Easy gas mileage increase
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
Easy gas mileage increase
I filled up my tank today, and calculated 14.77 mpg. I couldn't be any happier with the tires/gears I am running! Only difference I made was that I started short-shifting through town. I shift between 1500 and 2000 rpm, whereas I was shifting at 2500 previously. I was calculating around 13.55 mpg average before the short-shifting. I know it is hard to say I got a definite increase after only one tank, but I think I am going to keep doing this and see if it really makes a difference. I was wondering if anyone could explain why this would increase mileage. Was I just wasting engine effort running up to 2500rpm?
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Spokane, WA
"Was I just wasting engine effort running up to 2500rpm?" Yup. I my usual shift point around town is 1500-2000 rpm and my usual cruise rpm is at about 1000 rpm on 30-35 mph streets.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
On 35 mph streets I am cruising right around 1800 rpm in 3rd. I can't wait to see what kind of mileage I can pull out of this thing with a tuneup. It is very noticable that I need one, but I haven't had time to do one yet. When starting the truck, it is taking 7-10 cranks, when it was usually only taking 3-5. I am hoping to see high teens by the end of next week!
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Harrisburg, NE
yep. look up "progressive shifting" that truck drivers use. basically its just the lower of a gear that your shifting out of, the lower the rpm you need. 800 to go to 2nd, 1000 for 3rd, 1200 for seconds just as an example, though. you will have to determine what works best for your truck.
speaking of which, what gears are you running?
speaking of which, what gears are you running?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Sheffield, AL
In another thread, I once shared that as a teenager, I was taught to drive as though there was an egg between my shoe and the accelerator, to obtain the best gas mileage. Later an older gentleman taught me to get into high gear as soon as possible without lugging the engine.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost
I found an easier way to almost double MPG. I quit driving the F150, and started using the B2300.....
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Post Fiend
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
I am running 3.55 gears. As for driving the B2300, that is not an option for me, otherwise I would do the same.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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The less you have to use the brakes the better the millage and the old California stop can save a bunch of gas in town driving because a moving vehicle takes less energy to get going than one that is stopped as someone who has pushed a car can attest to. I see they're making easy roll tires that use less energy too.
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Post Fiend
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
Haha, easy roll tires are a joke, IMO. They save approximately 500 gallons of gas over the life of the tires. The tires will last 60K miles plus, so that doesn't amount to much. Plus, I would NEVER put those "energy saving" tires on my lifted truck. My truck is not a mall-crawler, I built it to use it, and I do.
numbers are not exact, but you get the idea...
numbers are not exact, but you get the idea...
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost
Seriously though, the B2300 (which is just a ranger with a facelift) will get close to twice the MPG of the F150. Well, unless you factor in the A/C. With A/C in use, it gets 3-4 times the MPG......
Granted, the 2.3L has nowhere near the power/torque of the mighty 300, especially when coupled to a 3.45 rear axle ratio. It really needs 3.73 or 4.10 gears. I can't really complain, seeing as I only have about $750 invested in a 95 model Ford built Mazda.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
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Haha, easy roll tires are a joke, IMO. They save approximately 500 gallons of gas over the life of the tires. The tires will last 60K miles plus, so that doesn't amount to much. Plus, I would NEVER put those "energy saving" tires on my lifted truck. My truck is not a mall-crawler, I built it to use it, and I do.
numbers are not exact, but you get the idea...
numbers are not exact, but you get the idea...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: town of less than 200 ppl
No, the set would net in the range of 500 gal, not 500 gal/tire.
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