how to get better gas milage?

jimmy pisstank · 08-08-2008, 09:21 AM

Im looking to get better gas milage out of my 1996 Chevy ext cab 4x4 5.7L. any ideas what I can do? not looking to do extencive engine work so mostly bolt on parts.

K&N filter and cold air intake?
New Chip in the computer?
Spacer between the throttle body and intake?

Anything else or any ideas or how the above should help?

more horsepower = easier to move vehicle
more horsepower = more gas

is this right?

Jimmy Pisstank

Case 7230 · 08-08-2008, 10:41 AM

You will get plenty of replies on this one. If it was me I would go with free-flow exhaust and if high miles, new oxygen sensors.

jimmy pisstank · 08-08-2008, 01:01 PM

yeah, i plan to do the exhaust once i break the factory one but not untill then.

brad4eva · 08-08-2008, 01:32 PM

Since this is on the same subject as mileage , what about if i wanna do it more gas milage with a Carb ? what all would i have to do?

heavychevy85 · 08-08-2008, 02:03 PM

i have 2002 yukon and it has over 280,000 on it dose that mean i need new oxygen sensors on it the check engine lights been on and the previous owner said it stayed on since it hit 100,000 he never had it checks and the inly thing they replaced on it was the rebuilt the tranny at 250,000

brad4eva · 08-08-2008, 02:11 PM

I would deffinately say you would need 2 replace oxygen sensor! lol 2002 280 grand?? thats aloota miles lol did u go to china and back 10000 times?

truck1115 · 08-08-2008, 02:12 PM

Hey!

I bought a K&N for mine and saved milage + increased hp.

I got a good deal by making an offer on one ebay site edited by mudseeker

Intake took only 3 days to get to me and got it installed in no time!

Recommended

stumpuller454 · 08-08-2008, 02:48 PM

Alright this has been hijacked a few times here but from my experience, the largest fuel economy gains are firstly go with a good flowing exhaust system, secondly the best improvement is a ECM reprogram, you can get hand-helds, they are pretty good, + you can remove them at any time BUT I STRONGLY recommend getting a custom ECM tune, IF all you require is all-out, mile-stretching fuel economy, a custom program can be set up using regular fuel 87or89, and can deliver 1mpg or better easily, and honestly no other bolt on (other than exhaust) is going to give you that much gain. ALSO speaking BEST (but not cheapest) fuel economy would be to get electric fans (easy 1mpg or better,...its true) and/or an electric water pump and a power pulley setup that decreases belt flex (the less turning a belt has to do the better)

Oh and the throttle body spacer IS a good paperweight... for MPI trucks, TBI trucks might see a minor tourque increase but fuel economy might not even be noticable...and a air intake and filter setup is usless unless your exhaust is modified first, and works very well with headers

Along with many other things my truck when new got 7mpg all the time it now gets 11mpg towing all time, as of right now i`ve never done a hwy trip so hwy mileage is unkown but it would be at least 2mpg better, now this may not sound good but its far better than 7mpg, my truck weighs 6500lbs empty, and can easily haul 11,000lbs i have gained over 5mpg over stock at this point and the engine is completley stock...its all bolt ons

brad4eva · 08-08-2008, 08:11 PM

Ok... listen heres whats going on with me, i went from all computer to like nothing cmoputer... on the ecm deal? wat would i have 2 do.. i mean can i still reprogram it and wat u mean by free flow exhaust , I just got straight pipes no cats or anything no O2 sensors

stumpuller454 · 08-08-2008, 08:54 PM

well what exactley have you done? are you carburated? if so WHY? and as for the exhaust here is what i`ve experienced over stock, first replaced muffler and tailpipe, gained 100kms (60miles) per tank of fuel (totally the largest economy gain) BUT it was a flowmaster 50 series and the interior resonance gave me headaches, so ditched it for a good used 4" dynomax system (actually for a deisel) and there was no gain other than noise, THEN got full length headers, was good all around gain (but freakin expensive over 1k) and a much better exhaust note, not more than .5 mpg gain, THEn removed my cats, TOTALLY LOST BOTTOM END!!! *BUT* gained 1mpg or better fuel economy, so at this point they are still gone, I did notice a much greater top end power increase without cats, pulls my trailer like a freight train in 2nd gear up any hill at 65mph, which works out to nearly 4500rpm, but so much power there i could pull faster even! so kinda lookin at getting a cam with more bottom end tourque to bring the power range down abit...

What size are your straight pipes?

