Tacoma Fuel Economy MPG/KMPL

Whenever I find myself reading through different threads here on the forum, I’ll notice when users inadvertently post the MPG they are getting for their Taco and compare that number to my own fuel efficiency. Generally, Ill find members post they get on average 20 MPG for their truck between city and highway driving. Im assuming these numbers are for trucks that are stock or slightly modified (no armour, huge tires ext.)

Being up in Canada, the best I have gotten my truck to preform was 7.5 kilometres per litre while driving quite a distance on the highway, equalling 17.6 MPG. Plugging 20 MPG into the good old Google shows me 8.5 kilometres per litre. My truck isn’t lifted, has no bigger tires, and is generally running ‘stock’ as far as weight is concerned

Is my truck under preforming compared to others, or am I taking what members say as a false fuel economy and believing it to be true?

Thanks for the input

 

The MPG/KPL that you may get will vary dramatically. Tire size, vehicle weight, driving style, elevation, temperature all factor in.

I'm one of the guys who usually averages right at 20MPG. I have a TRD ORDCSB, with stock tires, no lift - but a little armor. I drive like a grandpa, I live in Texas (it's flat, no inclines or high elevations) and 95% of my driving is highway miles. City driving and stop and go driving kills the mileage.

I talked to someone once who had a truck almost identical to mine and he struggled to get 17MPG. I think that sometimes, it is just a bad or differently tuned engine?

 

The units you're using for fuel economy were messing with me at first, because the "normal" standard when expressing it in metric is liters per 100 km.
A stock truck doing reasonable speeds on relatively flat roads should do better than 17.6mpg, but there are soo many variables. I can certainly do better than that with my M/T on the highway, but not in cold weather or at speeds above about 65mph.

 

Interesting. I wonder if I got a lemon or to what extent the environmental factors play a part in my fuel economy. Your truck is better on gas and is heavier than mine. Frustrating

Is there any way to measure or improve this through Toyota? The truck is still under warranty and I want to get the most for my money (56 grand)

 

Lots of folks say the dash read out is accurate. Then they read or post short term (partial tank) numbers in favorable or unfavorable conditions to support a brag or gripe.

I'd have to do the numbers by hand over several tanks before I trusted the dash. Many here don't know how to do that, as they try to talk in MPT (miles per tank).

But yea, you seem a bit low for road use. Winter gas and winter weather don't help. Or are your calcs summer based?

 

Yeah I’d say so, I have a 2013 with a lift and 285s, canopy and I get 17 or 18 comb so you should do way better than me. I live in Kamloops so mix of hills and flat. 60mph speed limit.

 

@Clearwater Bill
I bought the Taco in October and have 4500 km to now, mainly winter driving. Maybe thats the issue. Just annoying to here other guys on here getting way better fuel economy with a way more tricked out rig

@MOC221_
I don’t live in an overly ‘hilly’ area either and I have driven it conservatively ever since I bough it. Hell, the thing hasn't been over 3500 RPM cause I baby it so much hahahaha

 

@DavesTaco68
We are relatively close in proximity as I am out in Kelowna. Do you see a drop in economy during the winter?

 

Hmm that's a DCSB OR, which means A/T in Canada. You "should" be getting better fuel economy than me on the highway.. again a lot of variables though.
How fast do you drive on the highway?

 

@MOC221_
On average like 100 km/hr. I think thats 60 m/hr. I make a point of not over doing it and watch my RPM’s as well

 

Well, that's a head scratcher then, unless you're fighting wind/hills constantly.
In the summer I can get to about 10-10.5 l/100km on the highway in grandpa mode lol
That's about 22mpg in ideal conditions, no load, no passengers.

 

Well this is concerning. Any suggestions from you guys?

 

How many km on the truck?

As others have said, short term fuel economy on the cluster can be misleading. If you're hand calculating, well that's a better way obviously.

 

4500 km, brand new basically

I have never tried filling it up and measuring the total distance through the dash ‘trip’ measurement thing. Ill give that a try

Ill chat with the dealer as well

 

Oh shit man, that's not many km!
Your truck may get better mileage as it gets more km on it.
Yeah man give it a try for sure.
I can tell you that short trips, especially in the winter will show garbage mileage on the dash (trip mpg). If you warm the truck up before taking off, even worse mpg shown lol!

 

Fingers crossed

 

I regularly monitor my trip MPG on a 10 mile commute.

• There's often a 2-3 MPG difference out vs back
• Out involves a gentle downhill while warming up, and thus a net elevation drop
• I can top 23 MPG one-way (out) if everything goes right (traffic, lights, etc.)
• Coming back, usually in the 18-19 MPG range is typical

Same truck, same route, just a different direction at different times of day.

 

Thanks for the info Greg

 

It can’t be overstated, winter fuel kills mpg. I’d be more concerned once you’re on summer blend. Also, allowing a warmup in the morning, another mpg killer. In the summer I get around 18 mixed driving. I can get around 21/22 on long highway trips. Winter, 15 mpg and that’s when I’m trying. I have no mods other than AT tires that are stock size.

 

@usmc2msu
Thanks for the info. So your saying a morning remote start and warm up is bad for MPG? Ive done this regularly as its good to have everything warmed up and moving around internally for the truck prior to driving. I am incorrect?