better MPG on a 4.0 SOHC

[RonD]

1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup or the Ranchero needs to make a come back.
More car than truck, FWD and AWD, transverse mounted engine, I4 or V6 ecoboosts
Great for commuter and weekend chores

Oh, but wait.....................it might compete with F-150, can't have that

 

[gw33gp]

Methanol raise octane but has less "power" per gallon, so 10% methanol mix can prevent the knocking but will lower MPG slightly, but only slightly, the knocking and subsequent spark being retarded would lower it more.

"Winter gas" contains methanol to prevent gas line freezing and in the winter the air is colder so that is a double whammy on MPG, colder air is denser so requires more fuel to be added, this makes engines "peppier" in the winter but fuel economy suffers.

RonD, are you sure you didn't get our alcohols mixed up? I thought ethanol was the alcohol used in gasoline. Methanol is a nasty alcohol and can cause many problems in a fuel system not designed specifically for it.

 

[RonD]

Yes, ethanol, they are not the same but close, I just type methanol more in my other life, lol, so fingers have it their way, sometimes I correct it but it's really a moot point in the overall concept of blending fuels.
I will change it

 

[adsm08]

Don't mix alcohols Ron, it can have some undesirable effects.

 

[Mike Tonon]

Don't mix alcohols Ron, it can have some undesirable effects.

I used to, in my younger years of drinking. My body says I'm too old to keep it down now.

 

[02Fx4red]

While 12 MPG is low, 16 is about the best these engines ever really do. My wife manages to get 17.5 out of her Explorer, but its all real nice highway miles.

I usually get 17 US mpg in the summer with my SOHC, 18 on long hwy trips. Usually 15 in winter. And that's with 35" mud terrains.
I do run premium fuel with edge tune but that's it, I drive her easy too

 

[Mike Tonon]

I usually get 17 US mpg in the summer with my SOHC, 18 on long hwy trips. Usually 15 in winter. And that's with 35" mud terrains.
I do run premium fuel with edge tune but that's it, I drive her easy too

I have 4.10 gears and a traction-lok rear diff., how about you? I'm told that if I go to 3.73, I'd get better mileage. I'm thinking maybe going back to stock tires and to 3.73's, both open diff. The truck would sit slightly lower, it'd have smaller wheels to turn and the stock tire tread is smoother than the BFG tires, so I'm figuring that would up mpg's.

 

[02Fx4red]

I have 4.10 gears and a traction-lok rear diff., how about you? I'm told that if I go to 3.73, I'd get better mileage. I'm thinking maybe going back to stock tires and to 3.73's, both open diff. The truck would sit slightly lower, it'd have smaller wheels to turn and the stock tire tread is smoother than the BFG tires, so I'm figuring that would up mpg's.

I have 4:10s with the torsion LSD
Traction lock won't make a difference in fuel econemy.

 

[Mike Tonon]

Traction lock won't make a difference in fuel econemy.

Just thought of something - potentially, it could help with mileage, if the wheels aren't slipping as much and the engine isn't being revved, trying to get moving.

 

[Blueox]

Underdrive Pully

That is the best thing I ever did.

Just the under drive, not the whole package. Gives me another 1 mpg at least. I have attained over 20 mpg on long trips, not exceeding 70 mph. The big problem is finding one.

I have also tested 10% ethanol versus 0%s That gives at least 3% to almost 5% increase in economy with at $0.10 to $0.15 increase in cost. Ethanol is the worst thing every conceived. Period. If you look at the overall costs to produce ethanol, considering everything, it is a waist of money.

So leaving soon to get another tank of straight gas.

Just my two cents.

 

[bobbywalter]

 

[Mike Tonon]

 

[CaliNickXLT]

damn i feel lucky, i had a 98' Exploder with the 4.0 sohc with 3.73 and 31" m/t tires 2wd auto and around town id get 16/18 and freeway i hit 20/22ish. all i had done is (TT) drop shackles and a Cold Air Intake then i chopped the silencer off. that thing had some balls tough i will say that. the best mpg i got was a trip across Cali, i drove 580 miles in one day and used 24 gallons from start to finish. that was a really long day.