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Improve Fuel Economy
- Thread starter DHiestand
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once apon a time...
There are LOTS of ways of improving the power for a CTD. Boxs, injectors, propane, turbos, and now even ECM's. Most people report gains in milage with most things that they put on. Simple things like 275hp injectors are the most common, and talked about way to improve milage, for a more advanced step then 4" stright pipe exhaust.
From what I have read over the past 1 1/2 years that I have been READING these forums is that no matter what you do to improve your power, it will improve your milage if you drive the smart (read slow) way. Not driving it like a hot rod it what i am refering to. If you improve power, and drive the same, your milage should improve by making the truck run smoother.
The best bet from what I have read for milage purposes would be:
1) Gagues, gagues, gagues!!!<B> Most improtant thing for truck</B>
2) 4" exhaust
3) Big Honking Air Filter/ K&N/Psyscotty <b> Less restrit air filter</b>
4) 275hp injectors
5) M. A. D. ECM (file 2)<b>[not avalible yet]</b>
6) over (under) drive unit.
This would be the best set up for milage purposes I can think of.
Any body else?
AJB
There are LOTS of ways of improving the power for a CTD. Boxs, injectors, propane, turbos, and now even ECM's. Most people report gains in milage with most things that they put on. Simple things like 275hp injectors are the most common, and talked about way to improve milage, for a more advanced step then 4" stright pipe exhaust.
From what I have read over the past 1 1/2 years that I have been READING these forums is that no matter what you do to improve your power, it will improve your milage if you drive the smart (read slow) way. Not driving it like a hot rod it what i am refering to. If you improve power, and drive the same, your milage should improve by making the truck run smoother.
The best bet from what I have read for milage purposes would be:
1) Gagues, gagues, gagues!!!<B> Most improtant thing for truck</B>
2) 4" exhaust
3) Big Honking Air Filter/ K&N/Psyscotty <b> Less restrit air filter</b>
4) 275hp injectors
5) M. A. D. ECM (file 2)<b>[not avalible yet]</b>
6) over (under) drive unit.
This would be the best set up for milage purposes I can think of.
Any body else?
AJB
Cheap way to better mileage
Lightfoot with the Rightfoot!
Use the Smith Driving System!
Use breaks sparingly!
Avoid stopping at traffics lights unecessarily by timing your arrival between intersections. If you can eliminate 1/10 of your stops for traffic lights you can avoid a lot of needless idling witing for the light to change. That equates to an average of 30-60 seconds idle time per light, and that doesn't even include decelaration/acceleration time.
A side benefit to this is you probably won't use up nearly as much of your nerve stems due to frustration and Road Rage, albeit is not as much fun as coal oiling some punks HIG DOLLAR Rap blasting stereo, or smoking some wannabe Hot Rodder between lights.
But it is fun to watch the other idiots who constantly change lanes to get in front only to find you right beside them and sometimes in front of them at the next light.
Lightfoot with the Rightfoot!
Use the Smith Driving System!
Use breaks sparingly!
Avoid stopping at traffics lights unecessarily by timing your arrival between intersections. If you can eliminate 1/10 of your stops for traffic lights you can avoid a lot of needless idling witing for the light to change. That equates to an average of 30-60 seconds idle time per light, and that doesn't even include decelaration/acceleration time.
A side benefit to this is you probably won't use up nearly as much of your nerve stems due to frustration and Road Rage, albeit is not as much fun as coal oiling some punks HIG DOLLAR Rap blasting stereo, or smoking some wannabe Hot Rodder between lights.
But it is fun to watch the other idiots who constantly change lanes to get in front only to find you right beside them and sometimes in front of them at the next light.If you read all the past threads, you'll find that some people report gains with boxes, while others remained ~ the same, +/- 0. 5 mpg. Look for boxes that adjust timing, like the VA and EZ; some boxes add fuel only and don't have any chance of helping mpg. Most people, and a past TDR article (paper version), report gains with 275 injectors. A few report no gain, or slight loss, with this same mod, and insist it wasn't their driving. Some report gains with better air filters and bigger exhausts; others including at least one reputable vendor, claim it helps EGT but with turbo-charged vehicles has minimal impact on MPG. I believe a second vendor (TST) claims their box has no impact on MPG, but that injectors do. If you don't have an EGT guage, add one - it helps you adjust your driving style for max MPG.
One approach is to get a good baseline for your current mpg, then buy one of the boxes and try it. If you don't get the desired effect, return it within the 30 or 60 day trial period. The makers of the EZ suggested this to me, so if you want to do it I'm sure they would accept the return without making a big fuss about it.
