OPERATION BETTER MPG!!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, NC
yea, dont turn the truck into a Dr cut throat freak show......i think the idea is to keep at least all the creature comforts that the truck came with......and maybe even add one or two......
i would start with undersize pullies, electric fan, a full tune up w/ignition upgrades, shift kit, keep the truck clean, and cleaned out..... theres no reason you cant get an honest 16/24 out of that truck........
biggest change you can make........the way you drive, retrain yourself to work with the trucks power band, not make the truck work with your foot !
also......when driving roads 45mph and slower, keep the over drive turned off...that makes a big difference also
i would start with undersize pullies, electric fan, a full tune up w/ignition upgrades, shift kit, keep the truck clean, and cleaned out..... theres no reason you cant get an honest 16/24 out of that truck........
biggest change you can make........the way you drive, retrain yourself to work with the trucks power band, not make the truck work with your foot !
also......when driving roads 45mph and slower, keep the over drive turned off...that makes a big difference also
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
But definately need a tune up. The wires dont look bad but the plugs look old as HELL! Trying to decide if I should go back with copper cores or go plat or irdium. Not sure if that would benefit the gas mileage or not.
suggestions on what brand shift kit?
keep the truck clean, and cleaned out..... theres no reason you cant get an honest 16/24 out of that truck........
biggest change you can make........the way you drive, retrain yourself to work with the trucks power band, not make the truck work with your foot !
also......when driving roads 45mph and slower, keep the over drive turned off...that makes a big difference also
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
No on the Mustang shorties.. the collectors are located and angled differently so you need truck specific headers. 1.7 rockers are a simple bolt-on with no additional parts, but be aware these motors use pedistal mount non adjustable rockers and you will likely have to modify the oil baffles in the valve covers to clear the rockers.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
No on the Mustang shorties.. the collectors are located and angled differently so you need truck specific headers. 1.7 rockers are a simple bolt-on with no additional parts, but be aware these motors use pedistal mount non adjustable rockers and you will likely have to modify the oil baffles in the valve covers to clear the rockers.
Well that sucks. I got a buddy with some fms shorties for a fox body.
Could you use 87-93 mustang valves covers for clearing?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
On the 5.0 the meat of the powerband is between 2500 and 4500rpm.
Where do you live and how fast do you drive on the highway? Depending how fast you drive and if you live in flat area or not it may be worth your while to change the gearing to something more appropriate for your powertrain combo. 3.73's is what all 5.0 trucks should have come from the factory with IMO, the motor simply doesn't generate enough TQ below 2000rpm to maintain haighway speed in anything but perfect conditions(flat and no wind) without downshifting from OD. 3.73's fixes that problem and also keeps the motor in closed loop more because engine load is drastically decreased.. both of which improves overall milage. Ford seems to be stuck in the old train of thought that higher gearing improves milage.. but that simply doesn't work in the real world with a vehicle that has aerodynamics as bad as a pickup. I'll bet $$ the Chevy and Dodge trucks used to achieve the milage ratings in your opening post all had 3.73 or greater gear ratios in the axles.
Where do you live and how fast do you drive on the highway? Depending how fast you drive and if you live in flat area or not it may be worth your while to change the gearing to something more appropriate for your powertrain combo. 3.73's is what all 5.0 trucks should have come from the factory with IMO, the motor simply doesn't generate enough TQ below 2000rpm to maintain haighway speed in anything but perfect conditions(flat and no wind) without downshifting from OD. 3.73's fixes that problem and also keeps the motor in closed loop more because engine load is drastically decreased.. both of which improves overall milage. Ford seems to be stuck in the old train of thought that higher gearing improves milage.. but that simply doesn't work in the real world with a vehicle that has aerodynamics as bad as a pickup. I'll bet $$ the Chevy and Dodge trucks used to achieve the milage ratings in your opening post all had 3.73 or greater gear ratios in the axles.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
No.. same problem with those. Clearancing the baffles isn't that hard.. it's something that can be achieved with a ball peen hammer.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 900
Likes: 3
There are many things you can do to increase fuel mileage. The problem is, you have to judge if the trouble and expense of doing them will be worth a small increase in mileage. You can end up spending more than what you will be saving. I don't think our trucks are going to get great gas mileage unless they're pushed down hill with the engine off. My 95 gets worse mileage than my 79, and the 79 doesn't even have efi or overdrive and the 95 just recently had a tune up including a new O2 sensor.
Regardless, here are some more tips / suggestions.
Make it as light as possible ( within safety and reason)
replace step bumper w/ filler panel (if legal)
replace tailgate w/ cargo net
remove rear seat
run a taller / narrower tire
dyno tune for best mpg
program trans (automatic) for earlier up shifts and converter lockup
accelerate like grandpa
decelerate like a tractor trailer (off the throttle way early)
Regardless, here are some more tips / suggestions.
