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getting more milage..... cheap

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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 08:53 AM
  #16  
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From: Blue Hill Township
Originally Posted by Bear River
A modern fuel injected engine without a cat can loose up to 2 mpg. Run a good catback system or even just a good muffler and you will notice an improvement. Use synthetic fluids.

An electric fan in my opinion is a terrible suggestion. I know a few people who have tried that, and getting them just right is hard. On a V6 ranger, it will only free up about 1/3 hp, so the difference is almost unmeasureable.
I beg to differ. I have an e-fan on my Explorer and get 1-2mpg better depending on the day. The horsepower gain is negligible of course, but the throttle response is better and I get better mileage.

As far as a modern engine without cats, explain that one to me. No cats means that there is less restriction in the exhaust which means that it is easier for the engine to pump air. How did you come about the conclusion that you lose mileage?
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 08:59 AM
  #17  
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i can see because if you do not retune the truck it scavanges the fuel air mix in the cilinders a little bit and thats how that happens
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:00 AM
  #18  
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I did not believe it either, but no cat triggers Check engine light. My Dad had a 1998 Taurus and the cat self destructed and spit out the internals around 180,000 miles. Check engine light came on but MPG and performance stayed same.

I have to think it messes with the 02 sensor readings as most new stuff has the sensors before and after the cats.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:01 AM
  #19  
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The only purpose of the 2nd set of O2 sensors is to measure catalyst efficiency. The upstream O2 sensors are the ones that the ECU uses for fueling and whatnot.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:03 AM
  #20  
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yes that is why the check engin light came on but the factory engins are tuned for the restrictions from the cat so without it the less restriction allows for fa mix to be sucked out as exauhst exits the cilinder (excuse spelling in a rush)
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:04 AM
  #21  
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Either way, it's not a good idea to remove the cats, the biggest reason that it's illegal. The newer cats flow verywell, so it's not as much an issue, They also sell highflow cats that flow better yet. There's no real good reason to not run cats and break the law.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:06 AM
  #22  
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yess we all like to step outside and not light aflame due to not haveing a ozone layer
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:08 AM
  #23  
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From: Blue Hill Township
Originally Posted by jonezy.de61
yes that is why the check engin light came on but the factory engins are tuned for the restrictions from the cat so without it the less restriction allows for fa mix to be sucked out as exauhst exits the cilinder (excuse spelling in a rush)
No, less restriction means that the engine doesn't have to work as hard to move air through it. The check engine light comes on because the cat is missing and the o2 sensor readings show that.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:10 AM
  #24  
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From: Blue Hill Township
Originally Posted by wendell borror
Either way, it's not a good idea to remove the cats, the biggest reason that it's illegal. The newer cats flow verywell, so it's not as much an issue, They also sell highflow cats that flow better yet. There's no real good reason to not run cats and break the law.
The factory cats are still a pretty large restriction. Yes, they flow better than the 1975 cats but they are still a restriction. I'm not saying that you should take them out, I'm not saying that you shouldn't take them out, just sayin.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:56 AM
  #25  
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Yes, they flow better than they use to and the sell highflow unit's if thats still not good enough. We have messed around with cat backs, headers and cats on these ranger and have found that there is very little to be gained from the exhause side. I had headers and a catback and lost some lowend torque and gained 0, zilch, nada in hp. With just a catback the most that has been gained is 2 hp and that can be a flucuation in the dyno. The factory has done a pretty good job on the intake and exhaust side of the ranger.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 10:05 AM
  #26  
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I won't disagree with you there as it sounds like you have quite a bit of experience with exhaust on these trucks. All I am saying is that catalytic converters are still a restriction in the exhaust.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 10:46 AM
  #27  
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Sure it's a restriction but it doesn't amount to much, I was hoping after spending alot of money that there would be some real gains there. Some vehicles are restricted more than others. I still recomend a good catback as it does make for a free'er running engine, just not as free as we would of hoped on the hp side. Also the rumble is priceless, I hate a boring vehicle ha ha. The mods that delivered the most power and helped mpg were the bama engine programer, udp's and switching to all synthetic fluids in the drivetrain. I'm sure the intake, headers and catback didn't hurt mpg, all of them together made an effient running motor. My mpg went from 18/22 to 22/25 and about 25 hp and 18 ft pounds. My total mod list, jba shortie headers, gibson dual sport cat back, under dog udp, E-fan, K&N 77 series intake, bama engine programer, mobil 1 in the engine and royal purple in the tranny, t-case and rear diff. It all made for a decent running 4x4, it was fun to drive.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 10:59 AM
  #28  
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well the main thing im doing for now is putting on that borla so any suggestions on how? the borla has 2 1/4 inlets and outlets so the stock 1.5 inch pipe to the mufflef so wont work
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 11:15 AM
  #29  
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Well I would sugest you get the complete borla cat back and it will up size your piping at the cat. You don't want to go bigger than 2.5" pipes as it will start robbing you of lowend torque. There's really nothing to be gained by going from 1.5 to 2 1/4 at the muffler. Enlarge up to 2 1/4 at the cat to the tail pipe with a 3" tip and it sould give you a nice rumble and free up the exhause a bit. A muffler shop can put the exhaust together for you using your borla and thier pretty reasonable. They can build you a cat back cheaper than you can buy one in most cases, if you allready have the muffler, oiece of cake.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 11:23 AM
  #30  
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Whether you knew it or not, the job of the O2 sensors is to provide lean rich switching to aid in catalyst efficiency.. that is why when you monitor an O2 sensor it switches reach lean many times a second. Basically your entire fuel system is tuned based on that catalytic converter. its part of the tunning, so even when you rip it out of there the engine is still working like it is there.
 
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