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Imagine the possibilities for your Toyota Tacoma pickup.
What if you could achieve a five-mpg increase in your Tacoma pickup? Would you be willing to invest $2,000 and pay an extra $.80 per gallon if it meant a significant improvement in your vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency?
In a recent Toyota Tacoma Owners Facebook post, Dustin Thomas shared his success story. He claims to have boosted his 2025 Tacoma SR 4WD pickup’s gas mileage by a minimum of five miles per gallon.
Many Tacoma owners, like Dustin, are striving to enhance their vehicle’s fuel efficiency. But the question remains, at what cost?
Let’s Take a Look
Dustin says, “I just wanted to take a second and admire the MPG I’ve been getting in my 2025 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD. I’ve had the truck for almost four months now as its first owner, and my mileage has been increasing little by little every month.”
“When I first got the truck, it was around 21-22 mpg consistently, and I was running regular 87 octane with the factory cold air intake (CAI)”. It’s the same drive to and from work every day: 46 miles each way. In the last month and a half or so, I’ve seen noticeable gains in my MPG that have been in the mid-high 20s.”
“For context, I live in the NW Georgia area with a mix of mountainous/hilly areas. I drive 46 miles to and from work on the highway 5 days a week going between 55-65 MPH (a couple of speed trap zones, but mostly going 60-65 mph).”
“The highest I’ve gotten was 29.2 MPH. I also have a SXTH CLT, Flowmaster Super 44 Series Exhaust, and I consistently run 93 octane.”
“I say all of this to say that for those who say an aftermarket CAI or running 93 octane doesn’t help performance, just from what I’ve observed and continue to observe, it has made a tremendous impact on my performance since switching to those things!”
What does a Flowmaster Super 44 Series Exhaust cost?
The cost ranges from $1,000 to $1,400, depending on the system. Please note that this does not include the cost of installation.
Automotive shops typically charge an hourly rate between $75 and $130 per hour. A complete exhaust system replacement generally takes 2 to 3 hours, resulting in labor costs ranging from $150 to $390.
What level of performance improvement can Tacoma owners expect?
While Flowmaster exhaust systems are designed to improve exhaust flow and potentially reduce backpressure, the horsepower gains are usually modest. Jegs suggests gains of 5-10 horsepower are typical, especially when paired with other modifications.
What does a SXTH Off Road CPLT Cold Air Intake cost?
The price of the SXTH Off Road CPLT Cold Air Intake for the 2024-2025 Toyota Tacoma is $399.00 USD.
The promo material says it provides enhanced airflow, improved engine performance, and increased horsepower and torque. “No tuning is required for installation, except for Trailhunter and TRD Pro models, which will require custom tuning.”
So, now the custom upgrades have cost about $2,000.
Will running premium 93 octane gas improve fuel mileage in the Toyota Tacoma?
Tacoma owners on Reddit and the Tacoma Forum report that it’s generally not worth running 93 octane premium gas in a 2025 Toyota Tacoma unless it’s specifically tuned for it. The 2025 Tacoma’s engine is designed to run optimally on 87-octane regular fuel.
Is There a Performance Benefit?
Using higher octane fuel, such as 93, will not provide any noticeable performance gains (like increased horsepower or improved fuel economy) in a stock Tacoma, according to Toyota of Braintree and Fuel Logic.
Note: The only exception is if you’ve modified your Tacoma with a performance tune that requires explicitly higher octane fuel. In that case, you’ll need to use what the tune specifies.
What is the cost of 87 octane gas per gallon?
AAA says the national average is $3.22 per gallon.
What is the cost of 93 octane gas per gallon?
The national average price for 93-octane premium gasoline is $4.059 per gallon, according to AAA Fuel Prices.
So, that’s approximately $15 more every time you fill the Tacoma’s 18-gallon tank with a premium grade compared to regular 87-octane gas.
So, Dustin spent about $2,000 to outfit his truck with a Flowmaster Super 44 Series Exhaust System and a CPLT Cold Air Intake system; additionally, he spends an extra $ 0.83 per gallon to run premium 93 octane gas.
All for a five mpg gain in gas mileage. Is it worth it?
What Do You Think?
There are readers out there who are far smarter than I am. There may be an engineer or a mathematician who can calculate how long it takes to realize savings with the amount spent ($2,000) and on buying premium gas, which offers no benefits anyway.
Will Dustin still own the pickup when it does? We’re eager to hear your thoughts. Click the red ‘Add New Comment’ link below and share your calculations.
Check out my Toyota Tacoma story: I Hate My 2023 Toyota Tacoma, It’s Underpowered, Uncomfortable, the Transmission is Awful, and the AC Isn’t Cold Above 80, I’m Buying A Tundra
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you’ll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Dustin Thomas
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