I've got a F-150 4X4 with 4.6L V8. It gets 11-12 MPG around town and 14 MPG on the highway. I'm going on a road trip and know I won't need 4 wheel drive. Can I boost the gas mileage and will it damage anything if I remove the front drive shaft? I figure taking it off eliminates the transfer case gears from turning and lowers the amount of rotating stuff. Any opinions or experience doing this?

Results of the test!! I drove 345 miles with the front drive shaft connected, then removed it for the return trip. There was no noticeable change in gas mileage. I got 13.6 MPG with the shaft in and 14.4 MPG with the shaft removed. Given the weather conditions and other variables, I think it did not make a difference.

[This message has been edited by Ford's4Me (edited 06-20-2000).]

 

You'd be hard-pressed to prove any difference in mpg by so doing -- if it was extremely cold, you might -- but you'd need some pretty accurate testing equipment.

 

There will be no change in milage, because your front driveshaft does not turn unless 4WD is engaged.

LHM

 

LHM: Where does the coupling happen on the electic version -- at the hubs or at the pig/diff/carrier/chunk (or whatever is your favorite term)?

Do the axles turn the primary gearing all of the time, with the connection being made in the front end at the drive shaft; or are the axles disconnected from the gearing until 4wd? The gearing is reportedly Ford mfr for which I don't have drawings (yet).

Tks,

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Y2K™

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

On the Differential there is a vacumn thingy that slide the axle shafts in and out of the differential. In for 4x4 out for 2wd. On the electric version, the only thing that is different is there is an electric motor attached to the back of the transfer case that does the shifting for you, where with a manual shift you do the shifting. So when in 2wd the front driveshaft is not turning, nor the diff. The only things that are turning are the axle shafts because they are attached to the wheels, there are no hubs to lock and unlock on 97 and up F-150 F-1507700 or F250LD.

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2000 F-150 Super Cab XLT 4x4 ORP 5.4liter V8, Towing Package, Rear Slider, Remote keyless Entry,3.55 LS, Black Exterior, Medium Graphite interior, manual shift 4x4. Current mods Gooseneck hitch,Ford Custom Molded Splash Guards and Y pipe with duals.




[This message has been edited by LHM (edited 06-12-2000).]

 

Thanks!


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Y2K™

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"