Fuel Mileage increaser

[EMoroney]

I am looking to see if anybody knows which one of the major computer chip upgrades/kit/boxes for the 5. 9 engine gives you an actual boost in your miles per gallon. I have an '03 CTD 6 speed dually that is stock except for an ATS manifold. I am not looking for big horsepower and torque upgrades necessarily either.



Thanks for the help.



EMoroney

 

[steved]

I've been looking at the Granatelli Mileage Mizer... IIRC, they claim 3mpg.

I think most of the smaller "chips" give a 1-2 mpg increase...

steved

 

[jelag]

I posted on another thread that after almost 40 years in this industry... . and with almost 1000 hours using a dyno on cars I've learned this... .

The mass of the vehicle, wind resistance and speed that you accelerate will influence fuel economy more than any other item... . my wife always gets 2 - 4 mpg better than I because she drives slower, and accelerates slower and watches traffic.....

You can change a lot of things on an engine or vehicle to get more HP and Torque and faster 1/2 mile acceleration but its very hard to gain a real 2 mpg with simple changes... .

We used to offer vendors free time on the dyno to prove their products would improve fuel economy, and in the years that we tested stuff the only improvement we found was SLICK 50 in the OIL, Transmission, and Rear end... and at the time to treat all three was close to $150 and it was a 10 month payback at the time... . it wasn't cost effective... everything else we tested didn't work... .

I would not spend money to improve fuel economy, I can't see where it would pay off... . Lets say I drive 20K miles a year... . and get 3% better economy, that means that I'll spend about 97% on the fuel cost to go the same mileage...

If I get 15 MPG now at $3. 00 a gallon that's a annual fuel cost of 20K/15*3. 00=$4000. 00 now lets save 3% $120. 00 a year and now I spend $750. 00 to do that... . 750/120=6. 25 years to pay back... . at 20K miles a year... . not a good investment... . If I put that 750. 00 in a good mutual fund at 5. 25% yield = that's almost $40 interest... .

Just my thoughts on the matter... . your truck might be different...

 

[chwhit]

I guess I can't really argue with JELAG. If you look at it with his point of view, you can't argue at all over a chip vs mutual fund, plus I'd say he's got some experience with vehicle performance enhancers. I had an edge juice and liked the power but didn't buy it for that, I wanted better mileage, I tested normal driving on every setting from economy (20 hp) to the 80 hp setting, I found my mileage to stay the exact same. I do have a buddy who says that his smarty got him 2 extra mpg's (60 horse setting), that was hand calulated over a number of tanks.

 

[cclark746]

i have ran alot of chips from the edge ez, edge juice, tst, mp8 and i can not dissagree with the statement above but i do know this my truck is a whole more driveable with the smarty i run it on 60hp w/timing and i have noticed a significant gain in fuel mileage. depending on what i am doin at least a gain of 2 miles to the gallon. love my smarty cant would suggest it to any one looking for mileage gain.

 

[cerberusiam]

i have ran alot of chips from the edge ez, edge juice, tst, mp8 and i can not dissagree with the statement above but i do know this my truck is a whole more driveable with the smarty i run it on 60hp w/timing and i have noticed a significant gain in fuel mileage. depending on what i am doin at least a gain of 2 miles to the gallon. love my smarty cant would suggest it to any one looking for mileage gain.

. . and my mileage is noticeably lower with the Smarty than stock. Some I am sure has to do with the factor and the right foot so it is really hard to tell.



The most consistent mileage makers are: rigth foot control and speed.

 

[JHardwick]

If I put that 750. 00 in a good mutual fund at 5. 25% yield = that's almost $40 interest... .

excellent write up ... ... ... ... . except I'd find a different investment broker

 

[wcjp]

I gained 1mpg with the Smarty on 60hp w/timing. The best thing about the Smarty is reducing torque management. The truck now moves out.

 

[cclark746]

. . and my mileage is noticeably lower with the Smarty than stock. Some I am sure has to do with the factor and the right foot so it is really hard to tell.



The most consistent mileage makers are: rigth foot control and speed.

most certainly that is the main factor, but i can contest to driving the same way everyday that my right foot is really heavy yea i like to smoke out the intersection and leave alittle rubber ok maybe alot of rubber but in the end i have drivin the same way with all the above chips and never seen a gain in mileage execpt with the smarty.

 

[EMoroney]

Thanks to all for your imput on the fuel mileage increaser subject. Good food for thought.