Fuel economy

[2020LCHeritage]

Fellow LC Drivers,
I purchased a 2020 LC Heritage edition 2 years ago. Love the LC save one feature - M1 Abrams tank fuel “economy.” Does anyone know of any mods that can be done that actually work, e.g. cold air intakes, Performance chips, etc.?? My 2015 Z51 Corvette Stingray with 465 and 470 ft-lbs could muster 28 mpg while cruising on the highway!! ( vette can shift to 4 cylinders when in highway mode). Appreciate any good ideas. Thanks. JD

 

[04UZJ100]

I saw a gain of 1-2 mpgs using the pedal commander in its most detuned eco mode. It makes the truck SLOOOOOOW but saves a bit around town. Keep in mind eco mode makes the truck dangerously underpowered for highway travel but its easy enough to switch the PC into any of the more well suited modes.

It doesn’t make your car slow. It doesn’t change tuning. It retards or augments the TPS voltage output.

Being really really really danty with a stock pedal will do the same thing.

 

[PDXLX]

It doesn’t make your car slow. It doesn’t change tuning. It retards or augments the TPS voltage output.

Being really really really danty with a stock pedal will do the same thing.

Yes, feathering the throttle does the same thing. And you’re right, the PC augments the voltage on the TPS, this in turn when set to its eco modes, cuts back the throttle position so much that when pedal to the floor it is only producing approximately 25% of its usual voltage. This cutback does indeed make the truck accelerate much more slowly. And sure, it doesn’t change the tuning in any way but it does cut the throttle back so much, the truck will not keep up with traffic on the highway.

 

[bloc]

And sure, it doesn’t change the tuning in any way but it does cut the throttle back so much, the truck will not keep up with traffic on the highway.

Sign me up!

 

[NoClue]

want to sell your HE?

 

[TimCFJ40]

There are very few mods that will even get close to paying for themselves at best. I drive about 18k miles per year for work in my Tacoma, getting very similarly dismal fuel economy (15.5 Average) to my 200. I've been considering replacing the Tacoma with a used Prius, or even perhaps a Ford Maverick (hold the pitchforks). Assuming I could get even 50 mpg with the Prius, I'd only save $3200 in fuel a year over the Tacoma at $4 per gallon. So, even the ultimate MPG upgrade of adding a Prius to the fleet still has a ROI of 3-4 years for a $12k investment. Compare that to getting 1-2 mpg improvement for any mods to the cruiser and you're kidding yourself. 18k miles at 15mpg vs 18k miles at 17mpg will save you $564 in fuel at $4/gallon. $564 won't even buy two mid range highway tires to replace your ATs.
All that to say, I've been down the wormhole of looking for fuel economy savings, and it takes doing the math to make me realize there's really no savings to be had, even with a noticeable fuel economy improvement.

 

[Itsky]

There are very few mods that will even get close to paying for themselves at best. I drive about 18k miles per year for work in my Tacoma, getting very similarly dismal fuel economy (15.5 Average) to my 200. I've been considering replacing the Tacoma with a used Prius, or even perhaps a Ford Maverick (hold the pitchforks). Assuming I could get even 50 mpg with the Prius, I'd only save $3200 in fuel a year over the Tacoma at $4 per gallon. So, even the ultimate MPG upgrade of adding a Prius to the fleet still has a ROI of 3-4 years for a $12k investment. Compare that to getting 1-2 mpg improvement for any mods to the cruiser and you're kidding yourself. 18k miles at 15mpg vs 18k miles at 17mpg will save you $564 in fuel at $4/gallon. $564 won't even buy two mid range highway tires to replace your ATs.
All that to say, I've been down the wormhole of looking for fuel economy savings, and it takes doing the math to make me realize there's really no savings to be had, even with a noticeable fuel economy improvement.

In your analysis you use a ROI time period of 3-4 years for the prius and then only use 1 year for the tires

using your numbers, money saved for the tires:
year 1 $565
year 2 $1129
year 3 $1694
year 4 $2259 (if they last, some would)

so, the tires pay for themselves too

 

[TimCFJ40]

In your analysis you use a ROI time period of 3-4 years for the prius and then only use 1 year for the tires

using your numbers, money saved for the tires:
year 1 $565
year 2 $1129
year 3 $1694
year 4 $2259 (if they last, some would)

so, the tires pay for themselves too

Sure, they would eventually, assuming they last 72k miles, which is the realm of possible for a set of good highway tires. Although a 2+ year ROI for a wear part is hardly a slam dunk in the scheme of things, especially if your use case for the vehicle doesn't particularly lend itself to highway tires.
My point was that very few mods actually will make a huge difference monetarily. I do appreciate you introducing me to the dislike button though...