I second swamp rat's comments on the patented HC driving system, which was apparently STOLEN by some guy named Smith.
It's fun because it requires you to actually think ahead and adds a bit of challenge and strategy to the driving, and it works like a champ. And big plus for us stick shifters - less clutch wear than full stops. Only down side is that sometimes its really hard to avoid the temptation to just keep rolling when the guy who was behind you swerves around, pulls in front, and then stops at the light which was obviously already red when he saw fit to make his move. This is offset by the pleasure of often getting to roll past someone at 10 mph that just blew your doors off at 40 mph to race you up to the red light. And on a good day, it turns green before you get there, and you leave 'em waaaaay behind.
One approach is to get a good baseline for your current mpg, then buy one of the boxes and try it. If you don't get the desired effect, return it within the 30 or 60 day trial period. The makers of the EZ suggested this to me, so if you want to do it I'm sure they would accept the return without making a big fuss about it.
I second swamp rat's comments on the patented HC driving system, which was apparently STOLEN by some guy named Smith.
It's fun because it requires you to actually think ahead and adds a bit of challenge and strategy to the driving, and it works like a champ. And big plus for us stick shifters - less clutch wear than full stops. Only down side is that sometimes its really hard to avoid the temptation to just keep rolling when the guy who was behind you swerves around, pulls in front, and then stops at the light which was obviously already red when he saw fit to make his move. This is offset by the pleasure of often getting to roll past someone at 10 mph that just blew your doors off at 40 mph to race you up to the red light. And on a good day, it turns green before you get there, and you leave 'em waaaaay behind. 
I will play the "devils advocate" on fuel mileage... here is my though and something for you to consider.
The Data is as follows:
12 m/g $1. 20 /gal fuel = $. 10 /mile for fuel.
Increase mileage by 10%: 13. 2 m/g $1. 20 /gal fuel =$. 09/mile for fuel.
That nets you a saving of $. 01 / mile driven.
So if you spend for each $100 you spend to increase mileage you will have to drive 10,000 miles to recover your cost... If you follow this train of though it becomes apparent that spending money to raise fuel mileage is a loosing battle.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Slowing down from 65 to 60, will increase your mileage and on a 400 mile day will only increase your time in route by 1/2 hour.
2. You do not have to accelerate with your foot on the floorboard. If you can accelerate without spooling up the turbo there is a great increase in economy. I have an SLT + with the computer and I can tell you that when the turbo is kicked in the fuel MPG gauge reads somewhere in the 4 to 5 MPG range.
3. Plan yor accelerations. If you want to go faster don't do it on a hill. ( I know this sounds dumb. . but) accelerate down grade.
4. Run your tires at the recommended pressures. ( buy a very good digital gauge for under $20). Sacrafice a little ride.
5. If you have time to spare, listen to the radio and plan your trips so that they conencide with little or no wind on the nose of the vehicle. On a very windy day in the panhandle of Texas you can save more fuel money than it cost to stay at a campground. . I know because I have burned 70 gallons of fuel for 285 mile on one trip that I thought was urgent.
I will end this thread by saying, " If you want to impress your friends with the great mileage, go ahead and spend several hundred dolllars for all the trick stuff. If you want to make your wallet smile, use your head and a lot of common sense. "
Tom Hubbard
The Data is as follows:
12 m/g $1. 20 /gal fuel = $. 10 /mile for fuel.
Increase mileage by 10%: 13. 2 m/g $1. 20 /gal fuel =$. 09/mile for fuel.
That nets you a saving of $. 01 / mile driven.
So if you spend for each $100 you spend to increase mileage you will have to drive 10,000 miles to recover your cost... If you follow this train of though it becomes apparent that spending money to raise fuel mileage is a loosing battle.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Slowing down from 65 to 60, will increase your mileage and on a 400 mile day will only increase your time in route by 1/2 hour.
2. You do not have to accelerate with your foot on the floorboard. If you can accelerate without spooling up the turbo there is a great increase in economy. I have an SLT + with the computer and I can tell you that when the turbo is kicked in the fuel MPG gauge reads somewhere in the 4 to 5 MPG range.
3. Plan yor accelerations. If you want to go faster don't do it on a hill. ( I know this sounds dumb. . but) accelerate down grade.