08-08-2008, 09:21 AM	#1
jimmy pisstank Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Canada Posts: 7	how to get better gas milage? Im looking to get better gas milage out of my 1996 Chevy ext cab 4x4 5.7L. any ideas what I can do? not looking to do extencive engine work so mostly bolt on parts. K&N filter and cold air intake? New Chip in the computer? Spacer between the throttle body and intake? Anything else or any ideas or how the above should help? more horsepower = easier to move vehicle more horsepower = more gas is this right? Jimmy Pisstank

08-08-2008, 01:32 PM	#4
brad4eva Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 323	Since this is on the same subject as mileage , what about if i wanna do it more gas milage with a Carb ? what all would i have to do? __________________ //B-rad

08-08-2008, 02:11 PM	#6
brad4eva Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 323	I would deffinately say you would need 2 replace oxygen sensor! lol 2002 280 grand?? thats aloota miles lol did u go to china and back 10000 times? __________________ //B-rad

08-08-2008, 02:12 PM	#7
truck1115 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2	Bought a K&N Hey! I bought a K&N for mine and saved milage + increased hp. I got a good deal by making an offer on one ebay site edited by mudseeker Intake took only 3 days to get to me and got it installed in no time! Recommended Last edited by mudseeker; 08-08-2008 at 04:13 PM. Reason: removed link

08-08-2008, 02:48 PM	#8
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 895	Alright this has been hijacked a few times here but from my experience, the largest fuel economy gains are firstly go with a good flowing exhaust system, secondly the best improvement is a ECM reprogram, you can get hand-helds, they are pretty good, + you can remove them at any time BUT I STRONGLY recommend getting a custom ECM tune, IF all you require is all-out, mile-stretching fuel economy, a custom program can be set up using regular fuel 87or89, and can deliver 1mpg or better easily, and honestly no other bolt on (other than exhaust) is going to give you that much gain. ALSO speaking BEST (but not cheapest) fuel economy would be to get electric fans (easy 1mpg or better,...its true) and/or an electric water pump and a power pulley setup that decreases belt flex (the less turning a belt has to do the better) Oh and the throttle body spacer IS a good paperweight... for MPI trucks, TBI trucks might see a minor tourque increase but fuel economy might not even be noticable...and a air intake and filter setup is usless unless your exhaust is modified first, and works very well with headers Along with many other things my truck when new got 7mpg all the time it now gets 11mpg towing all time, as of right now i`ve never done a hwy trip so hwy mileage is unkown but it would be at least 2mpg better, now this may not sound good but its far better than 7mpg, my truck weighs 6500lbs empty, and can easily haul 11,000lbs i have gained over 5mpg over stock at this point and the engine is completley stock...its all bolt ons __________________ 1998 GMC K2500 Ext.cab short box 454ci (supercharger coming soon!) *1951 Chevrolet 1420 pickup like new!* Red seal certified Journeyman Automotive Mechanic

08-08-2008, 10:41 AM	#2
Case 7230 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 231	You will get plenty of replies on this one. If it was me I would go with free-flow exhaust and if high miles, new oxygen sensors.

08-08-2008, 01:01 PM	#3
jimmy pisstank Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Canada Posts: 7	yeah, i plan to do the exhaust once i break the factory one but not untill then.

08-08-2008, 02:03 PM	#5
heavychevy85 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Muncy, PA Posts: 244	i have 2002 yukon and it has over 280,000 on it dose that mean i need new oxygen sensors on it the check engine lights been on and the previous owner said it stayed on since it hit 100,000 he never had it checks and the inly thing they replaced on it was the rebuilt the tranny at 250,000

08-08-2008, 08:11 PM	#9
brad4eva Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 323	Ok... listen heres whats going on with me, i went from all computer to like nothing cmoputer... on the ecm deal? wat would i have 2 do.. i mean can i still reprogram it and wat u mean by free flow exhaust , I just got straight pipes no cats or anything no O2 sensors __________________ //B-rad

08-08-2008, 08:54 PM	#10
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 895	well what exactley have you done? are you carburated? if so WHY? and as for the exhaust here is what i`ve experienced over stock, first replaced muffler and tailpipe, gained 100kms (60miles) per tank of fuel (totally the largest economy gain) BUT it was a flowmaster 50 series and the interior resonance gave me headaches, so ditched it for a good used 4" dynomax system (actually for a deisel) and there was no gain other than noise, THEN got full length headers, was good all around gain (but freakin expensive over 1k) and a much better exhaust note, not more than .5 mpg gain, THEn removed my cats, TOTALLY LOST BOTTOM END!!! BUT gained 1mpg or better fuel economy, so at this point they are still gone, I did notice a much greater top end power increase without cats, pulls my trailer like a freight train in 2nd gear up any hill at 65mph, which works out to nearly 4500rpm, but so much power there i could pull faster even! so kinda lookin at getting a cam with more bottom end tourque to bring the power range down abit... What size are your straight pipes? __________________ 1998 GMC K2500 Ext.cab short box 454ci (supercharger coming soon!) *1951 Chevrolet 1420 pickup like new!* Red seal certified Journeyman Automotive Mechanic

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