Mods and mileage
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Mods and mileage
Over the past two months I have done the following to my '05 King Ranch F-350 (50,000 miles on odometer).
- installed MBRP 4" turbo back exhaust
- changed stock air filter
- installed hard tonneau cover
- removed lund sunvisor
- installed agressive street economy tune from Matt at Spartan.
My fuel economy worsened with every change except the tuning - which improved it a bit. My understanding is that I should have seen an improvement from the other items as well, not a worse situation.
Presently I am getting 19 mpg on an extended trip at 65-75 mph (not towing).
What gives? Ideas? Remedies?
- installed MBRP 4" turbo back exhaust
- changed stock air filter
- installed hard tonneau cover
- removed lund sunvisor
- installed agressive street economy tune from Matt at Spartan.
My fuel economy worsened with every change except the tuning - which improved it a bit. My understanding is that I should have seen an improvement from the other items as well, not a worse situation.
Presently I am getting 19 mpg on an extended trip at 65-75 mph (not towing).
What gives? Ideas? Remedies?
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
My opinion:
Exhaust won't help mileage. Exhaust is good for lowering EGT and making them loud.
Intake won't help mileage. The stock intake is excellent and the filter holds a lot of dirt. I'm not sure if you are saying you changed the filter element, or installed an aftermarket intake. Either way, I would not expect an increase in mileage.
Bed cover won't help mileage on these heavy trucks. Bed covers can help mileage, up to 10% according to the manufacturers, not exactly and unbiased opinion. Be that as it may, these are big heavy trucks with big powerful motors. Wind drag across an open bed is such a small percentage of what it takes to move these trucks that you won't see an improvement. Bed covers are much more likely to help small under powered trucks.
Removing visor won't help mileage on these heavy trucks. Same reason as bed cover.
Tuner can help mileage for sure. You might discuss this with your tune writer if you would like to squeeze more juice out of it.
If you're getting 19, you're at the high end of the average. How much would make you happy?
Bill
Exhaust won't help mileage. Exhaust is good for lowering EGT and making them loud.
Intake won't help mileage. The stock intake is excellent and the filter holds a lot of dirt. I'm not sure if you are saying you changed the filter element, or installed an aftermarket intake. Either way, I would not expect an increase in mileage.
Bed cover won't help mileage on these heavy trucks. Bed covers can help mileage, up to 10% according to the manufacturers, not exactly and unbiased opinion. Be that as it may, these are big heavy trucks with big powerful motors. Wind drag across an open bed is such a small percentage of what it takes to move these trucks that you won't see an improvement. Bed covers are much more likely to help small under powered trucks.
Removing visor won't help mileage on these heavy trucks. Same reason as bed cover.
Tuner can help mileage for sure. You might discuss this with your tune writer if you would like to squeeze more juice out of it.
If you're getting 19, you're at the high end of the average. How much would make you happy?
Bill
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Hey Todder,
Didn't say I didn't like it - am trying to figure out why my fuel consumption went up when I made the changes.
I started from a fixed point (say 16 mpg) and figured it would get better with the changes not worse. My tune from Matt is the only saving feature.
A friend of mine is getting almost 25 mpg on the highway using a Diablo programmer, stock exhaust and filter. Does not have the 6" fabtech lift or 33.5" tires on my rig.
Should mention we are talking imperial gallons not US. The imp. is a little larger = more mpg.
A Geo? Hard to stuff a bull elk into that unit!
Thanks - Skullman
Didn't say I didn't like it - am trying to figure out why my fuel consumption went up when I made the changes.
I started from a fixed point (say 16 mpg) and figured it would get better with the changes not worse. My tune from Matt is the only saving feature.
A friend of mine is getting almost 25 mpg on the highway using a Diablo programmer, stock exhaust and filter. Does not have the 6" fabtech lift or 33.5" tires on my rig.
Should mention we are talking imperial gallons not US. The imp. is a little larger = more mpg.
A Geo? Hard to stuff a bull elk into that unit!
Thanks - Skullman
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
The lift and big clogs hurt mileage for sure. If you are getting 19 miles per imperial gallon you should shout it to the mountains.
You didn't tell us how much the mods dropped your mileage. I would expect things like that (except the tuner) to make a difference measured in 10'ths of a mile per gallon. Either to the good or the bad. Anytime changes in mileage are so small it's difficult to be certain if it was really a change, or just difference in the drive. Hell, my mileage jumps all over the place even without making mod's. Just saying, it's really hard to tell, usually. But you are right, those things should not drop mileage. I'm guessing you are in Canada since your mention the I.G. Are you guys using ULSD yet? Reports say that that will drop mileage a little.
How much do you trust that friend getting 25 mpg? If true, that's really good.
Have you been out for Elk yet this year? I'm leaving in a little less than 3 weeks for Wyoming. Got bull tags in a very difficult to draw area. Getting really excited waiting for it. Good luck up there.
Bill
You didn't tell us how much the mods dropped your mileage. I would expect things like that (except the tuner) to make a difference measured in 10'ths of a mile per gallon. Either to the good or the bad. Anytime changes in mileage are so small it's difficult to be certain if it was really a change, or just difference in the drive. Hell, my mileage jumps all over the place even without making mod's. Just saying, it's really hard to tell, usually. But you are right, those things should not drop mileage. I'm guessing you are in Canada since your mention the I.G. Are you guys using ULSD yet? Reports say that that will drop mileage a little.
How much do you trust that friend getting 25 mpg? If true, that's really good.
