How to Improve Gas Mileage in a Toyota Sequoia

by Jay P. Whickson

If you've bought a new Toyota Sequoia or find that you are not getting the gas mileage you want from your old Sequoia, then it's time to take some steps to improve it. It's best to track the miles after a fill-up and then calculate them rather than rely on the trip computer. Sometimes, you find you're getting worse mileage than the computer reads. You'll also need to keep the same driving habits when check to see if you have improved gas mileage. If you took the sample after in-town driving, do the same once after making the changes.

Step 1

Change the air filter. Regardless of the type of car that you have, a Department of Energy Report shows that you increase your gas mileage with a clean air filter. Some people feel that the K&N filter is the best one to buy since it works differently than the normal paper air filter. This filter is made to last a lifetime and is not disposable so it doesn't take up space in landfills and you don't have to replace it.

Step 2

Inflate your tires properly. When your tires have the right amount of air in them, they increase your mileage by three percent according to the same Department of Energy Report. Proper inflation helps this heavy SUV to glide across the road.

Step 3

Get a tune-up. Once you get a tune-up, you'll notice that you'll get more than half a mile per gallon or better mileage. That's because it increases you mileage about four percent. Most people that own this SUV get about 14 to 15 MPG before they get a tune up.

Step 4

Stop the car if you have to sit more than two minutes. Edmunds.com tested a vehicle and found that if they shut off the car instead of letting it idle they increased their mileage by as much as 19 per cent. If you're stuck at a train crossing and there's no end in sight, shut off your Toyota Sequoia to increase your gas mileage.

Step 5

Drive within the speed limit. You decrease your gas mileage by one per cent for MPH above 55. This doesn't mean that you should drive slower than the rest of the traffic in a 65 MPH speed limit. It does mean that if you stay the speed limit, rather than the 5 miles over most people use, you'll increase your mileage by another five percent.

Step 6

Avoid jackrabbit starts or turtle starts. A steady increase in gas is important to get to the higher gears, but flooring it after a stop burns additional gas and lowers your mileage per gallon.

Things You'll Need

Warnings