4. Run your tires at the recommended pressures. ( buy a very good digital gauge for under $20). Sacrafice a little ride.
5. If you have time to spare, listen to the radio and plan your trips so that they conencide with little or no wind on the nose of the vehicle. On a very windy day in the panhandle of Texas you can save more fuel money than it cost to stay at a campground. . I know because I have burned 70 gallons of fuel for 285 mile on one trip that I thought was urgent.
I will end this thread by saying, " If you want to impress your friends with the great mileage, go ahead and spend several hundred dolllars for all the trick stuff. If you want to make your wallet smile, use your head and a lot of common sense. "
Tom Hubbard
MPG or Power....
When I bought my truck (Diesel ignorant at the time) I thought I would get 14 or 15 MPG.
I was so dissapointed when straight off the lot it was 11. 5
Got worse after I loaded it down... 10. 5
I came here looking for milage answers too. I went with the EZ and it improved milage . 5 MPG
A word of warning though, after installing the EZ you may adopt my new attitude... .
MILAGE BE DAMNED I WANT MORE POWER
Garrett
When I bought my truck (Diesel ignorant at the time) I thought I would get 14 or 15 MPG.
I was so dissapointed when straight off the lot it was 11. 5
Got worse after I loaded it down... 10. 5
I came here looking for milage answers too. I went with the EZ and it improved milage . 5 MPG
A word of warning though, after installing the EZ you may adopt my new attitude... .
MILAGE BE DAMNED I WANT MORE POWER
Garrett
Re: MPG or Power....
I think you should be getting better milage then that. 14-15 isnt hard to expect. I get about 19. And If im real good and not hot rodding ill get 20.
Originally posted by Big White Beast
When I bought my truck (Diesel ignorant at the time) I thought I would get 14 or 15 MPG.
I was so dissapointed when straight off the lot it was 11. 5
Got worse after I loaded it down... 10. 5
I came here looking for milage answers too. I went with the EZ and it improved milage . 5 MPG
A word of warning though, after installing the EZ you may adopt my new attitude... .
MILAGE BE DAMNED I WANT MORE POWER
Garrett
I think you should be getting better milage then that. 14-15 isnt hard to expect. I get about 19. And If im real good and not hot rodding ill get 20.
The first thing you need to learn about fuel mileage is:
EVERYONE LIES ABOUT MILEAGE except me.
I sold a motor home with a FURD 460 that go worst 6 mpg and best ever one time shot 9. 6. I bought a 12000# 5th fth wheel and decided that what I needed was ft# of torque so I bought a smelly, smoking, low RPM desiel... . ): What I found in the 6spd HO Cummins was a very nice surprise. It has more power than I need... (Sorry Ford lovers; but this thing stock blows your doors off. ) I hoped for 12 mpg on diesel fuel. What I got on my first trip was 11. 6. That is pulling a 5th wheel from North Texas to New York State on to Virginia and back home. A trip of over 4000 miles. Needless to say I was happy with the mileage and I am amazed at the power, and with a 3. 54 gear set. I love the feel of all that torque and do not even mind that it has a 3200 red line. My friends, who all drive new trucks with factory tow hooks in the front... . FORD... have gotten so tired of me braggin about the Dodge that they ask me not to use my CB when we are on trip. I told them that I would agree to that as long as they did not mind me breaking in once in a while to ask them to use a little more power so I did not hit them in the ARS...
I have found that the diesel LOVES oxygen. Not necessarly compressed; but just plain pure oxygen. Cool, dry air at sea level is where it is at it's best. On 100 degree days in a lot of humidity the mileage falls off. If you get in an area of high temperatures and blinding rain it goes bad...
Now for the best part, no lies, at 70 mph on the freeway, empty, I get 20+ mpg. All that and when I want to impress some SUPER HEAVY DUTY I can shift down and smoke the paint off their doors.
Here it is loud and simple... . I get better mileage than Ford and GM, I have more useable power, and that good old Cummins sure is louder, just like real desiels should be.....
EVERYONE LIES ABOUT MILEAGE except me.
I sold a motor home with a FURD 460 that go worst 6 mpg and best ever one time shot 9. 6. I bought a 12000# 5th fth wheel and decided that what I needed was ft# of torque so I bought a smelly, smoking, low RPM desiel... . ): What I found in the 6spd HO Cummins was a very nice surprise. It has more power than I need... (Sorry Ford lovers; but this thing stock blows your doors off. ) I hoped for 12 mpg on diesel fuel. What I got on my first trip was 11. 6. That is pulling a 5th wheel from North Texas to New York State on to Virginia and back home. A trip of over 4000 miles. Needless to say I was happy with the mileage and I am amazed at the power, and with a 3. 54 gear set. I love the feel of all that torque and do not even mind that it has a 3200 red line. My friends, who all drive new trucks with factory tow hooks in the front... . FORD... have gotten so tired of me braggin about the Dodge that they ask me not to use my CB when we are on trip. I told them that I would agree to that as long as they did not mind me breaking in once in a while to ask them to use a little more power so I did not hit them in the ARS...
