The hunt for better MPG

[ManCave Mechanic]

In my 88 ranger 2.3L I tend to average 23-26 mpg. However with rising gas prices I am searching ways to improve this. I have spent the last several hours researching the idea of a warm air intake. Does anyone have thoughts on how much if any boost to mpg would occur? Has anyone tried out a WAI on their ranger?

 

[Earl43P]

You really have to factor in that there will be a .1852 percent drop in potential HP for every degree increase in intake air temps. With the little power your 88 makes, that will be significant.

If you do attempt this, please take before and after temperature readings compared to OAT. I think you'll find that your warm air intake fails to warm the air significantly above say 40 mph or so.

Personally, I think you'd see a more dramatic result by installing skinny tires and over-inflating them.

 

[adsm08]

You want much better than 23-26 MPG out of anything? Go buy a Focus.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I don't have any experience with this thought process, but less friction and lower weight would be my ideas. Earl43p's idea is a good one. Synthetic oils, opening up clearances, research bearing greases for less friction - maybe moly or other types. carbed; check for vacuum at throttle plate shaft. Losing weight is always a good idea [for your vehicle too ]
Good luck,

Richard

 

[ManCave Mechanic]

a loss of power is of really no concern to me. gas mileage however is since i am a poor college student. i mean the 23-26 is great when i have a 17 gallon tank however i still burn through the 400+ miles a tank in under a week with the amount of travel i have to do each week.

If anyone has any other tips for boosting the mpg feel free to throw those out there. im sure there are plenty of others who would love to boost fuel economy.

 

[1994_4x4]

Personally, I think you'd see a more dramatic result by installing skinny tires and over-inflating them.

Agreed.

I also would aim for drag reduction, make sure your engine is functioning properly, alignment, synthetic oils, etc.

 

[bobbywalter]

hmmmm.



good luck with that setup.


i am lazy.

easy 50 k miles year for me. get small car....small car diesel or swap diesel in small truck or find small truck diesel. maximum economy.


adjusted...i spent 24 k last year on my cars. fawking fuel. me/wife/kids


anything at your level is tough to significantly improve... consistent easily attainable 30 mpg would be great.. with that engine in an unknown to me condition is a tall order, especially without knowing the drive cycle.

ecomodder type forums likely a good place to start.

 

[ManCave Mechanic]

a consistent 30 is what i am aiming for at this point. as a automotive major the work part comes fairly easy for me. and when i say poor college student i mean just even a tune up is a big chunk of my budget which i just did last week. if i can manage to push the old girl to 30 mpg that would take me up to 500+ miles a tank. the problem is im not too good at the engineering and physics aspect of things.

any other suggestions are welcome and very appreciated. dont be afraid to throw out the crazy ideas... im a bit a of crazy person

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'll second the eco-modder forums. I took a look and there is some ideas that could transfer over to a truck. Also learning and applying efficient driving techniques.

 

[adsm08]

Swap a Mustang front end on, much more aerodynamic.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^ Your in a bit of a mood!?
I recently saw a thread on another forum with a 52 truck cab and front clip grafted onto a 90's dodge car. No aerodynamic thought there...actually no thought at all. lol

Richard

 

[adsm08]

^^^ Your in a bit of a mood!?

Not really. He said he would consider crazy stuff. It might be crazy on the face of it, but let's face it, the 83-92 RBV is as aerodynamic as a brick. Mustang's are better for cutting air, and this thread does seem to be taking a bend towards drag reduction.

I'd say I was at least 40% serious.

I mean, yes it could see some positive effects, but at the same time I don't really expect him to go that far, and at the end of it he would probably end up in the hole on it as the time it would take to pay off the parts in fuel savings is probably going to be longer than he owns the truck.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^All good points.
@ the OP;
In the spirit of drag reduction; lowering. You may be able to cut your front springs and remove blocks from the rear to lower the truck a little. I haven't done it myself but it's another thing to research.

Richard

 

[adsm08]

Don't cut springs. The heat generated by cutting springs makes them not springy.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Normally you give very good advice. In this case I think you're wrong. Off the top of my head I can think of two ways to cut the springs with little to no HAZ [heat affected zone]; zip disc, plasma cutter. If you're good with oxy/acet cutting torch I think that could be used too.
Granted, it's not something to be taken lightly.

Richard