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...