Fuel mileage in wind

Just an observation, yesterday I drove about 25 miles against the winds from Tropical Storm Nicole. Winds were still about 30-35 mph. Against the wind, I got 16 mpg, returning home with the wind pushing me I got 22mpg. I did have my fishing rod holders mounted on the roof adding to my sail.

 

If you were going fishing it could have been the sheer volume of beer you had onboard.

 

Haha. Not today

 

Note to self: always drive downwind!

 

I was just gonna make a smartass comment that the 4runner doesnt even get fuel mileage driving into the wind….


So yeah…… I guess that concludes my comment.

 

^, definitely makes a difference. I recently completed a cross country trip and I spent a good part of one day with a strong cross wind. The wind reduced my mileage, much the same as mountain driving.

As a side note, I would have to agree with the posters on another thread that the cruise control is more annoying than helpful. Problem is that with the slightest grade, it wants to downshift. So my routine is to disengage and manually throttle up grades.

Another well known fact is that the 4.0 just doesn’t have low end torque. This may be why they setup the cruise like they did. But driving up minor grades only requires a little more throttle.

 

I used to get 16mph with the wind. I remember a trip to NM and had crosswinds. I got 11mpg.

 

If we could just get those hurricanes to cooperate with our trip plans...

 

Wind resistance is a huge factor.

A similar situation: I took a day trip to go run some trails in 2019. I got 21.5 on the drive up at 65 MPH, and 16 MPG on the way home at 80.

 

I guess you really wanted to get home asap!

 

We had a front come into south Texas last couple of days and I had to take 50 min drive into the country on open highway. I got pushed in every direction and gas milage dropped to just under 19 highway when I can get 21 and sometimes 22.

 

I get 13 MPG in most scenarios. Wind or not. OOOf

 

Dang. I have averaged over 19.5 mpg in two years and over 20,000 miles. But we have flat highways in Florida

 

Ahhh the law of averaging.... gets you coming and going.

 

I've discovered my 4Runner is capable of controlling wind direction. Without fail, no matter where I go I always have a headwind. Lucky me haha

 

I had a nice tailwind through Palm Springs and was able to average 27 mpg's for an hour

 

The grand kids came for Christmas dinner then we went to their place for presents, 90 miles straight north with high wind warnings. I kept watching the gas gauge dropping on my 4R. Figured about 14 or 15 mpg at best. But my son in law was also complaining about his Buick Enclave using 1/2 tank when normally 1/4 would do.
So I didn't feel so bad.