How to get better MPG in a toyota 4runner

[dsq]

My wife has a 1991 4runner v6,auto,4wd,with 31' tires.

I hate the thing cuz it gets 12 mpg...maybe.We hardly drive it anymore and i ride my bicycle everywhere anyway.She still drives it and doesnt want to get rid of it.So either i buy a gas miser and she becomes a convert or we get stuck with 2 vehicles!
So in the meantime,is there anyway to get better mpg from mods on the 4 runner?I over inflated the previous tires to about 40psi and they wore out fast.Th enew tires are at 26psi.

[Mavrik]

I've got a '92 4Runner 5 spd. 4x4. I always get 20 mpg. but I've gotten 22 mpg. when I first got it. Is yours an automatic?

[dsq]

yes its automatic...im basing the mpg on city/ and short 10 mile max freeway driving trips in LA.Freeways here are stop and go a lot of the time.

[OldGuy]

Rapid tire wear and poor gas mileage combined could indicate a wheel alingment problem.
If you haven't done so already, I sure would get it checked.

[dsq]

i overinflated the old tires

[OldGuy]

Extreme overinflation can cause uneven tire wear, usually showing more wear in the center of the tires, but not on the edges.

The 40 psi that you were running was not that extreme, and should not have caused rapid tire wear as you described. Mis-alingment MIGHT have caused the tire wear and mis-alignment WILL hurt mileage for sure.

I sure would check alignment to find out.

[trikkonceptz]

Glad to see there is another 4 runner on the boards. I have one too, it is an 06 and an auto 8cyl. as far as mileage goes prior to finding you guys it was getting me 18mpg religiously.

So far the mods I made was;

trimming the mudflaps
switching the air in the tires to nitrogen and inflating them to 50psi

Those to changes netted me 19.5 i think which was the first tank registered. Today on my drive home I slowed down to 55mph and reset the onboard mpg computer and saw an astonishing 30mpg for the duration of the trip, by the time I made it home it went down to 28.8, but all i did was coast to stops and drive 5 miles below the city speed limit with no speed slower than 40mph.

I am going to start modding it, so if you like read my fuel log from time to time, I try and keep accurate notes to document changes in mpg. So good luck.

[dsq]

Wow,30mpg!I bet the '06 has a better computer to achieve those results maybe?

i have been driving below speed limit all my life -i like to squeeze the most out of cars.But with the 4runner i cant get a break.I coast to stops and i hardly use brakes.I leave lots of space between me and other cars.I also draft trucks from about 40-50ft.
What about spark plugs?This 4runner has the v6 which is a nightmare to get to the plugs.

[Mavrik]

I advanced the timing a little but now have to use 89 octane. also, mine had a caliper that would get stuck and I'd be driving with the brake applied on one wheel. if it wont roll freely it might be your brakes. replaced mine this week.

[dsq]

we had our brakes and rotors redone last year....I looked up the mpg on the gov website and they had 13 mpg listed for our 91 so its about right...would like to improve it if possible...

[Mentalic]

Just found this site, this will be my first post here. I'm glad to see other 4-runners as well. I've done a bunch of things to mine and have been creeping up the FE over the last year since getting a scangauge.

Mine is a 2002 2wd V6 so its a bit lighter. Its the smallest vehicle I could find that could carry 4 peeps and tow my boat. Before the scan gauge the best I ever managed was 23 and I thought getting any more was near impossible.. My last tank was 26.77 but my goal is 30mpg!! If I did not have to cross a 250ft high bridge in my daily 12mile one way commute to work my average would be much better...

So far this is what I have done to mine:

Removed the very long air intake snorkel.
Mobile synthetic oil in engine, transmission and differential.
NGK Iridium plugs.
Optima battery.
Disconnected daytime running lights.
Michelin tires at 36psi.
Removed roof rack.
Lower Grill Block.
Sealed off the holes in the wall behind the grill.
Covered about 80% of the under carriage with signboard
Removed rear spoiler


Ive tried some things that did not help too.. Like an electric radiator fan, went back to the fan clutch...

[2003protege]

Is 36 your max sidewall? Seems a bit low for such a (relative to cars) heavy vehicle.

[trikkonceptz]

Originally Posted by dsq

My wife has a 1991 4runner v6,auto,4wd,with 31' tires.

I know 31" tires were not factory. Would you consider buying factory rims tires for the 4-runner? I know these jap bricks aren't meant for FE, but every little bit helps. Roof rack delete would be a smart start unless you use it. And if city driving is your use, then consider running half a tank of gas. My 4-runner has a 24 gallon tank, 12 gallons of gas may not seem like much, but anything helps.

Running sidewall max on the 4-runner has helped this thing glide like an ice skater, so best bet is get the wifey to practice techniques, I know the hassles, I'm trying to get the wife to do the same.

Good Luck

[Mentalic]

Originally Posted by 2003protege

Is 36 your max sidewall? Seems a bit low for such a (relative to cars) heavy vehicle.

The tires are BIG, in fact way to big for the truck imho. There max sidewall is 35psig.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Mentalic

The tires are BIG, in fact way to big for the truck imho. There max sidewall is 35psig.

They are probably Ps instead of LTs. Welcome back Mentalic

[Mentalic]

Originally Posted by Red

They are probably Ps instead of LTs. Welcome back Mentalic

Just checked there P26570R16 so yep your spot on.

Lol, I was not sure I was ever reg'd on this site, but its very good. Thanks!

[barbixy]

Originally Posted by trikkonceptz

I know 31" tires were not factory. Would you consider buying factory rims tires for the 4-runner? I know these jap bricks aren't meant for FE, but every little bit helps. Roof rack delete would be a smart start unless you use it. And if city driving is your use, then consider running half a tank of gas. My 4-runner has a 24 gallon tank, 12 gallons of gas may not seem like much, but anything helps.

Running sidewall max on the 4-runner has helped this thing glide like an ice skater, so best bet is get the wifey to practice techniques, I know the hassles, I'm trying to get the wife to do the same.

Good Luck

My understanding of running bigger than stock wheels/tires, is that it changes the speedo/odo, showing less or more miles than you've actually traveled, I don't think it changes the fuel consumption, you're just calculating fuel efficiency with a distorted benchmark.

[trikkonceptz]

Well as an update on the 4-runner.

-Roof rack delete is not feasable. once removed the exposed holes will leak into the cab, so I eneded up removing the cross bars instead.
-I trimmed the mudflaps in the rear and removed the front ones.
-Grille blocking did nothing for the FE over 2 tanks so I gave up.

-In my case 8cyl, I have found that moderate acceleration to 40mph (not exceeding 2K rpm) consumes less fuel than slowly getting up there.
-City speeds they glide well so we now do straight line EOC, because without PS it is a bear to turn.
-We shut it down at stop lights
-60mph on the hwy (religiously)
-55 psi in all tires

These changes have put me on a consistent 21mpg around the city and 28mpg hwy, sometimes higher depending on wind.

Hope this helps