The Tundra drinks gas because....

Well, there's the 6,000 lb. curb weight on the Crewmax 4x4, which makes it the heaviest truck in the 1/2 ton segment.

But then you've got the 1990s era way the accessory drive is set up. When I first got this Tundra and popped the hood it took me back to childhood. A mechanical engine fan? Really?? Hydraulic steering pump run off the engine?

These engine driven accessories kill horsepower and fuel economy.

This video is pretty interesting. Just imagine how strong the 5.7 iForce could have been on paper if Toyota had used electric accessories like every competitor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz0ebc6XkFE

 

Yes....truck is heavy, rear diff gear ratio is 4.30, tranny only 6 speed and gets 7.5-9.5 mpg towing, BUT....just towed 8,000 lbs trailer out west over 5,500 miles and it did the job towing up and down grades as steep as 10% with no issues. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking! Love it....

 

Mine sucks down the gas because I treat the gas pedal like an on/off switch.

 

Worth it….

 

Not a bad watch

 

I just think it's funny that Toyota makes one of the most fuel efficient vehicles on the market buuuuuuuut also makes one of the most gas guzzling vehicles on the market.

 

These two vehicles are designed for two very different applications. I have a Camry that gets 30mpg but can't use it to tow and haul.....

 

Yep

 

Doesn’t even the new 3rd gen have a mechanical clutch fan? I think Toyota does it for the heavy duty/reliability aspect of it since it’s a truck not a race car. As a commercial hvac guy, electric motors fail pretty frequently. I like the appeal of the clutch style reliability, and not being stranded towing in the summer. They also move a lot more air except for maybe at idle.

 

I know, right? 30 horsepower from the engine-driven fan? Wow. I've been wanting to throw my old fashioned engine fan away and install a Flex-A-Lite electric fan kit since I got this thing. Might have to make that a summer project.

 

The engine in this video was from a 1-ton Chevy. I'm pretty sure they mentioned that. How was a Chevy truck different in application from a Toyota truck?

I've seen the opposite. Never had to replace an e-fan on a vehicle in my life. But I've seen many clutches go out of mechanical fans on trucks. And they are a PITA to replace unless you've got BIG wrenches and lots of patience.

 

I think Keith @dirtydeeds has some insight into this. He had dual electric fans on his Tundra from what I saw on some FB pages. I saw a post stating he removed them due to overheating when towing. If not maybe he revised the setup to work better? Perhaps he will chime in.

 

Okay but how many other trucks in 2007 had a mechanical engine fan and a hydraulic steering pump run off the engine?

 

It is only 30 hp when the fan clutch is locked up. When the clutch is not locked up the power draw is minimal.

I have two comments on this one:
1. Toyota has never been and never will be an early adapter of technology (with the exception of the Prius hybrid). They make darn sure that the technology is rock solid before they force their customers to find the bugs.
In 2007 and 2014 I believe the all of the truck manufacturers had engine driven fans and hydraulic power steering. Shoot in 2014 a 6-speed trans was top of the heap. It does not seem fair to bash the Tundra for being behind the times on their old model..... That has THE BEST reliability rating vs. every other truck sold.
2. I recently thumbed through my owner's manual. It is full of how to fix electric motor issues (go to the dealer). Many of us have experience them (4Lo to 4Hi, power window motors, sunroof motors, steering lock assist motors, etc.). I kinda like the old school simplicity of what my Tundra has. I have had electric power steering fail on my Honda. It is not inexpensive nor was it drivable when it didn't work.

 

The tundra drinks gas because you heathens cant stop fondling the loud pedal.

sure, my full size truck (‘04 titan) CAN get 13mpg, but if you drive like you have a little self respect it pulls 20mpg at 290k.

Belt driven accessories and all. On 33’s.

 

Yea, titan has magnaflow & brings the noise.

 

My 15 Tundra with 5.7 consistently gets 1-2mpg better mileage than my 05 Tacoma 4.0 did. While not a significant difference, better is better.

 

My 2018 with the 5.7 does better than either of my Tacomas ever did (2003,2014) or my 2001 Tundra. You can't expect too much, they're big trucks.

 

If you buy one of each they cancel each other out and you can sleep better at night

 

I sleep just fine with my 5.7 Sequoia and 5.7 Tundra parked outside

 

Yea, doesn't keep me awake either ......

 

Im going to increase my tundras mpg by buying my wife an electric vehicle

 

AMEN

 

Glad that Tundra is using an inefficient old-fashioned MPFI and not the crappy DI.

 

Got this unsolicited in the mail the other day along with a screed about the evils of big oil and a plea for money. Not sure I have the heart to tell them what I drive....

 

I've literally never seen one of those Greenpeace pleas for help before

 

Yea, neither have I - imagine my surprise at finding myself on their list

 

I'll take mechanical water and power steering pumps over electric all day every day. When it comes to the cooling fan, am ambivalent. Have replaced several cooling fans on FWD cars over the years, heater blower fans, Idle air contollers, and numerous electical motors to include starters and alternators to MUCH prefer mechanical devices, especially for high demand and constant use such as a water pump or power steering pump. Electric versions of this are a fools errand IMNSHO.

I swapped my E36 M3 thermostatic clutch fan with an electric puller, and the new $300 puller Mahle fan in the search for more power, and the thing died every 3 years. Was quieter, made a bit more power and quicker, but was a PITA and I never had confidence. Ended up putting it on after the second E fan failed. I'd assume OEM would last better than aftermarket, but I am totally happy with the tried and true reliability, performance and real world economy of the Tundra.

 

Isn't their every act a plea for help?