1989 5.8 liter: How to Improve Mileage?
03-28-2014, 08:44 PM
#13
Salvage Yard Pro
Well,,he does pose a slightly different question with the 3 speed tranny. However, I'd love to see a couple of more stickies on the 87-96 home page. MPG, 3G and E-Fans. Not that anybody will use it. I got chided for suggesting the search menu the other day and no thanks after posting a link to answer their question. This site has allot of great info to offer. The OP might get some good info from this new post though when dealing with his 3 speed.
Last edited by unit505; 03-28-2014 at 08:54 PM.
03-28-2014, 09:02 PM
#14
lost my Car again...
3 speed transmissions are built for hauling if i recall correctly so as far as good mpg there's not much to gain. 99% of the other post will hit on the same subjects such as keeping it maintained properly having a light foot and all the other crap you can do do gain another .9 per tank or something. the best advice is if you cannot afford to fill it up Don't buy it in the first place! i'm sure you like having a big truck but honestly it does not do a damn worth of good if its always on E....
if you need a truck for work Id understand if your trying to get some savings but really your going to spend more on making it more fuel efficient then your going to save in the span of 10 years or more.
the only recommendations i do have is do not get 10% ethanol if you can help it.
keep junk out of your truck less weight less to haul around
and proper maintenance.
thats all your going to get for free or cheap. there's no magic add on or additive to make your car into a Prius....
if you need a truck for work Id understand if your trying to get some savings but really your going to spend more on making it more fuel efficient then your going to save in the span of 10 years or more.
the only recommendations i do have is do not get 10% ethanol if you can help it.
keep junk out of your truck less weight less to haul around
and proper maintenance.
thats all your going to get for free or cheap. there's no magic add on or additive to make your car into a Prius....
03-28-2014, 09:13 PM
#15
Salvage Yard Pro
Regearing can get some gains for sure. Possibly a trans swap, but throwing in a the possible computer change if he went with an E4OD would get tricky and costly. I know that by regearing can bring down rpm's at highway speed and maybe get him some gain at a cost of pulling power. All depends on what he wants or is willing to do. I used a gearing calculator and did the comparisons from my 2.73 to a 3.55 and just wasn't willing to lose the mileage. Not when I've got another truck for pulling if need be. Just trying to be helpful to the OP.
03-28-2014, 09:16 PM
#16
Hi-Rev Motorsports
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TheCollector (03-28-2014)
03-28-2014, 09:21 PM
#18
lost my Car again...
Regearing can get some gains for sure. Possibly a trans swap, but throwing in a the possible computer change if he went with an E4OD would get tricky and costly. I know that by regearing can bring down rpm's at highway speed and maybe get him some gain at a cost of pulling power. All depends on what he wants or is willing to do. I used a gearing calculator and did the comparisons from my 2.73 to a 3.55 and just wasn't willing to lose the mileage. Not when I've got another truck for pulling if need be. Just trying to be helpful to the OP.
just seen another mpg thread pop up...
03-29-2014, 12:21 AM
#20
1994 F150 XLT 5.8L 2wd
The best way to get better MPG is to use a different vehicle. Trucks are for working, hauling, and towing.
I have a system worked out to get as many mpg's without doing major overhauls, it is as follows:
1994 5.8 F150 - used when buying large items, towing boat/camper, and to haul the dogs to a place they can run.
2004 2.7 Sebring Convertible - used to drive ~20miles to work during colder/rainy weather and on vacations.
2010 600cc FZ6R - used to go to work and anything else that doesn't require anything to be carried to/from during 50+degree weather.
With this system the bad mpg in the truck is balanced out by the other vehicles, since it doesn't get used as often or driven as far it is pretty much negated by the 45 mpg I get on the crotch rocket and the ~ 30mpg in the convertible. The way I figure it I put ~ 8000 miles a year in the convertible for about 270 gallons of gas, about 10,000 on the bike at 225 gallons of gas, and only 3000 miles (high estimate based on the last truck I owned as this one is new this year) for about 220 gallons of gas. If you add it all up 21,000 miles / 715 gallons = about 29.5 mpg. These numbers are all just taken by the number of miles I have put on vehicles divided by the years I've had them.
So basically I look at it like no matter what I'm driving at the time I'm getting 30 mpg.
I have a system worked out to get as many mpg's without doing major overhauls, it is as follows:
1994 5.8 F150 - used when buying large items, towing boat/camper, and to haul the dogs to a place they can run.
2004 2.7 Sebring Convertible - used to drive ~20miles to work during colder/rainy weather and on vacations.
2010 600cc FZ6R - used to go to work and anything else that doesn't require anything to be carried to/from during 50+degree weather.
With this system the bad mpg in the truck is balanced out by the other vehicles, since it doesn't get used as often or driven as far it is pretty much negated by the 45 mpg I get on the crotch rocket and the ~ 30mpg in the convertible. The way I figure it I put ~ 8000 miles a year in the convertible for about 270 gallons of gas, about 10,000 on the bike at 225 gallons of gas, and only 3000 miles (high estimate based on the last truck I owned as this one is new this year) for about 220 gallons of gas. If you add it all up 21,000 miles / 715 gallons = about 29.5 mpg. These numbers are all just taken by the number of miles I have put on vehicles divided by the years I've had them.
So basically I look at it like no matter what I'm driving at the time I'm getting 30 mpg.