Make it as light as possible ( within safety and reason)
replace step bumper w/ filler panel (if legal)
replace tailgate w/ cargo net
remove rear seat
run a taller / narrower tire
dyno tune for best mpg
program trans (automatic) for earlier up shifts and converter lockup
accelerate like grandpa
decelerate like a tractor trailer (off the throttle way early)
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Where do you live and how fast do you drive on the highway? Depending how fast you drive and if you live in flat area or not it may be worth your while to change the gearing to something more appropriate for your powertrain combo.
3.73's is what all 5.0 trucks should have come from the factory with IMO, the motor simply doesn't generate enough TQ below 2000rpm to maintain haighway speed in anything but perfect conditions(flat and no wind) without downshifting from OD. 3.73's fixes that problem and also keeps the motor in closed loop more because engine load is drastically decreased.. both of which improves overall milage. Ford seems to be stuck in the old train of thought that higher gearing improves milage.. but that simply doesn't work in the real world with a vehicle that has aerodynamics as bad as a pickup. I'll bet $$ the Chevy and Dodge trucks used to achieve the milage ratings in your opening post all had 3.73 or greater gear ratios in the axles.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
There are many things you can do to increase fuel mileage. The problem is, you have to judge if the trouble and expense of doing them will be worth a small increase in mileage. You can end up spending more than what you will be saving. I don't think our trucks are going to get great gas mileage unless they're pushed down hill with the engine off. My 95 gets worse mileage than my 79, and the 79 doesn't even have efi or overdrive and the 95 just recently had a tune up including a new O2 sensor.
Regardless, here are some more tips / suggestions.
Make it as light as possible ( within safety and reason)
replace step bumper w/ filler panel (if legal)
replace tailgate w/ cargo net
remove rear seat
run a taller / narrower tire
dyno tune for best mpg
program trans (automatic) for earlier up shifts and converter lockup
accelerate like grandpa
decelerate like a tractor trailer (off the throttle way early)
Regardless, here are some more tips / suggestions.
Make it as light as possible ( within safety and reason)
replace step bumper w/ filler panel (if legal)
replace tailgate w/ cargo net
remove rear seat
run a taller / narrower tire
dyno tune for best mpg
program trans (automatic) for earlier up shifts and converter lockup
accelerate like grandpa
decelerate like a tractor trailer (off the throttle way early)
What does your get mpg? Do you use and have the things you listed?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 4
From: Harrisburg, NE
what i would do:
-adjust tps
-clean or replace egr valve
-clean the throttle body
-adjust the tv cable
- get a full front end alignment done
-yours tires are fine for now, just keep the pressure at the max rating on the sidewall. keep in mind that any size different than what the truck came with will throw your odometer off, which will throw your readings off
-i think that it would be just fine running underdrive pedals
- I prefer autolite coppers that have been side-gapped wider than stock specs. run them in everything I have with great results
-change the fluid in your tranny and rearend. I have seen this make some pretty improvements, although its all situation dependant.
-fix the nut behind the steering wheel...
headers with an exhaust system are an excellent idea, something i still have yet to do to mine.
-adjust tps
-clean or replace egr valve
-clean the throttle body
-adjust the tv cable
- get a full front end alignment done
-yours tires are fine for now, just keep the pressure at the max rating on the sidewall. keep in mind that any size different than what the truck came with will throw your odometer off, which will throw your readings off
-i think that it would be just fine running underdrive pedals
- I prefer autolite coppers that have been side-gapped wider than stock specs. run them in everything I have with great results
-change the fluid in your tranny and rearend. I have seen this make some pretty improvements, although its all situation dependant.
-fix the nut behind the steering wheel...
headers with an exhaust system are an excellent idea, something i still have yet to do to mine.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
to what?
adjust it to what? please explain? shift later or early or delay kick down?
Thats a smoking idea right there!
I assume you mean pulleys? All the underdrive pullies I have had even with the alternator pulley on slows the alternator down. With electric fans on and the ac running my charge gauge reads between the N-O when Im at a stop. With the headlights on its on the N. With pullies it would definately not have enough charge. If I upgrade the alternator to a 130amp it shouldn't be a problem.
side gapped?
what do you run gap wise?
KICK A$$ idea!!
that will come later. Im gonna mod the stock exhaust for now and plan on headers later.
-adjust the tv cable
- get a full front end alignment done
-yours tires are fine for now, just keep the pressure at the max rating on the sidewall. keep in mind that any size different than what the truck came with will throw your odometer off, which will throw your readings off
-yours tires are fine for now, just keep the pressure at the max rating on the sidewall. keep in mind that any size different than what the truck came with will throw your odometer off, which will throw your readings off
-i think that it would be just fine running underdrive pedals
- I prefer autolite coppers that have been side-gapped wider than stock specs. run them in everything I have with great results
what do you run gap wise?
-change the fluid in your tranny and rearend. I have seen this make some pretty improvements, although its all situation dependant.
headers with an exhaust system are an excellent idea, something i still have yet to do to mine.