Hello everyone!
Next week I should have a 98 F150 in my driveway. When my tax check comes in, I'll go pick it up. While waiting I've been looking over some mods to do. Since my primary goal is good gas mileage I'm looking to make the engine more efficient. The truck is a 2x4 XL SB with the V6 5 speed combo. I would like to upgrade the exhaust first. With only a catback exhaust installed, would the mileage increase any or would you have to upgrade the intake and install a chip to? I know you want most mods to compliment each other, I was just wondering if the catback by itself would help any. I had thought about installing only a better muffler, but that may only change the sound and nothing else.
I have a 2000 Z28 and I put a flowmaster catback, cold air kit, and a better airbox. My mileage did increase. But, with the better sounding engine you want to put your foot in it more which then defeats your goal of better mileage. My original goal was make the F150 my daily driver and have my camaro as my weekend toy. However after reading all the good stuff on this board I want to do some mods to this truck. In a nutshell, I don't want to spend alot of money and only get a 1 mpg improvement.
Thanks for any help or advice.
Joe

 

Cat-back, intake kit, and chip/tuner yield marginal, if any, improvement in gas mileage. Their forte is performance. The first line of defense to maximize mpg is proper maintenance and tune. Otherwise, I had the largest improvement with electric fans and underdrive pulleys. Even with those, the cost offset cancels most of the improvement.

 

Thats what I was wondering. This is a truck and its not going to get awesome gas mileage. Like you said, good maintenance is the key.
Joe

 

Exactly, an inefficient engine in an aerodynamic brick. Happy modding !

 

My 02 has 30,000 miles on it and it does it. My 02 avalaon and xterra do the same thing when its cold only. It's normal.

 

Max,is right Marginal. But what I have found to gave the best mileage increase is FuelPower 60.
It's a fuel system cleaner and MPG Increaser. You can only buy it online . I am not a salesman of the product or have anything to do with the product, accept that I'm a user of it. I can tell you more if you email me. From the first tank of gas to the one I'm on now FP 60 has improved my Truck and Suv mileage by 1 to 2 MPG.
Depending on my leadfootedness at the time.

www.Lubecontrol.com

And if you want to know more info on product from another users point of view go to
www.bobistheoilguy.com
and look under fuel addivites.