Need to increase Fuel Efficiency!

[laurenlex]

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: Rallispec
get a cover for the bed of your truck

Does this really Help? I know it would help with the aero dynamics but is it really noticable?

Removing the tailgate might be a more financially helpful idea, since adding a cap will cost money and weighs more.

Do you have a link on how to do this. I have tried looking at my truck and I cannot tell how it would come off...

Lower the tailgate about 45 degrees or so. Pull one side towards you. Or the other side. You will figure it out. Remove the cable straps. Bingo.

I think there have been studies and this does not help either. Might even hurt MPG.

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: gutharius
Need to increase the fuel efficiency of my truck. I currently average 16-17 MPG. Would like to increase this. I have read K&N filter kits can help with this. Tho' I have not been able to find any info on the intarweb to substantiate this. Is there anything else I can do besides the Air intake, and trade in (financial reasons prevent this), that will help boost fuel efficiency?

TIA

Update: I don't drive my car like a sports car. I generally drive 55 even though the speed limit is 60 on the highways. There are no un necesarry items in my truck that do not belong. (Sort of a clean freak here.) As far as AC goes it's texas in the summer. Need I say more?

I've never seen any increase in fuel economy from those kits. They make big claims but generally they don't deliver. What do those kits cost? $200-300?

Even if you got 1 mpg more you would save what...$100/yr on gas? It would take you 2-3 years just to recoup the cost of the kit alone, forget about realizing any decent savings in your wallet.

If you really want better mileage get rid of the truck and buy a car.

You may be right on the trade in. I have not actually went in and enquired about a trade in. Perhaps I will do that this weekend. If gas were to hit $3 a gallon I would end up spending around $150 every 2 WEEKS just for gas. As the price of oil keeps going up and up I am getting worried the price of gas is soon to follow.

 

[cjgallen]

I saw a wind tunnel test a while back, and simply leaving the tailgate down was more aerodynamic than a cover.

Is this truck an automatic or stick?

Foot control will have the biggest impact on gas mileage. Spending money on parts to save money on gas is just dumb IMO.

 

[gutharius]

Automatic

 

[gutharius]

Originally posted by: laurenlex

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: Rallispec
get a cover for the bed of your truck

Does this really Help? I know it would help with the aero dynamics but is it really noticable?

Removing the tailgate might be a more financially helpful idea, since adding a cap will cost money and weighs more.

Do you have a link on how to do this. I have tried looking at my truck and I cannot tell how it would come off...

Lower the tailgate about 45 degrees or so. Pull one side towards you. Or the other side. You will figure it out. Remove the cable straps. Bingo.

I think there have been studies and this does not help either. Might even hurt MPG.

Your right. Just tried it.

Edit: Er, I mean getting the tail gate off. Not the increase in milage. Will test it tho...

 

[scorpmatt]

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: laurenlex

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: Rallispec
get a cover for the bed of your truck

Does this really Help? I know it would help with the aero dynamics but is it really noticable?

Removing the tailgate might be a more financially helpful idea, since adding a cap will cost money and weighs more.

Do you have a link on how to do this. I have tried looking at my truck and I cannot tell how it would come off...

Lower the tailgate about 45 degrees or so. Pull one side towards you. Or the other side. You will figure it out. Remove the cable straps. Bingo.

I think there have been studies and this does not help either. Might even hurt MPG.

Your right. Just tried it.

It is illegal to drive around here w/out a tailgate on. and the wind tunnel thing... im not sure about that, if you have a cover directly over a bed, hence a toneau (sp?) cover, that is well reinforced, it would be better than having all that air being held in their by air, and canopys that leave gaps or that sitck out above the roof of the cab or stick out on the sides will cause drag, hence worse MPG

 

[jonjonsanfru]

Just chiming in because i feel your pain, i drive a '98 B4000 4dr 2wd... in Cali. Good for my frequent trips to Home Depot, but sometimes i really miss my neon... for the MPG and the zoooOOM! factor. I get about 280 miles per tank, what is it... like 16 gallon tank? So looks like they didn't improve anything the following year gas mileage wise Just put in a $130 MP3 deck from Crutchfield and pretend you get better mileage while you jam, seems to work for me /nod.

But yeah, the light truck class is never that concerned with fuel efficiency :roll: trade in for a '01-'04 Corolla... great mileage, cheap price, good contruction, and not bad looking.

Edit: Oh yeah, mine is stick... booyah!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: echo4747
Many tire stores are offering to fill your tires with nitrogen rather than compressed air. They are claiming its possible to save up to $100/yr on gasoline. I don't know if its true.. but maybe other forum members can elaborate on this

Regular air is already 78% nitrogen. How much difference can another 22% make?

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: echo4747
Many tire stores are offering to fill your tires with nitrogen rather than compressed air. They are claiming its possible to save up to $100/yr on gasoline. I don't know if its true.. but maybe other forum members can elaborate on this

Regular air is already 78% nitrogen. How much difference can another 22% make?

haha owned.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: echo4747
Many tire stores are offering to fill your tires with nitrogen rather than compressed air. They are claiming its possible to save up to $100/yr on gasoline. I don't know if its true.. but maybe other forum members can elaborate on this

Regular air is already 78% nitrogen. How much difference can another 22% make?

Helium would have been more amusing

 

[hevnsnt]

Originally posted by: gutharius

Originally posted by: lilcam

Originally posted by: hevnsnt
buy a motorcycle

exactly what I did!

Have to many friends and acquantences with metal plates in their heads because of motorcylce accidents. As well as the people that can barely walk and are permanently dsfigured for life because of them. So no...

Yeah, none of us know ANYONE that has EVER been hurt in a car or truck.. :disgust:

 

[jaedaliu]

it's probably time to replace your spark plugs

get your fuel injection system cleaned (not sure if this really helps)

high mileage? replace the fuel filter.

 

[iversonyin]

trade in for a used civic

 

[echo4747]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: echo4747
Many tire stores are offering to fill your tires with nitrogen rather than compressed air. They are claiming its possible to save up to $100/yr on gasoline. I don't know if its true.. but maybe other forum members can elaborate on this

Regular air is already 78% nitrogen. How much difference can another 22% make?

haha owned.

benefits of filling tires with nitrogen here: http://www.tommcmahon.net/2004/11/fill_your_tires.html

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: echo4747

Originally posted by: Cattlegod

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: echo4747
Many tire stores are offering to fill your tires with nitrogen rather than compressed air. They are claiming its possible to save up to $100/yr on gasoline. I don't know if its true.. but maybe other forum members can elaborate on this

Regular air is already 78% nitrogen. How much difference can another 22% make?

haha owned.

benefits of filling tires with nitrogen here: http://www.tommcmahon.net/2004/11/fill_your_tires.html

Scroll down to the fourth comment on that page.