MPG Pt.1

[Skunksmash]

Wal-Mart, you'll never find a more

If I owned land as you entered DC, I'd have that made into an official looking sign and have it planted out by the road.

But Stewart, your MPG problem is exactly why I'm going with a 5.3L LS engine swap instead. I know that doesn't help now, and may have been well outside your budget, but I think mileage is one of the main reasons people choose it these days (if they can) as opposed to one of those older boat anchors like we have. The LS just beats the crap out of all those old motors, I'm afraid.

[Stewart G Griffin]

i agree and what i would really like to look into is an LS with cylinder deactivation.  You know maybe get one out of wrecked impala or gxp.   You can have power AND economy.

But the hangup is how long will it actually take to install one and get it running?   i've seen threads on these swaps.  They tend to drag on and on......  They don't look plug and play.   

[Captkaos]

If you get everything ready before pulling the old one out, is shouldn't take too long.
I am about to yank the 305/700R4 out of my R10 and plan to document all that is required.

[Skunksmash]

So you're going to do an LS swap capt? That will be interesting to see. Are you doing a 5.3? When I finally do my 5.3 someday, I'm going to get the newest one I possibly can, regardless of the challenges that may present. Hopefully just a year old. The benefits to getting one that is next to new with very low mileage far outweigh any obstacles to overcome imo. Cause I know some people will say you should get a certain year or else you're going to have to do this and this and this...but I want the new stuff like stewart was talking about like cylinder deactivation.

[Stewart G Griffin]

269.2 miles 16.756 gallons = 16.07 mpg.

$52.26 to fillup.   @ i guess one good thing is that it's $3.11 per gallon regular at mobil.   After my discount i think i will pay $49.75 total.

i will continue to report mpgs although i don't think it will change much because i haven't made any changes and don't plan to for a while because other stuff came up.   i have to go back on what i stated earlier-----i now can't confirm that the tonneau cover actually helps in my particular case.

2) As far as the cyl deactivation go for it!   i'm not sure if the current silverados have this.   i also think you could get a brand new LS crate AND cylinder deactivation but i am not sure.

3) i want to eventually start a new thread dealing with a new topic of saving money on gas (as opposed to getting better mpg), but i don't feel i can actively contribute to it.  So, until then just a heads up exxon/mobil is offering a free $10 gas card if you buy a $100 gift card----So basically $100 of gas for $90.   i think they are allowing 2 per "household" whatever that means, so you can get $200 of gas for $180.
If you purchase these cards with a credit card that offers rewards points etc., then the cost can be even less.  For example, i have the fidelity american express that offers 2% off everything----so this means $200 of gas for $176.  (further $4 discount)
You have to purchase the cards by dec 31st though.  And i think you can only get them at the actual stations---can't buy them online?

[Skunksmash]

There is a small bag of tricks that you can use to get better MPG. They all sound small, but they do eventually add up. I've always wanted to see what kind of MPG a motor made that had ALL of them done. Even if its just a little bit, these days it seems like it might be worth it. Again, some of these, you may not even see an increase at all. But once they all add up, and they all start to work together, you might get a little bump in MPG.

1. Full synthetic drivetrain. In my stang, I have FULL (not partial like mobile 1 and so many other fakes) in the engine, transmission, and rear end. I even have it in the power steering pump, which runs much more quiet now. My preference is Redline synthetic fluids, which AMSoil who claims to be the best of the best of the best, is so scared of that they won't even test against. I spend a lot of time over at bobistheoilguy lol

2. Make sure your tune up is up to par. You just put in a new motor so I'm sure yours is.

3. A nice unrestrictive exhaust system. Think everyone knows that it frees up power and helps out a little with MPG.

4. Those E3 spark plugs. They've done tests that show a 0.7 increase in MPG in a wide range of vehicles. While that isn't even 1%, it almost is. And 1% will eventually pay off at these prices. Especially given the fact that they're spark plugs, and not really all that expensive. Not something I'd bother doing until I needed new plugs, but the day is going to come so why not get some that help you out a little bit.

5. Low rolling resistance tires. Michellin makes some good ones. Those are the ones I'd go with. Something else that you wouldn't buy until the old ones were wore out though. Just like the spark plugs.

6. As for engine mods, aside from headers... I really don't know. There are a thousand tiny little mods you can do, but in the end, the general consensus seems to be that they don't help out all that much. Or at least, that the cost of such mods would take years to realize your savings in MPG. Like say converting to a roller lifter setup. Or buying more efficient rocker arms. Or even indexing the spark plugs to point towards the intake valve. Or using floating pin pistons/rods. Different cam, advanced ignition, the list goes on and on. There are so many, many engine mods like that, that all claim to be a slight efficiency increase. Which, yeah, I assume would all finally add up to give you more power, and of course more MPG. But due to the overall cost of implementing all of them, it seems that you'd save a lot of time and money just doing the LS swap instead. Where you'd get most of those mods already in place, in a motor that you didn't even have to build.

