i have a 92 e150 cargo with a 5.0 that got 12 mpg with a ladder rack bins tools and lots of parts but now i don't need it for work and was wondering what milage you guys think that i could get empty (no ladder rack, bins, cage, tools, just me and a 100 lb dog? also have you guys got better milage my lowering these vans? do you guys think 18-20 highway is possible.

 

No, I doubt 18-20 is possible. IMO 14-15 is about tops.

 

Our '88 E150 club wagon XLT ( same as a newer "chateau" model ) gets about 16 on the highway, but it also weighs in at right around 5k pounds empty. My '92 E150 cargo with a 351w got 17 on the highway and about 14 in town. You should get around that with the 302.

 

My '95 5.0 tops out about 16 on the interstate if I keep the speed to about 70.

14/15 is typical. 18/20 isn't going to happen.

Steve
'95 clubwagon XLT

 

You should improve your mileage by lowering / reducing the amount of air passing under the vehicle, as you have sumised by suggesting it already, lowering / reducing is just normal physics, would apply to any car or truck.

Airplanes are smooth all over for a reason. Think of the drag that would be incured if they hgad a rough underbelly.

What I am not sure on is if you would save enough to pay for the cost, or the reduced drivability over speed bumps, driveway entrances, etc, especially at the speeds cars and trucks travel at, in comparison to most airplanes. Remember also that with the side skirts as listed below, side winds will have a greater effect on the van's stability.

I could estimate, cleaned up, lowered, well done, stiff rubber air dam no more than 1" off the street surface, stiff rubber side skirts the same amount adding about 2-3 mpg or so on the hiway, depending upon the speed you normally travel.

Narrower, higher pressure tires wil also decrease the rolling resitance, but once again, a decrease in traction, thus a reduction in driveability.

Probably the easiest is to slow down. depending upon your gearing, you will probably see a fair amount of improvement in overall mileage if you drop from 70/75 to the 50/55 range. Of course now you have to take into the while time / cost issue. if you are talking a change from 14 to say 16 miles per gallon, is the reduction in the fuel cost worth that much more time sitting behind the wheel? I mean are there other things that you would rather be doing than driving? We only have so much time here here on earth....

just some thoughts, David

 

While gas mileage might be almost identical.

An "XLT" is not the same as a newer "chateau". The Chateau came out in '92 & was a luxury version of the XLT, which was still being offered. The XL was dropped.

 

Actually the '88 has the all the option of the newer "chateau" model. 4 captains chairs, rear bed (factory rear seat folds down), premium sound, front and rear air. I've been in both and they have the same options. Between the insulation and the interior panels that van is HEAVY. It has a GVW of 6800lbs and weighs in at almost 5200lbs empty.

 

after unloading most of the van and taking off the ladder rack, i drove it on the interstate and it felt like a new van.