Toyota FJ Cruiser Gas Mileage – How To Improve It

Although the Toyota FJ line has stopped producing new generations, its gorgeous retro styling design and diverse color choices still earn a lot of favorable feedback from automobile enthusiasts even to this day.

Hence, there’s no wonder that despite its decades-old release, these popular vehicle models still make it onto the street thus far!

Bryan’s Garage is certain that many off-roading enthusiasts are curious about the core functions of this car model.

What is Toyota FJ Cruiser gas mileage, and how does that impact your overall driving experience?

This insightful article from our team will deliver the answer you need, discussing all relevant aspects regarding these issues. What are you still waiting for? It’s time to start diving in!

What Is Toyota FJ Cruiser Gas Mileage?

FJ Cruiser automatic 4WD (2008-2009) is rated at about 16/20 MPG (or 14.8/11.9L/ 100km) on highway/city with premium gasoline.

Meanwhile, EPA ratings for 4WD 2012-2014 is around 17/20 upon regular gasoline, meaning drivers can travel 340 miles at maximum on only one tank.

Nevertheless, be aware that some owners report higher numbers in real life.

Of course, the actual mileage can fluctuate in most cases depending on weather conditions, departure angles, transmission type (automatic or manual), and drive (four-wheel drive or rear differential).

Still, FJ V-6 4 litters remain extremely thirsty regardless of how drivers slice it.

From our perspective, the rear-drive model that arrives with automatic transmission should be the most effective FJ version, rated 22-highway and 17.2 MPG city.

Some like to opt for manual transmission, but we do not think it is a better choice.

With the manual transmission, the mileage drops to only 15/20 MPG highway/city, with combined numbers of about 17 MPG.

When put in comparison, its automatic rival is clearly the more fuel-efficient choice!

Yes, we agree that these numbers are pretty low – especially compared to some mainstream SUVs in the market.

But from another viewpoint, they easily reach the numbers that some famous off-road models (ex: Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Xterra) can yield. That’s some pretty good news, right?

Advantages of Low-Mileage Toyota FJ

Low-mileage options are much more desirable for people wanting to buy second-hand cars/options for sale. The reason? 

Their old owners haven’t used them that much – which means all the usual vulnerable standard features can last longer under your hands, saving lots of annual cost for repairs. They include:

• Tires
• Clutch
• Brake pistons
• Rear axle
• Oil filters (click here to know how to change this part without changing the oil)
• Muscle shoals
• Fuel filter
• Aluminum scuff plates
• Aluminum shift knob
• Power moonroof
• Drive shaft

You may use them for long periods, even years, before replacing them! Not to mention, the interior and paintwork are also likely to stay in good shape during long city trips, too.

Still, remember that most car components have mileage and age limits for replacements and changes.

Therefore, always remind yourself to check their service history, confirming which parts were changed and which ones need changing in the future.

That way, you will never be caught off guard if they malfunction one day.

Problems With Low Mileage

Despite some notable highlights, three major issues are at play with low-mileage Toyota regarding its mechanical reliability. Keep them in mind before making your decision!

The most problematic issue to keep an eye on is that these cars have not been driven much.

Meanwhile, some rubber and plastic parts (including extra compartments like air conditioning) must be used regularly to avoid brittle.

As a result, when you get your hands on the car, don’t be surprised if they fall out sooner than you might expect.

Such scarce usage also brings about other problems like a lack of powerful engine (since there’s insufficient oil running through them), corroded or stiff brakes, and battery drains.

Worse, for cars with diesel engines, their exhaust system can break down easily, leading to major mobility issues.

In simpler terms, low miles can be attractive for tight-budget trail teams, but they foreshadow a whopping fortune in repair expenses.

How to Determine Gas Mileage on FJ Cruiser

A popular method for energy estimates is to measure the Toyota FJ gas mileage in GPM – a term referring to the gallon number required to run a vehicle in 100 miles.

GPM helps drivers determine the car’s fuel economy while taking other road capability factors into account, listed below:

• Type of Engine and Vehicle: Smaller engines (like V6 engine and V8 engine) and spark plugs generate greater mileage than large ones due to the car’s total weight.

You can understand it like this: smaller engines equate to a lighter weight, which means less fuel is needed.

• Fuel Type Used: As per experts from Japan, quality driving inputs and fuel types help lower the vehicle’s engine friction, affecting the mileage.
• Fuel Octane: The ratings of fuel octanes also directly impacts the FJ cruiser gas mileage. 

These monthly fuel estimates indicate the rates at which your engine burns gas – based on the ratio between fuel reduction and additive.

In short, higher octane equals less burning, leading to a much better fuel efficiency.

• Driving Conditions: Overall, most road vehicles (not just Toyota FJ) get better mileage on regular highways than on the city streets. For the latter, the numbers are usually 3-5 more miles compared to highways.
• Your Driving Style: Aggressive car owners who like speeding on the road will experience much worse fuel performance than slower drivers.

More specifically, when you speed up too suddenly from full stops, the road tires and car system will burn more gas than slow acceleration.

How To Improve Gas Mileage Toyota FJ Cruiser

Improving Toyota FJ Cruiser gas mileage is no different than what you do with the 2015 Toyota Corolla.

Step 1.

Always abide by the car’s speed limit in your daily driving. Also, we suggest you allow some space between Toyota FJ and the car/motorbike nearby to prevent fast and sudden stops.

As per U.S Energy Department, gas mileage can drop significantly at 60 MPH or below. Furthermore, rapid braking also causes the number to reduce by 33% (maximum).

Step 2.

Remember to accelerate at steady and slow paces. Rapid revving will deplete the gas faster, causing dramatic drops by 33% on highways and 5% in cities’ road trails.

Step 3.

Change the oil frequently, using the recommended grade for your car model. One of the highly favorable viscosity grades is SW-30 SAE, as per professionals.

Using grades not designed for your car will damper the engine performance, power outlet, and gas mileage for FJ cruiser as a result.

Step 4.

Every month, check all the tires’ pressure.

Proper pressures and disc brake calipers make the car safer, which improves its gas miles by around 3 percent (according to the Energy Department in South Carolina).

Step 5.

Take the Toyota for a regular tune-up. No worries; the inspection cost per time frame is often affordable!

Otherwise, an ill-maintained vehicle can drop its mileage by 4 percent (average). Worsened maintenance issues and lack of rear visibility can increase that number to around 40%.

Conclusion

Our article has covered all information about Toyota FJ Cruiser gas mileage. Since these models are not new, their low driving miles are expected.

Still, there are some methods you could apply to increase their performance, giving you the experience of a luxury vehicle ride! For more guidance and clarifications about the FJ gas mileage, cruise control, or reliability ratings, contact our support team.