posted 02-18-2003 10:03 AM         

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be leaving again this Saturday for a four-week trip to Toyohashi, Japan. In case some of you didn’t know, I work as an engineer for Toyota Motors Corp. at the Princeton, Indiana assembly plant where we build the Tundra, Sequoia and the Sienna. Don’t worry guys. I’m a Mopar guy at heart. I wanted to stay around my hometown and I didn’t want to move to Detroit after college. Ha! Ha! I will have access to the Internet so I will be following the posts of the Prowler crowd while I’m gone. I’m even hoping to catch some of the chats since your evenings here in the U.S. will be my mornings in Japan. Currently it is a 15-hour forward time difference to Central Time in the U.S. Won’t that be cool chatting on the Prowler Forums 9,000 miles from home? Anyway, wish me luck. This is my second trip in a year so I’m not too excited about going, but it’s part of my job. If I don’t post before I leave, I’ll talk to you all soon.

Sayonara,

posted 02-18-2003 10:08 AM         

May you have a safe and productive trip.

posted 02-18-2003 01:29 PM         

quote:

---

Originally posted by Todd Cameron:
enjoy some of that Asian cuisine for us while your there

---

Todd - is that what you really meant?

Booster - ENJOY YOUR TRIP

posted 02-19-2003 09:19 AM         

I would like to meet you also. What company do you work for that supplies us?

Duane,

Our V8 engine is already a hemispherical headed engine with dual overhead cams. It just doesn't have enough horsepower yet. We're working on it though.

posted 02-19-2003 11:20 AM         

Good luck on your trip to Japan.

Question for you since you know the Tundra inside and out.

Any suggestions on how to improve the city mileage on 2002 4wd Tundra. I get 12mpg in the city. Love everything else about the truck, just wish I got 14 as estimated for this vehicle by the government.

posted 02-19-2003 11:33 AM         

That is a very good question. There are so many variables that affect gas mileage and the gas mileage on the window stickers are an average for many vehicles and driving conditions.

Here are some variables that I can think of that would affect gas mileage and ways to improve it:
1.)Rear axle gear
2.)If you have a limited slip rear axle
3.)If you tow something
4.)Driving through mountainous (lots of hills) terrain
5.)Lots of stop and go driving
6.)Hauling a load

Some simple countermeasures for your problem:
1.)Make sure your tire air pressures are at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. This is a very common and often overlooked way to improve gas mileage.
2.)You can change to a K&N air filter if they make one for the Tundra
3.)You can change to synthetic fluids (engine oil, transmission fluid and rear axle gear lube). This leads to lower friction on your power-train and will lead to more power and better gas mileage.

These are just some things I can think of off the top of my head. If I think of any others, I will let you know.

posted 02-19-2003 12:20 PM         

Thanks for the reply back !!!

I have already applied all of your countermeasures 1-3.

I suspect due to the amount of stop-n-go traffic and short trips (2-10miles each) I encounter daily that brings the mileage down.

My Tundra does have a Limited Slip Differential. I did not realize that would reduce mileage as well.

Thanks again for the feedback. Keep up the good work, I am very pleased with the Tundra!