure.
Set your tires at the maximum that is safe according to what's on the sidewall of the tire, not the manufacturers label in the door- that's fine for city driving, but on the highway a softer ride is not necessary on today's superhighways. There's less tire resistance at higher pressures, also the make and compound of the tire makes a lot of difference. Off road tires are usually of a softer compound for better traction, while the Firestone Steeeltex that I run is a road work truck tire...a harder, less road-resisting compound with thicker sidewalls so a higher capacity for tire pressure, some truck tires can take 50 lbs. with the many plies available.
The Tundra is great for the highway using hardly any RPMs to keep her moving along at highway speeds. It's terrible for me in the city, I average 11 mpg in winter, 12-13 in summer, since I stop hundreds of times a day in my business. Front brake pads wear out every 10,000 miles, lucky for me the dealer gives me free ones each time since they are guaranteed for life, I just pay for the labor on the brakes (that's not cheap!).
 
#26 ·
I also notice a big descrepency on mileage here.:rolleyes: With my 05 TRD 4x4 Access Cab I usualy get about 10 or 11 city in winter and 12 to 13 city in summer. About 18 in winter and 19 or 20 in summer on the highway. I do keep the RPMs under 2000 in the city and usually do 65 MPH with cruise on the highway. These are in Imperial gallons, U.S. gallon figures would be less. I figure I lost about 1 MPG after I swapped the stock tires for the 75 series Revos and even compensate for the slight odometer error from the taller tire when doing mileage calculations. My truck does seem to be quite consistant in the mileage figures, different conditions such as speed and wind do affect it slightly but they are minimal in my experience.