Fuel mileage; Tuning I-Force max hybrid.

[Rushvelo]

Hi guys, new to the 4G forum. I have a new 2025 TRDOR Hybrid. My question is, I was wondering if the hybrid could have been tuned for fuel economy in eco mode.(30-35mpg). Then more horsepower in the normal or sport mode. Seems with variable cylinder technology and software programming it would be possible., My wife has a 2019 Toyota Rav4 that gets over 37mpg combined around town and the highway.

I know there are engineers and a lot of smart people on this forum that can answer this in an intelligent way without an insulting response. I think Toyota could have sold more hybrids with this technology. Save the BS comments with its a truck man, you should have bought a Prius, etc… I know exactly what I bought and love it regardless of mpg. It’s just a question. Thanks

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[MT-Taco]

I’d say 30+ not a chance! Maybe mid to upper 20’s? With that said an SR5 2wd hybrid would probably get 30mpg? But Toyota won’t build one.

 

[bigbunk62]

Think you'd need a different hybrid system in the truck entirely instead of software changes. It's designed for hp and torque, not efficiency. I get better MPGs in my '25 SR5(combined 26 MPG warm weather/ combined 21 MPG very cold weather) than the hybrid(23 MPG rating), but I only have 278 hp/317 torques versus 326 hp/465 torques in the hybrid.

 

[Roadster Racer]

Monday, this week I directed this same question to software tuners "CamTuning". No answer so far. These trucks with there small gas tank would benefit from a real "ECO Mode". Currently My 24 TRD Off Road Hybrid gets all of 20.5 MPG (using only dash display). I am sure if I calculated at the pump mileage would be less... Mostly flat ground very little stop & go, I am very gentile on the throttle. Vehicle has only 8600 miles, so maybe it's about a break-in time??

 

[Compherh]

The RAV4 has an eCVT, the Tacoma and Tundra have a regular transmission and an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the transmission. Diffrent technologies. One for efficiency, the other for torque.

 

[maxx075]

If you're buying a truck for fuel efficiency, you're gonna have a bad time.

 

[Rushvelo]

The RAV4 has an eCVT, the Tacoma and Tundra have a regular transmission and an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the transmission. Diffrent technologies. One for efficiency, the other for torque.

That helps to explain some things. But Toyota states eco mode. But I’m getting just as good of gas mileage in normal or sport mode. Just curious why they labeled or sold it as eco mode. No worries, just thought I would ask. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Rushvelo]

If you're buying a truck for fuel efficiency, you're gonna have a bad time.
Actually I bought the truck to enjoy regardless of gas mileage, which I am and having a great time! I was just curious as to the technology and use of it. But of course one person would make the comment you did. Thanks for not disappointing, Max!

 

[maxx075]

Glad I could be of service!

 

[Compherh]

That helps to explain some things. But Toyota states eco mode. But I’m getting just as good of gas mileage in normal or sport mode. Just curious why they labeled or sold it as eco mode. No worries, just thought I would ask. Thanks for the explanation.

Eco mode: when you press the pedal there is a little delay. Transmission shifts early around 1500 rpm. Saves gas.
Sports +: pedal response quicker aka pedal commander. Transmission shifts around 2000 rpm. Uses a little mo gas. You have a smile.
How to save gas in eco: Must drive with an egg between the pedal and your foot. If your in eco, but you punch it at the light, the computer will not shift early and it will give mo gas to the engine (you override the eco setting).

 

[Baltimore]

Monday, this week I directed this same question to software tuners "CamTuning". No answer so far. These trucks with there small gas tank would benefit from a real "ECO Mode". Currently My 24 TRD Off Road Hybrid gets all of 20.5 MPG (using only dash display). I am sure if I calculated at the pump mileage would be less... Mostly flat ground very little stop & go, I am very gentile on the throttle. Vehicle has only 8600 miles, so maybe it's about a break-in time??

I record the dash displayed avg mpg and I manually calculate every tank. They've never been different by more than 0.15mpg. I'm not looking at the data right now but I'm pretty certain that the dash has almost always been more conservative than my pump calculation.

 

[bigbunk62]

I record the dash displayed avg mpg and I manually calculate every tank. They've never been different by more than 0.15mpg. I'm not looking at the data right now but I'm pretty certain that the dash has almost always been more conservative than my pump calculation.

I've found it to be accurate. I reactivated my Fuelly account because I couldn't believe how good the mileage was(over 25 mpg in the warm weather). I also changed the calculation method to Tank average, so it resets each fuel up. I still record each fill for graphing in Fuelly.

 

[CAMTuning]

Monday, this week I directed this same question to software tuners "CamTuning". No answer so far. These trucks with there small gas tank would benefit from a real "ECO Mode". Currently My 24 TRD Off Road Hybrid gets all of 20.5 MPG (using only dash display). I am sure if I calculated at the pump mileage would be less... Mostly flat ground very little stop & go, I am very gentile on the throttle. Vehicle has only 8600 miles, so maybe it's about a break-in time??

I think I responded to you. Did you send it to me on Instagram?

 

[CAMTuning]

That helps to explain some things. But Toyota states eco mode. But I’m getting just as good of gas mileage in normal or sport mode. Just curious why they labeled or sold it as eco mode. No worries, just thought I would ask. Thanks for the explanation.

I've had a similar experience. ECO mode makes the truck feel a lot less quick, but my mileage does not improve, so I typically drive it in normal or sport. All three modes can be individually mapped in the ECU, so it's possible to make the ECO mode even less powerful. However, I don't think you would see a significant gain in miles per gallon.

 

[Pappy]

I've had a similar experience. ECO mode makes the truck feel a lot less quick, but my mileage does not improve, so I typically drive it in normal or sport. All three modes can be individually mapped in the ECU, so it's possible to make the ECO mode even less powerful. However, I don't think you would see a significant gain in miles per gallon.

With my 6MT I did notice a nice improvement in fuel economy (pre-tune). I also noticed the truck was a slug, especially with local driving. It was fine on the freeway, in cruise. But, if I needed to pass it was Sport mode or the truck would dog.

With the tune it appears the Eco mode does help with fuel economy, but not by much. With the tune I don't have an issue with the truck dogging down on hills, or passing, like before.

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