Best way to increase fuel mileage

[carterx]

Looking to get an idea from people here on what is the easiest and not soo expensive way to increase fuel mileage.

I always hear the a K&N filter will help increase HP and mileage but some same this is not true, just help with HP.

I'm looking at a couple SUV's in the next few days, probably a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder but there are a few other SUV's that I will be looking at as well, but my big thing is that in a couple weeks I will be heading from British Columbia and heading to Nova Scotia which is a 3,800/mile or 6,100/km trip as I'm moving.

Just looking to see if I can improve gas mileage by a little bit. Long trip so every mile helps

Tks,



[semocoachworks]

Make sure it's tuned up good, tire pressure is at required psi, maybe run some mid grade gas, that should get it to get the advertised gas mileage, if the engine isn't too tired.

[merlin5577]

Originally Posted by carterx

Looking to get an idea from people here on what is the easiest and not soo expensive way to increase fuel mileage.

I always hear the a K&N filter will help increase HP and mileage but some same this is not true, just help with HP.

I'm looking at a couple SUV's in the next few days, probably a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder but there are a few other SUV's that I will be looking at as well, but my big thing is that in a couple weeks I will be heading from British Columbia and heading to Nova Scotia which is a 3,800/mile or 6,100/km trip as I'm moving.

Just looking to see if I can improve gas mileage by a little bit. Long trip so every mile helps

Tks,



Honestly, assuming the truck is in a good state of tune, the best way to increase fuel economy is to drive slower. Sorry, but the thermal efficencies of an engine can only be raised so much.

[hotrodpc]

Yep, I was gonna say the same merlin. Driving habits is the best way to increase mpg. I am an aggresive driver myself, and I can sure tell a differance in mpg when I am being concious about my driving. No jack rabbit starts from red light to redlight makes a huge difference. I was told once, to pretend their is an egg on the gas pedal and you don't want to break it. When gas was over $4 a gallon and I was being concious about that, it made a 2mpg difference on a tank of gas, and setting the cruise at 72 instead of 78 for highway trips.

[lukasmcdukas]

Originally Posted by merlin5577

Honestly, assuming the truck is in a good state of tune, the best way to increase fuel economy is to drive slower. Sorry, but the thermal efficencies of an engine can only be raised so much.

could not have said it better myself! i went on a road trip with my buddy 2 weeks ago to pick up an engine... 97 mile drive 1 way. i drive grampa style and can make the entire trip on 1/4 tank. i let my buddy drive my truck, and was appalled to see the tach needle hitting 5000rpm between shifts. i got him to tone it down and shift between 3 and 4000 (gritting my teeth and mumbling under my breath all the while).... with him driving, my little 2.4L consumed 3/4 of a tank of gas. (approx 12 gal). 12 gallons for 184 miles on a 4cylinder. next time he's buying the gas.

little things like changing filters, monitoring tire pressures, fuel additives, help a little, but if you drive like my buddy, they wont make much difference. save the pedal-mashing for the mud hole or the track

[hotrodpc]

I think tire pressure it one of the most neglected things people don't do, and yes it does make a big differance. Properly inflated tires have less drag, and takes less power to get them rolling. Many people also do not know how a true radial tire works either, and if not properly inflated you don't get the highway benefit out of them. Radial tires will get skinnier but taller with centrificul spinning, so when you get on the highway, the little bulge as the bottom of the tire when its sittting goes away, and your tire is taller and skinnier means less road friction. Its not much, but every little bit helps and if the tire pressure is not right, then the tire can't operate the way its designed to operate.

[lukasmcdukas]

also- cruise control is a wonderful feature for long trips, but if you're in hilly/mountainous terrain, it can ruin your mileage, cuz your tranny will constantly be downshifting while the vehicle tries to maintain speed on an uphill. better to turn off the cruise, get in the right hand lane, and keep your engine revs low. think of the tachometer as your 'fuel consumption rate' gauge- the higher the revs, the faster you burn gas. most manufacturers specify 55 to 65 mph as the most efficient speed range (in top gear, of course). personally, i'm partial to 60.

[silverhairdeere]

get rid of all UN-necessary weight .

shd