Ways to increase gas mileage
04-01-2011, 09:15 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ways to increase gas mileage
I see a lot of people are concerned with the gas mileage of their trucks. I am posting things that I have learned over the years. Keep in mind that the F 150 series trucks (even older ones) get the highest gas mileage in in their class of all trucks.
1. Weight decreases gas mileage. Don't carry tools or things in your truck unless you have to. Also a full tank of gas is heavy and reduces gas mileage but if you don't keep it full you can get condensation in the tank if it sits too long. Use your judgement.
2. Ethanol blends. Ethanol gets 30% less mileage than gas. A 10% ethanol blend gets 3% less mileage than straight gas. Some brands still use no ethanol, buy those if you can and the price is the same.
3. Bad auto transmissions and slipping clutches can cause your truck to guzzle gas. If your truck slows down excessively when you put it in reverse or drive, or if your clutch chatters or slips, time to get it fixed.
4. Master cylinders can stick and cause brake drag which will destroy gas mileage. Put your truck on a lift and turn the tires. If the tires are too hard to turn, check out the brake system.
5. Spark plugs are critical. One bad or weak plug can cause your truck to waste gas. Even new plugs fail. Changing plugs every 20,000 miles is not out of the question unless you use super expensive plugs.
6. Vaccum leaks fool the computer. Make sure all of your vaccum hoses and connections are tight and not leaking.
7. No lead foot. Easy starts and easy on the pedal really saves gas.
8. Keep it at 60 MPH on the highway. The decrease in gas mileage for each MPH over 60 is incredible. Most vehicles get their best mileage at 60 MPH.
9. Good air filter, air in tires, clean fuel injectors are critical to gas mileage. Using a concentrated fuel injector cleaner every once and a while helps keep the fuel delivery system clean. They really work, but don't skimp on the price.
10. Use some upper cylinder lubricant in your gas (marvel mystery oil, Lucas upper cylinder lubricant) they replace the 10% lubrication lost to the ethanol blend and really do increase gas mileage by reducing friction in non oil pressured parts, while they keep things clean.
11. A bad AC compressor can drag and guzzle gas. If you serpentine belt squeaks when you turn on the AC or the AC clutch engages, time for a new compressor as it is most likely dragging due to internal failure and about to lock up and pop your belt leaving you on the side of the road.
12. While rare, a clogged catalytic convertor can destroy performance and gas mileage. If you have a feeling your engine is "clogged up" or the exhaust sounds funny or weak, have it checked. A good muffler shop can tell or do a simple pressure test.
13. Change the O2 sensors at 100,000 miles. They are critical to the fuel mixture and computer.
14. Your alternator pulls a lot of engine power when it charges the battery. The more power it needs, the more drag on the engine. An old battery needs to be charged a lot while driving to keep up with demands and can be wasting gas. A weak battery also means a weak ignition system and poorly functioning computer. An old battery is going to die anyway so you might as well do some preventative maintanence and replace it. If a battery is a 6 year battery, you can bet money it will only work properly for 6 years if you are lucky.
If anyone else has suggestions please add them. Remember, your truck is made to take abuse, haul, tow, and not fall apart and gas mileage is not the top priority. Workers and haulers are heavy, so you will not get the same gas mileage as a car. A small 1997 Accura gets 17 MPG in the city. An F 150 gets 12-14 in the city. Not that bad when you compare the two.
Don't blame your truck because OPEC made over 2 trillion dollars in profits last quarter and American oil companies made 100 billion in profits. It's not gas mileage that killing you, it's the price of the gas and greed.
1. Weight decreases gas mileage. Don't carry tools or things in your truck unless you have to. Also a full tank of gas is heavy and reduces gas mileage but if you don't keep it full you can get condensation in the tank if it sits too long. Use your judgement.
2. Ethanol blends. Ethanol gets 30% less mileage than gas. A 10% ethanol blend gets 3% less mileage than straight gas. Some brands still use no ethanol, buy those if you can and the price is the same.
3. Bad auto transmissions and slipping clutches can cause your truck to guzzle gas. If your truck slows down excessively when you put it in reverse or drive, or if your clutch chatters or slips, time to get it fixed.
4. Master cylinders can stick and cause brake drag which will destroy gas mileage. Put your truck on a lift and turn the tires. If the tires are too hard to turn, check out the brake system.
5. Spark plugs are critical. One bad or weak plug can cause your truck to waste gas. Even new plugs fail. Changing plugs every 20,000 miles is not out of the question unless you use super expensive plugs.
6. Vaccum leaks fool the computer. Make sure all of your vaccum hoses and connections are tight and not leaking.
7. No lead foot. Easy starts and easy on the pedal really saves gas.
8. Keep it at 60 MPH on the highway. The decrease in gas mileage for each MPH over 60 is incredible. Most vehicles get their best mileage at 60 MPH.