I have found that the diesel LOVES oxygen. Not necessarly compressed; but just plain pure oxygen. Cool, dry air at sea level is where it is at it's best. On 100 degree days in a lot of humidity the mileage falls off. If you get in an area of high temperatures and blinding rain it goes bad...
Now for the best part, no lies, at 70 mph on the freeway, empty, I get 20+ mpg. All that and when I want to impress some SUPER HEAVY DUTY I can shift down and smoke the paint off their doors.
Here it is loud and simple... . I get better mileage than Ford and GM, I have more useable power, and that good old Cummins sure is louder, just like real desiels should be.....
Swamp Rat hit it "Right on".
Always accelerate slowly: Avoid quick starts.
Keep an even steady light pressure on the throttle when going down the road; just enuff to maintain your speed.
Monitor boost and attempt to keep it as low as possible.
Anticipate hills and get a slow run at them, when you can.
Don't use cruise control except on flat terrain; it can't anticipate hills, etc. and provides full throttle when not necessary.
The truck is not nearly as much fun to drive following the above but you will really see a dramatic mpg increase. I went from 16 to 18. 2 mpg mixed city/hwy (loaded weight 7,600#). I would suspect even better results on a "road trip".
By the way, I think I can live with the 16 mpg, so I'm going back to my old ways. I miss the "FUN" too much!!!
Good Luck,
FDz
Always accelerate slowly: Avoid quick starts.
Keep an even steady light pressure on the throttle when going down the road; just enuff to maintain your speed.
Monitor boost and attempt to keep it as low as possible.
Anticipate hills and get a slow run at them, when you can.
Don't use cruise control except on flat terrain; it can't anticipate hills, etc. and provides full throttle when not necessary.
The truck is not nearly as much fun to drive following the above but you will really see a dramatic mpg increase. I went from 16 to 18. 2 mpg mixed city/hwy (loaded weight 7,600#). I would suspect even better results on a "road trip".
By the way, I think I can live with the 16 mpg, so I'm going back to my old ways. I miss the "FUN" too much!!!
Good Luck,
FDz
I run my truck on level 9 of the Powermax3 ALL THE TIME, it gets better mileage that way.
my truck has run some 1750. 68 gallons through now, to the tune of $2522. 19 its worst per tank mileage was 13. 63 and the best has been 20. 99 overall I have averaged 18. 9MPG in 36XXX miles.
yaaaa, I have spent some money on it, but... ... ... ... ... it was spent to get more power, the mileage just came with it.
my truck has run some 1750. 68 gallons through now, to the tune of $2522. 19 its worst per tank mileage was 13. 63 and the best has been 20. 99 overall I have averaged 18. 9MPG in 36XXX miles.
yaaaa, I have spent some money on it, but... ... ... ... ... it was spent to get more power, the mileage just came with it.
I guess I should tell you that I raced cars on road courses and dirt as well as racing an airplane on closed courses. All this was amature and paid for out of my own pocket; so I guess you can say I love speed and power as well as the next guy. My grandsons drive 1/4 Midget race cars and think it is a kick in the shorts whem grandpa shifts into third and hits the go fast pedal. They have never ridden in any thing that sets you back in the seat. I think what they wish is that the races cars had the "snort" that the HO has. Great fun is to poke along behind someone at 55 and then hit it in 6th gear and pull around them. It is not problem and a whole lot of fun to go from 55 to 80 while passing.
Does the Ram get good mileage there... Ha ha! Who cares; but when you go a trailer in tow and going a long way it is nice to cut the fuel cost. The greatest part is that you can do it all with just one vehicle... . Hmmmm I can make my Ram faster and more powerful... Maybe I will have to check into that.
Tom Hubbard
Does the Ram get good mileage there... Ha ha! Who cares; but when you go a trailer in tow and going a long way it is nice to cut the fuel cost. The greatest part is that you can do it all with just one vehicle... . Hmmmm I can make my Ram faster and more powerful... Maybe I will have to check into that.
Tom Hubbard
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Issue 128 – Digital Version
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Renew
Subscribe
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Back Issues
Subscription Status
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