I am considering switching to the electric fans and while I realize that "your mileage may vary", it seems that most are experiencing some pretty decent MPG increases. My question is this, are the MPG increases not going to be as significant on longer highway type trips?? At highway speeds it seems like the OEM fan will probably be freewheeling anyway. I have an '01 F150 with a 5.4L engine with about 85,000 miles.

Will the MPG gains not be there (as much) with highway driving????

I know that this will vary from driver to driver but I would consider myself a conservative type driver and will be puling a trailer (5000 lbs) on the highway. If (as a lot of what I have read) I am able to get a 2 - 3 MPG increase with highway driving this would be significant for me.

What do you guys think??

Steve

 

See the last two pages of the 'Tidewater VA?" thread in the Mid Atlantic forum. I explained my findings from initial installation to a 900+ mile (one way) road trip. Bottom line, @ 65mph across Kentucky on I-64 with a completely packed 2001 SuperCrew, 4.6 4WD I averaged 18.75mpg. The best I'd ever done previously was 17-17.9 and that was empy.

 

Thanks Pony,

I am really struggling with this. We make frequesnt trips to a place about 4 1/2 hours south of us pulling a trailer with 4 wheelers. If the gains are there I can see a pretty quick payback from doing this. The performance is not a major issue. I bought this truck used and as stock as it is it flat moves no problems there. That is with 31" oversized tires and a 3.31 rear end. (no my speedometer has not been readjusted and has about a 13% error so current mileage estimates are just that). I am not a motorhead and don't get into squealing the tires. I just figured with this long of a trip, a couple of miles per gallon can pay back pretty quick. We are going there twice in November and again in December. If I am doing the math properly (and I know mileage estimates can vary) but say a 3 MPG increase (which may be unrealistic) for two trips down there, on the second trip the gas is free on the way back (so to speak).

 

Well 1.25-1.5 mpg is a more realistic expectation IMO. Then again I drive like a peckerhead.

I put about 24,000 miles on my truck last year so I will see a return on my investment a bit sooner than the average driver. Plus my family is 3.5 hours away in either direction, my wife's is 600 miles away. They won't turn your rig into a fire breathing monster but you'll have a smoother throtle response and a bit more hp to pull those 4 wheelers.

 

i only got about a 1/2 MPG improvement with E-FAns, but i get horible MPG anyway,

 

I have been lookin ginto e-fans also. Any suggested brands, I have found troyer but any others suggested?

 

I went with the Troyer fans for my first go round. The few extra dollars they cost are well worth it for the technical info you get with the kit. It's especially nice for the first time E-fan installation. IMO.

 

hopefully mine will be in this week and ill have em put in but im expecting 1-2 at best...

 

What milage are you getting with the truck empty since the install... curious as to the apples to apples comparison.

 

Well I still have the truck half full of crap!

Realistically I'm gettin about a mile per gallon better on average. Although lately I've been driving kinda hard in the city and my truck is still used to highway driving from earlier this week, AAAAAND I forgot to reset the trip odometer the last time I filled up. In the city I think I went up ~1.8mpg and 1-1.5 on the highway as far as I can tell. I'll likely go to MD this weekend so I'm going to TRY to keep it @ 65mph to see what I average on that trip. Next weekend I plan on driving 261 miles to see some friends in NC. I'll keep you all posted. IMHO though they're worth the money if you plan on keeping the truck a few years.

 

I looked at the pictures of the troyer setup, and decided to spend another $35 and get the flex-a-lite kit. The flex-a-lite kit is superior quality to anything I have visually seen. Its easy as anything to install, only took about 2 hours, and the first hour was putting together the wiring. The shroud has a real nice rubber gasket aroound it, fits absolutely perfectly. It came with a temp adjustable circuit, and all the wires/connections and so forth needed. I ended up paying $399 for the setup, + $39 for next day air shipping. And the difference is there for the performance minded at high rpms with no mechanical fan to weigh you down.

 

Hmmm, I have no knowledge of the flex-a-lite kit. Do you have a link? I'd like to check it out.

 

I found this link, didn't find a store yet though.

http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html...-electric.html

 

Hmm, interesting but it's really hard to tell the difference between the two over the internet. The 270 looks like it may mount easier if the radiator is in the vehicle though. Eh, I don't think you can go wrong with either one really.

 

that error of 13% is about 2-3mpg. it also effects shift points and the ability to get into and out of overdrive. buy the fans they give at least a solid 1-2mpg increase, iv'e had mine for a year now. 33" tires with 3.55 rear gear and lifted body, was 10-12mpg before, now 14.5-15.5 in town and 16-18 highway..loaded or towing.
Randy