1987 22re Can I increase Mileage?

[Combat Chuck]

No app, but I have a pen and paper. I get my mileage off every two tanks, record the number of gallons, and divide them against total miles for both tanks, usually averaging 22-23 these days.

I've also begun shifting at about 3200 + revs so I'm dropping back into about 2250-ish revs when I go up a gear, the engine has to work less to stay in my power-band.
I also pull alot of hills, and while I don't make any friends, I usualkly take them in second, because it takes less throttle to keep my engine in the perfect power band.

Sometimes it's beneficial not to shift up. I've found that the difference between fourth and third gear (for example) means the engine is working less; but in some situations (like doing 40 MPH) you have to open your throttle up more to do less, or work the throttle up and down, which is bad for mileage.

Finally, I give myself no less than an hour to be anywhere I need to be so I don't race the motor, or drive agressively, and if somebody is being a Subaru-driver in front of me, I can afford to slow down and do the whole ten miles an hour those drivers are capable of.

 

[arndog123]

My fairly stock '85 22RE gets between 20-24 mpg. Only mods is an LC Engineering exhaust system and later style intake plenum and bored out throttlebody/intake. I run max pressure on the tires and that seems to help w/ mpg too.

 

[Combat Chuck]

I had a backfire that cored out my muffler, getting about 2 MPGs better on average now.

 

[GAS-A-LOT!]

Anyone mess with those "high flow" catalytic converters? Any good? Or just snake oil.

I remeber that eliminating the cat on them rice burners was the norm back in them days...

"more exhaust flow, thus more power, and better mileage"..... Or so they say.

 

[tomcolins]

The whole "gas milage" thing is sorta snake oil IMO. It is certainly true that tires, tuning, hills, load, driving style makes a difference, but at some point the baseline is the baseline. If your truck is tuned like it should be and you drive it moderately, you are kinda there. Auto Parts chains and infomercials are big into gas saving accessories. I'm not into gizmos

When I bought my truck I got 18 city, 20-22 hwy. Maybe once or twice was surprised to find I had gone further on less than I thought. At first I swore I got better milage when I had a load in the bed and thought it must be some aerodynamic thing... BUT I recall an episode of Myth-Busters where they bunked the idea of removing the tailgate or adding a tonneau cover to increase milage. Something like the bed creates a dead zone that acts much like a tonneau cover... anyway, I digress.

The truck now gets 15 around town and 18 tops on the highway, but the carb is shot and I suspect mostly to blame. I also only have a 4 speed and live out in desert where even the county rds have 70-75 mph speed limits. The interstate is 80 and I don't even bother keeping up. I do tend to hold 4,000 RPM more than I'd prefer. If I slow 'er down mileage goes up, as would be expected. Someone said 55-60 was ideal? This is probably true for me. Your truck is newer than mine so I'd say 60-70 is ok. I guess there's a good chance you have EFI as well which works in your favor. (I can't recall if you ever said what your 22r was in, or if perhaps it was a 22re?) sorry.


Don't buy no K&N filters or vortex-y air intakes. Don't fool with SeaFoam or gasoline additives. Clean the bugs off your windshield and wax your truck for decreased resistance. And, Yes of all the tweaks mentioned, I find the only one worth standing by is the "downhill route method" I trumped that 6.3% NONSENSE though and got 8.7% better MPG with my route. Why rebuild the carb when it's all downhill form here?