9. Good air filter, air in tires, clean fuel injectors are critical to gas mileage. Using a concentrated fuel injector cleaner every once and a while helps keep the fuel delivery system clean. They really work, but don't skimp on the price.
10. Use some upper cylinder lubricant in your gas (marvel mystery oil, Lucas upper cylinder lubricant) they replace the 10% lubrication lost to the ethanol blend and really do increase gas mileage by reducing friction in non oil pressured parts, while they keep things clean.
11. A bad AC compressor can drag and guzzle gas. If you serpentine belt squeaks when you turn on the AC or the AC clutch engages, time for a new compressor as it is most likely dragging due to internal failure and about to lock up and pop your belt leaving you on the side of the road.
12. While rare, a clogged catalytic convertor can destroy performance and gas mileage. If you have a feeling your engine is "clogged up" or the exhaust sounds funny or weak, have it checked. A good muffler shop can tell or do a simple pressure test.
13. Change the O2 sensors at 100,000 miles. They are critical to the fuel mixture and computer.
14. Your alternator pulls a lot of engine power when it charges the battery. The more power it needs, the more drag on the engine. An old battery needs to be charged a lot while driving to keep up with demands and can be wasting gas. A weak battery also means a weak ignition system and poorly functioning computer. An old battery is going to die anyway so you might as well do some preventative maintanence and replace it. If a battery is a 6 year battery, you can bet money it will only work properly for 6 years if you are lucky.
If anyone else has suggestions please add them. Remember, your truck is made to take abuse, haul, tow, and not fall apart and gas mileage is not the top priority. Workers and haulers are heavy, so you will not get the same gas mileage as a car. A small 1997 Accura gets 17 MPG in the city. An F 150 gets 12-14 in the city. Not that bad when you compare the two.
Don't blame your truck because OPEC made over 2 trillion dollars in profits last quarter and American oil companies made 100 billion in profits. It's not gas mileage that killing you, it's the price of the gas and greed.
04-01-2011, 11:47 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Seems the open bed and closed tailgate act like a parachute at higher speeds.
Some people leave the tailgate down all the time, but that can be dangerous in traffic and when backing up.
The tonneau covers look great either way.
But you and your girl will get too hot hiding under that when you......never mind. Or so I am told.
04-01-2011, 11:50 AM
#5
I have been told by my friends their cover does increase gas mileage a little.
Seems the open bed and closed tailgate act like a parachute at higher speeds.
Some people leave the tailgate down all the time, but that can be dangerous in traffic and when backing up.
The tonneau covers look great either way.
But you and your girl will get too hot hiding under that when you......never mind. Or so I am told.
Seems the open bed and closed tailgate act like a parachute at higher speeds.
Some people leave the tailgate down all the time, but that can be dangerous in traffic and when backing up.
The tonneau covers look great either way.
But you and your girl will get too hot hiding under that when you......never mind. Or so I am told.
04-01-2011, 11:52 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That reminds me. Those over sized tires add weight and cut gas mileage.
But..... I think they probably increase mileage at highway speeds because they decrease the gear ratio like a super overdrive. Who knows. Some horrible mileage figures are actually being caused by the bigger tires throwing off the speedometer which thinks the truck has gone less miles than it actually has and used a certain amount of gas.
Using a GPS reading on your MPH is the best way to calculate gas mileage and determine if your speedometer or odometer is accurate after the tire swap.
But..... I think they probably increase mileage at highway speeds because they decrease the gear ratio like a super overdrive. Who knows. Some horrible mileage figures are actually being caused by the bigger tires throwing off the speedometer which thinks the truck has gone less miles than it actually has and used a certain amount of gas.
Using a GPS reading on your MPH is the best way to calculate gas mileage and determine if your speedometer or odometer is accurate after the tire swap.
04-01-2011, 11:55 AM
#7
That reminds me. Those over sized tires add weight and cut gas mileage.
But..... I think they probably increase mileage at highway speeds because they decrease the gear ratio like a super overdrive. Who knows. Some horrible mileage figures are actually being caused by the bigger tires throwing off the speedometer which thinks the truck has gone less miles than it actually has and used a certain amount of gas.
Using a GPS reading on your MPH is the best way to calculate gas mileage and determine if your speedometer or odometer is accurate after the tire swap.
But..... I think they probably increase mileage at highway speeds because they decrease the gear ratio like a super overdrive. Who knows. Some horrible mileage figures are actually being caused by the bigger tires throwing off the speedometer which thinks the truck has gone less miles than it actually has and used a certain amount of gas.
Using a GPS reading on your MPH is the best way to calculate gas mileage and determine if your speedometer or odometer is accurate after the tire swap.
This is in addition to the fact that larger tires is also going to wear out items such as ball joints, u-joints, etc faster which will also negate any fuel saved via the overdrive effect.
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04-01-2011, 12:31 PM
#10
That's pretty much all they do.