Gas is $3.72 and rising in South Carolina, and since my truck is worth too little (thank you Dodge rebates) and I owe 3 more years on it, I won't be getting a 4banger Civic or VW Rabbit or Tacoma any time soon.

So, I'm going to try to "hypermile" my truck for this tank of gas. Driving "normally" for me yields between 19 and 21 MPG. That means shifting between 2500 and 3000 RPM, and crusing around 70 MPH on the highway.

As much as it's going to try my patience, I'm going to adopt the following driving rules, with tips from some "hypermiling" sites -

Upshift no later than 2000 RPM
Downshift not before 1500 RPM
Highway crusing speed 60 MPH or less, dropping as low as 55 up hills, coasting down any hills that pull me over 60.
In any speed limit under 60, keep crusing RPM around 1500.
Drafting big rigs, (within reason) when available. No 50' bumper riding, but even 150' from a box trailer can help.

I'm also going to try to accelerate as slow as I can without being a total *******, keep the tires around 40 PSI, avoid extra junk in the cab or bed, etc.

Luckily most of my driving is on the highway and the exits I use have long ramps. The 3.7 V6 can hit 200 ft-lb of torque at 1200RPM, so I'm not worried about lugging the motor. I think 24-25 MPG might be achievable, and I think this is where the close ratios of the 6 speed will help. Accelerating from 20-55 requires three pulls from 1500 to 2000 RPM in 3rd 4th and 5th, and then I can settle in to 6th at about 1700 RPM. Anyone who has the patience to try this, I think it would be an interesting experiment.

 

FYI, tacoma's do not get any better gas milage and you have to use mid grade gas or it runs like ****. This is from driving an 05 for a summer. I also live in SC also and i know how bad gas is i am in college and do not make much.

 

Spence -

It depends on what Tacoma you're talking about...the 4.0L V6 model's are hard pressed to get into the 20's as well. Both the 2.7L Tacoma and the 3.7L Dakota, in their 2WD smallest-cab forms, are right at 20 LB/HP. So (unloaded) performance should be about the same, and the Tacoma gets the mileage advantage due to about 1000LB less weight and a smaller motor. Also, 87 octane is indicated for the Toyota 2.7L. The 4.0's might like premium better.


Also, nice bikes...where do you ride in SC?

 

I am going to school at clemson so i ride a lot around here. I see you are in Columbia, the truck spent two years there with my sister when she went to USC.

My dads truck is the 4L but gets the same gas milage as the 3.9 in the kota and when you consider that my kota has a 4 speed and the tacoma has a 5 speed i would think it would have the advantage on gas. If you want a 4 banger go for it I just think toyota went backwords from the old mini trucks they built.

I am looking for a motorcycle to help with the cost of gas.

 

4.19 a gallon for the good stuff an i get 18-19 around town and 22/23 on the highway. i too drive 60-65 on the highway with the cruise on. i found out this is my best friend. drafting big rigs was also fun until the rear tires starting tossing small stones at the frt of the truck. but staying in one lane instead of going in and out helps also. i noticed running 40 psi in the tires is a big plus. also when you go out only go out once. dont make little stops here and there, then go out for the rest of the day. do everything at once this saves on gas too.

 

I was able to get 24.7 highway (Overhead console, so more likely 23.7) only after changing the Air Filter and switching to synthetic in the engine. I found running below 65 makes all the difference with our V6 Dakotas anything over 75 and I can’t break 19. I would think you should be able to hit 23- 25 all highway with the driving characteristics you are shooting for. Let us know how it turns out, and I too wouldn’t mind a Toyota Access Cab 4 banger 5 speed but oddly enough my Dakota isn’t too bad (for a 4000 lb small truck).

 

My air filter is about a month old, and I just put some fresh natural 5W-20 in the motor, next time I might buck up to synthetic. It's about to start getting real hot here, so I don't think it would be wise to try 0W.

 

I just paid 3.89 a gallon here in pa today to fill my patriot. I am so glad I traded my dakota for the jeep patriot back in feburary. If I waited till now I would never have gotten a good trade in price on my dakota. I am getting 21.7 miles per gallon now in all stop and go city type driving. If you really want a 4 banger check out the patriot. You can fit 8 foot long lumber inside. I have a 4x7 foot trailer I use to tow the lawn equipment. The patriot can go offroad more places than most small suv's. There is a lift kit out for it and the price is pretty reasonable. The 4 cylinder is pretty powerful I was amazed when I test drove it. I too had 3 years left to pay off my dakota but It was either paying 65 bucks or more a week for gas or take the hit and save a grand a year on gas by getting something smaller. I also try and do some hypermiling.

 

My truck just got 20.8mpg on the highway trip I just made. I had to drive like an old lady to get that! Cruise control set at the speed limit. City driving only gets me about 14.