Cure for low MPG?
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
Cure for low MPG?
Has anyone figured how to fix their low MPG's? I have a stock 2000 4x4 (I'll check the gear ratio later) and I currently get 13 mpg with 75% highway and 25% city driving. I've just replaced the fuel filter and will see if that helps. Next I'll check/replace the o-rings in the HPOP and check that out. Next will be the CPS (I don't mind swapping out one that's working, will hang on to as a roadside spare), then test. Then do a fuel pressure test (static and on the road). Anywho, I hope to come up with something to answer many Q's on this site.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
well driving habits are #1. yes replace your fuel filter but don't do the o-ring or cam sensor they won't help. i have a 95 psd 4x4 3.55 gears with 285/75/16 off road tires and don't take off from stop or corner like gramps (i'm 25 with a straight pipe) either but i do limit my speedo to 65 mph no matter where i am driving and i have gain 2 to 2.5 mpg. i went from 14 to 17 to 17.5 just by doing that. those are hand calculated numbers from the last 10 fill ups. most of my driving is 10 miles or less trips with some highway. i drive 2 miles to work everyday. so my mileage should be at its worst with those numbers.
works for me so mabe it will work for you. but it really sucks getting passed on the high way.
tim
works for me so mabe it will work for you. but it really sucks getting passed on the high way.
tim
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: NEBRASKA
I'm in the same boat as you. I get 13 to 13.5 in town and can get 15 on the highway. I'm taking the beast in to have a cylinder comparison done to see if I have a weak cylinder or two. Mine has some blowby but burns less than a quart of oil for every 3000 miles, so I've decided not to worry about that anymore. Anyways, I hope the mechs can find something.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Tim is on the right course there with keeping the highway speed around 65 to help with fuel mileage. My F250 4x4 auto is unmodified other than a Hypertech III program that is pretty conservative (I think) compared to some of the chip/programs I've read about on this site.
My best fuel economy todate is 23.5 but routinely get about 18-20 mpg on the highway if I keep the rpms below 2000, and average about 16 mpg combined city/hwy.
I'm curious about how a cold air intake and removal of the (restrictive?) factory muffler might help increased mpg. Yall got any thoughts or experience on that?
My best fuel economy todate is 23.5 but routinely get about 18-20 mpg on the highway if I keep the rpms below 2000, and average about 16 mpg combined city/hwy.
I'm curious about how a cold air intake and removal of the (restrictive?) factory muffler might help increased mpg. Yall got any thoughts or experience on that?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
I'm very conservative with my driving style. Rarely am I on the gas very hard and I do 65mph and below. I'm paying enough in gas prices, don't want to add the price of a ticket to it. I'll try various fixes and update as I find out. I do believe there's something amiss with my truck, even though it runs pretty good still.
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Senior User
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
I also forgot to add that at 65 mph, the motor is running at 1900 rpm's (that should answer the gear ratio problem for those people who knows what mph/rpm per their gear ratio).
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
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Joined: Feb 2005
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I'd be happy with 13. I have not gotten over 10 mpg since I bought my truck last dec. I finally found a mechanic that has been extremely helpful, unlike the dealer and other shops telling me that there are no trouble codes. He went in there and looked at injector voltages and cylinder pressures and whatever. Anyway be persistant.
Last edited by foodog2; Aug 17, 2005 at 06:51 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Valley Center, Kansas
When I got my truck it was stck and getting 13.+ I added a AFE filter, 4" exhust and a 65hp chip and gained 2+mpg. But the best I have ever gotten is 16.6 or .8... Hope this helps with the "Do I do Mods or not thing"...
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 335
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From: BC Nevada
Roaky81,
Is this an Auto or stick? The guy I bought mine from went to auto and gets like 12 or 13 where as mine (his old one) I get 18 to 20. Outside CA and 17 to 19 in CA. Must be the fuel here.
Oh and welcome Neighbor. Im just up the road apiece from you. I did notice that I get better fuel economy from the fuel in Pearsonvill than the Fastmart in Ridgecrest if that means anything too you.
Is this an Auto or stick? The guy I bought mine from went to auto and gets like 12 or 13 where as mine (his old one) I get 18 to 20. Outside CA and 17 to 19 in CA. Must be the fuel here.
Oh and welcome Neighbor. Im just up the road apiece from you. I did notice that I get better fuel economy from the fuel in Pearsonvill than the Fastmart in Ridgecrest if that means anything too you.
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From: Ridgecrest, CA
Lonepine, I noticed your "call sign", howdy neighbor! I do have an auto-tranny. I talked with a friend of mine that has owned 3 different PSD's and he usually averages 15 mph (I'm not sure what tranny he has) at 70-80 mph. He's kinda lead footed. I'll eventually do some minor mods after I get other things squared away with the truck, like gauges. It just seems weird that there's a big swing of mpg's even with similar trucks.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: BC Nevada
What was the outcome since Filter change? Or hasn't been long enough to tell? I have noticed on mine that it does drop when the filter needs to be changed. Well and the others are not runnig California Diesel, My milage goes up 2 mpg in arizona and elsewhere.