Hey all, how's it going? Hope all is well with all of you. I have a quick question that I am sure has been covered to death and will generate a bunch of rolleyes. I used the search function, but didn't have enough time to search all the threads. I had to take on a 2nd job to pay for the 13 MPG's I'm getting now...j/k!!

Anyway, I bought a 2005 f-150 fx4 about four weeks ago. I checked the air filter about a week ago and it was covered in black soot like material. It didn't smell like oil, almost like the truck was run on coal. I don't think it's a big deal, but with 8K on the car, I dropped in a new K&N to get the air flowing. Anyone have a idea what it may be and if it's normal or not?

Also, what increase in MPG will I get if I install a cold air intake? I'm not that worried about MPG that much since this truck is my play vehicle. I have a company car that I use for work, but in today's corporate America I might lose that company car in a heart beat and need to use the truck for work.

Thanks in advance for your responses...

 

eh....dont expect much out of CAI....you will get some power...not much....take the money youd spend on a CAI and buy the EDGE Programmer or a XCAL2 .....both great....im getting an EDGE soon....now if you got the CAI the edge or xcal2 and exhaust....youd see some good power and mabye 1-2 MPG gain....mabye...

 

With a cai your truck is definately more CAPABLE of getting better gas mileage. However, with being able to bring in mroe air it can also burn gas a littler better too. IF your conservative I have seen a 1.5mpg gain with it.

 

Don't buy mods to save gas... by the time to get back that $300 in saved gas you'll have scrapped the truck. Stick with your $40 K&N drop in. After a $1000 in mods that ALL claim to give me more MPG I pretty much stay the same... at best I've gained .5 MPG if I behave, which I don't since the truck is more fun to drive and sounds like a beast (the reason for the mods). Will I EVER recoup that $1000 in savings at the pump? I don't have a snowballs chance in hell.... don't buy into the hype of more MPGs via mods and big savings, its all BS. You'll save just as much gas (for free) buy keeping your tires at the correct pressure and going easy on the gas and slowing down. This is the word of D.

 

welcome!

Stick with your drop in if your not into performance mod's. And about better mpg, forget it, you bought a full size truck, you may get 18-20 mpg on highways after it hits 15-20k.

 

A tonneau cover is probably the best bang for your buck as far as mpg's go!

 

I didn't notice any real increase in mpg either. I did notice performance gains. Do the mods because you want/like the looks and results.

 

There is 1 mod that will save MPG. The dual electric fan setup from Troyer. Before and after on my truck was nearly 1.5 MPG.

 

True dat.

Not only do they add to the truck's visual appeal, but they actually work and save gas in the long haul!

PS: Do NOT do the tailgate down crap! It doesn't work!

"Someone recently told me about a guy who puts his pickup's tailgate down to save gas. People who follow that practice point to improved fuel-economy figures as proof it helps. Although this may sound like common sense to some, it's a myth: Driving in a stock pickup with the tailgate dropped won't save gas."

.... .... .... .... .... .... .... ....

"Putting a tonneau or hard bed cover over your truck is the best thing you can do for highway fuel economy. A shell also can help. Since most of these are relatively light, the extra weight must be worth the improvement. This is one reason something like an Avalanche (which has a bed that's partially covered) often gets better highway mileage than an open pickup with the same drivetrain and tires--and weighs less."

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/c...tailgate_myth/

 

A tuner can save gas, if you keep your foot out of it.

Electric fans will show an increase in gas milage.
UD pulley will slightly.

bed covers will also.

Depending on how/where your truck is driven, gear ratio will effect gas milage too. A lot of people that do city driving and go up to a steeper gear(4.11, 4.56's etc.) are seeing better gas milage around town with minimal gas milage decrease on the highway(if any).

 

I have the airaid cai and I do notice a difference in mpg. I try to keep my foot off the floor and that really helps also lol. With our trucks drinking gas the way they do I don't think it would take that long to make your money back. What the other guys are saying is true, don't just mod for mpg, do it because you want to better your truck and for looks.

 

17.5 mpg on a road trip when truck was new.

Mods include Flowmaster 50, si/do, Airaid jr, EDGE on leve 2, soft bed cover, and larger tires, 265/70/17. I think the larger tires hurt the mileage more than anything.

Last road trip, got 17.5 mpg.

But!!!

Overall performance is great and it sounds good to!

 

I watched them prove on myth busters that the tail gate down thing doesn't work.

 

how does that 50 series flowmaster sound inside the cab

 

I've heard the same thing from other sources.

Trucks are pretty much the most UN-aerodynamic vehicles on earth... but they look damned good, eh?