1997 4runner 3.4 auto vs 5spd fuel mileage

[blakeape]

I have 2 1997 4runners that are going to become one. The first is a 3.4 5spd 206k miles, bone stock, 4.10 gears on 265/70R16 tires, the body is great but the frame is rusted and broken. The second is a 3.4 auto, 175k miles, OME suspension (about 2-2.5 inch lift), 235/85R16 tires, 4.56 gears, light rollover, recent trans flush and service with a perfect frame. I am going to swap the good body onto the good frame, but am trying to decide with trans to go with. I have always liked manual trans, but the auto is very convenient, anyone can drive it, and its already installed in this chassis. I don't seem to be getting great fuel mileage from the auto though only 15-16mpg. That is around town and I know not horrible, but the 5spd regularly got 18+mpg. I also have a 1996 3.4 5spd Tacoma that used to do close to 20mpg when it was stock. What have you all noticed MPG wise in the 5spd vs auto world and which direction would you go. The darker one is the rollover.
Thanks
Jake



In these pics the rolled one has 265/75R16 snow tires on it.

 

[CA-RJ]

My 4Runner got 16-18 on 285/75-16's and with 265/75-16's got 18-23 (23 being 55-60, all highway, cruise on). This was a 5 speed with stock gears, TJM front bumper and OME lift. I also drive pretty easy. Air pressure in your tires can make a pretty huge difference in mileage as well.

The link below will give you a good idea of how mine did overall. In 2011, I averaged 19.6 over 12,536 miles. That includes, city, highway, off-road and towing miles.

 

[Applejack]

I have a '99 with an OME lift about 2-2.5 inches, 265/75's E range, ARB bumper with winch, roof rack and stock gearing. Around town I only get about 13-14 and on the highway I get 17-18..............yeah, not very good.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Not a perfect comparison but I had an '04 Taco with the 3.4/5 speed (same engine and tranny) and I could get 18 in the city and over 22 on the highway. MPG with my automatic 4runner is about 16 and 20.

 

[WU7X]

I'd like to know how you are measuring your gas mileage. Your vehicles have different sized tires; and I don't think either are stock. So your speedometers may not be set appropriately for either. When I try to get "real" gas mileage figures, especially between two vehicles, I will install my GPS in the rigs, one at a time, then use it to collect the mileage figures which I can then divide by the number of gallons of gas I buy. I try to run at least two tanks of gas through each vehicle.

 

[blakeape]

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like the 5spd's generally do a little better mpg wise. The tan 4runner (5spd) with the broken frame is bone stock with factory gears and tires. It is currently undriveable due to the broken frame. My mother bought it new and I calculated the miles by hand (divide miles traveled by gallons consumed) for the last 6 months after I inherited it before the frame broke (damn you east coast salt)! The Darker gray (auto) 4runner had 3.90 gears and came with 225/75R15 tires. I was looking for a frame and found this truck that is still driveable with the OME lift, a bunch of recent work done for $1500, with a set of bald 285/75R16 tires. It was terribly under geared and barely held overdrive, I swapped a 4.56 rear third (still has 3.90 front, put on the 265/75R16 snows for the winter then the 235/85R16's for the summer. The speedo is off by about 5mph at 60 so I have compensated in my math, but its its not exact. I really like the way these 3.4's drive with a 5spd but the auto is really convenient and this will be a backup rig that friends and family borrow when they visit Montana so anyone could drive it. I have a 1996 Tacoma and 1988 4runner that both have or are getting 3.4 spd combo's so I don't mind hanging onto the engine/trans/t-case for spares.

 

[phsycle]

I've owned several in auto and manual. From my extensive records, there was really no real noticable difference (over same terrain, 100-mile commute). The difference in the MPG you see may be related more to the condition of the engine, emissions, etc. and not to the transmission itself.

The 5-sp is more fun (IMO) and the auto is easier to drive (especially while eating).