Behavior of turbocharged engines when towing

[Mike Lewis]

My 2013 Tacoma's normally-aspirated 4.0L V6 gets around 20 mpg driving around town and 13 mpg when towing, a decrease of about a third. This seems reasonable. I'm curious about the difference when towing with the turbocharged V6 engines that are popular now in the F-150 and other newer tow vehicles. Anyone have any data to share?

[brroberts]

My Ranger goes from typically 23 mpg to 15.6 mpg, although occasionally we see as much as 30 mpg and as low as 13 mpg. This is comparing a mostly empty truck to a truck when the truck and trailer are loaded for a 2 month trip. The truck payload is 1823lbs, and the trailer loaded is usually 4630lbs with a 560lbs tongue e weight. I have a 21 Ranger and a 21 E19.

[Chamberman]

You should also inquire about their towing speeds. Someone that tows at 60mph will see a much lower MPG reduction than someone towing at 70mph.

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

My 2013 Tacoma's normally-aspirated 4.0L V6 gets around 20 mpg driving around town and 13 mpg when towing, a decrease of about a third. This seems reasonable. I'm curious about the difference when towing with the turbocharged V6 engines that are popular now in the F-150 and other newer tow vehicles. Anyone have any data to share?

Aren't you lusting after the 2024 Tacoma turbo hybrid in the works? After a couple of years for Toyota to work out the bugs, of course.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by Chamberman

You should also inquire about their towing speeds. Someone that tows at 60mph will see a much lower MPG reduction than someone towing at 70mph.

Good point. I tow at 60 mph unless I'm on a two-lane road and am holding up traffic. When not towing I drive about 65, again if I'm not backing up traffic.

[WillyB]

My 2016 F150 with the 3.5 Twin Turbo EB gets between 25-18 MPG empty (depends a lot on speed over 65 MPH and how heavy my right foot is that day) and 8-15 MPG towing our 21C (Weight, Wind and Elevation dependent).

On our most recent camping trip we were averaged 14 MPG. We were pretty well loaded but drove on reasonably flat ground with no wind and no higher than 65 MPH.

The benefit I find with the 3.5 EB is the low rpm range this will pull on steep grades. NA motors, generally speaking, will rev higher in those conditions.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

Aren't you lusting after the 2024 Tacoma turbo hybrid in the works? After a couple of years for Toyota to work out the bugs, of course.

Arrgh. Don't get me started. 400+ ft-lbs of torque?! My Taco pulls fine except for when it is in the mountains, where it gets pokey. It has 230 HP and 260 ft-lbs of torque, or the reverse. I'd want 300+ of each in a new vehicle.


Toyota has several new interesting drivetrains coming out in 24-25. Of particular interest is a four-cylinder turbo-diesel in their reintroduced Land Cruiser in '25. They have shared drivetrain components between the LC and the Tundra in the past, so I'd hope to see that engine in the '25 Tundra.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by WillyB

The benefit I find with the 3.5 EB is the low rpm range this will pull on steep grades. NA motors, generally speaking, will rev higher in those conditions.

This is good. One complaint about the newer Tacomas with the 3.5L V6 is that their max output is at a much higher RPM, which people have found annoying. I'd like to avoid that situation.

[WillyB]

Interesting. I've never checked the numbers but I test drove one of the new Tundras for grins this summer and I thought it felt it lacked a bit on torque.

Outside of the engine comment it sure was a nice truck.

[pkgman51]

My 2017 Expedition with the 3.5 EB engine gets about 20 mpg without the trailer. With the trailer, it gets about 12 mpg. So much depends on the slope, wind, and the weight of my foot. On a good day, I can get 14 mpg. I try real hard to keep the rpm's under 2M. Any more than that is costing me mpg's.

[sherminator]

My experience with the 3.5L EcoBoost in my 2017 Ford Expedition and 21NE is very similar to WillyB's. Not towing, I get over 21mpg on the freeway, and about 17 in town. Towing, I average between 12mpg and 14mpg depending on type of road and elevation gain. It amazes me how often I'm towing at 1500 - 2000rpms.

[SageRpod]

We towed an Rpod for several years with a Nissan 4.0L. Towing at 60-65mph, fully loaded, we would get 8-10 mpg depending on grades, wind and other conditions. Fast forward to our F150 3.5 EB (with 36gal tank) and our 5.0 and our mileage is a little better at 10-14mpg but the big difference is that hills, mountains, wind, etc do not affect the performance of the rig. Also comfort is at a completely different level which allows for longer days and arriving at the campsite less fatigued.

[brroberts]

Originally Posted by Chamberman

You should also inquire about their towing speeds. Someone that tows at 60mph will see a much lower MPG reduction than someone towing at 70mph.

Not towing, I drive whatever the speed limit is. Since I only drive the speed limit, I do hold up some drivers. I never tow above 60mph.

[oldwave]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

Arrgh. Don't get me started. 400+ ft-lbs of torque?! My Taco pulls fine except for when it is in the mountains, where it gets pokey. It has 230 HP and 260 ft-lbs of torque, or the reverse. I'd want 300+ of each in a new vehicle.


