What can I do?
 

I recently have found my self wanting to save gas, but I dont know where to start. Can you all help me. My current daily driver uses more gas than I think I should what can I do to change it. It is a 2003 F150 with the 5.4L V8 4x4.

Welcome to the forum.

If you'd like to change to a more efficient vehicle, of course that will accomplish your goal. It sounds like you do want that.

If you don't, that doesn't mean you can't at least do better with the vehicle you have. What kind of driving do you do, what kind of roads and traffic conditions do you deal with?

I recommend looking at Mine, and Holy Cow's garage entries. Look at my "Beast" and HC's "Bessy" for ideas.

My truck is paid off, so I really don't want to buy a new car. I have a corvette that gets awesome mileage, but I try to keep the miles off of it. My daily commute is about 6 miles of highway and a couple of city. My truck seems to average about 14-15 mpg.

Also, make a garage entry for your truck, and log your fillups so you can see if your attempts to raise your mileage pay off.

-Jay

Oh, and the revised EPA estimates for your truck are 12 City / 16 Highway / 14 Combined.

That's a tough challenge for sure.

Aerodynamics are such an abomination that they'd hardly be worth trying to modify. If you do a serious amount of highway driving, I've become a fan of blocking airflow from underneath the vehicle, usually by way of some sort of air dam hanging under the front bumper.

Otherwise, I think your biggest gains will come from driving technique - low RPM, etc. Keep speeds low on the highway - 55MPH will save a lot of fuel compared to 65MPH. Cruise control will help you use less fuel too, especially if you are a gas pedal "stabber".

One of the best ways to save fuel is to watch the way you approach a red light. When you see a red light ahead, hit the brakes *as early as possible* - instead of hitting the brakes at the last minute and having to come to a full stop, if you hit the brakes early you might be able to maintain 15 - 20 MPH as you approach the red light (if you time it well) and it takes much less fuel to re-accelerate to regular speed.

Some other areas with minor gains might be headers (if allowed in your area), or skinnier tires (lower rolling resistance).

Use the lowest octane your truck will allow - perhaps you can use 87 octane for daily driving, but bump up to 89 octane if you tow. (Under heavy load conditions, you will tend to see more engine knock which retards timing)

Of course there are the basics like keeping your engine in a pristine state of tune, and so on.

-Bob C.

You mean, "as you approach the now-green light".

I disagree about tire width. My research indicates that, counterintuitively, wider tires may provide lower rolling resistance.

Either way, you can certainly experiment with increasing your tire pressure. Never exceed the maximum pressure that is stamped on the tire's sidewall, and never use less than the pressure that is specified for your truck by Ford. The highest pressure in that range that does not adversely affect ride and handling will be the best pressure. (If you eventually notice excessive center wear then you might back the pressure off a little bit.)

I've got a big grill guard on the front, does that hurt my mileage any? Wouldnt driving 55 mph really anger the people driving the speed limit of 70 mph,:confused:

Here is the grill guard I'm talking about.
https://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...a3cef2736e.jpg

Yeah, safety first! You always have to gauge your driving based on traffic conditions and so on. If you are on a single lane road, I would strongly advise not to go 10 MPH below the speed limit when people are following you...

-Bob C.

The guard does reduce your fuel economy, especially if you mostly do highway driving. Removing it should help some (probably not a huge amount). Do you have other accessories stuck to the outside, like racks?

You can find out if 55mph will be a problem by trying it. If you don't find yourself settling in with other 55mph drivers then it's probably not safe to be going at too different a speed from the rest of the traffic. When I am in the mood to go slow on the highway, I generally keep it within 5mph of the speed limit.

I've got side steps and a toolbox that sits down in the bed, but it sits level with the top of the bed.

There's not enough data to say, the box may help or hinder aerodynamically. The side steps are probably worth keeping even if removing them would improve your fuel economy a little bit.

With your commute being so short, your truck probably doesn't warm up until you're almost there. It might be worthwhile to install a block heater.

Does your commute have rolling hills?

Do you drive in backed up traffic, empty roads, or something in-between?

There's your problem... The guns and the rabbit attached to the brush guard. Getting rid of those should help the aero some...

LOL, Just kidding... As long as you're not a speed demon I wouldn't worry about the brush guard.

I know having a third car is pushing it, but you could get a cheap used vehicle that had greater efficiency. Used car wouldn't need too much in the way of insurance and multiple car rates for liability are usually low. Or maybe a scooter or motorcycle, if your area and inclinations lend themselves to one.

With his short commute, an additional FE car for the commute would never pay for itself unless it was free and the insurance on it was free.

I heard that if I cut off my catalytic converters my engine would run more efficient and get better mileage. I've got BFG All-Terrain tires on it right now, are those good for rolling resistance?

Getting a 3rd car probably won't work since I already have 3, Truck, corvette and a mustang. I dont need a 4th car.

Cat coverters might restrict flow a tiny amount at redline, but considering fuel economy alone, there is no reason to remove it.

I do not recommend removing the cat. What will happen is that the computer will sense this, assume something is wrong with the system, turn on the check engine light, and run in "limp home" mode on a set of preset parameters. Your mileage will likely go down.

