4th Gen 4runner questions: Real world MPG?

Martinjmpr

Wiffleball Batter
Just curious what kind of "real world" MPG the 4th gen 4runners are getting. I understand they are available with either the 4.7l V-8 or the 4.0l V-6. I'm assuming the V-6 is the same one that's on the Taco and the FJ Cruiser?
 

Cackalak Han

Explorer
Yes, the same 4.0L V6 w/timing chain. I don't have a 4th Gen, but a friend does. From a road trip we took a couple of years back, it was getting ~20MPG on the freeway going 70-75MPH. On the OBC, it said 22-23MPG. Around town, it got 17MPG (18MPG indicated on the OBC). So pretty much the same as a 3.4L, except with more power...

His 4Runner was 100% stock. V6 SR5.
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
My truck has a mild lift, slightly larger tires and some extra weight due to sliders, dual batteries, etc. I am the original owner and the 4Runner has a little over 80K miles

I generally run Arco Regular unleaded. It pays to switch off cruise control in hilly areas. It is too agressive when downshifting.

I have a ScanGuage II that helps me to manage MPGs while driving. The Toyota MPG gauge on the dash is a bit optimisitic so I have a notebook with corrected ODO miles and gas into the tank.

If there is nothing up on the roof rack I've driven from Las Vegas to Orange County SoCal and achieved 20 MPG using cruise control.

Around town the worst is 16 MPG if I lead foot too much. Average is more like 17 and best is 18.
 
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c.nordstrom

World Traveller Extraordinaire
I just drove from Denver, CO to Prescott, AZ and I got 18.5 MPG in my stock 2008 4Runner. I did have a lot of gear with me.
 

Martinjmpr

Wiffleball Batter
My truck has a mild lift, slightly larger tires and some extra weight due to sliders, dual batteries, etc. I am the original owner and the 4Runner has a little over 80K miles

I generally run Arco Regular unleaded. It pays to switch off cruise control in hilly areas. It is too agressive when downshifting.

I have a ScanGuage II that helps me to manage MPGs while driving. The Toyota MPG gauge on the dash is a bit optimisitic so I have a notebook with corrected ODO miles and gas into the tank.

If there is nothing up on the roof rack I've driven from Las Vegas to Orange County SoCal and achieved 20 MPG using cruise control.

Around town the worst is 16 MPG if I lead foot too much.average is more like 17 and beat is 18.


Interesting, that's almost exactly what I get with my Tacoma, 3.4l, 5 speed.

Is yours a V8 or a V6?
 

Ryanmb21

Expedition Leader
My truck has a mild lift, slightly larger tires and some extra weight due to sliders, dual batteries, etc. I am the original owner and the 4Runner has a little over 80K miles

I generally run Arco Regular unleaded. It pays to switch off cruise control in hilly areas. It is too agressive when downshifting.

I have a ScanGuage II that helps me to manage MPGs while driving. The Toyota MPG gauge on the dash is a bit optimisitic so I have a notebook with corrected ODO miles and gas into the tank.

If there is nothing up on the roof rack I've driven from Las Vegas to Orange County SoCal and achieved 20 MPG using cruise control.

Around town the worst is 16 MPG if I lead foot too much. Average is more like 17 and best is 18.

I have a v6 and I get a bit better probably due to the fact that I have only the stock rack and am usually lightly loaded. With 265/70/17 tires and a mild lift I get 20mpg's on the highway often, usually mixed city highway tanks are ~17-18.5 MPG.
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
I have a v6 and I get a bit better probably due to the fact that I have only the stock rack and am usually lightly loaded. With 265/70/17 tires and a mild lift I get 20mpg's on the highway often, usually mixed city highway tanks are ~17-18.5 MPG.

I have a stock factory rack, other than the fact that I have 4 crossbars instead of 2
 

woodeye

Observer
Not a 4th Gen. but a 3rd but I just changed my oil on Memorial day, with
Mobil 1 0-30 which is new. (Usually I use castrol syntec 5-30) I filled it up
same day and when I filled it up again at 257.4 miles I only put 10.7 gal. in.
thats 24 miles per with gulf gas, about 125-hwy the rest was city.

I keep a log every time I fill up and generally I get about 20 mixed but most
of that is city. I do have to tell you this could be a fluke with only one fill-up
but I've currently got 200 mile on 1/2 a tank and I normaly get 160.

I've got about a 2" lift, run 265/75 tires, airhog airfilter and no silencer between the air box and the TB just a straight pipe. Oh and walmart oil filter
for a 3.0 ford ranger, which is larger and adds about a qt for only $3. Been using these on my
runner and my wifes camry for about 3or 4 yrs.

Remember I'm not a snake oil salesman and was going to use Castols 0-30
when I saw Mobil 1 for $22 for 5qts at walmart so what the hell.

Woody:Wow1:
 
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java

Expedition Leader
on mine i have 265/75/17 and 3" lift and i get about 17 avg with towing a trailer on weekends usually
4 speed auto v-6
 

woodeye

Observer
update

I knew it was to good to be true, 24 mpg's was a huge fluke with 0-30
mobil one. last two tanks were the same as usual with mixed driving about
18.5 to 19 mpg.

ow well
Woody
 

RoundOut

Explorer
We have a 2003 4x4 SR5 and it gets about 14.8 city and up to 20 highway. It has the 4.7L V8. We've yet to take it on a trip, but I've seen it steadily get 21 on the computer at 60 mph after a refueling.

.
 

teotwaki

Excelsior!
We have a 2003 4x4 SR5 and it gets about 14.8 city and up to 20 highway. It has the 4.7L V8. We've yet to take it on a trip, but I've seen it steadily get 21 on the computer at 60 mph after a refueling.

.

The only way to really know the mileage is number of gallons into the tank, the odometer and a correction factor for the odo.

The dash mounted gauge is generally very optimistic.
 

RoundOut

Explorer
The only way to really know the mileage is number of gallons into the tank, the odometer and a correction factor for the odo.

The dash mounted gauge is generally very optimistic.

Agreed. In 140,000ish miles, I've tracked every gallon I've put into my Tundra. Since acquiring a Scangauge II, I've been surprised how accurate the computer really is.

The 4Runner is primarily driven by my 18 y/o daughter. Unfortunately, she does not have the discipline to track the mileage like I do. So, I offer up my original post on this subject as is. If I were tracking it, I could be more accurate, but I'm not.

.
 

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