How much off is the MPG on the computer
- Thread starter fjc32
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Good Times
New member
Sounds reasonable....
btw.... if ya use that search feature, you'll find out that it's been discussed by other users when the 4th gen first came out
Be happy you're gettin what ur gettin... my computer reads 16.9 on average (anywhere from 15.1 - 18.1) and after doing the actual math on it it's pretty bad
O well.... sux to drive in traffic all day I suppose...
btw.... if ya use that search feature, you'll find out that it's been discussed by other users when the 4th gen first came out
Be happy you're gettin what ur gettin... my computer reads 16.9 on average (anywhere from 15.1 - 18.1) and after doing the actual math on it it's pretty bad
O well.... sux to drive in traffic all day I suppose...
toybox
New member
Good times, Thank God you said that. I have the V8 and I'm getting somewhere between 14 and 15 mpg (suburban driving, very little highway). I was begining to think there was something wrong with my truck when I hear all these people getting MUCH better gas mileage in their V8's like SacState. I have a feeling that people are qouting what the truck display says. (I know you're not SacState) BTW my mpg's were calculated not read off the dash.
Good Times
New member
It's a v8 and fulltime 4wd so I know my mpg is gonna be ugly
Also it doesn't help that I work only 8 miles away so it's mostly city crap I have to deal with. Also I drive alot too so that doesn't help either! Clocked 22.5k just in the first year alone (dang where in the world am I driving!!! hehehe)
I've towed alot as well (atleast 12 vehicles now) and when I do, it drives nice but my mpg suffers as usual
But I'm okay with it because I knew that going into buyin this rig! It's the best rig out there hands down so it's no biggie... I know if bought a ford/gm/dodge, I'd be hurtin in the mpg and also in the reliability side too so atleast I have the reliability side on my side woohoo!
Did I mention that this rig can offroad too! it's a monster!!!!
Also it doesn't help that I work only 8 miles away so it's mostly city crap I have to deal with. Also I drive alot too so that doesn't help either! Clocked 22.5k just in the first year alone (dang where in the world am I driving!!! hehehe)
I've towed alot as well (atleast 12 vehicles now) and when I do, it drives nice but my mpg suffers as usual
But I'm okay with it because I knew that going into buyin this rig! It's the best rig out there hands down so it's no biggie... I know if bought a ford/gm/dodge, I'd be hurtin in the mpg and also in the reliability side too so atleast I have the reliability side on my side
woohoo!Did I mention that this rig can offroad too! it's a monster!!!!
17.3 MPG is 95% freeway
Let me clarify the 17.3 MPG for V8 2wd. That was 95% freeway driving. I normally get 19.5 on the computer or actual 15.8 for my normal driving. But it has getting better as my total mileage goes up. It's now almost 9k mile and getting ready for the 2nd oil change. I think it will be get a little better after the oil change. (It got a little better after the first oil change at 5k)
Let me clarify the 17.3 MPG for V8 2wd. That was 95% freeway driving. I normally get 19.5 on the computer or actual 15.8 for my normal driving. But it has getting better as my total mileage goes up. It's now almost 9k mile and getting ready for the 2nd oil change. I think it will be get a little better after the oil change. (It got a little better after the first oil change at 5k)
I have been keeping track of my 03 2WD V8 since new on my Sony Clie: I bought it new in March 03 and now I have 12000 mi. The actual *calculated* average MPG over 12000 miles is 19.46. I drive every day to/from work in stop-and-go LA traffic and my average MPH is only 25 mph so I count that as all city driving. It made as high as 22 mpg on my trips from LA-San Jose. And no, I don't baby it either. I like the roar of the V8 when pressing hard on the throttle
The computer always shows 3 mpg more on mine.
-Mike-
The computer always shows 3 mpg more on mine.
