Optimizing fuel mileage
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,823
Likes: 15
From: Houston, TX
Originally Posted by Labnerd
If you want to get better fuel mileage, you need to learn how to drive to get it. When accelerating from a stop, don't let the tach get over 1800 rpms. Step on the gas enough that the tach levels out at 1800 rpms and don't move it until you are at the speed you want to go or above 50 mph. Yeah, folks will be passing you by but you'll be passing the filling stations. See a red light in the distance? Do you know these rigs will coast? Get off of the gas and anticipate the light. Coast to the stop sign and use very little brakes. Keep hiway speeds at or below 65 mph and if you need to accelerate, be fluid on the gas- no quick pumps. Maintain a steady throttle position. If you have hills, anticipate the hill with a little more gas but let the truck slow down a few mph maintaining a steady throttle position. Now, look at your tires. Whatever is the max air pressure on the side- fill them to max. FWIW, I'm running 10 lbs over and no problems with wear. My 04 Supercrew,4.6 gets 19-20 town driving and 23-24 hiway with A/C running. Your 4x4 won't get that good but these trucks are fuel mileage capable if you are.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Granger, IN
Get a Scangauge II, that will give you direct feedback in real time to curb driving habits. 10 mpg gains are monumental achievement on a car, impossible on a truck, yet I have tried. Is it possible to increase mpg on a moving truck with those mods? maybe, and I stress maybe. Is it possible to get 10 mpg increase for city driving? No way!
Sure I get good mpg while moving, but in stop and go traffic you are at the mercy of stop and go. Just remember, even a 100 mpg hybrid gets 0 mpg while stopped and the engine is running.
This winter gas I am forced to run is killing me, and I am driving like a grandpa's grandpa and still getting overall dismal mpg compared to this past summer. As stated above, coast as much as you can, and go one step further and put the gear shifter into N and take all the load off of the idling engine.
The only true way a gadget can increase mpg without driving habits being changed is to lean out the fuel, and too much of that will lead to a catastrophic failure.
Sure I get good mpg while moving, but in stop and go traffic you are at the mercy of stop and go. Just remember, even a 100 mpg hybrid gets 0 mpg while stopped and the engine is running.
This winter gas I am forced to run is killing me, and I am driving like a grandpa's grandpa and still getting overall dismal mpg compared to this past summer. As stated above, coast as much as you can, and go one step further and put the gear shifter into N and take all the load off of the idling engine.
The only true way a gadget can increase mpg without driving habits being changed is to lean out the fuel, and too much of that will lead to a catastrophic failure.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,762
Likes: 0
From: Windsor, Ont.
Originally Posted by RED WING NUT
Dream on. You'll be lucky to get 1 or 2 with hundreds of dollars worth of mods.
With my chip running 91+ octane, a K&N filter, e-fans (probably most noticed mpg improvement at maybe 2) my K&N exhaust 3" si/so and good maintenance, I've still gotten about 19 mpg's at best. Winter averages are 12-14, where summer is a good 16-18, 19 on a very seldom occasion. I've recorded a best of 24 (when almost a year old), maybe my calculating was off. You can add all the mpg savers you want, but unless this thing runs perfect, you'll yield small benefits. An example would be adding a cold air kit. You add it, then the EGR clogs up, so the 2 kinda cancel out any real gains, and you'll net marginal gains. Most add ons won't hurt performance, just won't gain much. They are v-8's, consider the lack of mpg's a cost of driving something alot cooler than a Yaris
I found mountain driving (east coast) did not kill mileage. Maybe more power going up and less power needed going down averaged out.
Last edited by BLUE20004X4; Dec 12, 2007 at 01:32 PM.
Certified Goat Breeder
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,182
Likes: 19
From: the moral high ground
Originally Posted by BLUE20004X4
...I found mountain driving (east coast) did not kill mileage. Maybe more power going up and less power needed going down averaged out.
When I drive thru the tunnel I get 11 mpg coming out
but, going in I get 99 mpg.
So, I'm averaging 55 mpg. I wish all my driving was up and down like that.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 891
Likes: 1
From: Lost some where in the middle of the Ozark Mountains!
Originally Posted by Raoul
I wish all my driving was up and down like that.
