Tundra v8 better mpg

Ha! Totally missed your “less than” symbol. But I do remember seeing something where some youtuber’s ‘22’s bed smacked his cab really hard.

 

We are drifting far OT, but here is the thread about that. I don't know if any/many others have experienced this, but the guy was trying to beat the crap out of his new truck... : https://www.tundras.com/threads/bed-can-hit-cab-and-cause-damage.102697/

The older models are *torsionally* flexible, but probably stiffer vertically. Torsion is what makes your tailgate move around and your bed twist. I'd rather have a torsionally stiff frame. Although the flexing frame gives some compliance, I'd rather rely on a well damped suspension for that rather than an undamped frame.

 

For what its worth the dealer updated the software on the truck for me about 6 months ago and I got at least 1 mpg better, maybe a bit more.

 

Regarding mpg... I did a trip last weekend, a little over 500 miles. 16.4 mpg on the way out with a 20 mph headwind for most of it, 17.4 on the way back. About 50% freeway, 25% other highway, 25% twisty mountain driving. Lots of elevation change. I'm happy with it, considering. I usually get better than that around town.

 

Whoa... what?! Any more info about that? See if you can find out anything... like the reason and what was changed exactly.

Edit: I'm only seeing updates for the headunit software. That's definitely not going to improve mpg.

 

amazing. I have too much traffic in my city to ever get this MPG unless its at 3am on the highway

 

I just bought my truck a few days ago, a 2016. I drove home about 150 miles traveling 70-75 mph and averaged 20.0 mpg on the nose.

Quite happy with that.

 

I think the best I've ever got was 16.5 mpg hand calculated. My average was closer to 14.5. That was in a stock regular cab 5.7 driving mostly 80mph highway commuting.

I dont believe anyone getting 18 mpg with 37s...

 

80 MPH is a mileage destroyer...slow down and dial in at 65-67 and behold the high 17's-18+ with factory tires.

The truth is that most guys just don't care about economy and justify it with 'meh, it's a truck' but some of us expect decent economy --especially in these tough times at $5 per. And we get it.

 

Totally makes sense.. wonder what you get if going 70-75mph... anyways good to know.

 

15 and some change with the 33 inch P-rated AT tires on my Sequoia. I got somewhere between 17 and 18 going 65.

 

19-ish cruising at 58

I avg 17 driving like an old dude

stock tires

summer gas blend is nice

 

My hand calculated total MPG was 13.3 in 2021; lots of short trips around town with my kiddo and dog. I would never achieve 17 no matter what tires I use lol.

 

Made a 70 mile truck a few weeks ago and the Lie-O-Meter said 19.0 Most was highway at 71 mpg. Actually my computer has always been within .2 of my pencil. Today I made a Micky Mouse air dam and we'll see if I notice any difference.

 

I aint got time for that. My solution was to get a commuter car. 32mpg going 80.

 

https://youtu.be/Lt3z9XdOOrU

 

I do... if they get the right ones, have a 2" level, and don't drive too fast.

 

I did well under 65mph today…

16.6mpg over 30.9 miles mostly highway, towing a small trailer with my zero turn mower and some other lawn equipment. Trailer was probably only 2k-ish lbs. Whole family in the truck with gear in the bed, too. Still, I didn’t think it would do this well on the ol’ mpgs…

 

And that’s also why friends abs family ask why I haven’t gotten rid of my 306k mile 00’ Subaru after I got my Tundra… It needs body work to fight the rust but after I swapped out the 2.2L for 2.5L I was getting 30-32MPG all the time.

Intermittent rear caliper grabbing keeps dragging down my 10’ 4.6 Grade TRD Offroad but I’ve still been getting in the 15’s since the weather started warming in New England. That’s with a System One rack, bed tool box, extra crap in the back seat, a whole damn Subaru engine sitting in the bed since August, on stock size Hercules Terra Trac Cross-V’s I got for a steal. I was seeing 17+ right after switching to these tires so hopefully after emptying some junk, figuring out why the calipers are dragging, and I get my Gen 2.5 front bumper swap done and fit and air damn I’ll shoot way up.

 

My 08 5.7 double cab with 180k miles gets between 17 and 20.5 mpg average (measured per tank of gas, verified by hand calculations) depending on how i drive that week.

My truck is currently bone stock except for a tonneau cover, which i don't think has anything to do with fuel economy.

If you REALLY want to squeeze out the best fuel economy your engine can manage there are some simple step to follow. Simple, not necessarily easy.

1. Drive the speed limit. Not 5 or 10 over.

2. Keep your fuel economy readout set to instant, not average. Watch it while you drive. Adjust your throttle position to keep the number high.

3. If you are cruising down the highway at 65mph and see you are getting something like 15mpg, try to ever so slightly reduce your pressure on the gas pedal. Often you can maintain the same speed but watch your fuel economy rise to 19, 20, or higher.

4. Do not maintain speed. Maintain throttle position. If you start going up a hill, don't give more gas. Let the truck slow down, but keep your foot still. When you crest the hill you will regain the speed on the way down the other side.

5. Don't accelerate hard. You aren't in a drag race. If it takes you 20 seconds to get to the speed limit you are doing about right.

6. Stay out of rush hour traffic if you can help it. Obviously.

It all sounds simple, but it takes a lot of concentration to pull off. Especially if you have a sensitive gas pedal. But do it right and you can get above 20mpg in a stock truck. At least i do in mine.

 

Do a regear of the axle. That'll get most of your lost fuel economy back.

 

Those 2 steps are good for your fuel efficiency and not so good for your driver’s karma. Road rage is a real problem where I live.

 

That's their problem, not yours.

 

I get good gas mileage with my ‘18 5.7 with 20” wrapped in 33s.


This is about the same as my Tacoma before I traded it in for the tundra.

 

Are lifted 3/4 and 1-tons common in your area?

 

Yes. I live in Arizona. Bro-dozers are 50% of the vehicles on the road.

 

I would add something. Watch ahead as far as you can see. You would be surprised to find out how many situations you can just take your foot completely off the pedal and coast. There is a large hill I go down when going to work, and go up when returning. There is a busy stop light at the top of the hill. I get about 18 mpg going UP the hill because I can coast or use minimal gas pedal.

 

Excellent posting and frankly those steps are exactly the way I approach fuel economy with my Tundra. Concentration--+1...It's metal work and commitment to make it happen.

 

Why? You get better mpg with higher gearing, not lower... up to a point... unless something is really screwy with the ECU. Regears are always lower; more fun to drive, but not more mpg.