'03 3.0 2WD exhaust, improving efficiency while maintaining reasonable noise.

[bhgl]

I know that's 100% true- my wallet just isn't thick enough to try that experiment.
If I ever say anything that sounds discouraging, it comes from my cheapness. Just say "I'm rich" and that'll shut me up.

edit: frankly I'd love to see the dyno testing on that. Maybe jump from 150hp to 155? 160? I'm not being facetious... I'd genuinely be curious.

You boys are always right when it comes to cost benefit, I would be better off parking the truck and driving my corolla, which is what I do on my daily commute and around town errands, but I do put an average of 2000 KMs on my truck per month still. Some of the work/parts may eventually pay for itself, I know the bed cap has since I purchased it in March thanks to improved highway aero.

One of the impasses I get when talking about this project on Ranger forums in general since we're such a utilitarian bunch is explaining that; yes it is not fiscally ideal to do all the stuff in the quest of fuel economy, but I'm doing the research/work anyways because I want to, and it might actually pay itself off in a three or four hundred thousand kilometers if I'm lucky, and as fuel gets more expensive, it might help other folks keep these trucks on the road longer for less money.

But a project is always a project for us car folk, and I've set myself a goal of 30 MpG come hell or highwater, and we're getting there slowly but surely.

 

[bhgl]

The cost/benefit ratio is probably in the dumper IMO but.. going to a true dual exhaust with an H-pipe would certainly improve flow as well as give you a bump in torque which would/should increase fuel efficiency.

I think you're right, the only thing is I'm not sure where I could put that H pipe, and one of the reasons most economy focused vehicles go with a single or "fake" dual exhaust is because of improved exhaust gas scavenging with each exhaust pulse more or less being shoved through the same pipe its more likely to create a vacuum in the cylinders that have their exhaust valves open.

Plus, true dual exit means extra pipes + mufflers + fab + weight, so I think for this V engine a larger diameter single exit may be the move.

 

[pentode]

You boys are always right when it comes to cost benefit, I would be better off parking the truck and driving my corolla, which is what I do on my daily commute and around town errands, but I do put an average of 2000 KMs on my truck per month still. Some of the work/parts may eventually pay for itself, I know the bed cap has since I purchased it in March thanks to improved highway aero.

One of the impasses I get when talking about this project on Ranger forums in general since we're such a utilitarian bunch is explaining that; yes it is not fiscally ideal to do all the stuff in the quest of fuel economy, but I'm doing the research/work anyways because I want to, and it might actually pay itself off in a three or four hundred thousand kilometers if I'm lucky, and as fuel gets more expensive, it might help other folks keep these trucks on the road longer for less money.

But a project is always a project for us car folk, and I've set myself a goal of 30 MpG come hell or highwater, and we're getting there slowly but surely.

You seem like an intelligent person who chooses his words very carefully, so I hope you'll forgive me yet another pedantic question, but your choice of words has me genuinely intrigued. I promise I'm not being antagonistic and this is just because I'm a nerd and I've had a cap on my wish list for a while now.
You said you drive 2000km per month and your cap has paid itself off in terms of mileage since March. Would you care to say what you paid for the cap?

 

[pentode]

I think you're right, the only thing is I'm not sure where I could put that H pipe, and one of the reasons most economy focused vehicles go with a single or "fake" dual exhaust is because of improved exhaust gas scavenging with each exhaust pulse more or less being shoved through the same pipe its more likely to create a vacuum in the cylinders that have their exhaust valves open.

Plus, true dual exit means extra pipes + mufflers + fab + weight, so I think for this V engine a larger diameter single exit may be the move.

For the sake of discussion, and if Engine Masters is to be believed (and I tend to believe), a perfect H probably isn't necessary.

 

[bhgl]

You seem like an intelligent person who chooses his words very carefully, so I hope you'll forgive me yet another pedantic question, but your choice of words has me genuinely intrigued. I promise I'm not being antagonistic and this is just because I'm a nerd and I've had a cap on my wish list for a while now.
You said you drive 2000km per month and your cap has paid itself off in terms of mileage since March. Would you care to say what you paid for the cap?

I love pedantry, I'd say this entire project is an exercise in how pedantic I can be.

An easy 250$ used, the cap is good unit too, and follows the roof line of the truck, because I do so many highways miles at higher speeds, the cap has genuinely been one of the single best contributors to better fuel economy, not to mention the utility/security/handling improvements in highwinds.

If I was doing more urban/stop and go traffic, and chose a cap that was heavier or less aerodynamically efficient I might not see those improvements.

 

[pentode]

I love pedantry, I'd say this entire project is an exercise in how pedantic I can be.

An easy 250$ used, the cap is good unit too, and follows the roof line of the truck, because I do so many highways miles at higher speeds, the cap has genuinely been one of the single best contributors to better fuel economy, not to mention the utility/security/handling improvements in highwinds.

If I was doing more urban/stop and go traffic, and chose a cap that was heavier or less aerodynamically efficient I might not see those improvements.

I can't find caps around here for those prices any more. My napkin math made me think in perfect conditions you might get about $50 a month.

God love a pedant and Canadian fuel prices.

 

[bhgl]

I can't find caps around here for those prices any more. My napkin math made me think in perfect conditions you might get about $50 a month.

God love a pedant and Canadian fuel prices.

Definitely check out my full thread in my signature thread, there's lots of great pedantic discussions and research in there that'll apply for your vehicle too!