Fuel Economy Experiment

We purchased our new 2016 SR5 Tundra Double Cab 5.7L 4X4 last week. Following the operators manual instructions breaking in the Tundra without towing for now. The reason we purchased the Tundra is to tow a travel trailer. Will check mileage with the TT, too.

Decided to drive the unloaded Tundra with two people on board to the Blue Ridge Parkway today to put miles on it and enjoy the higher elevation cooler temps. We started at 900' elevation and reached around 4000' on the Blue Ridge Parkway (45MPH speed limit) before heading home during our round trip.

Put 40PSI in all four tires, stayed in 2WD during the trip. Started the trip with a full tank at the gas station where we ended the round trip when we topped off again. Drove the majority of the trip on two lane roads. Passed through 2 small towns. Used 87RON gasoline. Checked the speedometer against a handheld GPS after the trip at 65MPH indicated on the Tundra speedometer when the GPS read 64MPH.

This is not how I normally drive, but wanted to experiment with the Tundra today. Took off from stops going very easy on the gas pedal and allowed the Tundra to slow 5MPH going up grades and speed up 5MPH going down grades. Target speed of 55 to 60 MPH in the lower elevations. In the mountains would slow to 40 to 45MPH moving into the slow lane on 6% to 8% grades.

Got close to 19.4MPG today.

Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway:



204 miles during top off at end of round trip:



10.5 gallons needed to top off Tundra:



476 total miles on Tundra since new at end of trip today:

 

TJ, Thanks!

Yep, I'm a gray headed kid in the candy store with this Tundra, it's our first Tundra and 3rd Toyota pickup!

Will do on the oil changes! When I put full synthetic oil in the in the Tacoma manual tranny, it started shifting smoother.

 

My truck does the same thing, indicates between .7-.9 higher mpg than it actually gets.

 

Agree, on my Tundra probably need to see over 21MPG indication to realistically get 20MPG or better. Will do another round trip test to the SC flatlands.

 

Of the 5k+ miles I have on mine, only once was actual better than indicated. The closest claimed has been was .3mpg higher than actual, worst was 1.3mpg higher than actual. And as stated usually .7-.9mpg higher than actual. Don't know why. Is true in stop and go, with idle time, and simply fill up and hit the highway then fill up again.

 

Yep, Found stop/go to be less accurate and continuous driving to be closer comparing indicated MPG and actual.

Will post findings after round trip to SC since I'm not going to tow with the Tundra until reaching 1000 miles.

 

Drove the Tundra to central Virginia today. Topped off at start of trip and topped off at end of round trip, same gas station. Drove two lane, four lane and interstates on rolling terrain.

This is not how I normally drive, majority of trip was at 55 to 60MPH, allowing to slow going up & speed up going down hills about 5MPH, easy on the gas pedal accelerating from stops, Tundra unloaded. Cruise control not used. Tires at 40PSI and using 87RON gasoline. Most mileage today was highway passing through two towns and two cities.

Will check fuel economy towing a 4900 pound travel trailer next.

Results from today: 20.6MPG

Round trip 480 miles:



23 1/4 gallons used:



978 total miles on Tundra:

 

Now, imagine starting your base line test here in Denver, 5280ft in altitude. There are camp grounds here in Colorado in excess of 11,000 ft that are accessible with a TT. Easily. Hell, Leadville, CO (in a valley, repeat, in a valley) is 10,150ft. There are TT accessible camp grounds up to 11,000 ft near Leadville. Your results are very good for NC/Virgina, and a good base line for anyone else that wants to camp/trek at that altitude. A little different results here. Maybe we should start a regional thread to take into account altitude, flatness, mountain passes, mountains.

 

I remember as a little kid, my dad taking us kids camping at the Smoky Mountains during his off time as USMC A-4 Sky Hawk aviator at Cheerless Pit, NC. I was 6 (1961) and I still remember it after all these years. (I'm 60 now) Smoky Mountain Nat Park is one that everybody should check out, before they check out............... Bucket Lister

 

Agree,

I have been itching to take the Tundra camping since we bought it earlier this month, following the owners manual putting miles on before towing. Decided to check mileage unloaded while getting enough miles on the Tundra to start towing. Will post mileage from a couple local camping trips this year.

The main reason we purchased the Tundra is for towing a 5000 pound travel trailer out west. We started camping out west during 2014 with a 2000 pound all aluminum travel trailer and towing it with a 2013 4.0L Nissan Frontier. After camping in WY and MT, realized if we purchased a larger travel trailer, we would need a more powerful tow vehicle for towing out west.

Like the idea of regional threads.

 

Same age. We enjoy camping in the NC mountains, but also enjoy camping out west.