-Mike-
Good Times
New member
wow mike, you're actually getting some great mpg! even in the good ol LA commute too.... you must be commuting in some flat areas with steady traffic.
i guess the fulltime does kill the mpg alot! hehe
i guess the fulltime does kill the mpg alot! hehe
Biff
New member
testrider said:I have been keeping track of my 03 2WD V8 since new on my Sony Clie: I bought it new in March 03 and now I have 12000 mi. The actual *calculated* average MPG over 12000 miles is 19.46. I drive every day to/from work in stop-and-go LA traffic and my average MPH is only 25 mph so I count that as all city driving. It made as high as 22 mpg on my trips from LA-San Jose. And no, I don't baby it either. I like the roar of the V8 when pressing hard on the throttle
The computer always shows 3 mpg more on mine.
-Mike-
Thats some sweet mileage. I also commute in LA, but have never hit anything higher than 20mpg. My avg. speed is 40 mph
ToolmanJohn
New member
I have found that the mileage computer is almost exactly 10% off. If it says 17mpg, actual calculations using the trip meter and topping up the tank yeild 15.3mpg. If ist says 15.5mpg, actual calculates close to 14mpg. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this.
I keep every gas receipt and write the amount of gas to fill the tank and actual trip miles on the slip and what the 4runner computer says. I call them the "optomistic" and "actual" results.
I keep every gas receipt and write the amount of gas to fill the tank and actual trip miles on the slip and what the 4runner computer says. I call them the "optomistic" and "actual" results.
Although there are issues about when the tank is full (vent is above tank -- hard to really fill consistantly), my experience on one 2,000 mile and one 5,000 mile trip show around a 7% over estimate. On my 2003 V6, the speedometer is quite accurate. However, the odometer, trip odometer, and the computed average speed are 3% low (using a Garmin GPS V as a reference).
The indicated MPG error is 10% before the 3% odometer correction is applied.
I personally think Toyota wants the 4runner to APPEAR to get better mileage (much like the old 1600 series BMW speedometers 10-20% high). I would rather have some honesty (instead of feel good flim flam).
The indicated MPG error is 10% before the 3% odometer correction is applied.
I personally think Toyota wants the 4runner to APPEAR to get better mileage (much like the old 1600 series BMW speedometers 10-20% high). I would rather have some honesty (instead of feel good flim flam).
Good Times
New member
DDahl said:
It is nothing political about it. It's just the way the calculations are applied. If you look at other vehicles, sometimes you'll see the mpg jump ALOT due to it's calculations being too aggresive. The 4runner's mpg calculator is done over an average so therefore, it will not be exact. But the flux will be smaller.
You can't expect the computer to calculate to recalculate just cuz you floored the 4runner. Because it'll give you some low figure but if you coast, it'll give ya a high figure.... It's somewhat relative and something that is not easy to calculate.
If you want an honest mpg, then you'd see the # flux every sec by alot as it's calculating constantly but at that point, you'll get too annoyed... Just use that computer section for the temp as that's prob the only thing that works somewhat (and even at that, that thing is off too...) I have mine set for # of miles available. Not like I care but atleast that number is much more stable than anything else.
If you really need to know your mpg, just reset your trip and calculate by # of miles driven divided by number gallons added. That'll give ya a more precise figure.
G
Guest
Guest
Lance is right,
I remember the old Cadillacs has a MPG gauge. It was a needle gauge (like fuel/temp/etc) and if you were coasting on the freeway it would say 60mpg. Once you put your foot on the gas, it would drop to 2mpg!
My uncle's old Eldorado had a digital MPG gauge and it did the same thing- went wildly from 30-50mpg to 2-5mpg when you stepped on the gas, no matter how gentle!
I remember the old Cadillacs has a MPG gauge. It was a needle gauge (like fuel/temp/etc) and if you were coasting on the freeway it would say 60mpg. Once you put your foot on the gas, it would drop to 2mpg!
