Ford Convert....

Lifetime Ford owner - new to the forum and you guys have been around the block. Just bought a 2020 Crewmax TRD Off-Road 4x4. I am impressed so far. Except for the one thing there have probably been thousands of posts on - gas mileage. No - I didn't buy it for gas mileage. I have a car for that. But..... A little better would be nice. I have done the following:

1. 285/75/18 Nitto Ridge Grapplers
2. +20mm Fuel Vectors 18x9
3. K&N (basic) panel filter
4. Tonneau Cover
5. 3/1 level lift

I only have 1000 miles on it and the best combined hwy/city mileage I have got is about 13.3 mpg. Tips on improving? Also, (for the aeronautical engineers) - would adding OEM Toyota fender flares help reduce drag? It seems that the wheels really tanked the mileage. It wasn't horrible with the lift and tires only.

Thoughts?

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from Ohio

 

13.3 MPG is just about where I am also...
You get used to it after a while...

 

Welcome from NC!

 

Welcome from NY.

 

I think with the larger tires, lift ect you sound about right at 13 ish range with mix of city an highway. I am no engineer but I doubt fender flairs would make any notable difference. I think the gas milage is just something your going to have to accept with this truck.. You have done 2 mods known to kill gas mileage (mainly larger much heavier wheel/tire). On a truck that already sucks gas to begin with.. I am sure others may have some creative suggestions.. I doubt anything you do with your current setup is going to get you much gain. The truck averages 15-16 stock.. Maybe more down hill with the wind at your back...

Welcome to the forum

 

Welcome from VA, besides gas mileage threads the new trend is a plethora of transmission temperature threads (2019+ Tundras don’t have an external transmission Cooler).

 

welcome from So Cal

 

Welcome from East TN! While I don't have any ill will towards Ford, I think you'll love the Tundra. Last of the "simple" trucks.

 

Welcome from Texas! Your MPG is about what I get in my 2014. You get used to it. I love my Tundra. I love the fact that it's simple

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

MPG is right about what I would expect with those big E rates tires. Just how it goes. Moving from the stock size and passenger load tires drops MPG a couple points. Just feed it and enjoy your new truck!

 

Welcome. I have the 295/70/18 RGs with the same wheels. I have a topper as well. I'm getting 14.8 mpg. What PSI do you run?

 

Around 45 psi. I would think think K&N and increased exhaust flow with the duals would have helped.

 

I have K&N cone and TRD duals. I run between 45-48. Lay off the gas pedal, man!

 

The "OEM" flares are just bushwhackers that are installed after the factory.
Are you just going off the computer for the MPG? Did you get your speedometer re-calibrated after adding the larger tires? Your speedometer is running off stock size tires, so when you upsize you are actually going further in the same number of revolutions on your tires. If you've not had it corrected then you are actually getting slightly better mileage than what your dash computer is reporting.

Adding an intake doesn't help on the Tundra as the stock intake is essentially a cold air already. Duals will knock your low end torque per @dirtydeeds (our exhaust expert) because the motor needs a little bit of back pressure. Duals and larger pipes aren't worth anything if you aren't going with long tube headers and tuning.

When all is said and done, about the only way to significantly increase the Tundra's performance is to put a supercharger on it. MPG is really not something you can push upward, and as others have stated you're not doing bad with your set up.

 

Lol! I'm definitely changing my driving habits - but it is too much fun stepping on the gas. I went on the cheap for the dual at a local shop. 2.25 inch pipe that is not mandrel bent with a Flowmaster 50. I'm seriously considering that TRD exhaust setup. Looks like an excellent system.

 

AzureNightmare - I'm calculating it at the pump, not the computer. It seems like I lost about 1.5 to 2 mpg when I put the Fuel wheels on. They look too good to go back to OEM. I'm going to bump the psi up to 50 jfth of it.

 

Ok, but are you accounting for the Odometer being off because of the bigger tires? Plug your stock tire size and the new tire size into and it will show you your percentage difference in the circumference of the tire. You have to add that percentage of miles to the miles calculation to get an accurate MPG figure.

Easy math example, if you upsized to a tire that was 10% larger in circumference then you would have to add 10% to your mileage used for MPG calculations. so if you were using 500 miles from the odometer the actual miles you would have to used when figuring the MPG would be 550. Your odometer will be off by this amount unless you have had it all reworked for the larger tire size.

 

Welcome! Enjoy the new truck. I get about 12.7 mpg on the highway. I get about 9.3 in the city. You will be about there when you supercharge your truck.

 

Great information AzureNightmare - I completely forgot to factor that in. Thanks!

 

No worries. I didn't even think about this kind of stuff until I started digging and reading. Really makes me think hard about the miles listed on all those trucks for sale on big ol' tires. The biggest thing is that you remember to measure Smiles Per Gallon instead of Miles Per Gallon in the Tundra.

 

Welcome from Florida!

 

Ugh. Where are my manners... Welcome from Wyoming. I hope your Tundra serves you well and brings you years of trouble free fun.

 

Great to hear from you all the way from Wyoming! I'm taking it up to the Gila Wilderness this weekend to check out its off road capabilities.

 

Post some pictures of your truck!

 

I just googled Gila Wilderness. Looks absolutely beautiful. Take pics and put them up in the Tundras in Scenic Places thread.

 

Welcome from TX!
If you like stepping on the gas you may enjoy a Pedal Commander. Easy plug n play with instant fun. Also has Eco modes, no fun but may help mileage a tad - not very much though...... lol

 

Welcome from Washington!