Lowering my 96 xlt questions

[Blm122]

Im making a 600 mile trek soon, mostly Interstate driving, and am trying to lower my X 2" before then to save mpg's but will it really help? I would think for highway mileage it would, but I've read mixed things. Is it worth rushing to do? Shop quoted me at $500.

 

[Blm122]

Also like to clarify that I'm not strictly doing it for this reason, I like the look of it brought down some and the handling improvement. I just was planning on doing it sooner for the benefit of the highway mileage. I don't expect much difference in city driving, if at all.

 

[Sitcoms]

I honestly don't think you're going to see much of a difference in MPG. It's REALLY hard to get better MPG out of these trucks without thousands invested.

 

[swshawaii]

Can't really say since I only put 50 miles on my previously owned ST before my 2.5/3 drop. If I had to guess no more
than a one MPG increase at highway speeds. Agree above, many variables including tire type and pressure, gearing,
and above all YOUR driving habits assuming the truck is properly maintained. I find the biggest mileage killer with these 4500 pound trucks is accelerating from stops. A Scangauge, Ultra Gauge or similar monitor will show the MPG drops to
below 8 MPG depending upon the weight of your foot on take off. My average is around 12-13 city /17 highway driving very easy using E10 fuel. YMMV

 

[Blm122]

Yeah I manage about 14 city and 19 highway. Its well in beautiful shape for being 20 years old. Im looking at ways to slowly build on it and make this car into something special. When I got it, I was averaging 11 city and 15 highway. Its not a huge jump, but that is still 25% gain. I dont really have the thousands to invest, but I do have a decent amount I can do in spurts. Any suggestions on weight then?

 

[vroomzoomboom]

i dont think your going to see much. i didnt. and a shop is telling you 500 to drop it? thats pretty pricey when you consider blocks can be bought with u bolts for 50, cam adjusters are i think but dont quote me 15 for a pair, and what ever a alignment will cost you. you might notice one thing, and that is you will have some bump steer

 

[Flash]

$500 to lower your car is too much.
Maybe he's factoring in replacement springs and labour?

Blocks will do it for the rear and a TT for the front.

 

[Flash]

My average is around 12-13 city /17 highway driving very easy using E10 fuel. YMMV

Don't know about where you are but any saving on the price for E10 is lost by the reduction in mileage where I live.
Not good economy.

 

[swshawaii]

No choice on this island, very few stations selling ethanol free except for marinas that won't fill vehicles. Most sources claim no more than a 5% MPG reduction. Hawaii's 2006 mandate requiring minimum E10 fuel ended, but finding unblended fuel remains difficult as ever.

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ethanol.shtml

Ethanol mandate to be repealed
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/28958804/ethanol-mandate-to-be-repealed

 

[J_C]

No offense meant but the idea is madness. With same engine, tranny, vehicle shape, lowering the vehicle makes so little difference that you might as well just plan to travel on days the wind is blowing in the right direction. You'd probably get more MPG increase buying $50 worth of sheet metal and tacking that on the bottom to reduce drag.

Gas is only ~ $1.80 a gallon now. Depending on region. Even if you only got 16 MPG HWY that's 37.5 gal on a 600 mi trip. If you managed to increase MPG by 2 which you won't, that's still 33.3 gal, a difference of less than $8.

The most cost effective thing you can do is keep your tires fully inflated and drive 55MPH. Going faster in a low geared vehicle has a more drastic MPG reduction. When you factor for it taking longer to drive somewhere, factor for the time you saved not taking it to a shop to be lowered or working off the $500, and the lower vehicle wear from not subjecting the engine, tranny, or suspension to the greater stress of driving like a few minutes travel time is important.

Take it easy driving then you can take it easy saving gas.