Just kinda kicking around online looking for possibilities to get a couple extra mpg out of my F150. Noticed the Tornada drop in inserts for the 5.4 liter and they claim something like a 20% increase in mileage. This things always seemed like cheezy rip offs to me, but curious if anyone has any experience with them? Any real gains?

10/22/2005 1:22:55 PM

[no]

now go buy a metro

seriously...to maximize gas mileage, if any of this hasnt been recently done: tune-up, replace O2 sensor, replace air filter, check any vaccuum hoses to make sure they're in good shape

you could also get one of those bed lids and/or a larger/freer-flowing exhaust system if you wanna spend a little more money

10/22/2005 1:30:48 PM

drive like your grandma

10/22/2005 1:31:57 PM

Relatively new truck so all items mentioned above are a non issue. Exhaust was done a while back. Dont have a bed cover, though thats an option. However given that its a short bed I would expect relatively little gains.

And I already drive it like an old lady. It doesnt matter. Another option is using a programmer on it. I know they increase power (which i dont need) but they also should increase the gas mileage. Was hoping that a combination of that and maybe an intake might make a significant difference.

10/22/2005 1:42:15 PM

http://lubecontrol.com/

100% satisfaction guaranteed.

fuel power and lube control.

i use it, it works for me, i get better gas mileage and my engine stays clean.

win-win.

10/22/2005 2:21:50 PM

Quote :

"Just kinda kicking around online looking for possibilities to get a couple extra mpg out of my F150."

Trade it in for a civic.

10/22/2005 3:36:33 PM

K&N filter-bed cover-synthetic oil


Don't waste your money on anything else, probably squeeze out about 4-5 on the road with that package, 1-2 in town.

10/22/2005 4:02:15 PM

no way on God's green Earth that K&N/bed cover/synth will get you 4-5 mpg ANYWHERE, at least on a full sized pickup. that would be a HUGE % increase. i'd be shocked to see a 4-5 mpg increase on an economy car.

but yeah, those are the right ideas. that and tire inflation.

of course, vehicle type and driving habits are the real kickers. do you really need an F-150, or would a compact pickup (or something else) do the job?

10/22/2005 4:27:59 PM

light wheels will increase milage.

10/22/2005 5:18:53 PM

lol.

You're one of the dumbest people on here.

How was it you got an engineering degree?

[Edited on October 22, 2005 at 5:24 PM. Reason : thread poster]

10/22/2005 5:24:43 PM

i

10/22/2005 9:05:56 PM

a fuel magnet will make the gas better by lining up the atoms so it produces more energy during combustion
its pretty cheap and will save you a lot of gas

10/22/2005 9:26:51 PM

blah blah blah

stop being a pussy yall

10/22/2005 9:43:20 PM

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_technology/1802932.html

/thread

10/22/2005 9:48:57 PM

retrofit an electric coolant fan if it doesnt have one allready

10/22/2005 10:09:03 PM

underdrive pulleys

10/22/2005 10:47:33 PM

greased and lubed up suspension and drivetrain

10/22/2005 10:48:21 PM

remove all extra weight

spare
jack
passenger air bag
emissions equipment
catalyic converter

at that stuff can go

10/22/2005 10:49:38 PM

Quote :

"no way on God's green Earth that K&N/bed cover/synth will get you 4-5 mpg ANYWHERE, at least on a full sized pickup. that would be a HUGE % increase. i'd be shocked to see a 4-5 mpg increase on an economy car."

I have seen gains such as these personally, on long road trips gains of 4 miles to the gallon are pretty common along with general maintenance. Toyotas are really the only trucks that k&n's don't help, have an inverse effect actually.

10/23/2005 2:36:22 AM

4 miles a gallon can also easily be an effect of driving style change and terrain. hell, when i go home back to murphy i average about 32 mpg on the way up there, on the way back to raleigh i rarely get less than 36 mpg.

10/23/2005 10:22:12 AM

buy a camel

10/23/2005 11:10:46 AM

I got 12.7MPG in mine last week... this is where I kick myself for trading in my accord... but then I think back and remember a summer full of spectacular boating time and smile...

I get 13mpg consistently, I paid $30 for ~1/2tank of gas(10gallons) and have a range of ~130miles... my honda would have gone like 300... solution... I stay at home a lot more now

it costs me $3 anytime I run errands beyond campus...

10/23/2005 11:15:22 AM

I just bought a 6 cyl 2005 F-150. It's getting about 18, so I really can't complain.

10/23/2005 11:29:40 AM

yeah i kinda got screwed when i got mine. gas was a little less than 2$ a gallon when I got it (which i could afford) and obviously it spiked. cost is too high to trade it in for anything else. too much negative equity and i will have it completely payed for in less than a year. so the idea of trading it really isnt worth it at this point.

anyway, all the ideas on here ive thought of just didnt know if anyone had any results either way.

10/23/2005 12:32:49 PM

http://lubecontrol.com/

check it out.

[Edited on October 23, 2005 at 4:01 PM. Reason : just keep an excel file of your gas mileage and fuel use.]

10/23/2005 4:00:59 PM

You mean to tell me you bought a truck thinking gas was going to stay constant?

Remember: slice down the vein, not across the wrist.

10/24/2005 2:01:58 PM

^this guy's hitting the nail on the head.

First you trade in the STi for an F-150, then you ask if the Tornado thing actually works?!?

Whats your next question, is the earth flat?

10/24/2005 2:17:12 PM

i'm still trying to figure out how you can't trade it in b/c you have too much negative equity but at the same time you are able to pay off the truck in less than a year. are you making like $1000/month payments or something?

10/24/2005 2:52:47 PM

get a set of more narrow tires

10/24/2005 4:35:42 PM

main things
1. make sure your have a highly efficent clean air-filter
2. make sure your tires are fully inflated.
3. and dont drive like me

10/24/2005 8:25:10 PM

on my civic i added one of those ricer intakes and picked up 4-5 mpg

im gonna throw an underdrive crank pulley on and see what happens.

ive heard improving all the grounds will make a small difference. chassis-motor, motor-body, chassis-body. get some 4 ga wire from a car audio or welding shop and go to town.

run techron through it as recommended.

making sure tire pressure is correct is also helpful, especially on trucks.

10/25/2005 9:00:13 AM

Quote :

"i'm still trying to figure out how you can't trade it in b/c you have too much negative equity but at the same time you are able to pay off the truck in less than a year. are you making like $1000/month payments or something?"

I seriously almost posted the same thing yesterday, but I decided to be nice and leave it alone. I was going with a $2000/month payment though since it is an 05.

10/25/2005 9:20:39 AM

First you trade in the STi for an F-150, then you ask if the Tornado thing actually works?!?

10/25/2005 10:58:11 AM

BAN THIS MAN

10/25/2005 11:06:11 AM

haha

[Edited on October 25, 2005 at 11:31 AM. Reason : BOO THIS MAN!]

10/25/2005 11:31:49 AM