I too am all wound up about mileage but lets get real. 10mpg versus 15mpg at $2.50 a gallon over 100K miles is a $9000.00 difference. I don't think that's enough to justify getting a new truck to lose more than that in depreciation in just a year or two. It's like somebody spending $600-$800 on headers and cat-back to get 1-2 more mpg. YouÆll be lucky if it ever pays for itself. I too feel you're pain but as long as there's gas I'll keep driving my T.

In addition as there seems to be a lot of T-100/Toyota quality bashing of late. I'm at ~84K and have been forced to replaced nothing but seat belts, a steering stabilizer and brake components. I've had the relay rod done but it never showed any signs of the problem. For 5 years, I pulled a 4000# ski boat and trailer, albeit slowly and short distances, but damn I pushed my truck hard for what it is and I don't see the problems some people complain about in a lot of these threads lately. If you bought a used truck and it needs a lot of repair then I'd say it was abused. I've had mine since new in '98 and have had zero issues. Sorry to seem like the know-it-all Toyota-loyalist but I bought domestic fleet vehicles for my families stone company for years and know exactly what maintenance and depreciation was on those vehicles. I had a Ford Ranger STX (4.0l/auto) from 93 to 98 and that is exactly why I now own a T-100.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> Brew

How are you going to compare a diesel? Apples & oranges...

I'm not talking fruit here- dollars at the pump are dollars just the same. Doesn't matter to me if it runs on chicken manure. Toyota does not offer a diesel truck, here.

Diesel motors typically do not require nearly the amount of upkeep as a gasser, they inherently get better mileage due to more stored energy per gallon, the weight of a diesel dictates the front suspension components will be far heavier-duty & due to the torquey nature of diesels, you're looking at far sturdier driveline components than the vehicle you are trying to compare it to. Like I said, apples & oranges.

If your 'burb indeed has never seen a wrench in 260k miles, I wouldn't brag... That'd be poor upkeep.

To the original poster I would rest the ecu and clean the maf. While your at it I would pull off the elbow from the airbox that goes into the fender it is very restrictive and you will get a bit better throttle response and power.

PhotoShooter
I put 275/70 R16s on steel wheels on my truck from stock 265/70 R16s on Alu wheels and I went from 20-21 to 18 and thats not much of an increase so yes going from a 265/70 R16(31" tire) to a 285/75 R16 (33") tire will really hurt your mileage because your gear ratios are way off. You really need to regear if you want to run those tires. A more moderate step is just going to a 265/75 R16 for about 32" which isn't as drastic a step. Also make sure you do a mileage correction for the tire size differential.

I have 265/75 R16's on my truck--will that cause mileage to deteriorate as well. I just got 14 mpg this past week. Only load I have is a shell on the back as usual.

Thanks, Brad

Flannelman,

I don't have any interest in regearing. I've got all the power I need and enough low end torque to boot. For the cost of regearing, I'm better off eating the additional gas expense. I would like to get my speedo/odometer recalibrated though as I'm about 3 miles an hour off now and mileage is of course off as well.

Are most of you guys running your tires at 40-45 psi. I'm at more like 37. Also on my long list is a new muffler. Mines totally rusted out and I'll probably put a little higher quality one on this time. Any recommendations? ]

I average about 15MPG in the city un-loaded (as my truck is much of the time) on the highway (loaded with a quad and towing a small pop-up trailer) if I keep my foot out of it I can generally average about 18MPG. I'm on stock-sized 235 A/T tires (for now), stock gearing, auto trans 3.0 V6.

I like diesel's as much as anyone (my daily driver is an F-450 with the 6.0 Powerstroke) but in my area fuel is about the same (sometimes more) than gas and the costs to maintain it are a lot more. Oil and filter change for my T is about $15 (and I do it in my driveway). Oil and filter, and fuel filter changes for the 450 average between $80-150 (at a shop). The F-450 is an '05, 30K on it, my T which it's parked next to each night is a '93 with 125K and no oil leaks (touch wood) the F-450 has had a small leak from the rear main seal since a few months after I got it. Though my T could never do the work of the 450 I guess it's just a matter of choosing the right type of truck for what you need to do with it; I would never expect my T to be able to haul everything, as my hobbies have grown larger so have the trucks we use to haul stuff around with, for just hauling my quad or quick camping trip the T is hard to beat, for a longer multi-day road trip through three states with some light off-roading thrown-in than we take the 4Runner and when we want to haul our dune-buggy long distances with the quads than we take the full-sized truck and try to forget how many times we have to stop for gas.

BTW I've had a 2.25" Magnaflow muffler on my T for close to 80K miles now and it seems to work great! Gets a little deeper tone as it warms-up too which is an added bonus!

--Kevin

I am running my 31x10.5x15 tires at 42 front and 43 rear. Max is 50 psi..

Do the chalk test to make sure they are properly inflated: take a piece of chalk and draw a line across the tread. Then drive in a straight line about 50 feet. get out and check to make sure the chalk mark rubbed evenly off.

If the inside wore off and the outsides didnt then your over inflated and if the outsides wore off and the inside didnt your under inflated.

Eric,

Yes, it shifts into OD on the hywy. Turns just a tad over 1800 rpm @ 55mph. I disconnected the neg cable for the 1/2 hour I was swapping out the 02 sensors. I'll get to the MAF and throttle body this week. I'll probably wait on the seafoam until I'm ready to do the next oil change. I'm in the middle of an A-RX treatment.

Rich