How to raise gas mileage?

[migga]

Do these gimmick things like tornado or throttle body spacers actually work? What proven things can i do to raise my gas mileage? Intake? Cat-back Exaust? Chip (while still putting 87 octane)? Thanks for the input!

Migga

 

[aldive]

I am constantly seeking ways to improve my gas mileage.

The following are some thhings I have done and have helped:

custom cat back exhaust
KKM intake
removed roof rack
removed bug deflector
many coats of Zaino polish
higher air pressure in tires
good alignment
5 W 30 Mobile 1 in motor
Mobile 1 ATF fluid
Mobile 1 in rear end

Good luck....

 

[tbomb]

well, youll definately see better mpg with a cat back setup. a chip wont make a difference (and you need to run premium with a chip, anyway.) my kkm didnt really make a mileage difference, either. the tornado does NOT work, dont waste your money. um, i dont know what else to tell y ou to increase mileage. the only other thing i can think to tell you is to try to shed some weight off the vehicle, but i dont know what to tell you to remove that you wont miss, heh, unless you dont mind taking out your a/c and switching from an automatic to a manual tranny

 

[Char]

Keep your foot out of the gas pedal!!!

 

[migga]

Is kkm an intake? Does the cat-back system make the car a lot louder? Or does it give the truck a decent sound? Cuz i don't want nothing nasty / hick sounding.I Just need to get the gas mileage up a little......thanks for the advice!

Migga

 

[tbomb]

Originally posted by migga
Is kkm an intake? Does the cat-back system make the car a lot louder? Or does it give the truck a decent sound? Cuz i don't want nothing nasty / hick sounding.I Just need to get the gas mileage up a little......thanks for the advice!

Migga

yeah, kkm is a conical intake setup. a cat back can be loud or it can sound "nice', its up to you which muffler and pipe size setup you go with. personally, i went thru 3 different setups and they were all too loud for me because i do a lot of highway driving and it annoyed the sh*t out of me, so im back to stock now. its really all personal preference; if you ask for peoples opinions, some people will say that a flowmaster 40 series is pretty quiet (in reality it pretty damn loud) and someone else will say that a dynomax is too loud (its relatively quiet, but for me, it was too loud) - all personal preference.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by migga
Is kkm an intake?

KKM web site, take a look....

http://www.kustomz.com/

Sound of exhaust is variable depending mostly on type of muffler.

Good luck.....

 

[migga]

maaan i wish i could afford to experiment like that and go through a bunch of set ups. I wish i could hear what one sounded like, but i haven't really seen a near hooked up explorer around here. Oh well....i guess i'll mess with that later on this year. Thanks for all the help guys!

Migga

 

[Kontrol-Trak]

I have a K&N drop-in, brand new spark plugs & wires, but they didn't do sh*t for gas mileage I get about 14mpg

 

[countrymz]

k&N FIPK
70mm MAS
63mm Throttle Body
Flowmaster force 2 catback

Changed O2 sensors, egr valve

i have 3.55 gears with bfg 30's. i get 340 miles per tank with the gauge being about 6-7% . so in actuality i get 360 or so. 17mpg 50/50 driving

 

[migga]

So a bigger Mass Air Sensor would make a difference?

 

[drnaline]

98 AWD

When I first got my truck. 98 Limited V8, I got 15 MPG no matter in town or highway. First thing i did was put a chip, Super chip. I have a trip meter in my truck so I've keeped track of what does what. I got what they said I would get with the chip- 2 miles a gallon . next was the K&N- less than a mile a gallon. Synthetic oil in engine and tranny- Half amile or so. And while my intown average is between 17.5 and 18.2, I've got as much as 23-25 on the highway. Thats with a V8 boys. Then a home made inlet pipe and massaged the MAF, nothing much on the bottom end but when it hits 3000 RPMs that when you feel it. Wish I had a dyno on board too.
Also I have also learded to play with mi foot on the petal. I have instant mile counter and just watching while you drive will teach you how to drive you rig for economy or power.

 

[countrymz]

A larger MAS and Tb allows more air to the engine. Only problem is, you have to learn to keep your foot out of it. The air sucking in roars off the line or at a down shift. It turns heads but its not good for mileage so you will have to control yourself to get optimum gas mileage with these.

 

[Jim F]

I read that the on-board computer system (the one in the center console) is inaccurate by as much as 10 to 12%. In other words 10 to 12% better gas mileage (good old marketing). I'd be curious as to what the mileage is for a full tank of gas calculated manually with mixed driving.

I get around 21mpg driving lightly (no heavy accel) on a long freeway run. Yes I know how to drive lightly. I have gotten 46mpg in my 87 Mazda (2.0L L4) and 47mpg in my 94 Cavalier (2.2L L4) on a run from the Bay Area in N. Cal to an area East of Los Angeles.

 

[95ExplorerLtd]

We went to Paris, Illinois one day to pick up half a beef we had from the processing place (mmmmm ) and thats I guess at least 30 miles, mixed town/higway driving. Before I got my K&N, driving at 55 mph on teh highway, I think it got about 20-22, and in town it was 17-20. Then I got the K&N and it went from 22 to 23-24, but I was able to tell a difference in the get-up-n-go, seriously. My next mods are going to be plugs and wires, then exhaust, then maybe some engine mods. Driving at a steady 55 will really raise your mileage, once you hit 60 or above it goes downhill.

I also think that the factory computer is off also. Or my gauges are off or something. After I fill up, the needle is pegged on the F for like 100 miles or so, then it seems like I can almost watch it go down, but the computer doesnt match up with the gauge.

 

[drnaline]

98 AWD V8

I think 10-12% has to go either way. Good or Bad. I had a pretty good base line in the first place. When I run it on instant econo, if it says 30 I think 10% either way is close enough. What I got most out of it was to taylor my driving habits, which I rank right up there with driving skill. The majority of people that have driven my truck. I consistently average at least one or two miles a gallon better MPG. With out thinking about it. Thats gotta be an untapped market if you ask me. Teaching some one how to drive is worth more that any thing you can buy and bolt on your truck.

 

[RTStork]

Everyone has had excellent suggestions so far. That list by Aldive pretty much sums it up. By the way, I gained 2.5 mpg with a dual exhaust and a cut air box.

 

[tbomb]

Originally posted by RTStork
Everyone has had excellent suggestions so far. That list by Aldive pretty much sums it up. By the way, I gained 2.5 mpg with a dual exhaust and a cut air box.

well, some of that list is good, but some of that stuff isnt worth it; for example, the number of coats of zaino is not gonna give you better gas mileage. not that im trying to cut down al or anything, im just saying, that unless you have plenty of extra time and money, you dont need to bother with some things.

 

[ok89]

Aldive when you said you removed your roof rack do you just mean the 2 bars that run perpendicular to the car? How much of a change did this make?

 

[MSTNGGUY88]

I'm not trying to put you down tbomb but wax does help. I drag race and we actually pic up 2 tenths in the quarter just keeping a good coat of wax on the stang. It's common sense less friction and drag on the vehicle actually will equal better fuel mileage. Maybe not a very noticeable difference but it does help.