I put my muffler back on my truck last week, and I gained nearly 2 mpg.... I had virtually zero backpressure while I was on the freeway, which pretty well kept the gas pedal pegged to the floorboard while on an overpass to maintain speed. Forget about it with a head wind. Now I'm up to a whopping 12 mpg. The wife's Expedition gets about 15 mpg or so....
So that got me to thinking (scary, I know)....
Maybe some of these "bolt ons" out there could help out fuel economy, in addition to a few extra ponies. Maybe something like a Cold Air Intake, throttle body spacer, new throttle body, etc.... Which got me thinking even more.....
First..... I'm not 100% sure that a throttle body spacer does anything. I've heard mixed reviews on them, and I don't know anything about the "technical" side of them. What good does adding a 1" spacer do? If anything....
The Cold Air Intake seems like a proven "power adder." I wouldn't mind having one for the day to day drive, and keeping the factory unit for when it's time to get dirty. I'm not sure how much they improve MPG.
A new throttle body.... There's a guy on another site that does nothing but Dodge throttle bodies, but that seems more along the lines of something that would add power, but not really save me any gas.... Also the most expensive option that I've looked at.
Which leads to another question / thought.... Most of these bolt on power adders seem to be based on the "more air = more power" theory. However, it's my understanding that with more air, more fuel is required.... Kinda seems like it wouldn't be helping my gas bill at all... Maybe even hurting it.... Or is this something that goes with the thinking that 'If I've got more power on tap, I won't have to have my gas pedal all the way to the floor to maintain speed.'
I'm totally lost and confused on this stuff. The other thing to consider is the money involved in throwing these bolt on's on. Consider a CAI cost $180, that translates into nearly 3 tanks of gas. Throttle body spacer $80, about a tank and a half. New throttle body, about $300.... that's a lot of gas, especially when you add 'em all up. And it seems like the most gains will be had if I were to "group" these bolt on's together.
I need the added power from 1500 - 3500 rpm. 1500-2000 rpm is my freeway cruising RPM. I've got plenty to get me off the line, but my mid range power is certainly lacking. Should I consider a new cam "pointed" at that RPM in the powerband? A new cam isn't that expensive, but forget about me putting it in myself... That means $$$ to pay someone else to do it. Worth it???
I'm not looking to win any 1/4 mile races, and I don't expect 20 mpg. But a few more ponies, and with any luck, match the 15 mpg that my wife gets, and I'll be a happy camper.
Thoughts? Suggestions? StrongWind's technical advice?
So that got me to thinking (scary, I know)....
Maybe some of these "bolt ons" out there could help out fuel economy, in addition to a few extra ponies. Maybe something like a Cold Air Intake, throttle body spacer, new throttle body, etc.... Which got me thinking even more.....
First..... I'm not 100% sure that a throttle body spacer does anything. I've heard mixed reviews on them, and I don't know anything about the "technical" side of them. What good does adding a 1" spacer do? If anything....
The Cold Air Intake seems like a proven "power adder." I wouldn't mind having one for the day to day drive, and keeping the factory unit for when it's time to get dirty. I'm not sure how much they improve MPG.
A new throttle body.... There's a guy on another site that does nothing but Dodge throttle bodies, but that seems more along the lines of something that would add power, but not really save me any gas.... Also the most expensive option that I've looked at.
Which leads to another question / thought.... Most of these bolt on power adders seem to be based on the "more air = more power" theory. However, it's my understanding that with more air, more fuel is required.... Kinda seems like it wouldn't be helping my gas bill at all... Maybe even hurting it.... Or is this something that goes with the thinking that 'If I've got more power on tap, I won't have to have my gas pedal all the way to the floor to maintain speed.'
I'm totally lost and confused on this stuff. The other thing to consider is the money involved in throwing these bolt on's on. Consider a CAI cost $180, that translates into nearly 3 tanks of gas. Throttle body spacer $80, about a tank and a half. New throttle body, about $300.... that's a lot of gas, especially when you add 'em all up. And it seems like the most gains will be had if I were to "group" these bolt on's together.
I need the added power from 1500 - 3500 rpm. 1500-2000 rpm is my freeway cruising RPM. I've got plenty to get me off the line, but my mid range power is certainly lacking. Should I consider a new cam "pointed" at that RPM in the powerband? A new cam isn't that expensive, but forget about me putting it in myself... That means $$$ to pay someone else to do it. Worth it???
I'm not looking to win any 1/4 mile races, and I don't expect 20 mpg. But a few more ponies, and with any luck, match the 15 mpg that my wife gets, and I'll be a happy camper.
Thoughts? Suggestions? StrongWind's technical advice?