Help: Fuel Saving Tips Anyone?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 283
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From: Bogota, Colombia
Help: Fuel Saving Tips Anyone?
With continuously rising prices, now is at US $1.90 a gallon for 89-octane gas, in my country where I make $600/month and driving a Bronco from the north-end downtown through traffic on an 8-million people city it gets pretty expensive to own my baby. Yet I am reluctant to get rid of it much to my wife's disappointment, so It'd be nice if any of you could help me with fuel saving tips, that is, other than the usual, e.g. tuning up, inflating tires and installing EFI and of course keeping a light foot!? Thanks a bunch...
PS: I forgot to mention I get like 9 MPG combined...
(My rig: 1992 1/2, 300cid I-6, C-6, 3.08 gears, 29-inch tires, 1bbl carb, 2WD, passed local government's emissions test)
PS: I forgot to mention I get like 9 MPG combined...
(My rig: 1992 1/2, 300cid I-6, C-6, 3.08 gears, 29-inch tires, 1bbl carb, 2WD, passed local government's emissions test)
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,899
Likes: 2
From: Lynnwood, WA
9 mpg seems a lil low for a 300 CID engine since I can get 18 mpg on highway with a 351W, and 15.3 mpg combined. However, city driving can be very hard on fuel since you could move very little while spending lots of time on the road while stuck in traffic.
You need to measure your highway mpg at a more or less stable 60 - 65 mph -- that may indicate whether you have a problem with your car, or the problem is simply the traffic.
You need to measure your highway mpg at a more or less stable 60 - 65 mph -- that may indicate whether you have a problem with your car, or the problem is simply the traffic.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,388
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From: SE Texas
Have you tried any fuel additives??? Also, you state that you have a 1bbl. carburetor. It may need to be tuned to run leaner or at least cleaned out. Lastly, check your timing, as it can also affect your gas mileage. I've heard that using synthetic lube in the differentials will help out a bit as well. Good luck!
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 91
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From: Calvert County, Maryland
Hey...don't be so surprised! I have an 86 302 efi with a manual 4spd granny-tranny and on a recent road trip from southern Maryland to Roanoke, Va and back I was getting about 17MPG combined! I went through 1/2 a tank going to Va, and just over 1/2 on the way back!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 268
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From: North Texas
That C6 automatic is the big thing holding back your gas mileage; if there was any way you could put a manual transmission into that truck, you'd get 2 - 4 mpg better.
One easy thing to do is to set the timing up a couple degrees, so that you get just a little spark knock or "ping" at half-throttle acceleration - unless you get "ping" already.
Another tip is to make sure the aircleaner element is clean.
Your driving style will do more than just about anything else to affect fuel economy: try accelerating at a moderate rate from stops, getting into top gear as soon as possible, then get yourself a manifold vacuum gage, and try to drive so as to maintain the highest vacuum reading.
But where/how in the world did you get a 2wd Bronco? You just take the front driveshaft out?
One easy thing to do is to set the timing up a couple degrees, so that you get just a little spark knock or "ping" at half-throttle acceleration - unless you get "ping" already.
Another tip is to make sure the aircleaner element is clean.
Your driving style will do more than just about anything else to affect fuel economy: try accelerating at a moderate rate from stops, getting into top gear as soon as possible, then get yourself a manifold vacuum gage, and try to drive so as to maintain the highest vacuum reading.
But where/how in the world did you get a 2wd Bronco? You just take the front driveshaft out?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Gateway to the West
Originally Posted by calazo
(My rig: 1992 1/2, 300cid I-6, C-6, 3.08 gears, 29-inch tires, 1bbl carb, 2WD, passed local government's emissions test)
Where on earth did you find that rig? The 300 was discontinued in the Bronco and F-series by that model year. And the C6 was long replaced by at least the AOD if not the E4OD. Sounds like someone took the driveline out of an old F-series 2WD and stuffed it into your truck. And where did the 3.08's come from stock was 3.55 or 4.10's. Not to mention a CARB'd 92?! Hello? what? That could be a large part of the difficulties you are having.
Last edited by greystreak92; Oct 1, 2004 at 02:49 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 192
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From: Cary
I agree, check the timing, and make sure you have a clean air cleaner. Sometimes it's the simplest of things.
Here we go again....
Maybe he's the cousin of a retired Ford exective who was sworn to secrecy, never to reveal that he has the one, and only 2WD Bronco (I bet the top doesn't even come off). Now that his identity is known, flocks of 4WD Broncos are going to leave home and head to wherever he lives to install a front drive shaft and live axle. The news coverage on this should be amazing.
Originally Posted by Redbob
But where/how in the world did you get a 2wd Bronco? You just take the front driveshaft out?
