Is ther any tricks to improving your fuel mileage that are free and if not what are some mods that will improve it that are cheep and wont need a new transmission i have a 2001 with an auto trans and a 4" straight pipe

 

Ya! put a block of wood under the accelerator

 

free: don't cob the throttle at every stoplight.... keep your RPM's below 2000(depending on your rear gears)

cheap: Edge EZ/TST Powermax(stage 1) or similar mild chip.... some mild injectors.

 

Check your tires! Proper inflation is free!

 

The best advice so far has been to keep your R's below 2000. Before all the mods I could easily see 24MPG actual as long as I did the speed limit or 3-4 miles above. 65MPH is tops in Ohio.

 

Yes , keeping your rev's below 2k is a biggie Also try not to idle the truck too much (but I guess that goes without saying)

 

drafting

 

Few things to try...

* Reduce the payload of you truck - clean it out...(don't haul more than you have too!)
* Tires pressure - Stock pressures +5 to 10 PSI no more than maximum rating of the tire!
* Stay with stock tire sizes 265/75R16 (easier to turn)
* Air filter - change when dirty...(Or like every 20-25K miles) or BOMB to a Scotty ][ or BHAF
* Clean you IAT Sensor (If you have a jake)
* Use Proper gears (don't lug or race the engine - stay between 1,500 - 2,000 RPM)
* Use you cruise control when you can. 55 MPH will get better MPG than 65 MPH
* Check your brakes make sure there not dragging.
* Change your engine, trans, transfer case and axle lube to syn's oils.... (might get a gain on it...)

Basically, try and reduce you payload and drag...

And keep you foot out of it...(yeah right - we all have a problem there! )

 

Drafting is no lie. When I follow the company flatbed loaded with a Connex Box, on a trip to a job, I can stay back a good distance and turn up 23mpg on the computer at 75-80 mph. Otherwise out from behind the trailer at that speed it would be 15-16mpg indicated.

Best thing already has been said, keep it under 2000 rpm with the 3:54. At 65 I indicate
20.5 on the computer. Reality is about 19 to 19.5.

Dave

 

How do I know whether I have a 3:54 gear ratio? When I go 65 mph in 4th gear (manual) it's at about 1880 RPM's. Oh yeah, I have a 95 2500 w/ Cummins 12v diesel.

 

Once again I'm going to repeat the AIR FILTER as being very important.

The filter minder on my truck has not moved but the air filter is black and the MPG was going down. I just got done changing it and boy what a improvement.

 

remove tailgate or bed cover

 

I left my tailgate down once on a trip from Melbourne, Fl to Pine Bluff AK and back. There was no differance in mileage either way. The cummins don't know its hooked up to the truck.

I use a Vee Gate on the truck now all the time for my fifth wheel. I did not see any differance in mileage with it or with the stock tailgate when towing the trailer. The Vee gate does help to disapate the air flow from the front of the trailer that dives into the bed. Of corse, it makes it much easier hooking up.

Dave

 

some of this has been said already, but...

SPEED - go the speed limit. 5mph difference (65 vs. 70) on a 100 mile trip is only a 6.5 minute difference but it will keep your RPMs down and fuel mileage up.

ACCELERATION - dont race it off the line. to get a 7000lb truck moving in a hurry takes a lot of fuel.

FILTERS, FLUIDS, AIR PRESSURE - clean filters, synthetic oils, tires at the proper rating.

CRUISE CONTROL - its your friend. but if you dont use it or have it, dont make the truck stay at a certain speed up the hill. in other words, is it necessary to stay at 70mph up a hill? keep the same throttle position and recover the speed at the top or down the other side.

CLEANER - run it to keep the IP lubed, injectors cleaner, cetane higher.


good luck and let us know the results,

Pat