when you stop driving an f150 than you can preach to me about tree hugging, man.

i graduated from a design college that enters one of those vehicles that gets mega mpg.

they are totally impractical and if you believe that we will all be driving in vehicles like that than read about what happened to the EV1 and you may sing a different tune.

 

quicklook2
The poster already knew the answer before he posted and is trying to bait the posters. He is also trying to start a long argument on fuel usage.
Baiting, is not allowed in the Forums.

 

Don't be a dolt, it's bad for your health. I posted the answer to my basic math question within 50 minutes of posting the question. (And I don't even know with absolute certainty if my answer I posted is accurate, FYI) If you don't have something insightful to contribute to this thread then I kindly ask that you stop hijacking it.

It's very simple you see. You are not required to post on this thread, so simply go away, get up from your computer and find something else to do with your time. If you don't argue with me and there will be no argument.

I am not going to be criticized by you for sharing my discovery within my passion for vehicles. When I learn something that impresses me, then I want to share and explore it with others. It's what we used to do in college, remember; share, teach, appreciate, communicate. Learn. You're never to old to learn.

And as for the validity of this thread beyond the factors that I have mentioned, I HAVE cut offf the bumper of my truck. As well as the extra fuel tank, the fuel tank mounting hardware, the dampening plate, the jack, the bump stops, the tailgate, and additionally the 200 lb mass some people call the truck bed. That saves me over 400 lbs.

 

how much have you seen mileage improve after removing that list of items?

 

Perhaps I should have been a preacher rather than an engineer.

I'm not a treehugger, I'm informed. I want, just like everyone else, to save money at the pump. And I am not suggesting that we start driving pods, I am simply pointing out the effect weight and air resistance have on gas mileage in the highly demonstrative link I shared a few posts ago. The more weight you reduce from your ride and the less resistance you create, the better mileage you will obtain.

 

subford is not a dolt, and he is right about you, you are a master baiter.

why have a truck if you do not have a bed?

not having a jack or spare sounds like a stupid plan.

not having a bumper is illegal in most states.

you started this post by asking a simple question, and than it turned into some soapbox for your views.

i am bored now, so go play by yourself.

 

I'll bite the bait.

By the time you remove the bed, bumper, spare tire, jack, etc. why buy a truck? You can't hual, tow, move anything. And if you get a flat your screwed. Might as well sit in a Honda and keep the spare tire.

Also, net wieght verse mileage. 20lbs on a 7000lb truck (I have a 350 crew diesel) is a 0.286% weight reduction. For a quarter of a percent of total weight change I doubt you could measure any practical savings. A clean truck (air friction), rolled up windows, tire inflation, probably would have more affect.

Always fun to play with numbers.

 

It's like saying the paper towels on my seat make my gas mileage worse....sure it does...but at such a fraction it's not even worth thinking about.


If you're going to the extent of removing parts from your truck to save a dime....than why have a truck in the first place? Drive your bicycle.


$2000 over the coarse of 200,000 miles? Even if your math is a fraction of a percentage on the accurate side...who cares? The average person takes 17 years to drive that far. Whats $2000 over 17 years (nevermind inflation)...not to mention the fact that it's only been $2-$3/gal for a little over a year.

Talk about wasting brain power....

 

I'll reiterate, the vibration dampener is an unnecessary piece of hardware added on by Ford designers to hurt vehicle performance and efficiency. That is my grand point for all of you who can not stand the technical side of thinking.

It's not just the $2000 over 200,000 miles, it's 25 lb's over 200,000 miles. Every time you pull away from a stop light, every time you brake, every time you make an evasive manuever to avoid an accident, every time you go to the store to buy new tires you will find the added effects of carrying unnecessary weight.


Barnacle Bill, I'm not obsessing about the mere presence of these components on a truck, I'm truly wondering why they must weigh what they do. Why must the bumper be made of 4 guage steel tip to tip? Why not just the center portion which ties to the frame? Then you could tow just fine.

