Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Fuel mileage trick's?

[Beach]

I really hate the cost of fuel these day's and was wondering if there's anything to help with mileage even a little bit? I don't want to sell my truck since I just finished payment's a few month's ago and I know I'd never get out of it what I've got into it. I am planning on buying a house in a few month's and I'm spending around 400-450 a month in fuel. I know that's probably not much to some of you, but to me, it's alot! I can't see myself driving a 1/2 ton whatever or a car, so I figured driving habit's need to change and maybe some thing else someone might have up there sleeve? Thank's for any suggestion's!

 

[FourBarR]

most fuel saving tips are pretty well known. however most people dont want to do them.

1- no heavey right foot.

2- keep tires to right pressure

3- do not add power above stock, unless it is proven to add mileage.

4- Keep the weight of the truck to minimum. dont add a lot of accesories.

5- stay away from over size tires.

6- Use lighter weight oil especially in colder weather.

7- reduce air drag where ever possible.



Hope this is of some help, when I no longer need my truck for work I will be driving a car getting 50 m. p. g.

 

[Reddog1]

Your truck probably gets as good or better MPG than a gasser 1/2-ton. I suggest you ask around, especially those that you can trust in telling the truth.


Wayne

 

[RDMueller]

I have always heard that for a diesel much more so than a gasser, slowing down makes a big difference. Seems like I remember reading that slowing from 75 to 55 increased mileage 5-10% in a gas vehicle but 20% or more in a diesel. Don't know why that would be true or if it even applies to trucks, but it might be worth a test.

 

[PRout]

Some people say to try to keep egt's at, or under 600 degrees. Also increased timing with a lighter right foot.

 

[dseabaugh]

I don't know about your newer truck but I can get 23-24 mpg with a light foot at 50-55 mph and 16-17 mpg at 75. If I drive it like I stole it, then all mileage goes out the window; 10 mpg which is almost twice what my last gasser chevrolete got anyway. :-laf

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Since diesels like to be worked driving real easy all the time can take a toll especially if a lot of it is short-trip driving. It's a lot easier for deposits to build without good heat to burn them off after awhile, and mileage will suffer. Always run a good fuel additive since the detergency will reduce deposit accumulation.

 

[rweis]

dseabaugh - "I don't know about your newer truck but I can get 23-24 mpg with a light foot at 50-55 mph"



I get that also, light foot, 55 mph max, time the stop lights so you do not have to stop.



Then figuer your total miles per year and figure what ever mpg the car gets vs the truck. The cost of fuel for car vs cost of fuel for truck. Truck is paid for, figuer the cost of the loan on the car. Add it all up.



You may find that your fuel cost is higher in the truck, but when you add in the car payment the truck is cheaper to operate.



Bob Weis

 

[TboneMan]

Drive the speed limit and accelerate slowly. You'll see a 2-3 mpg gain.

 

[JAG1]

I think people need to slow down anyhow. Seems to be a lot of 'Mad Max drivers out there.

Went thru the state of Washington awhile ago. It was so nice the way everyone obeyed the speed laws. Made my trip fun, happy. Thank you to the nine or ten State Troopers we saw along the way. What a world of difference when everyone was so concerned about their fuel mileage

 

[2-ND TIME]

Driving for milage!

Well it did cost me about $200 a month in fuel in 1976 for fuel so have been watching the cost since then. In 78 I started to write down all things that I did to a vehicle. Date, mileage, odoemeter , price per liter, km's/ liter. This km's per hundred I think is stupid! Work order #'s Well you get the point. This keeps track of everything and numbers are hard to argue againest.



1. synthetic oils through out. about 9% slipperier.

2. tires (I have used good Michilen tires M/S. These are a none mud tire but good for the road and some mud for hunting time. Less friction loss. Tire pressure it important but don't over pressure them figureing that that will be better you still want proper tire wear.

3. Light acceleration and dethrottle before that stop sign/ stop light. No carrier deck landings any more!

4. Only use that truck when there are a number of things for it to do! Car as well don't stop in for milk and ??? in the corner store.

5 Don't know which might be better for you but in the mid 80's CAA said that the truck covers were about 7% better for fuel milage, and that canopies were about 13% better for fuel milage. Read some where lately that the numbers are still about the same so besides making the truck more useable better fuel milage. ( don't get a low one just to save slightly on milage toooo hard on the back and won't like it!)

6. For your car (yes different now but) had mine tuned years ago because got better fuel milage burning premium then reg gas. It did cost 10% more but got 15% better fuel milage. So that 5 % was in my pocket not the oil companies. With the synthetics this helped about 10% so this all added up in saved money. Let your engine warmup and let it sit for a few mins to cool down before you shut it off.



Had a conversation with one of the welders at work last year his wife would shut off the engine right away when she got some where and he had to replace the starter 3 times in the 100,000 km's so there is no savings or better for emissions there!

 

[JesseJ]

Take your fan off. It's wasted energy turning that much rotating mass. That being said, if you tow anything, not a good idea to remove the fan, however you sound like it is mostly used for commuting. Obviously you should take apart your front end and clean everything out, rad. , condensor, intercooler, etc. From my own personal experience, after cleaning out everything in the front end I was able to run 80MPH empty on the interstate A/C on 95F outside temp. and my fan never came on. obviously you take your own risks doing it, need to watch the temp. gauge etc. but I did gain a bit of mileage removing the fan, around 1. 2mpg. As everyone else already said, slowing down and keeping your foot out of it will always make the biggest difference. If nothing else, you could at least remove it in the winter.

 

[DCreed]

bear in mind that if you're on the brakes you're wasting fuel. studies have shown most fuel is used accelerating so move the right foot slowly to get best results, and yes 600*.