3rd/4th gen T4R payload V6 vs V8 help!!!

[malinwah]

Hi guys!!!

New to the forums and I'm looking to build my first overland rig and I've got a few questions about payload and gas mileage...

I've narrowed my search between the 4th gen V6 and V8 VVTI 4Runners. A 3rd gen 3.4 V6 is also not quite out of the equation either....

My question is will a V8 be better in gas mileage compared to the V6 with a fully loaded rig? On and off road situations?

There's plenty of debate online about towing and gas mileage, but didn't find any info on what people are getting with their loaded rigs...

Oh...
Is overheating an issue when off road?

Thanks in advance!!! I can't wait to get started!!!




Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk

 

[craigR]

First, welcome to the forums!!!

I'm far from a motor expert, but generally greater displacement = greater consumption.

The key factor off the top of my head... History of motor (maintenance/scope of use/area of use) as well as overall history of the vehicle. You may figure out statistically that the V8 will get better gas mileage at a certain weight, but the specific V8 you find may not have lived an easy life, or the tranny isn't quite as efficient as it was when new, or the transfer case is somehow leaching excessive MPG's in 2Wd. In other words, no two used vehicles will be alike, and trying to figure out which motor size will give better MPG's might be a game of minutia and splitting hairs when it comes to preowned.

Good luck in your search!

 

[malinwah]

Thanks!!!

For a few mpg it may be worth it...


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk

 

[Sparky]

Just for clarification, you're looking for fuel economy estimates of a 4Runner loaded with gear, but not when towing?

 

[3wbdriver]

MPG is as much a product of personal commitment as it is vehicle capability. In the avatar picture to the left I had done a 1500 mile round trip to Tennessee and back. I have around 550 lbs of steel armor, the RTT and awning, and a couple hundred pounds of gear in the back. I was curious on this trip because it was the first long out of state trip I had done since mounting the tent. I pretty much stuck to 62 - 65 mph and found big rigs doing the same speeds to follow about 10 car lengths behind (breaking the air for me). When driving through one or 2 large cities I had to actually speed up so I wasn't restricting traffic flow, but otherwise I stuck to the plan. I took it out of cruise on upslopes and used my foot to just maintain steady pressure while climbing. If it tried to downshift to prevent overspeed going down hills I took it out of cruise and let it roll. At the end of the trip I logged 17.1 mpg overall. But if I try to drive it at interstate speeds ANYWHERE it will quickly drop down into 14 or less.

Off road I don't think the relatively minor displacement difference between the V6 and V8 Toyota engines will make a significant difference at the slower speeds you would be traveling.

 

[000]

I’ve owned a tundra with a 5.7, a sequoia with a 4.7, and have settled on a Tacoma with a 4.0. I actually didn’t notice a big difference in mpg between the 3, only a difference in power. Of course my trucks always have a fair amount of gear in them and larger than stock bfg all terrains, and rarely make it through a tank of gas without being in 4 low or towing something, so everything I ever drive seems to get crap for gas mileage. The v8 will get worse mileage unloaded and stock compared to a v6 unloaded and stock, but it won’t have to work as hard when loaded down so I think it ends up being a wash IMO. Definitely driving specifically for gas mileage helps, but I figure the money I spend in gas evens out with the lack of repairs on a yota.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk

 

[malinwah]

Just for clarification, you're looking for fuel economy estimates of a 4Runner loaded with gear, but not when towing?

Yup!!!


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk

 

[malinwah]

I’ve owned a tundra with a 5.7, a sequoia with a 4.7, and have settled on a Tacoma with a 4.0. I actually didn’t notice a big difference in mpg between the 3, only a difference in power. Of course my trucks always have a fair amount of gear in them and larger than stock bfg all terrains, and rarely make it through a tank of gas without being in 4 low or towing something, so everything I ever drive seems to get crap for gas mileage. The v8 will get worse mileage unloaded and stock compared to a v6 unloaded and stock, but it won’t have to work as hard when loaded down so I think it ends up being a wash IMO. Definitely driving specifically for gas mileage helps, but I figure the money I spend in gas evens out with the lack of repairs on a yota.


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk

I was kind of thinking... A Fully loaded rig with the V8 would in theory work less.... (Or were you talking Toyotas in general) I guess the question may be, How many of you completely unload your truck completely? Roof top tents and other heavy accessories...

 

[000]

I was kind of thinking... A Fully loaded rig with the V8 would in theory work less.... (Or were you talking Toyotas in general) I guess the question may be, How many of you completely unload your truck completely? Roof top tents and other heavy accessories...

That’s the results I got with my v6 and v8 yotas. I leave the heavy stuff like rtt, fridge, second battery, hi lift jack, etc... on the truck full time so my mpgs were similar between the 3. I don’t nitpick mpgs too much, so of course there was some variance, but not enough for me to care. IMO between the v8 and v6 t4r mpg will probably end up similar with a loaded truck and the v6 only slightly better unloaded. The difference in power would be noticeable, but not enough for me to buy one over the other based on just that. My v6 taco pulls just fine loaded and towing a fishing boat in the mountains and gets crappy mileage like a v8. I’ve never been in a situation with that truck where I felt that I needed more power. That being said, the tundra with the 5.7 was a lot of fun to drive!


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk