5.7 Tundra Real World MPG?

[TouringDan]

We have an 08 Tundra 5.7L double cab 2wd. We get very good gas mileage considering the power available with this truck. We get 13.5 mpg towing and 19 mpg empty highway. There are some good reasons for our fuel economy- first 2wd, my Tradewind weighs only 5,000 lbs loaded, we tow at 55-60 mph and we tow gently. Also I only use tow/haul in the mountains.

Terrific motor and 6 speed tranny. Great fuel economy considering the power since the motor is only turning 1,600 rpm at 60 mph. Not much downshifting or hunting for the right gear due to the high torque of the motor and the 6 speed transmission.

2 wd drive has its benefits- probably one mpg higher fuel economy, saved 3k on initial cost, about 100 lbs higher payload, nothing to break, but traction in wet grass can be a problem; the electronic LSD sucks. I have some Thule chains for when I do get stuck.

It is a terrific truck. No complaints except for the electronic LSD and like all the other half ton trucks, payload is a problem, and it is HUGE.

Dan

[TG Twinkie]

I have the same truck. I believe there is a way to compensate or shut off the LSD. If I remember correctly, there is a button below and to the right of the steering column that has an iCon with a skidding vehicle on it. I'll look in the book.

[OldVwHunters]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

I have the same truck. I believe there is a way to compensate or shut off the LSD. If I remember correctly, there is a button below and to the right of the steering column that has an iCon with a skidding vehicle on it. I'll look in the book.

Don't need to worry about the LSD, I quit all that kinda stuff back in the 70's. I have kept the long hair, beard, my Neil Young 8-Track tapes, and hang on to as many old VW's as the Wife will allow. I was quite upset when Levi Strauss stopped the production of the elephant bell blue jeans.

[65CV]

LOL!

You owe me a new keyboard.

[OldVwHunters]

I stumbled upon a decent website for checking out peoples fuel mileage for the vehicles they drive. It's Fuelly.com if anyone wants to check it out.

[LFC]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

No complaints except for the electronic LSD

What's wrong with the electronic LSD ?

[Phoenix]

We have a 2008 CrewMax Limited, 5.7L V8, 2WD, with towing package; and we have had the exact same experience and mpg as TouringDan:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...ml#post1372912

On a couple of trips between Phoenix and Tucson (very flat with no wind), we have driven 55-60 mph WITHOUT our Bambi in tow; and we have gotten as high as 21.5 to 23.0 mpg per our trip computer. At 75 mph, mileage drops to 16.5 to 18 mpg (again not towing).

While towing at 55-60 mph on this same stretch of I-10, we have gotten as high as 16.5 to 18 mpg. However, typical towing mileage averages 13.5 to 16.5 mpg, depending on terrain and wind conditions.

Regarding the Electronic LSD (limited slip differential), we have had no problems with it. However, living in the desert southwest, we have little use for it, except in sand.

A few months ago, we powered through deep sand (with our 19-foot Bambi in tow) at Lone Rock Beach at Lake Powell; and, if it engaged, it was seamless and apparently worked OK, since we got through it. However, use on ice and snow might differ.

Note: At low speeds, the Electronic LSD actually uses a computer to sense and apply the brakes to the drive wheel that has lost traction and is spinning, giving results similar to a mechanical, limited slip differential.

[m.hony]

Better on some days than others.
We got better mileage traveling at 65 mph Friday with no wind than traveling 55-60 mph today with high winds.

[Scott J-24]

2010 CrewMax, 5.7L engine, 4x4, shell on back, truck and camper loaded with food and gear, full tanks of propane and fresh water....

Not towing: 12.5 - 13.5 mph
Towing 2009 International 27'FB
Relatively flat ground: 10.5 - 12.0 mpg
Mixed mountains and flat ground: 10.0 - 11.5 mpg
Mostly mountains: 9.5 - 10.0

I usually tow at 60-67 mph, but I think I have a heavy right foot when not towing.

[Davidbrandi]

Hello all , are the new f150's better on milage? Do I need 4wd?

[Gene]

David',

I assume you mean the F150 EcoBoost. There's a long thread on that engine—try the search function with "EcoBoost" and it may show up. Anyway, owners of that truck report mileage not towing in the low to mid 20's if I recall correctly. Towing, however, seems to be about the same as the other 1/2 trucks with a normally aspirated V8 gas engine. The EB has two turbos and is a V6. GM has come out with a turbo V6 for 2014 Chevys and GMC's and I suspect mileage will be similar to the Ford. As I noted above, the Tundra can be bought with the small V8 and a supercharger and may get mileage similar to the EB, but there's not a lot of info about that.

