Ok paying $2.15 Per gallon of gas is eventually gonna cause me to Morgage My house and it is really starting to hurt. What things can you do to get More MPG?! I have read and found out that "The Tornado Fuel Saver" is just a joke and that magnets for the fuel line don't work. Well something must work, what is it ???

 

Well I am also hunting for the proverbial fountain of extra mpg.

So far the best is driving habits. Basically drive like a granny and you can get up to 2-4 mpg more.

Also I have been told chips/tuners will help increase fuel economy as long as you do not take advantage of the extra power with a heavy foot. For my F250 diesel this is good but for your gaser it would require you to only use premium fuel. The extra cost may outweigh any fuel economy savings.

On my F150 I got an exhaust modification and an air intake (K&N filter). I am not sure which helped out most. This lowered my mpg in city but my highway mpg did increase about 2 mpg. I would closely watch my RPM to try to maintain my same driving habits.

I think some get their fan changed with an electric fan. Then the fan only engages when you use A/C or when the engine reaches a certain temp.

Other than that the hybrid Escape is looking better and better as a commute vehicle.

 

The tornado is nothing but an expensive conversation piece. The converstation is about how dumb I was to buy it. Some people have claimed that it works, but it's most likely due to changed driving habits as opposed to the Tornado. There's nothing you can buy that's going to be cost effective for gas mileage. You could get an intake, and it will improve mileage, but it'll take several years to pay for itself in saved fuel costs. The best recomendation I've heard is drive like you have and egg under your gas pedal. If you're like me, you like to be the first vehicle out of the stoplight, but it hurts your mileage. Other than that, make sure you're tuned up properly, plugs gapped correctly, good wires, clean air filter, and properly inflated tires.
I have added to my Ranger an intake, exhaust, and Diablo Chip. I am gettting probably 2-3 MPG better with it all, but I did the math, and it would take over 7 years to pay for just the intake and exhaust driving 15000 miles a year. The chip gave me the biggest mileage boost, but it comes at the cost of running premium, although I come out ahead at the pump on my cost per mile because the mileage overcomes the higher cost of premium, but to pay for itself would take over 10 years.
Basically, bolt ons are for power, but will also increase mileage if you take it easy. I think most of us that have the bolt ons would rather see the extra power in our day to day driving, so wee don't typically see the milage gains anyways.

 

I think i got worse gas mileage with the tornado then I did without it.

 

Basic maintenance is the real key to getting the best bang for the buck. Keep the tires up to pressure, change the oil (use the proper weight or even synthetics), change the Air Cleaner, Plugs, etc.

Now if your exhaust (for example) is rusted out, and needs replaced, Sure, put a better flowing one in. You would have to spend the $$$$ anyway, so the cost is roughly the same and if you get a mpg or 2, so be it.

If you want to add power or like tinkering with the truck/car, then go for whatever mods you want and call it a hobby, but I agree.....they probably will not be cost effective.

Jim

 

Ride with the tailgate down. I have been doing this for a few weeks now, and I'm certain that I'm getting about 1 mpg better mileage. That doesn't sound like much, but when you buy 20 gallons at a time, it saves you a couple bucks per tank. I also take the car whenever I can, that saves a bunch of money!

 

Actually there's wind tunnel proof that pickups actually get worse gas mileage with the tailgate down. Weird huh?

 

Those of you thinking Hybrid should read the thread about High Voltage batteries in those things !!!! We get better mileage, but in an accident (especially when raining) it could be quite a shock !

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=244380

 

Haha, the ad on the bottom of this page is for the Tornado!

If you're looking for huge increases in MPG you'll have to commute with something else. For a smaller increase, well my truck gets better mileage and performs better when the spark plugs are kept clean, and the rotor is cleaned and ignition gap checked every couple of months.

 

also, dont carry anything extra that you dont have to. i liked knowing i had every tool i needed with me to rebuild anything on my truck and have a floor jack and jackstands with me, but really, whats the point? if i broke down i'd still need the parts, i just carry the spare and factory jack now instead of all the the extra junk i really didnt need most of the time. 200 less pounds for the motor to pull down the road. and also run your tires at the max pressure to decrease rolling resistance.

 

I'd like to see that... not disputing you, but I have been really careful to calculate the mileage in the truck, and it most definitely got a little better. Could be that I am being more conscious of it and driving more conservatively, but I'll continue to drive witht he tailgate down.

Do you have a link??