Ideas for improving poor gas mileage

[highdesertranger]

I wanted to add on most newer vehicles when you run the defroster the ac cycles on and off.  this removes moister from inside the vehicle helping the defrosting/defogging process.  highdesertranger

 

[David]

Van Tramp.

#12.. The alternator spins when the engine is running. There is no clutch involved with it like an A/C compressor. This means if the engine is running the load is the same, regardless if your radio is on or off.

Turning the radio off will only affect your gas mileage if you have a tendency to drive different to various music. It makes no difference to your mpg if you have a dead battery or a full one.

 

[Van-Tramp]

It is not the radio itself per-se, it is the alternator. Surely, it is always spinning at any time the engine is running, but the harder it has to work the more drag it is putting on the motor.<br><br>Here are some great answers to this questionhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111216080127AA2k513<br><br>I like this one, "Conceptually, the more power you are drawing from your alternator, the harder it is to turn (like a bicycle up hill), and so the engine has to run a little more forcefully, which in turn uses a little more fuel."

 

[Lostinspace]

2nd Law of Thermodynamics paraphrased.... You can't get something for nothing. No perpetual motion machines allowed. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Guest]

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[highdesertranger]

good vid funny face.&nbsp; allot of good points.&nbsp; highdesertranger

 

[Jim_Rockford]

yep, if your production engine runs better on premium, and has bad spark knock on reguler you need to have that checked out, you have carbon build up or the timing is too far advanced, premium is really for engines with a higher timing, and higher compression, last I checked no one here had a van with over 10.0 to 1 compression.

 

[GotSmart]

I use the Lucas injector cleaner. Where I used to live there was a hill that I had to take at full speed because of traffic. Without the cleaner, 53 MPH tops, 4th gear. With the Lucas, 60 MPH 5th gear. I also get an extra 1 to 2 mpg. At $3+ a gallon for fuel, it is worth spending the $32 for a gallon of the treatment. I can ad it to 25 tanks, and more than break even. I also get more pep.

Bottom line is it works for me. It might not give everyone the same results, because of different motors and driving conditions. Just like some members have better results from premium. We do not now how their fuel supplier is mixing his blend.

 

[Blue]

Best way to get best MPG, forget MPG and find ways to let other people pay for your gas! (best ) or find ways to get cheaper gas.

 

[Patrick46]

OK

We've discussed driving techniques, and proper engine & tire maintenance.

But what about flares and spoilers???

I've got my van and a class C motorhome, and I've seen tons of vans, and BornFree motorhomes that come with the spoilers that wrap around under the front bumper and go down the sides.

Sure, they look cooler than crap...but do they actually HELP with fuel economy (as I've heard that they do)??

I'll be down at the junkyard this afternoon grabbing a set if I kin find some stats that back up this theory.

hey....anythiing to look cooler....right???

 

[SternWake]

I always thought that ground effect packages would displace more air and increase drag, but apparently the air forced under the vehicle is so turbulent it causes more drag.

Only a wind tunnel knows for sure. Anybody whho installed such things has a vested interest in seeing a MPG improvement. Perhaps so much so that their driving habits alone after installation are the sole reason for an apparent improvement.

I prefer ground clearance to Stylish looks but often wonder about airflow under the Van and is there is something which is just the proverbial barndoor, aerodynamics wise, under there. Think about all the 18 wheelers before they tried to make the front ends more streamlined. The Skirts under the trailer are telling. Apparently the rear axle is that barn door, and make up for the extra weight carried.

I last filled up my tank in December. I save gas by driving little.

 

[Lucky mike]

I drive so slow they make me use the crosswalk at an intersection!!!

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Good one Mike.
We tell people we're crossing the nation at 50 MPH...often less to be honest.

I like the side skirts on the big trucks. Not as much side wash when they fly by headed the other way in 2 lane roads.

 

[Blue]

about drag... on that hypersaving gas mileage show they mentioned never driving with the windows down... well if you are going to drive with the windows down, pretty much every one of the guys who sell wind deflectors for your driver and passenger windows claims that is how to keep cool and decrease drag of driving with windows down... not sure if its true, but I plan on gettin em (if only because I want to roll my windows down a bit when parked.

 

[SoulRaven]

Greetings!

Well, no-one has mentioned my advice, so here it is:

I visited a speed tuning shop and told them I was unhappy with my MPG. They said they could help. I have now done this with my last 4 vehicles.

For under $100 I saw MPG increases of 35-50% depending on which vehicle. They also told me where the sweet spot was for each vehicle, and I found that in town I could drive at that sweet spot by dropping down into 3rd gear instead of 4th.

Buying new tires and having them "siped" added an additional 10%.

Easily paid for all cash outlay within the first 30 days.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[Lostinspace]

What is "Siped" ?

That's one I have not heard of.

 

[SoulRaven]

What is "Siped" ?

That's one I have not heard of.

Greetings Wade!

Siped is when they cut extra little lines in your tires that improve your traction while reducing your rolling resistance.

I know it sounds contradictory and while I can't actually vouch for better traction... (Never had a traction problem either before or after...) It did in fact get me an extra 10% MPG, and I think in my former step van which did not have power steering, it made it easier to turn.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[GotSmart]

Grooving tires. While improving traction, it does nothing for mileage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping_(rubber)

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tireSiping.dos

 

[SoulRaven]

Grooving tires. While improving traction, it does nothing for mileage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siping_(rubber)

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tireSiping.dos

Greetings!

While those articles do a good job of explaining siping, neither mentions anything about gas mileage...

Here is my experience:

Normally, especially in the summer months, I tend to hang out in the PNW(Pacific Northwest). Around here, we have Les Schwab tire centers...

When I bought new tires there one year, I asked the gentleman about tires vs. MPG and he told me that he thought my best bet would be all season commercial duty tires, and that having them siped might improve my MPG.

I took his advice, and instantly gained 10% better MPG. To start with I really wasn't sure whether it was the siping, the new tires, or a combination of both.

As fate would have it, while in Orlando, FL, I had two of my tires sliced, along with many other cars in a parking lot one day. Lucky for whoever did it, I wasn't in my van at the time...

Well, there's no Les Schwab's in Orlando, so I called around and around, and kept getting told my tires could not be replaced, I would have to buy new rims also, downsizing from 16.5" to 16". With much difficulty I managed to get all 5 new rims, and new tires which would provide the same outer circumference as my original tires, while remaining to keep the same commercial durability rating. Over $1500 later, I was back on the road, but they had never even heard of siping...

I instantly lost 10% MPG !!! When I returned to the PNW, I went back to Les Schwab's and they siped my new tires, and also told me that THEY could have simply replaced the two sliced tires.. arrrgh....

I instantly regained that lost 10% MPG, so it was definitely the siping and not the tires themselves that were responsible for the gain.

So in the real world, that $24.95 that I spent for the siping, saves me nearly that much with every single tank of gas! I would call that a good investment.

Cheers!

The CamperVan_Man

 

[GotSmart]

In my experience, if a company can make a claim, they will do it if they can legally get away with it. All the sites I went to not one made a mention of even a potential of improved gas mileage.