Improving 5.4 MPG -> Am I on the right track?
08-12-2014, 03:27 PM
#11
Senior Member
I recently replaced my AC compressor and its associated pulley bearing. My MPG went up 2mpg. I get just over 15mpg combined now. 15.2 according to torque, my personal calculations put it between 14.9 and 15.6 average now.
anything that puts extra drag on the system will destroy gas milage, so as others have said start looking at pulleys and bearings etc and make sure there isn't one going bad. Other than, bad plugs or COPs causing misfires, old COP boots not giving a good spark (MUCH cheaper than buying a whole COP and they equate to the "wires" part of "plugs and wires" for our trucks) are the next places to look.
anything that puts extra drag on the system will destroy gas milage, so as others have said start looking at pulleys and bearings etc and make sure there isn't one going bad. Other than, bad plugs or COPs causing misfires, old COP boots not giving a good spark (MUCH cheaper than buying a whole COP and they equate to the "wires" part of "plugs and wires" for our trucks) are the next places to look.
08-12-2014, 04:54 PM
#13
Senior Member
They are on the right track with the pulleys. Make sure all your spinning stuff moves freely. Tensioner, idler, alternator, AC compressor etc...
Make sure you have a good tune up, fresh plugs (follow the TSB!), fuel filter, serviced or replaced air filter etc...
Make sure the cam phasers aren't out of whack.
Brakes dragging? (odd wear, pulls to one side or another with alignment and tire pressures etc... being right).
Some aftermarket things that help with MPG that you might not suspect...
Gotts mod, or similar non restrictive intake tube, non restrictive exhaust helps as well. This only helps if you keep your foot out of it! There are those that claim intake doesn't help, but I can vouch for the fact it does. My mileage went up 1.5mpg consistently since adding the AirRAID MIT (Modular Intake Tube).
Tuner is probably the single best thing you can do mileage and power wise... In my current config with stock tune I would probably not be getting over 10mpg city...
Big meaty knobby tires don't help, heavy bolt ons like winches, heavy duty bumpers etc... pull mileage down as well. I have both and I still pull 13mpg city / 16mpg highway.
Make sure you have a good tune up, fresh plugs (follow the TSB!), fuel filter, serviced or replaced air filter etc...
Make sure the cam phasers aren't out of whack.
Brakes dragging? (odd wear, pulls to one side or another with alignment and tire pressures etc... being right).
Some aftermarket things that help with MPG that you might not suspect...
Gotts mod, or similar non restrictive intake tube, non restrictive exhaust helps as well. This only helps if you keep your foot out of it! There are those that claim intake doesn't help, but I can vouch for the fact it does. My mileage went up 1.5mpg consistently since adding the AirRAID MIT (Modular Intake Tube).
Tuner is probably the single best thing you can do mileage and power wise... In my current config with stock tune I would probably not be getting over 10mpg city...
Big meaty knobby tires don't help, heavy bolt ons like winches, heavy duty bumpers etc... pull mileage down as well. I have both and I still pull 13mpg city / 16mpg highway.