96 Taco Build/Discussion Thread

[ps2fixer]

Interesting, just out of interest, what mpg do you get at different speeds on flat ground (like 45 and 55mph?) Just wondering how much your mods are better than mine currently .

[ps2fixer]

Been getting right around 20mpg with the truck. I have noticed that cold starts are MAJOR killers on mileage. My cold start idle is 2000-2500rpm, seems a bit high to me. I suspect the computer is adding extra fuel from when it had a fan installed, but now is over reving. I'd love a simple adjustment for this, but I suspect the ECU controls it and the only way to override it will be to alter the temp sensor readings to the ECU to be warmer.

I always wanted to do the coolant temp sensor mod to my corolla due to the fact it won't shift into overdrive till the engine hits 130F, of course with my Tacoma stick, I don't have that problem .

[ps2fixer]

Finally got my first fuel log added in since I grabbed a couple of pens and tossed em in the truck lol.

Been driving 60 highway, 45 back roads and 40 for the first ~4-5 miles. Most trips are right around 20mpg, 19 if i'm in a rush, and 21-22 if i take it really easy.

Finally finished my fluid changes, now everything but master cyl and power steering have fresh new fluid. Going to be doing a basic tune up before long (plugs + wires + air filter), and probably sprint time I'll be doing a pretty major pm as I have no service history of the engine, and the way things look so far, not much has been done. Going to replace water pump, front main seal, radiator hoses + clamps, all 3 belts, timing belt + tensioners, possibly power steering lines, possibly valve cover gaskets and anything else that jumps out as needing replacement.

[ps2fixer]

Filled up again, scan gauge seems to need a lot of adjustment every fillup. Currently it is at +8% calibration, last fillup it indicated 14.1gal but actual was 14.76gal. I adjusted it to the middle, 14.4, hopefully it it semi accurate.

I turned off the fuel cutoff to 0, maybe I need to adjust it up a little since it probably does cuts the full off between shifts. I don't coast down in gear so I didn't think it would be just a huge effect. Before I disabled it, it was set to 23, I suspect that might be a bit high for the truck.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by ps2fixer

Interesting, just out of interest, what mpg do you get at different speeds on flat ground (like 45 and 55mph?) Just wondering how much your mods are better than mine currently .

45 warmed up in this weather yields roughly 29mpg. 55 yields roughly 27.

[ps2fixer]

Originally Posted by mikeyjd

45 warmed up in this weather yields roughly 29mpg. 55 yields roughly 27.

Very Nice, I only see over 25mpg when I'm going 35mph in 5th. I might have to try a day of extreme slow driving and find a different route off the highway.

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by ps2fixer

Very Nice, I only see over 25mpg when I'm going 35mph in 5th. I might have to try a day of extreme slow driving and find a different route off the highway.

I avoid the highway if I have time, although I rarely do these days. Every other week we visit our friends up north near Mt. Pleasant which is 160 miles round trip on back roads. I've gotten 40+ mpg round trip doing hardcore P&G during the summer. Typically 30+ is more realistic in the winter on bad roads.

[ps2fixer]

Crazy you're getting near the mpg my corolla gets (at speed at 45mph, 45-50mpg, but averages ~40-45mpg).

I'm wondering which method of P&G you use, there seems to be no real standard. I haven't seen too much of a change with my truck, but I'm not EOCing atm.

I had fair success with my corolla P&G, 80% load to say 50mph, then EOC down to 30-35mpg and repeat. Sadly it was an automatic so I had to use the starter.

I'm finding it strange that my truck seems to have a hard time meeting the EPA ratings for highway with me driving, I suspect there must be something going on that is eating up my MPG besides the areo. I have been thinking it is just the cold.

My dad has a T100, I drove it 65mph in warmer weather up and down hills and averaged around 20mpg with a check engine light and leaking intake boot.

Cold start this morning at -4F coolant temp was 1.58gph @ 2200rpm. Driving home at 45mph I was using around 1.8-2.1gph depending on hills etc. Warm idle is 0.33-0.35gph. Side note on this, my corolla idles at 0.33gph warm too).

Thanks for the input so far. and lets see a v6 truck get 40mpg average tank (in the summer of course)!