The other day I was talking to a guy at the auto parts store and he asked me if I noticed any mileage difference with the visor that is on my truck. I told him it was there when I bought the truck, so no. He was telling me about his and a buddys truck. Both are inentical Toyota trucks except his buddys is extended cab and his has a visor. He said that his buddy gets about 5-6 mpg more than he does and he was wondering if it was the visor. His visor was on his truck when he got his, too. I know that there are a lot of factors that could make that mileage difference like driving habits, state of tune, etc. It got me to thinking about the visor on my truck though. I was wondering if anyone here has any actual experience with the visor to no visor mileage difference? I don't want to remove mine if it won't make a noticeable difference.

Steve

 

I have been told that they do make a difference, it is a big wind catch, and the air can't get through fast enough to not make pressure, as well as turbulence.

 

Anything that increases air resistance will worsen mpg, but 5-6 mpg difference seems a bit (?!) too much for that.

 

I would think it would make a difference, but 5-6 mpg sounds a little extreme

 

well i have not noticed a change on my 84 ford 4x4 and i drive a 100 miles a day round trip to work have had it on for about 65 days or more... so i have to vote no..lol

 

plugged fuel filter maybe, but not 5-6 with just the visor

 

Take it off and see, but I'd say it won't make much difference, unless you normally drive 100 miles an hour or something.

A bunch of little things do add up, my 1979 F100 was getting a little over 24mpg, but that was ALOT of trail and error (with the right engine and gearing).

 

I agree with the 5-6 being a little extreme. Doesn't sound from most that it will make much difference with it off or not. Thanks for everyones opinions and experiences. The fuel filter was changed last fall and nothing changed after I changed it then. Oh well. I guess I will just suffer with the 11-13 I am getting now. Thanks all.

Steve

 

I experimented alot with my 79 (factory 302, OD, 3.00 gears shortbed stepside) that was getting 19.1 when I first got it to 24.3 currently.

I found a bunch of weird stuff like it gets it's best economy at 68mpg, second best at 62mpg (but worse with the cruise set in between). Tailgate down (and off) is worth about .1, which isn't enough gain to really TELL if it's a gain.

Cruise control does help (except on big hills where you do better gradually backing out of it), proper tire pressure, typical tuneup stuff, tire size, wheel bearings, exhaust, just alot of little things that add up. I didn't do any one thing to get a 5mpg gain, but lots and lots of small things.

 

Did you put synthetic grease in the wheel bearings and diff lube in the differentials? Just wondering if that would make a difference worth the expense.

Steve

 

That is a strangely high number for a truck, and I assume you meant 68 mph. Did you try something like, ummm, err, 55 mph?

 

Yep, 68mph. At 55 in OD it's turning slightly under 1500, at 68 it turns slightly over 1700.

Just a quick rundown, it's a 1979 Ford Free Wheelin' F100 shortbed stepside (dry weight, 3800 somthing, with a 302, factory SROD overdrive, 3.00 gears, 245/70-15 rubber. Custom curved vacuum advance Unilite, Jacobs Mileage Master ignition, Jacobs Ultracoil, electric fan, electric water pump, Gasket matched Edelbrock Performer intake, screened intake gaskets with well sorted Holley 4100 4 bbl, slightly reworked 5.0 factory shortys, ported and polished heads (stock valves, upgraded slightly heavier springs), Comp 260 cam (degreed in), Rhodes lifters, 9.5:1 compression, balanced and blueprinted. Homemade ram-air (with dryer ducts, no less) and a K&N filter. Other then a homemade tonneu cover (from a dumptruck tarp) that's pretty much it.

Oh, and I run full synthetic in the front bearings, tranny, engine (generally 5W20) and diff. Also SLIGHTLY overinflate the tires to 35psi, but it does wear the center out a little faster.

I use cruise 90 percent of the time, and watch my vacuum gauge constantly. Trying to break 25mpg, btw. Not really much more I can do, but I've got some other ideas when I put it back together.

 

i had a '88 ranger with the 2.3 4 cyl. had n visor when i got it, put one on after haveing it 5 moths, i didnt notice any difference. havent had a visor since, i like the look, but it just isnt worth the 200+ $ for something like that. step bars and stuff like that that actully do serve more than a apperance thing i'll get. i suppose if i removed everything id gain mpg, but that would just be due to the fact of weight reduction in general.