7. I know someone will say it, so I'll say it. Keeping your foot off the gas. Although me personally, I never had a problem with that in one of these old trucks. I'm under no illusion that they were ever built for that. In fact from my experience, performance what the furthest thing from the engineer's mind when they designed these trucks. Its not a sports car so I don't drive it like one. I'm sure most of you guys probly don't, but I can still see some of you mashing on the pedal from time to time. I guess so you can hear it get louder but not actually go any faster? lol

[velojym]

Little things like letting off the gas just before cresting the hill, letting the speed come down a bit, and coasting down the other side... stuff like that allows me to beat EPA by a pretty nice margin on my HHR, and would make a noticeable difference in our trucks, too.

[wildcatjason]

 I just did my first mileage calculation. It's not as good as I hoped for but it is better then the 9mpg I was getting with the weak 350 I will post my numbers in the mileage section too. This is 95% city driving 532 miles/28.32 gallons =18.77 mpg and my truck really needs an alignment and tires. I put drop spindles on it and it has been pulling to the right ever since.

[Captkaos]

So you're going to do an LS swap capt? That will be interesting to see. Are you doing a 5.3?

Yes, I started the process today.  I am putting a 6.0L/4L80E in my 87 R10.  Will be posting to both the Rides section for the removal process and start a LS swap in the Project section...

[Skunksmash]

Its a 366 cubic inch motor. I'm not certain, but is the 350 dead? Has the 5.7L been replaced with the 6.0?

[Captkaos]

Depends on what you are talking about.  trucks come with 4.8L standard, most opt to get the 5.3L
Corvettes come with 6.2L standard now.

5.7L engines are no longer produced in the LS series.  At this time is has been replaced by the 6.2 on performance vehicles and 5.3 on everything else.

[Stewart G Griffin]

261.6 miles, 17.285 gallons = 15.13 mpg

$3.29 per gallon = $57.02 to fillup.

Not sure what is happening here? 

i've been looking further into diesels and i've found places that offer remanufactured 6.2/6.5's starting at $2300+$600 core.  This could be a game changer.

[wildcatjason]

I am not sure if game changer is the proper word for a fuel that's been used for 60 plus years. I wish people i the US would start taking a hard look at diesel for a different fuel source until we could find an alternative especially in trucks. If you are looking at the 6.2 there are usually quite a few on craigslist under 1000. I couldn't imagine driving a non turbo diesel. Depending on how long you keep this truck and how much you felt comfortable spending. I would suggest looking into small computer controlled diesels. The new isf cummins is only available through import but you could probably get 35 mpg and have significant power. I would do your research if not for kicks alone and look into Mercedes and isuzu for transplants. If you are looking for gas mileage all I see is around the 20 mpg range with that big of displacement and very little power gains. You can learn a lot at 4btswaps.com. They have more then the 4cyl cummins. Have fun and plan to open your wallet. You will have a truck you will be proud of.

[Skunksmash]

Depends on what you are talking about.  trucks come with 4.8L standard, most opt to get the 5.3L
Corvettes come with 6.2L standard now.

5.7L engines are no longer produced in the LS series.  At this time is has been replaced by the 6.2 on performance vehicles and 5.3 on everything else.

So even the 6.0 is out now, when it comes to LS. Wow I'm behind the times. What series is the 4.8, if not LS? From wiki- "The GM LS engine family is an engine design intended as the only V-8 engine used in General Motors' line of rear-wheel-drive cars and trucks. The LS series was a "clean sheet" design with little in common with the classic Chevrolet small block V8."

Maybe they've changed their plans since then. Makes me wonder if the 4.8 would actually be the more economical choice for getting good MPG. Maybe it would result in better MPG than the 5.3LS

But wait, there's more. It looks like they also build some kind of 5.3L vortec motor these days. Which is not an LS, but may be easier to find in an all aluminum model.

"5.3 L

Vortec 5300

The Generation IV Vortec 5300 engines are truck engines that share all the improvements and refinements found in other Generation IV engines. At present, four versions of the 5300 are in production: two iron block versions (LY5 and LMG) and two aluminium block versions (LH6 and LC9). All versions feature the Active Fuel Management system."

The active fuel management system is what you were looking for stewart.

[Stewart G Griffin]

AFM is a game-changer too.  Wouldn't it be nice to find a shop that does nothing but LS conversions start to finish?