Maybe he's the cousin of a retired Ford exective who was sworn to secrecy, never to reveal that he has the one, and only 2WD Bronco (I bet the top doesn't even come off). Now that his identity is known, flocks of 4WD Broncos are going to leave home and head to wherever he lives to install a front drive shaft and live axle. The news coverage on this should be amazing.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,739
Likes: 3
From: GANS
Originally Posted by greystreak92
Guys, lets think about this for a minute....take a look at this setup and tell me whats wrong with the picture.
Where on earth did you find that rig? The 300 was discontinued in the Bronco and F-series by that model year. And the C6 was long replaced by at least the AOD if not the E4OD. Sounds like someone took the driveline out of an old F-series 2WD and stuffed it into your truck. And where did the 3.08's come from stock was 3.55 or 4.10's. Not to mention a CARB'd 92?! Hello? what? That could be a large part of the difficulties you are having.
Where on earth did you find that rig? The 300 was discontinued in the Bronco and F-series by that model year. And the C6 was long replaced by at least the AOD if not the E4OD. Sounds like someone took the driveline out of an old F-series 2WD and stuffed it into your truck. And where did the 3.08's come from stock was 3.55 or 4.10's. Not to mention a CARB'd 92?! Hello? what? That could be a large part of the difficulties you are having.
but the one bbl on a '92 is freaky. sounds like someone swapped a '92 tub on a old frame.. definate trickery going on there.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 559
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From: South Carolina
Think outside the box gentlemen. This owner's probably from South America. Carburation continued for some time there because of fewer (no?) emission regs. And I'm pretty sure Ford built 2wd Broncos there.
Calazo, I'd guess you need a steeper rear end ratio. The 300 may have to work too hard to push those gears. Otherwise, a thorough tune up never hurts!! I get 17 MPG on the highway, and slightly worse in town with 4wd axles and an automatic trans. My engine was recently replaced, and I did a complete tuning then. Hey - just to satisfy the non believers, tell us where you're from!! Better yet, post a picture of your bronco. We don't see to many in the spec you describe!
Calazo, I'd guess you need a steeper rear end ratio. The 300 may have to work too hard to push those gears. Otherwise, a thorough tune up never hurts!! I get 17 MPG on the highway, and slightly worse in town with 4wd axles and an automatic trans. My engine was recently replaced, and I did a complete tuning then. Hey - just to satisfy the non believers, tell us where you're from!! Better yet, post a picture of your bronco. We don't see to many in the spec you describe!
Postmaster
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,933
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From: South Ga
calazo, get rid of any excess weight...also, go topless all you can. Had a '74LWB w/300 only got 10mpg, heck of a good engine, never good mpg.
my 96 w/5.8 AOD 13.5 best ever done hauling load or not, tune up, new air filter - 10"WIDE rims 32"ers Most of the time it's 11-12
one 79 10mpg loaded or not
one 79 12mpg loaded or not
None of them have stock rim/tires.
I do have bad drive habits......
my 96 w/5.8 AOD 13.5 best ever done hauling load or not, tune up, new air filter - 10"WIDE rims 32"ers Most of the time it's 11-12
one 79 10mpg loaded or not
one 79 12mpg loaded or not
None of them have stock rim/tires.
I do have bad drive habits......
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 533
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From: Myrtle Point, Or
Originally Posted by Cheggie
Think outside the box gentlemen. This owner's probably from South America. Carburation continued for some time there because of fewer (no?) emission regs. And I'm pretty sure Ford built 2wd Broncos there.
Calazo, I'd guess you need a steeper rear end ratio. The 300 may have to work too hard to push those gears. Otherwise, a thorough tune up never hurts!! I get 17 MPG on the highway, and slightly worse in town with 4wd axles and an automatic trans. My engine was recently replaced, and I did a complete tuning then. Hey - just to satisfy the non believers, tell us where you're from!! Better yet, post a picture of your bronco. We don't see to many in the spec you describe!
Calazo, I'd guess you need a steeper rear end ratio. The 300 may have to work too hard to push those gears. Otherwise, a thorough tune up never hurts!! I get 17 MPG on the highway, and slightly worse in town with 4wd axles and an automatic trans. My engine was recently replaced, and I did a complete tuning then. Hey - just to satisfy the non believers, tell us where you're from!! Better yet, post a picture of your bronco. We don't see to many in the spec you describe!
We had thid debate a while back about 2WD Broncos. None were mad in the US, but over seas yes. Look at his first line. In HIS COUNTRY, where I make....
SO he's not from the US.
His Bronco is normal.
As for Gas mileage, seems low for a 300, weird
Has it always been like that???