The tires are another thing. You may see a gain going to a tire with a less aggressive tread. I have highway truck tires on my K1500, and its performance off road and in snow & ice really hasn't suffered much. If the tires are due for replacement you may see a gain from tire replacement. Unless you have a really aggressive off road tread on your tires, or you have super swampers on it. Otherwise the expense of the new tires probably won't pay for themselves.

just a thought...

assuming you NEED a truck, would you consider a 4cyl model. that a manual tranny could help immensely!

Your 2003 F150's catalytic converters do NOT cause any extra fuel usage, and your engine depends on them to run right. Federal law prohibits removing them, although I've never heard of that federal law being enforced. Depending on where you live, your state or county may strongly enforce their own law preventing the removal of catalytic converters.

So, that said...if you wanted to break the law, you could spend the money to get them removed and spend the money on a custom tune to make your computer ignore them, but it won't improve your fuel economy.

Are you more interested in modifications or in learning driving techniques?

I was looking more for modifications. I'm pretty sure I would hate myself if I had to drive little 4 banger everyday, plus I do have a few trailers I pull on occasion.

There are some modifications that can be done, but most either are very ugly DIY jobs (which doesn't bother some of us, but I'd guess that they wouldn't work for you) or will never pay for themselves.

warmer air intake, move your intake to be closer to the engine somehow(make sure the air is hotter than before!), and use clear caulking around your headlights to keep the hot air in (making sure your cooling system works properly) dont over inflate these tires you dont want to crash that truck maybe and extra lb of air, and get a rear cover, just those ones that roll up help aerodyns

two points for me

dont cut off your cat you will be doing harm to the environment probably triple the emissions, hell, the smog could even choke you out at a red light from a 5.4 hahahaha how does lung cancer sound?

also stay under 1600 rpms, staying under a certain rpm during 0-40mph acceleration helps you get into higher gears at lower speeds try going into highway gear at 36-42mph, plus it increases the longevity of your transmission

this is where your biggest gain will come from
you could get an easy 20mpg like this

Good points, spotaneagle. I disagree about the tire pressure, though. My 2002 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 (similar truck) handles far better with 60 PSI than with the recommended 35, and at 80 front 70 rear it handles about the same as at 35. The ride quality is not affected in any way I can detect. I have Load Range E tires which are rated for that high pressure; OP probably has P-series tires rated for 44 or 51, and that maximum pressure will be fine.

I have E rated tires on my K1500 as well. The max pressure on the tire sidewall is 80 PSI, but I've been running them at 70 PSI and the tires are showing no abnormal wear, and its riding and handling well.

yea i dont own a truck i dont know about tire psi, my new idea?????

iss.....

drumroolllll


Seal-and-Peal caulk on your lights to keep in the heat and help aerodynamics in the front, seal and peal is a semi-permanent caulk that you use in the fall and remove in the spring on leaky windows in your house, it doesnt take alot of house paint off with it usually would probably not take much car paint off at all, no worry's if its plastic or chrome, that way if you ever want to remove it you can

Cool. I've never heard of that but I ought to check it out.

Well I've been doing my research and I found a hell of a deal on a beater car, it says it has a 390 FE motor. Does that stand for fuel efficient?

Here is the car I found.
https://www.stationwagonforums.com/fo...marauder_2.jpg

I'd roll it!

...and of course the FE stands for Fuel Efficient. Isn't that what all big-displacement antique boats are about? :D

I figured it did, but I thought, you know I better check with the experts on this one.


Has anyone experimented with "drafting" on their daily commute, it sure helps Jeff Gordon save fuel on Sundays. I would assume this works in the real world situations too. How close should I get to the back of the next car?

Drafting can and does help many people. It is NOT done the way that Jeff Gordon does it, though. Instead, find a 53' box trailer and keep a 2 to 3 second following distance. Don't follow flatbeds or anything that can be converted to a flatbed, since you're more likely to find rocks falling off of them.

Tailgating is dangerous and illegal, and the turbulence directly behind a common road vehicle will actually reduce your fuel economy.

There is a link in my sig to a good discussion on drafting.

i do that if i find an 18 wheeler thats going at a decent speed. i pulled 24mpg in my navigator 1 time drafting 1 from new braunsfels to san antonio.

So I guess I don't need to keep the grill guard for bump drafting:D

In about 1972 or so a friend of mine had a '62 Ford Country Sedan with a 390...four barrel carb...probably very similar to the car shown. He got about 8 mpg average out of it. And yes, he did keep track, even then. But....he did have a lot of fun on dates in that car!

Are you trolling or are you serious?

That car looks like it could host a lot of fun dates...simultaneously!

I would totally buy that wagon. I miss my old Bonneville wagon. Here's a pic of me with it in the summer of 1989:

https://b5.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/0...63313585_l.gif

My dream wagon? An Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, or a Pontiac Grand Safari.

If you want to keep the grille guard, wind string or speaker wire around it. Long spirals, about 3 inch spacing.

Many car antennas sport this kind of turbulence control device as do tall cylindrical smoke stacks.

On a short commute, a warm intake and grill block could help the truck get up to operating temp faster.

I would also recommend a Scangauge. The instant feedback of what you're driving style is doing helps. Plus, it'll let you monitor engine and air intake temps with changes to the intake or grill. The Xgauge function might let you also monitor transmission temps.