Toyota has several new interesting drivetrains coming out in 24-25. Of particular interest is a four-cylinder turbo-diesel in their reintroduced Land Cruiser in '25. They have shared drivetrain components between the LC and the Tundra in the past, so I'd hope to see that engine in the '25 Tundra.

That I’d be interested in
Turbo diesel Toyota
They have been doing that in other countries for a whole

[Eggscape]

We use our 3.5 ecoboost F150 strictly for towing and I am not one that needs to be at the posted speed at the top of each hill if there is no one behind us.

That said…with our 19 on behind there nothing I can’t pass on the steepest mountain grade.

Great for getting around those who drive under the speed limit when it is single lane then by some miracle have enough power to drive 10 over in the dual lane passing area up a hill.

I don’t think a lot of people realize that the Ecoboost Engine is more than just a sign that is stuck onto the truck…it is a technology that other manufacturers have not been able to even come close to.

The fuel usage is directly related to your driving style and can be very good for the size of the vehicle.

If you are comparing the fuel usage of an ecoboost engine, make sure you compare it to something that has the similar output. Most manufacturers don’t have anything that comes close in a gas engine.

Diesel fuel where we live is not at every station and most of the time is more expensive, so for us is not a contender anymore. In the past we have towed with a Jeep diesel.

Our safety in having enough power when towing is paramount at this time in our lives and I am very happy that what I consider a miracle engine is available.

[Chewuch]

Kept records of last trip. F-150, 3.5 EB, 20" snow tires still on it at 60psi, never over 60mph, towing a 19 at close to 4500# combined trailer and cargo, no wind, A/C on the whole time. Towing from Winthrop, WA to Metaline Falls, WA across Hwy 20 included four mt. passes and got 13.5mpg. Coming home I dropped down to Reardon, Wa and came back I90 - rolling hills about even up and down elevation, and got 14.2mpg. Used cruise control where safe to do so - makes a difference in mpg. Empty around town I get between 22 and 23mpg, and up to 25mpg on the hwy. An acquaintence with same rig but has new 20" highway tires says he gets 23-24.5mpg around town, empty. BUT, fyi, with a heavy foot you'll easily lose 3-5mpg as you get up on the turbos and it's very thirsty.

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by Chewuch

Kept records of last trip. F-150, 3.5 EB, 20" snow tires still on it at 60psi, never over 60mph, towing a 19 at close to 4500# combined trailer and cargo, no wind, A/C on the whole time. Towing from Winthrop, WA to Metaline Falls, WA across Hwy 20 included four mt. passes and got 13.5mpg. Coming home I dropped down to Reardon, Wa and came back I90 - rolling hills about even up and down elevation, and got 14.2mpg. Used cruise control where safe to do so - makes a difference in mpg. Empty around town I get between 22 and 23mpg, and up to 25mpg on the hwy. An acquaintence with same rig but has new 20" highway tires says he gets 23-24.5mpg around town, empty. BUT, fyi, with a heavy foot you'll easily lose 3-5mpg as you get up on the turbos and it's very thirsty.

The new 10-speed transmissions really helps on the MPG. My friend has the 10-Speed and I have the old 6-Speed. Same motor. There is definitely better mpg's with the 10-Speed and overall drivability.

I love to have the 10-Speed but my 2016 only has 52K on it.

[NEWYORKHILLBILLY]

I had towed my 19 with a 2013 Tacoma. as you mentioned did fine except in the mountains. I loved the truck planned to buy another Tacoma. I took my 19 and test towed it with a 2021 3.5 Tacoma.After a 1/2 test drive i new it was not something i wanted. it would do it but nothing like the 4.0. I bought a 2022 f150 with 2,7 eco boost. I was expecting better milage towing than the Tacoma but it about the same or a little less. Not towing on highway i get about 19MPG but local i can get 22-23 around town. I can get 12-13 towing if I keep it under 60. Take it to 70 and it will drop down to about 10-11mpg. as for power it does much better towing than the Tacoma and payload is better. Also rides better, But I still miss the easy parking and Quilty build of the Toyota. I really interested in the 2024 Tacoma 4 cylinder turbo. They increased payload on the new trucks and dropped tow capacity to 6000-6500. I believe the new 4 cylinder will tow much better than the current 3.5 and of course if go for the I force max hybrid 326 hp / 465 lb-ft. cant wait to see MPG of the new trucks, but one can assume it will get a combined 30MPG as that's the same power plan in the new Landcruiser.

[Mike G]

"Behavior of turbocharged engines when towing"
They're good little engines. Rarely do they misbehave!

[Tosh]

Perhaps the greatest advantage of a turbocharged engine over naturally aspirated is it's ability to maintain power at altitude.


With my F-150 Powerboost, not towing, I average 23. With a 21NE behind me, my average was 14. Rarely did I find myself crawling up a mountain behind a logging truck in the pullout lane.