better mpg

[TEJ]

I Have A 1997 Cruiser- Anybody Disagree With Removing The Front Driveshaft To Gain Better Miles Per Gallon?

 

[whodat]

Yes, we all disagree as it does not have the effect you would think.

 

[sseaman]

if thats the case lets only use 3 tires so there is less rolling resistance

 

[Lugboot]

if thats the case lets only use 3 tires so there is less rolling resistance

I tried that but the axle dragging on the ground negated the intended benefits. I'm back to four tires again.

 

[maybe_a_80...]

i'm putting a front air dam on mine, you know, aftermarket "ground effects". the place i ordered it from tried to sell me a wing for the back for short money, but i graciously declined.

i expect some approach angle clearance issues with the air dam but at least 1mpg better mileage and i'll be the envy of every kid hanging out at 7-eleven.

 

[Hilux]

Might I suggest, the lightest, FACTORY RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZE?

Inflated at all times to the recommended tire pressure?

For the business man: nitrogen filled tires? - Google Search

 

[reffug]

WTH..........

 

[maybe_a_80...]

WTH..........

Sorry. Got carried away. Better fuel efficiency is something we all want...but it's a full time 4wd 5,000lb beast we are talking about (with no air dam to boot).

As mentioned, smaller contact-patch tires that are more lightweight (and have smaller voids between knobs) will help, especially when properly inflated. I think going a little over the recommended inflation is also good for mileage if your 80 is almost always on road. You can always air down for off road duty. Making sure your tire pressure is correct regularly is huge (I'm sure you've seen the numbers on how much gasoline we could save daily in the US if everyone drove their vehicles with properly inflated tires).

Other things that can make a difference:

• Full engine tune up
• Cold air intake
• Regular oil changes
• Get the truck aligned if there are any questions as to the current alignment
• Driving style - smooth it out, slow it down. I also make a point of taking the route with the least number of start/stops (ie- take the interstate instead of going through town)
• My guess is there is some efficiency to be gained in the exhaust system as well but I have no idea (beyond the fact that a Subaru I owned a while back had a defective catalytic converter and it was costing me 4mpg - once Subaru was able to identify the problem, which took them 20,000 miles from when I first noticed, they replaced my entire exhaust under warranty).

I religiously reset my trip meter with every fill-up so I know exactly how many miles I am getting per tank and always do the math when at the pump to check mileage. This is a good practice because if your mileage worsens, you know right away and can start figuring out what happened.

I'm sure there are some other tricks but these will definitely help you make sure you are doing everything you can.

 

[Dan2722]

Get a Scangauge. You will quickly see where you are burning the most fuel with the trip meter and change your driving habits.

Since I have had mine I get about .5-1 MPG better.

 

[agomez]

I Have A 1997 Cruiser- Anybody Disagree With Removing The Front Driveshaft To Gain Better Miles Per Gallon?

run 265 70 16's stock and make sure it is tuned and I could see you getting 16 mpg....

 

[IdahoDoug]

No benefit to merely removing the driveshaft. OK, let me rephrase. No benefit larger than a quarter of a MPG.

DougM

 

[mainemike]

Drive as close to 2000 rpm to maximize fuel mileage. It's a radical but proven idea - less throttle = less fuel burned. If I run on cruise at 65 I usually get over 14 mpg; 75 - 80 will drop towards 11 mpg. I just have to decide the time vs money argument for that day... I also run without the roof rack most of the time. Lately it seems the spike in gas prices has made running at 65 more agreeable, I notice many more 18 wheelers are going slower these days as well.

 

[Corbet]

run 275 70 16's stock and make sure it is tuned and I could see you getting 16 mpg....

This is true, I regularly get 16+ MPG even at my altitude. 18.4 is my best to date on a tank.