Fuel Econ Build

[fixizin]

This "throttle body spacer" is a new gizmo to me. Where exactly does it go, what allegedly does it do, and how wickedly overpriced is it?

Links appreciated.

 

[Ozwynn]

not over priced, just worthless....... so yes i guess it is over priced

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

This "throttle body spacer" is a new gizmo to me. Where exactly does it go, what allegedly does it do, and how wickedly overpriced is it?

Links appreciated.

it goes exactly where the name implies, between the throttle body and plenum.

the theory is based on facts, but something was lost in translation. changing the plenum volume (the "extra space" between the throttle plate and the intake runners) does change the tuning of the intake system...unfortunately, these throttle body spacers are increasing the plenum volume, which moves the already high power band of the 3.0 up even further. on top of that, most spacers have little "fins" to help "swirl" the incoming air...just like the tornado...the end result (as goebeld discovered) is an annoying intake whistle.

there was a time when throttle body spacers worked, eg. carbed or TB injected vehicles. the spacers went under the carb/throttle body, reducing heat soak, and giving the fuel more time to atomize before entering the chambers. since our engines inject the fuel in a finely atomized mist right before the chambers, TB spacers do not work on our engines.

 

[goebeld]

The exhaust/ intake combo sounds awesome. If I am not careful I will lose MPG because it is so much fun to step on it! By Wicked_Sludge's theory of around 3,000 rpms being the peak efficiency do you think that 4.10 gears would help fuel econ? I would get better accel and a bit higher RPM's when cruising in 5th down the highway...

 

[MrE_Powers]

fred has the goods on 3.0 mods both for fuel economy and power if it isnt her it probably isnt worth doing.http://rogueperformance.com/WelcometoFredland.html

that said, aside from proper maintenance, the best mod for gas mileage is modding the part between the seat and the steering wheel.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

By Wicked_Sludge's theory of around 3,000 rpms being the peak efficiency do you think that 4.10 gears would help fuel econ?

4.10's would certainly help. they give the engine greater mechanical advantage (meaning you use more HP and less torque while accelerating), plus you are closer to your peak torque RPM while cruising.

and by the way, its not my theory

rogues information is hit and miss. there is definitely a lot of good info on there, but one needs to weed through the not-so-good info. after all, he was satisfied with the addition of a fuel line magnet

 

[Kdawg532]

i have a 4.10 LSD in mine and on long road trips doing about 80mph in 5th gear which hangs my rpms at about 3000-3100 i get around 26 mpg, i noticed tho with my flowmaster it gave me better mpgs than my magnaflow plus its sounds a ton better, the knn didnt do anything except look gay and be noisy for my engine so the stock box is going back on soon, i got a jet performace chip recently and gaind 3 mpg on low octane fuel but on high octane i gained 5 mpg and considerable amount of horses. plus that "supposidly" reads your sensors and reconfigs your computer to work best with an aftermarket intake and exhaust, but i did not notice any difference when i hooked it to my buddies ranger with stock everything, i actually like the chip tho, and have seen better results then i thought i would

 

[inferno94]

because people dont like spinning 3k rpm down the highway, it "feels" bad, manufacturers have noise and vibration considerations when designing vehicles, and because a 5 speed will outsell a 3 speed any day (its a bigger number). in short, because 5 speeds is what the people want.

To play devil's advocate, if the best fuel econ is at say 3000 rpm AND people like to have 5 gears why not make 5th gear run the engine at 3000rpm at highway speed?

People like better fuel econ and as you say people also like 5 gears so why not give them both? It would be a non issue engineering wise as you have to design the gear ratio's anyways so there is no extra work if it was known from the start.

It must then be ignorance of either their own product or of the wants of the consumer.

BTW my truck spins 3200-3400 in 4th on the highway and requires almost no throttle to maintain speed at this speed, in 5th its at 2700 and requires approx 25-30% throttle. I've never done a comparison to see the mpg difference but its defiantly loud in 4th.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

To play devil's advocate, if the best fuel econ is at say 3000 rpm AND people like to have 5 gears why not make 5th gear run the engine at 3000rpm at highway speed?

also see 2 other reasons for overdrive: people dont like that many RPM, and NVH.

 

[goebeld]

i have a 4.10 LSD in mine and on long road trips doing about 80mph in 5th gear which hangs my rpms at about 3000-3100 i get around 26 mpg

Wow! 26 MPG out of a 3.0 ranger is really good. Thats the same as what a Taurus gets at the same speed! Do you think it was the gears or the jet chip or both? Do other people have the same results out of the Jet Chip? Sounds like 4.10 gears should have come stock as they seem to fit the ranger much better.

I love my exhaust and intake. I find myself wanting to drive my truck more...

 

[Kdawg532]

that was before the chip and keepeing a cosistant speed with Cruise control

 

[thepretzelman]

Kdawg do you have the performance module or did you get the programmer? I am curious because I am thinking about getting the performance module.

 

[goebeld]

Just got back from a road trip today. I averaged 24.7 through the whole thing! That is the best fuel econ I have ever gotten out of my truck. I averaged around 65 mph and kept it in 5th gear. My power pulley should be here by the middle of this week. Hopefully that improves it even more.

 

[betomonroy]

No mstter what any dumb genius says about Air filters and headers they DO REALLY HELP. You see the better an engine breathes and exhails the easyer they perform. Shut the motor off at every red light. That effectively save You a lot of fuel. You will be amazed. Anything is better than zero mpg when You are at a red light. But You have to prepare yourself for the difference in driving tachnics. You see I can bet You'll start pushing that accelerator more as soon as You hear the rumble of all this mods You are planning and THAT will kill your plans of fuel economy.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

Shut the motor off at every red light.

ya, and spend the money you save in gas on starters

i agree that headers will help with power and (if you keep our foot out of it) economy, since the factory manifolds are absolute junk. but the stock filter is more than sufficient provided it is clean. thats one of the reasons i run a flat panel, drop-in K&N filter because it costs me almost nothing to clean it and put it back in...wheras with a paper filter, a guy is more likely to "let it go" to squeeze those few extra pennies, thus my filter is cleaner on average.