Gene

[m.hony]

15 mpg empty
10-12 mpg towing depending on wind

[OldVwHunters]

Thanks for all the replies on fuel mileage for the Tundra. I recently moved a step closer to the Tundra by selling my 2007 Tacoma to a private party. Had the Tacoma 4 1/2 years, more than doubled the miles on the odometer, and sold it for the same exact price I paid for it. Now until I find my Tundra, I'm stuck with using my daily driver 2000 Tacoma to move the Airstream when mowing the lawn.

[Gene]

If you are not using the trailer very often, maybe you could rent a big truck or SUV to tow it and wait until some better mileage vehicles are available. They just did a major makeover of the Tundra, but did nothing about fuel mileage. Our '07 Tundra is a great truck, but the mileage is poor.

Gene

[m.hony]

The 2014 has a few interior and exterior styling changes, but the drive train/power train is the same.

[Ray Eklund]

When I was pulling the 2006 23' Safari with the 4.7L 2006 Tundra Double Cab we did not lack power nor had a problem pulling in higher elevations... 4,500 to 9,000 feet. When the 5.7L Tundra was introduced in 2007, I waited until the second year of production to buy. The first year there were some cam shaft problems... and the 2006 was doing fine. It also sold quickly on Craigs List.

Bought the 2008 Tundra Double Cab. Better gas mileage than the 2006 4.6L.. Turning radius with the 2008 was also better. Don't get me wrong, both were wonderful trucks. The surprise was the better gas mileage with the 5.7L and heavier truck. Both Tundras were experiencing the same range of tow miles per gallon and not towing. The 5.7L probably 10% better...l Wyoming tail or head wind can increase or decrease expected mileage... radically!!!

Now with a 2012 5.7L Tundra Crew Max with 31,000 miles as the "official" tow vehicle.

For a record miles per gallon:
Driving from the Buffalo Bill Reservoir campground and heading east to Cody, Wyoming our 2012 Tundra Crew Max, 4x4, shell pulling a 25 foot International, full camping supplies, water.... 60 miles per gallon! Yes 60mpg. I believe this is the highest reading that a Tundra can get on the automatic calculator.

Once we entered Cody and passed the Buffalo Bill Museum... 47.5 miles per gallon! I kid you not.

Once we were back onto I-25 heading to Casper, Wyoming... 11 to 12mpg.

I believe I have the highest Airstream Record for towing with any kind of gasoline operated vehicle... as of this post. I could not exceed 60mpg, so suspect that is as high as this unit can calculate. The engine was running, truck was in gear, RPM probably at an idle... and the trailer was still in the rear view mirrors!

Oh, for those of you who are non believers of this feat... the Buffalo Bill Reservoir campground is maybe 2,500 feet higher than Cody, this I have not checked out... might be the important bit of information left out of this conversation is the DROP in elevation helps round out your mpg for future posts.

Those of you who want to at least TIE for this remarkable mileage, towing with a Tundra or even a Harley motorcycle... read my post in Boondocking in Wyoming and the latest was the Cody, Wyoming record breaking Airstream tow... EVER. If I can do it... so can you.

So, you keep your Ford F250 6.2L and 6.6L, Dodges, Chevrolets, Go Carts, Mac Trucks... this record is for a Toyota Tundra 5.7L!

60 miles per gallon pulling a 2014 Airstream 25'... it has to be the thin air.

[TouringDan]

Ray

I love my 2008 Tundra 5.7L and I have never complained about the fuel economy. Now I have gotten a 16 mpg on one towing trip, but generally get 13.5 mpg towing (gently) our 5,000 lb Tradewind. 60 mpg, yikes. Just goes to show what gravity and judicious use of the trip computer can do.

Dan

[No. 13]

It seems everyone gets somewhere close to 12 mpg towing with the 5.7...myself included. Hard to believe that my 1984 Ford Bronco averaged the same mileage NOT towing anything.

[m.hony]

And you really don't notice the trailer being there when accelerating or braking normally. You realize you weigh 14,400# when someone cuts you off in traffic, though. It don't stop on a dime in a panic situation, but it does respond well to evasive maneuvers.

[atheness]

I am looking at a Sequoia, which I believe is a SUV on the Tundra chassis. Do these MPG stay the same? Thanks