What upgrades for better mileage?

[JARichard]

OK I have a couple of questions. But first let me tell you what I want. I have figured out the math and a 2 to 3 mpg increase will pay for a new truck in 5 years. What boxes will increase my fuel mileage? Will I have to upgrade anything else to install them. Unfortunately, I have a SO with a 47RE (but the truck has plenty of power for my purposes. I don't pull a trailer I just haul around a ton once or twice a week). So will my wimpy transmission stop me from installing anything you would suggest? I used the excuse of a new exhaust on my 99 dodge 360 for better mileage but i knew that was horse crap. But it sounded good!!!! I am looking for something that will actually work.

Thanks IN Advance!!!!!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Best way ti improve MPG is to tape an egg to the throttle pedal...

 

[Prairie Dog]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

Best way ti improve MPG is to tape an egg to the throttle pedal...

:-laf :-laf :-laf



Good one Gary.



I hear Big Mac is advocating the 30,000 injector cleaning...

 

[Grunt]

LMBO!!!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

not sure about boxes, but some mild fueling increases will help... an air filter/box setup, a TAG, and a free flowing exhaust system will do nothing but help... it really boils down to driving style, but more agressive fueling does help to a point... (seems backwards I know)

 

[JARichard]

What IS TAG?

I already watch the pedal. I am planning on adding 315's and calibrating the system. Theoritically ( geez I hope i spelled that right) the larger tires should help cruising mpg's but i dont know if the aggressive treads will add drag cancelling the tire size help out.

PS I really dont want to start a war. I am looking for opinions and will listen to every ones opinion.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Hey - we're just a happy-go-lucky bunch of cut-ups here!

 

[Forrest Nearing]

TAG = Turbo Air Guide



taller effective gearing (taller tires) will help, but if they're wider and heavier and have a more agressive tread pattern, it can hurt more than it helps.



no wars, we're just havin' a good time!



Forrest

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

BUT, in all seriousness, if you have an overhead console that gives instantaneous MPG readouts, it can be a real eyeopener to see how quickly MPG goes to pot above 60 MPH or so - on my '02, the difference between 60 and 65 MPG is worth a minimum of 3 MPG when driving empty - more like 5 MPG when towing our 5er - and it gets even worse as speeds get higher



Little things like making sure none of your brake shoes are dragging, and inflate tires as much as reasonably practical to minimize rolling resistance - money spent on a good hard-surface bed cover if your normal operation permits will probably do as much for MPG as any other add-on you might buy...

 

[JARichard]

I worked on helicopters for a few years and we put something similar to a TAG on their intakes. I have thought about the bigger exhaust and an AFE. But I know on my 99 with a 360 the intake and exhaust didnt make any difference in mileage. Is a diesel that much different than a gasser? Has anyone added one item at a time and documented the differences? I have talked to people on here and it seems that they made several changes in the same day. So that what made the differences is hard to pin point.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

on the intake and exhaust, don't think of it as gasser vs. diesel... think of it as TURBO!!! an efficient intake and exhaust tract will allow the turbo to spool up much quicker and make the engine more efficient overall...



your 360 probably had a fairly well balanced setup from the factory... but the Cummins needs to BREATHE!!!!



Forrest

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by JARichard

I am planning on adding 315's and calibrating the system.

I think the 315's will help if you have 4. 10's but if you have 3. 73's then 285's might be better. My mpgs are good below 70 at 19. 5 unloaded and 14-16 loaded.

 

[ELongfellow]

Do larger tires (i. e. 285's vs 265's) help with cruising mpg?

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by ELongfellow

Do larger tires (i. e. 285's vs 265's) help with cruising mpg?

I think it depends on how fast you like to cruise. Seems like keeping the RPMs under 1900 really helps my MPG's so I look at the tach more than the speedo when on the open road.

 

[JARichard]

What i have gathered is maybe a TAG and air filter and exhaust!!!

I figured the guys in here could have given more than that. Maybe, I am the only fuel conscious one in here. Everyone else must be at the drag strip.

 

[RobbieH]

I did a mod that netted me about 45 mpg. I use a Honda Civic Hybrid for running around or trips I don't need the truck. Other than that you have a very heavy rig that has the aerodynamics of a barn door, I hope you didn't buy it expecting 30 mpg.

 

[mhenon]

10% increase in milage...easy!

JARichard, After having a tonoue cover installed on the truck my milage jumped instantly from 22 mpg to 24. 4 mpg. This is not some computer computation... . it has been checked over and over on long hauls across the country.

Don´t know if you want a bed cover but it´s a good way to pick up MPG.



Mike

 

[JARichard]

OK guys I hear everyone talking about 20 mpg's. If i accelerate and never reach 1800 rpms and never do over 70. I still only make 18 hand calculated. I do not have aggressive tires or anyhting. I thought about the bed cover. Roll N Lock makes a decent one. But I need the full 8' of bed to carry equiment. Plus I usually load with an overhead crane. You guys making 20 mpg

WHAT KINDA RIGS do you have? MANUALS OR AUTOS? Gears ? 2 or 4 wheel dRIVE? Tires? Modifications?

That is what I really want to KNOW!!!!

 

[jvmoore]

I have found this time of year where you fuel up can make a difference in the MPG also. If I fuel at the local FS hich is 7 or 8 % biodiesel mix I get 1 to 1. 5 mpg more than if I fill at the local Mobile station. Both by the trip computer and hand calculations. The biggest gains I made in my 95 was when I installed the boost gauge and did my best the stay under 10psi on the boost. WARNING TAKES ALL THE FUN OUT OF DRIVING A CTD!!! Oo.

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by JARichard

WHAT KINDA RIGS do you have? MANUALS OR AUTOS? Gears ? 2 or 4 wheel dRIVE? Tires? Modifications?

That is what I really want to KNOW!!!!

03 QC SB 2500 4x4, Auto, 3. 73's, 33" tires

No engine mods (yet)

The only mod that might affect the aerodynamics is that I pulled off the front air dam cuz I just don't care for the look of it and I lowered the rear 1. 25" to get rid of the stink bug look.



I keep it under 70 and get 19. 5 (manually calculated)

Hot rod it or hang weight on the back and it drops way off.

At that kind of mileage I could care less about more cuz its a heavy truck with tons of power.



I owned an injected Ford 460 gasser that got 10 unloaded so you can imagine I am a happy camper.



You have a long bed so I bet wind at speed is holding you back a little. The 3rd gens are not suppose to benefit from bed caps as much because most of the air goes over the gate but with an 8' bed I'm not so sure. Maybe try with the gate off or down to see if there is any effect?