I know this must have been discussed before, but I'm new here, so please understand.

I recently purchased a 2006 4x4 X-Terra S, and I find that my gas effeciency is terrible. After filling up my gas tank, I have a little more than half of my tank remaining, and I only used about 80 miles. I don't do any excessive driving (speeding, or towing) and I drive mostly on local roads, not highways.
Can someone explain if I am doing something wrong? Reviews mention that I should be able to use about 340 miles per gas tank.

Thanks in advance.

I know this must have been discussed before, but I'm new here, so please understand.

I recently purchased a 2006 4x4 X-Terra S, and I find that my gas effeciency is terrible. After filling up my gas tank, I have a little more than half of my tank remaining, and I only used about 80 miles. I don't do any excessive driving (speeding, or towing) and I drive mostly on local roads, not highways.
Can someone explain if I am doing something wrong? Reviews mention that I should be able to use about 340 miles per gas tank.

Thanks in advance.

Check this link out: http://www.clubxterra.org/forums/showthread.php?t=737

And welcome to the club!

You really can't figure your MPG like that anyway.

You must record your initial mileage at the first fill up (Or the next one, whatever...), and then, how many gallons you put in each time..w/o worrying about at what mileage, for say 10 fill ups.

At the tenth fill up, write your mileage down, subtract, get the total miles travelled...

...then, compare to the total gallons added to get those miles....to compute the miles per gallon.

One tank's worth is meaningless, let alone a guess as to what percentage of the tank really has gas in it, based upon the gauge.

:D

There are many variations in vapor pressure, the levelness of the tank, the fact that the tank will read empty with maybe 3 gallons or so still in it (To try to idiot proof it...), the individual pump's sensor/cut off points, etc.

Also, a new, unbroken in truck, gets worse mpg than a broken in one, so it typically gets better with time.

Now, lets say you have a 19 gallon tank - "A little more than half full" could = 13 gallons...meaning, you might have used 6 gallons to go 80 miles...

But, was it topped off to start with? A station's pump sensors can "top off" with as much as a 2-3 gallon difference between them.

What about the 3 gallons reserve capacity?

So, maybe, you DID start with a fully "topped off" tank...subtract 3 for the reserve, subtract 3 for the "top off", that leaves 19-6 = 13 gallons...which COULD be your "Little more than half a tank".

See what I mean?

:D