You all have got me thinking and I appreciate that. If I removed all weight except for the engine and mounted it on a unicycle via a tiny tranny and drove it by remote control via GPS satellite, what would happen to my gas mileage? I'll answer this question now so I don't break additional board rules. I think I would get like maybe 35 to 50 mpg. So I figured that the limiter must be the engine efficiency, not the weight neceassarily. After all, 1/3 of your fuel exists the vehicle unspent, 1/3 of your fuel is wasted in heat absorption by the engine, and 1/3 of your fuel is used to propel your truck forward. Seems practical that the engine would be the limit. So...

I'm going to step even further out on the limb hoping it doesn't break. Get this. If you reduced the weight of your truck by 400 lbs not by removing parts, but by redesigning parts with weight in mind, then you save 1 mpg. We've established this I think. Now that you truck is 400 lbs lighter, change the gearing to take advantage of the lower weight and boom you now have at least doubled that return to 2 mpg if not more!

What other variables are being overlooked in this topic?

 

You're joking right?

There is a 1/4" thick piece of metal under the bumper...the rear bumper is a class III bumper capable of towing 5000 lbs. It needs that metal for structual support. The entire bumper is not 1/4" thick, the chrome part is more like 1/8" thick. (I can't believe I'm arguing over this)...

Huh? Where'd you get that from...1/3 of fuel wasted in heat absorption? Who whipped that up? lol.


Do you think you're smarter than the engineers at Ford or something? If they could make the truck get way better mileage than it does...don't you think they would?

Listen, 400lbs does not equal 1 mpg....that is such a rediculous statement that I don't know where to begin explaining what is wrong with it.

It's not as big of a deal as you think....25 lbs is not a peanut when talking about a truck that weighs 5000-6000 lbs.

I can tow 5000+ lbs...does that mean I just lost 12.5 mpg out of the 13-14 I was getting? NO! I'd loose like....3-4.


Put the brain power to something more useful why dontcha....

 

Where's that bed....Is it in good shape, I could use one!

 

You're completely rear-wheel drive aren't you? Your denial of your ignorance on this issue has become the joke. Read and loose traction on your tears.

http://www.oilendgame.com/pdfs/WtOEg_Presentation.pdf

87% of your fuel is wasted.

You have a problem. I have a problem. If we don't identify it correctly it will not be solved.

 

My question never got answered

 

Originally Posted by EPNCSU2006
how much have you seen mileage improve after removing that list of items?

The question you should be asking is, "Are you looking for or measuring mileage improvements after your modifications?"

To answer that question, no, I'm not looking.

But, I'll tell you what. Give me a date you have free and you and I will meet up. I'll bring my truck and you bring several thousands of dollars in high tech instruments and computers designed to measure the information you seek. We will set up the controls for our efficiency measurments, then we will post the comprehensive results on the board for everyone to read. Are you up to the challenge?

Or, you could do a little experiement yourself. Take 400 lbs of wet sand and spread it evenly about the bed of your pickup. Then drive around and tell me what you observe and feel from the experience. Granted, adding 400 lbs is NOT the same as subtracting 400 lbs, but you'll get the point I think.

 

Weight is such a critical factor in respect to the performance of accelerating, braking, handling, and fuel consumption that great measures have been taken to shed mere pounds.

Formula 1 cars have developed rotors that are half the weight of conventional road car rotors in an attempt to save weight and drastically improve stopping distance. How many accidents would be avoided if your truck and my truck had formula 1 grade braking systems? Well, with almost 50% better stopping power I would say a great deal of lives could be spared and a great deal of fuel could be saved.

Remember ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking about every truck, SUV and passenger car on the road. A savings of 1 mpg over a billion automobiles amounts to millions of tons of fuel saved. Read the following link and make your own judgement.

http://www.formula1.com/insight/technicalinfo/11/477.html