My uncle's old Eldorado had a digital MPG gauge and it did the same thing- went wildly from 30-50mpg to 2-5mpg when you stepped on the gas, no matter how gentle!
Good Times
New member
the mpg computer will settle quite abit over time if you don't keep on resetting it though. was your passat the same? I mean did you work in the same environment?
resetting the mpg and seeing what it gives off?
If you think about, if you start fresh and then floor the truck like mad (i mean like you're stealing it), then you know you'll be dumping soo much fuel and you'll have an extreme bad mpg (i.e. 1MPG). Coast for awhile and that should go up to like 10 and then it'll level off at some number 15 (for example).
Now if you did the same to your Passat, if it is an exact instrument that calculates correctly, it should do the same. Floor it like mad and drive hard for 1/4 mi (that'll result in some ugly figures) and then coast for like 25 miles to give a more stable number.
If you look at the new rx330 (the new crossover lexus highlander vehicle), their mpg computer is crazy. I've seen that thing jump from 10-80mpg depending on how you drive during a 2 min window.
But overtime if you don't reset, the computer will factor in the average of what you've been driving along w/ the number of miles you've accumulated and it should give a more relative number that's closer to the actual.
But you know what, in the end, I don't care what the mpg says because I know I'm driving a quality truck that can go anywhere and not breakdown Like I care what my mpg is... I know it's bad so there. If I need a better mpg vehicle, I'd get some hybrid or something that has as better mpg.
I think I've contributed my $0.99 worth here on this topic :50cal:
resetting the mpg and seeing what it gives off?
If you think about, if you start fresh and then floor the truck like mad (i mean like you're stealing it), then you know you'll be dumping soo much fuel and you'll have an extreme bad mpg (i.e. 1MPG). Coast for awhile and that should go up to like 10 and then it'll level off at some number 15 (for example).
Now if you did the same to your Passat, if it is an exact instrument that calculates correctly, it should do the same. Floor it like mad and drive hard for 1/4 mi (that'll result in some ugly figures) and then coast for like 25 miles to give a more stable number.
If you look at the new rx330 (the new crossover lexus highlander vehicle), their mpg computer is crazy. I've seen that thing jump from 10-80mpg depending on how you drive during a 2 min window.
But overtime if you don't reset, the computer will factor in the average of what you've been driving along w/ the number of miles you've accumulated and it should give a more relative number that's closer to the actual.
But you know what, in the end, I don't care what the mpg says because I know I'm driving a quality truck that can go anywhere and not breakdown
Like I care what my mpg is... I know it's bad so there. If I need a better mpg vehicle, I'd get some hybrid or something that has as better mpg.I think I've contributed my $0.99 worth here on this topic :50cal:
ToolmanJohn
New member
The 4runner milage computer is NOT an instantaneous readout of your MPG. It shows the OVERALL average from the time you reset it. When reset, that is why is changes rapidly if you step on the gas and climb a hill for instance. Or conversly, if you fill up and reset the computer, then go coast down a hill, you will get FABULOUS mileage.
BUT the more miles you drive the less likely it is to change rapidly BECAUSE it's and average. It is constantly recreating the average by determining the miles travelled (should be accurate) and the amount of fuel that is being used ( the inaccurate part of the system). There should be an adjustment for calibrating the readout to what the actual calculated value is, but I haven't read or found out about anything like this. If there were a turn type potentiometer to change the way it calculates, it would be nice to be able to make the nubers jive.
Maybe there is a way to calibrate?? Any techs out there??
BUT the more miles you drive the less likely it is to change rapidly BECAUSE it's and average. It is constantly recreating the average by determining the miles travelled (should be accurate) and the amount of fuel that is being used ( the inaccurate part of the system). There should be an adjustment for calibrating the readout to what the actual calculated value is, but I haven't read or found out about anything like this. If there were a turn type potentiometer to change the way it calculates, it would be nice to be able to make the nubers jive.
Maybe there is a way to calibrate?? Any techs out there??