An F4U Corsair Naval Aviator taught me aerobatics, but not in the Corsair. Great guy and pilot! He would say "Straight and Level makes me Queasy" !!!!!

Saw the Blue Angels years ago when they flew A-4s.

 

Are you admitting that we are old?? heh ..heh. My dad flew USMC F4U Corsairs in China from 1947 to 1949. Bronze Star, and then flew over 100 missions in Korea, Sioux/Bell chopper, 2nd Bronze Star, Flew F-4 Sky Hawks. F5F photo recon jets based out of MCAS El Toro After that, NC and Beaufort ,SC. Last duty was flying SAR chopper at MCAS El Toro. He flew whatever they put him in and excelled at it. Got the Distinguished Flying Service medal.John Glenn was in same squadron with my dad at MCAS Beaufort. My dad died of lung cancer at 51 in 1976. 3 packs a day will do it. My mother is still alive. She new Marge, J Glenn's wife. "Anybody here" doubts it, I'll more than happy to have my mom set you straight. She's 93 and hasn't forgotten anything. Anything........

 

Sorry to hear about your Dad's passing at 51. Great to hear your Mom is going strong!!!!!

 

Will post round trip fuel economy results next for a couple camping trips in the South East with the Tundra/Oliver rig.

 

You definitely have a nice setup.

 

There's a break in period for the Tundra? If there is, obviously I missed that section. Asked a very pointed question about break in and was told that Toyota runs all of their engines on a stand and there is no break in.
Going to get the OM.

 

Starting at 4900' and heading over Monarch to Gunnison and Blue Mesa for a few days of cussing and drowning worms. I'm betting on 8 mpg.

 

Nice trailer though.

 

Know what you mean.

In the 2016 OM page 177 Break-in schedule:

It says not to tow a trailer during the first 500 miles and after 500 miles, tow at a speed under 50MPH for the next 500 miles.

Going to take the Tundra/Oliver rig for a shake down camping trip later this week. Also installed the Dexter EZ Flex suspension upgrade with wet pins/bronze bushings on the Ollie I want to check out.

The Dexter EZ Flex should help the ride.

 

I'm at 2200, so over the 1000 mile threshold. Towing a 17' mini at 3300 so not too much effort on the Tundra. I'll toss up a pick aft the trip.

 

So I was guessing about 8 mpg each way over the pass, and I was lucky enough to get was about 11.8.
The 8.8 was from Gunnison to the top of Monarch pass. The west to east climb was pretty looooong.
If you pulled 20 with a trailer that is beyond great.
I did notice that the Tundra engine/trans breaking is pretty damn good. There was a 1500 GM product extended cab, similar to my Tundra that was towing a smaller double axle trailer and he rode the brakes all the way down from east to west. The Tundra has a system that keeps it in 4th or so and it just rolled along at about 40'ish. I got on the brakes a few times, but no where close to the GM.
I added the topper, and thinking I would get mpg loss back by adding the TRD CAI and a catback exhaust, single exit, and man was that a mistake. I would not touch a thing if was to do it over, maybe add a toneau cover and that's it.

 

Hell, I'm down the street in PW. I'll take that beer and raise you two.

 

SOCO Tundra,

Sounds like your Tundra is dialed-in and performing great. Have not been to Gunnison and Monarch Pass, but plan to visit Colorado next year. Have a great trip!!!!!

 

Hit up some of the other guys here from CO and I am sure that you can get a great lead on places to go, and best camping areas. There is a lot of dispersed camping, i.e. free. You can reserve camp sites on govt land but they fill up early as you can reserve a year out. There are full service, or have dump sites close and they are being reserved now. I stopped at Elk Creek Ranger station and camp ground before we came back and got the scoop from the camp host. Reserve now and early. Cheap too, about 15. a nite for full service. They have a lot of dry sites available with vault toilets and fresh water taps. If you need a place to park it and pull maintenance and I'm not out of your way, you have a place.

 

Blue Mesa? I'm back. It was a sales pitch for camping membership. STAY AWAY! Blue Mesa Park, wanted 10K and 500 a year to stay there anytime for 2 weeks at a time. Went across the Elk Creek and you can stay on the water for 10.00 a nite. All BLM, National Forest, Colo Parks, are cheap. Hell we have free dispersed camping if you want dry, which I prefer as you can get away from others for the most part. Except Texans. I mean Texas must suck the big one because they, Texans, are escaping by the millions. I just hope they are passing through enroute to California.

Going to 11 mile in a couple of weeks for the weekend. Getting colder so the bigger trout should be moving back to shore for the pre winter feast.

 

Oh I get it. I live in the PW.