Have you been out for Elk yet this year? I'm leaving in a little less than 3 weeks for Wyoming. Got bull tags in a very difficult to draw area. Getting really excited waiting for it. Good luck up there.
Bill
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Hey Bill,
Thanks for the reply. Truck came with the tires and lift on it so not sure what decrease they caused. The other "improvements" saw a decrese of about 2 mpg from where I am now.
Spoke to Matt and he thinks we can tweek things a bit to bring the mileage up without jepordizing integrity (studs in particular).
Have used ULSD, didn't realize it could drop the mileage - will check out performance without the ULSD.
Does air temperature affect performance? My gas engines love the cold air intake mod - seems this engine likes the air to be a bit on the warm side. Early mornings (cool) I get worse mileage.
Yes, I am in Canada (Saskatchewan). Good luck on your hunt, PM me if you want to swap huntin' stories.
Skullman
Thanks for the reply. Truck came with the tires and lift on it so not sure what decrease they caused. The other "improvements" saw a decrese of about 2 mpg from where I am now.
Spoke to Matt and he thinks we can tweek things a bit to bring the mileage up without jepordizing integrity (studs in particular).
Have used ULSD, didn't realize it could drop the mileage - will check out performance without the ULSD.
Does air temperature affect performance? My gas engines love the cold air intake mod - seems this engine likes the air to be a bit on the warm side. Early mornings (cool) I get worse mileage.
Yes, I am in Canada (Saskatchewan). Good luck on your hunt, PM me if you want to swap huntin' stories.
Skullman
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 10
From: Templeton, Massachussetts
Originally Posted by skullman
Hey Bill,
Thanks for the reply. Truck came with the tires and lift on it so not sure what decrease they caused. The other "improvements" saw a decrese of about 2 mpg from where I am now.
Spoke to Matt and he thinks we can tweek things a bit to bring the mileage up without jepordizing integrity (studs in particular).
Have used ULSD, didn't realize it could drop the mileage - will check out performance without the ULSD.
Does air temperature affect performance? My gas engines love the cold air intake mod - seems this engine likes the air to be a bit on the warm side. Early mornings (cool) I get worse mileage.
Yes, I am in Canada (Saskatchewan). Good luck on your hunt, PM me if you want to swap huntin' stories.
Skullman
Thanks for the reply. Truck came with the tires and lift on it so not sure what decrease they caused. The other "improvements" saw a decrese of about 2 mpg from where I am now.
Spoke to Matt and he thinks we can tweek things a bit to bring the mileage up without jepordizing integrity (studs in particular).
Have used ULSD, didn't realize it could drop the mileage - will check out performance without the ULSD.
Does air temperature affect performance? My gas engines love the cold air intake mod - seems this engine likes the air to be a bit on the warm side. Early mornings (cool) I get worse mileage.
Yes, I am in Canada (Saskatchewan). Good luck on your hunt, PM me if you want to swap huntin' stories.
Skullman
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by skullman
Hey Todder,
Didn't say I didn't like it - am trying to figure out why my fuel consumption went up when I made the changes.
I started from a fixed point (say 16 mpg) and figured it would get better with the changes not worse. My tune from Matt is the only saving feature.
A friend of mine is getting almost 25 mpg on the highway using a Diablo programmer, stock exhaust and filter. Does not have the 6" fabtech lift or 33.5" tires on my rig.
Should mention we are talking imperial gallons not US. The imp. is a little larger = more mpg.
A Geo? Hard to stuff a bull elk into that unit!
Thanks - Skullman
Didn't say I didn't like it - am trying to figure out why my fuel consumption went up when I made the changes.
I started from a fixed point (say 16 mpg) and figured it would get better with the changes not worse. My tune from Matt is the only saving feature.
A friend of mine is getting almost 25 mpg on the highway using a Diablo programmer, stock exhaust and filter. Does not have the 6" fabtech lift or 33.5" tires on my rig.
Should mention we are talking imperial gallons not US. The imp. is a little larger = more mpg.
A Geo? Hard to stuff a bull elk into that unit!
Thanks - Skullman
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Edmonton, AB
Originally Posted by skullman
Have used ULSD, didn't realize it could drop the mileage - will check out performance without the ULSD.
Does air temperature affect performance? My gas engines love the cold air intake mod - seems this engine likes the air to be a bit on the warm side. Early mornings (cool) I get worse mileage.
Yes, I am in Canada (Saskatchewan). Good luck on your hunt, PM me if you want to swap huntin' stories.
Skullman
Does air temperature affect performance? My gas engines love the cold air intake mod - seems this engine likes the air to be a bit on the warm side. Early mornings (cool) I get worse mileage.
Yes, I am in Canada (Saskatchewan). Good luck on your hunt, PM me if you want to swap huntin' stories.
Skullman
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Originally Posted by 18vtx00
Yes if the IAT,ECT or EOT reads colder in the AM it requires more fuel to retain the 14.7:1 stociometric air/fuel ratio.. think of it like an old car ot motorcycle..it needs choke in the morning. when it's cold it requires more fuel=less economy..
Bill
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,427
Likes: 10
From: Templeton, Massachussetts
Originally Posted by bpounds
Good info. I've been wondering about that. I live just 2.5 miles from my office, and I usually go home for lunch, so on a simple work day I drive 10 miles. But it's 4 cold motor trips of just 2.5 miles each. I'm pretty sure that I'm getting less than 10 mpg doing that, maybe a lot less. I make up for it on weekends, so I've never seen a tank of fuel that was all city driving If my commute was all I did it would be really, really, bad mileage. Bad for the motor too.
Bill
Bill