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Maximizing Toyota Tacoma Fuel Efficiency

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Copyright © 2008-2009 by Zack Smith.
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Introduction

This page began as an attempt to log my fuel efficiency, in order to establish a data set from which I could determine how fuel efficiency my truck is and how my driving impacts on that.

My Tacoma is the 2003 manual-shift model with short-bed, 4 cylinder engine, and a cap/shell on the back that is higher than the cab. I generally have up to 100 pounds of cargo in it plus myself.

Now that I have a data set to work with, the question is, what can one learn from it? What major principles about how to improve fuel efficiency can one derive?

This page may also assist you in deciding if you want to buy a Toyota truck, but remember that your environment, vehicle usage, and results may be very different.

Results

Since the data takes up a lot of space, I've put it further down on the page.

On average, driving on country roads and in cities with occasional highway driving, I get 24 miles per gallon.

However I have achieved much better fuel efficiency:

Case 1:

32.9 mpg
I was commuting on very flat highways primarily, coasting whenever possible, and driving 50-55 mph, I achieved 32 mpg.

Case 2:

28.4 mpg
I drove about 300 miles on a highway, carefully going at 55 miles per hour. I achieved 28.4 mpg. The fuel that I used was 10% ethanol.

Case 3:

33.7 mpg
I drove about 150 miles on a highway, carefully going at only 50 miles per hour. I achieved 33.7 mpg. I'm unsure about the fuel composition.

The data

Your mileage will vary from mine because your circumstances are different. But to give you an idea of how I am using my truck:
  • I mostly drive the truck for commuting, with on average 25 pounds of cargo, plus the spare tire of course which is quite heavy, and myself.
  • I use regular gasoline that is 10% ethanol.
  • I keep the truck in good working order.
  • I have a cap (shell) on the back that is higher than the cab height. This surely increases drag and reduces my fuel efficiency somewhat.
  • I try to use hypermiling techniques. This mainly consists of coasting and turning the engine off at long red lights.

Half of my driving is done on country backroads or in towns and about one-third on highways. The results is about 23.5 mpg.

When I can drive mainly on highways and go less than 50 miles per hour, my average fuel efficiency shifts up toward 30 mpg.

Mileage log

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
69504
69928 12.89 32.9
70197 13.85 19.4
70522 13.28 24.5
70749 9.256 24.5
71085 13.25 25.4
71423 13.635 24.8

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
74468
74784 13.614 23.2
74959 7.615 23.0
75129 6.894 24.7
75339 9.536 22.0
75501 7.191 22.5
75807 13.138 23.3
75979 7.544 22.8
76334 14.01 25.3
76533 8.331 23.9
76844 11.753 26.5

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
77545 11.693
77729 8.383 22.0
77929 8.893 22.5

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
78145 4.573
78426 12.825 22.0
78606 5.725 31.44
78893 12.16 23.68
79166 12.16 22.45
79427 12.71 20.54
79601 8.79 19.80
79887 12.57 22.75

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
80463 13.20
80773 13.44 23.07

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
82139 13.521
82421 12.869 21.91
82746 13.787 23.57
83059 13.566 23.07

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
84022
84339 13.494 23.49
84675 13.866 24.23
84978 12.384 24.47
85319 13.978 24.40

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
86867 13.100
87107 10.276 23.36
87475 12.948 28.42 (highway 55 mpg)
87830 13.559 26.18
88185 13.826 25.68
88548 13.443 27.00
88918 13.863 26.69
89258 12.654 26.87
89603 13.494 25.57

Miles Gallons added Miles/Gallon
90387
90585 5.877 @ 50 mpg highway 33.69
90895 12.508 24.78
91065 7.237 23.49

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