Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Upgrades for MPG

[Bisonbreath]

Hi Guys:



I'm new to the forum (but not to my Cummins) & have a rather large question to ask: I'm running a box stock 01 2500 4X4 with a 5 speed with 72K miles on the unit. 99% of the time this is my around town daily driver, but once or twice a year I put on a Hallmark (in bed)popup truck camper & go towards the Rockies. I really have no complaints with power as it is now, but want every inch I can get out of a gallon of diesel. What simple mods can I do to improve mmy MPG?

I'm thinking air box (pretty much any of them).

Larger exhast (once again probably any of them) BUT, do I go cat back or turbo back?

Should I consider some type of tuning box? My searches say DR Performance isn't the way to go, but what units are good without frying the engine?

Any help is appreciated.

Bisonbreath

 

[NWhitney]

Air filter BHAF, AFE, or Scotty II all would be good choices. Exhaust... 4" is big enough, and Aluminized is good enough unless you want a show truck. Gauges will help you a lot! I know this sounds silly but a boost gauge and an EGT gauge will help you run your truck in the best possible way to achieve fuel efficiency. Under 5psi boost and less that 700Deg F Pre Turbo is best. Make sure you have a Fuel PSI gauge so don't waste all your saved fuel money on a new VP44. A timing box will help as long as you don't play with your new power all the time. An EDGE EZ or VAN AKKEN are both great boxes for this reason. Injector can also help... a used set of RV275's or some MACH 1. 5's would do the trick. Smaller is better.

 

[Fishin Guide]

From my experiences on an ETC engine with an auto and 3. 54 gears.



BHAF netted 0 miles per gallon.



4" exhaust netted 0 miles per gallon.



Edge EZ netted 2. 5 mile per gallon.



Bigger injectors netted another 1. 5 miles per gallon.



My truck didn't do really well on milage when I got it. I put almost 35K on it before my 1st BOMB, and hiway milage was never better than 16. I now get around 21-22 running empty on the hiway, box set on lowest settings.



Dave

 

[ox1]

If these inj and box settings help - why wouldn't they have been like that from the factory? Is this an emmisions thing where emmisions trump fuel economy in someones eyes?



Is there anyreliability issues maybe?



How many $ did these upgrades cost and what doo you finger is the payback time? (I can doo that math if I just had the costs... )





Doo most folks see that kinda dramatic diff with those same mods?

 

[Fishin Guide]

I think the factory is limited as to the performance aspect by emmission standards. Want more power, takes more work to do it clean. That's why the 3rd gens are able to put it ut from the factory.



Reliability is always an issue and anytime you increase the performance potential of an engine, you are taxing it, the trans, rear ends, ect. More to it than the engine lighting every day.



I have found that on the ETC motors almost everyone I have spoken with has netted an increase in milage with a simple timing type box. I ended up going to a DDUFM to get a little less timing to go with my bigger injectors.



My old EZ, M3 combo did 388HP. Don't know what I am at with the wire tapped and a bigger sticks. Besides, I need more air.



Dave

 

[Big A]

The best mileage help, came from the bosch 275 injectors. The EZ did not help, the TST did not help. The 4" exhaust helped when pulling heavy loads. I don't believe in aftermarket air intake kits. I think they're noisy, and two of my buddies that have them, have honestly said that they were not worth the money. The only place the EZ and the TST helped, was in the overhead computer, but as far as figuring mileage by hand, any difference was negligible. I will also add, that the EZ made the truck clatter more.

Big A

 

[Bisonbreath]

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the information. Big A, what mileage increase did you get with the Bosch injector upgrade? Also, can I go turbo back with a 4" exhaust (eliminating the cataclysmic converter) legally?

 

[NWhitney]

You don't have a cat on your truck bisonbreath. You have a resonating chamber and a muffler.

 

[Big A]

Thanks, guys. I really appreciate the information. Big A, what mileage increase did you get with the Bosch injector upgrade? Also, can I go turbo back with a 4" exhaust (eliminating the cataclysmic converter) legally?

I will tell you that it was better than 1. 5mpg. Keep in mind, that alot of the driving is towing. Pulling a 30ft 10,000+ lb 5th wheel I got around 13mpg at speeds from 55 to 65 on a 4500 mile trip. The trip started in Colorado, and went up through the northwest, down the coastline, and back home over the Rockies. Also you can do a 4" turbo back exhaust, and I would recommend 2 mufflers. The exhaust helped my towing mileage also. Alot of this depends on driving style of course. I'm fairly easy on my truck. However, I like to pass those other brands when pulling the hills.

Big A

 

[WadePatton]

If these inj and box settings help - why wouldn't they have been like that from the factory? Is this an emmisions thing where emmisions trump fuel economy in someones eyes?



Is there anyreliability issues maybe?



How many $ did these upgrades cost and what doo you finger is the payback time? (I can doo that math if I just had the costs... )





Doo most folks see that kinda dramatic diff with those same mods?

There's a lot of stuff they DONT do that should be done at the factory. Can you say GAUGES?



And YES, most everybody who has put 275's in has seen better mileage. Do some "search and reading. "

 

[SnoKing]

Biggest increase you can make is free. Drive a little slower. Mileage on these trucks is effected quite a bit if you drive fast. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. Then think about mid injectors, EZ Edge, Exhaust and intake. But remember you will most likely never get your money back in fuel savings.



You might also clean your IAT and MAP sensors. That is known to improve mileage. You did not state your current mileage numbers or gear ratio, so we have no way to compare to a correctly running truck.



SNOKING

 

[Hohn]

Snoking is right to bring up the return-on-investment of MPG enhancements.



The truth is, there is NO single thing you can do to your truck the will increase the MPG enough to pay for itself in a reasonable amount of time. The closest thing to a cost-effective BOMB is the RV275 injector. As an exercise, say you paid $250 on Ebay for some 275s. Also say that Diesel is $2. 50/gallon (and probably headed higher). You might get another 1 or 1. 5mpg from 275s.



So i 275s raise your hwy mpg from 18. 5 to 20mpg, your cost per mile has gone from 13. 5 cents/mile to 12. 5 cents/mile and you'd be "recovering" ONE CENT for every mile you drove with your 275s.



Since you paid $250 for your injectors, it would therefore take you 25000 miles to recover the cost of your injectors (1 cent per mile, 25000 cents in $250).



This is a near-ideal scenario. There's a 99% chance that you would never see such a cost recovery so soon. It's more likely to take hundreds of thousands of miles to recover the cost. The more you spend in search of MPG, the more likely it is that you will never even break even.



Thus, BOMB because you want to, not because you think it may pay for itself.



jlh

 

[JFitzgerald]

Biggest increase you can make is free. Drive a little slower. Mileage on these trucks is effected quite a bit if you drive fast. Slow down and enjoy the scenery. SNOKING

Very true. I have been trying to slow down. $75 fillups are not fun. Also I have been experimenting with "drafting". Find someone running about the speed you want to run, follow them and let them break the wind. Makes a big difference. Doesn't have to be a semi either. I notice an even bigger difference on a busy expressway. Hint: don't follow so close as to be annoying or tailgating, and it still helps.

 

[The Red Goat]

Lighter foot best way to increase milage.



In my experience better air filter, bigger exhaust, bigger injectors, and a box work to decrease milage because of heavier foot and bigger smile.