Horrible Fuel Economy on 2013 trd DBCB

Hi all! I have been lurking in the shadows for some time as previously owned a 2004 TRD Offroad and have found this site to be awesome source of information. I have recently purchased a 2013 Tacoma TRD Sport DBCB with the six speed manual and I am enjoying all the new tech and the larger vehicle as a whole but I have one big complaint about this truck over my previous one. THE FUEL ECONOMY SUCKS A$$!!

I am in Canada so I do track my economy in l/100k but have the conversions for my American friends too. Before I post the numbers I do realize that I am still well within my break in period and if this is my reason for the bad economy please let me know as well as how long before I will see improvement.

So heres the numbers I am getting on my Tacoma that currently has 1000km on it:

18.7l/100km or 12mpg

My previous 3.4 v6 was way better than this.

So my question is "Is this completely normal for this vehicle in the break in period or do I have an issue with this new beauty?"

Please note that the driving I have been doing is very conservative with no heavy acceleration or long idle periods.

 

How many kms do you get when the light comes on ?

 

That seems pretty low to me. Are you all stock ie: No lift, bigger tires, intake, aftermarket plugs etc? How many km's per tank are you in 4WD? Lead foot?

If all stock I would expect 16-19. With lift tires, depending on how big etc. 14-17.

 

Completely stock as I have only had this truck a couple of weeks.

As for when the gas light comes on it was a at roughly 340km last tank. Took me three full tanks to put 1000km on the truck!

 

I have a 3" OME lift with stock tires and average around 20 mpg in West Virginia. Not much flat land there either, I do the speed limit also. I plan on putting a set of 275's when the stock tires wear out.

 

Nice to know its possible with a lift as this is planned for the future. I mentioned this to the dealerships service department and the guy at the counter seemed surprised but offer no explanation or solution.

 

I got 20 regularly stock, with bigger tires and minimal lift I lost ~1-1.5 MPG. I get tons of highway miles, which helps, as I keep it cruising at 65. Over than by even a few MPH and the MPG starts tanking.

 

How fast are you driving, with the 6 speed 120 kph will suck.

Auto is 2 mpg better than stick because Toyota gave the stick an OD gear that is ridiculous.

 

Try a different air filter and try to keep the RPM's below 2,000 or you should have bought an auto way better mileage

 

Haha welcome to the world of the six speed! Big ol' motor geared up like a Honda Civic. It has a learning curve.

a) winter. The 4.0L sucks major gas in the winter. Synthetic oil helps a lot.
b) gearing. Remember the auto tranny will try to keep this engine as low-revving as possible when not under power, down to 1100 rpm or so, to conserve fuel (hence the 16 city mpg rating instead of 14 on the stick). Try to imitate this once the engine is warm. That means 6th gear at 30 mph if you're not accelerating.
c) speed. best mileage with this combo is 35-40 mph in 6th gear which makes 30-35 mpg on the flat. Everything faster gets worse. Once up to 65 mph or so it really starts drinking the petrol like crazy, and faster than that it's like a drunk with a key to a warehouse full of vodka...
d) engine load. It's too easy to do low load accelerating and overspinning the engine trying to save gas, but in reality this wastes a ton of it. If you don't have to be somewhere fast, try shifting at 1800-2000 rpm (if you have a scangauge or ultragauge aim for 80% load)
e) fuel cut, use whenever possible, engine needs to be over 1500 rpm or so to engage the deceleration fuel cut off

 

I'm rolling on 33's and a CAI and average 12MPG in the city and best highway has been 16MPG and that was in 4x4. She's a thirsty little truck. Driving style makes a difference of course but I'd be impressed to see anyone get the advertised mileage.

 

air filter matters zero. OEM is just fine. I tested with a second air filter in the duct that restricted so much the engine was about half power and I was still getting 22-23 mpg in the summer.

Keep rpms under 2000... lets see, that's 55 mph / 89 kph in 6th gear. Still, it helps to stay to slower roads!

 

With my old Tacoma I had to keep my rpm's lower during normal driving to conserve fuel so this is just normal driving to me now although 60km in 6th gear is just weird but it is what I have been doing. On the highway I stick to 100km per hour(60ish MPH) at most as before this is when I would notice my economy plummet.

I feel that I am doing everything right with regards to my driving style but see no improvements. I really do like the second gen but I was expecting to get somewhat close to the posted fuel economy.

 

Air filter has zero effect on mpg, the rest is true.

There is a potential mpg improvement if somehow the air filter allows the engine to make more power and prevent the auto tranny from downshifting, but with a stick that's not the case. But since just an air filter has pretty much been show to make no more hp it's only a theoretical improvement.

 

The more it revs the more it costs. It really is a talent to granny shift....all the time. Ask me how I know.

 

FWIW I didn't see a consistent 20 mpg in the winter until I had redline 75w85 in the differentials. It's supposed to have 75w85 diff oil LT from the factory though.

I'd say let it break in and if it's still getting crappy mileage at 10k then start troubleshooting, if it was my truck.

 

I have a 2013 DCSB with the 6speed, just put on 1,500 in the last 3 weeks since buying her with 25km on the clock.

In the city I get about 450-480ish per tank and around 600-650 on the highway. I granny shift though so that might help and as soon as I get to 80km/hr I'm in 6th gear.

Hope this helps

 

Doesn't so much help knowing that you basically have the same vehicle as me and getting much better mileage but I appreciate the feedback. LOL I guess I am not as much of a granny shifter as I could be?

Keep Calm and Chive On!!

 

Changing the Diff lubes to synthetic makes a big difference, too. When you release the throttle while cruising, instead of feeling like you're applying the brakes...it rolls....alot better.

 

I heard that Toyota missed the mark on gearing for the 6 speed and was recommended to get the auto.