I bought a gas hog. What can I do to it

FarmboyBill · #1 10/11/12, 08:27 PM

to bring it down some. Its a 96 Ford F150. Found out it has a whats called a heavy hauling system. It has 2in springs that run along with the leif springs. Its a gas hog. Is there anything I can do to thin it down?

Big country · #2 10/11/12, 08:59 PM

What engine and trany does it have? Fuel injection or carb?

FarmboyBill · #3 10/12/12, 04:02 AM

on the engine, Im guessing 360. auto trans, and fuel injection

simi-steading · #4 10/12/12, 05:35 AM

You could put a cold air kit on it, and also get a tuner that plugs into the computer and allows you to change settings in the computer. You can either tune for better mileage, or you could tune for more power..

I've been meaning to do both for my Ram 1500 with the 5.7, but didn't drive it enough to justify the cost.. Now that I'll be driving 500 miles every other weekend or so, it's time to get busy. It will justify the fuel savings now..

**Ross** · #5 10/12/12, 06:08 AM

Drive it when you need a work truck drive something else when you want gas milage. We have a Ford F250 5.7 litre engine and yeah its a bit thirsty. Not like our old Dodges but still no commuter. Thing is it will haul anything. I have a GMC 2500 with a 350 in it and its much better on gas. Won't haul as much but still not a commuter either. So which is better GMC or Ford? LOL!! Get a car like a 4 cyl Grand Prix or its clones. They get decent fuel economy and are very cheap. Pay 3x more and get a Toyota

davel745 · #6 10/12/12, 06:52 AM

I too have a gas hog and what I did was buy a side by side and it just sips gas. I use it for everything.

**Cabin Fever** · #7 10/12/12, 08:09 AM

I figure you'd save money on gasoline by using the truck only when you haul or two heavy loads. The rest of time let in sit in the shed and drive a mini-cooper.

coolrunnin · #8 10/12/12, 11:17 AM

Except the 50k for the cooper, lot of driving to pay for that....lol

What about your transmission did you get it fixed and are you sure it's going into overdrive shifting right yet?

Other than a good tuneup the 5.8L just doesnt get great mileage, you can get the tuner chips and programmer and increase mileage but then you have to overcome the cost.

FarmboyBill · #9 10/12/12, 12:16 PM

All it was, was the speedometer module needed to be replaced. Once that was done, the trans worked PERFECTLY

FarmboyBill · #10 10/12/12, 12:19 PM

Dave , what is a side by side? Whats it cost. How hard o put on?

Simi, Whats a cold air kit? Where do I get it? How much does it cost?
Where do I get a turner chip? Whats it cost.

simi-steading · #11 10/12/12, 12:27 PM

Here's an example of one CAK... all it really is, is a free flowing filter... More air in... 1996 Ford F150 Cold Air Intake - Air Intake - K&N 96 F150 Cold Air Intake - 5306-07096358 - PartsGeek

A tuner plugs into your OBDII port and allows you to change the air flow, fuel flow, and not sure about the Ford, but a lot of times your shift points on the tranny... Here's some examples.. they aren't cheap, but for me, I want to be able to tune my Hemi for power around town, and then a quick change for mileage when I hit the highway..

Here's some examples.. Ford F150 Programmers & Tuners - Best Power Programmers for Ford F150 Trucks - Edge & Superchips Reviews - XLT - 1996 - 2012

PFS farmer · #12 10/12/12, 01:12 PM

Best solution is throw away the keys....lol.

Lot of fuel mileage has to do with driving habits! We can take 2 people and use the same vehicle and the fuel mileage from each driver could be way off. Most of your mileage is lost in taking off. It is not a dragster it is a personal vehicle or in this case a possible work truck. When you take off act like there is an egg between your foot and the throttle and you do not want to break the egg when takin off. Bet you see .5 to 1 mpg increase. When driving on the road it is miles per gallon and when you take off it is gallons per mile!

We have an 2000 Ford Expedition and 2000 F250. When driving around town we can get almost the same fuel mileage out of both if not better in the F250. We drive between 60-65mph, no need in rushing thru life any faster. Of course when hauling or towing with the F250 all bets are off. You can watch the fuel gauge fall.

woodsy · #13 10/12/12, 02:35 PM

I took the air brake (tailgate) off the 97 F 150 , good for a couple three more miles per gallon.
The pre catalytic converter developed a leak and replaced it with straight pipe , good for a couple three more miles per gallon. Taller tires help too.

simi-steading · #14 10/12/12, 02:38 PM

hhhmmm.. I've seen wind tunnel tests done, and mythbusters also checked out the tailgate myth.. and turned out it was a myth... With the tailgate on, it forms a bubble over the bed, and the air flows over it, and leaves the back of the truck with less turbulence... With the tailgate off, the bubble doesn't form for the air to flow over, and it creates a lot more turbulence behind the truck, causing more drag..

Wish I could find the video of a wind tunnel test I've seen of it..

Best I can find right now is an article about it.. http://www.trucktestdigest.com/TTDfe...teUporDown.htm.

I'm also wondering how you got past the O2 sensors on either side of the cat? If you remove the cat, your computer will start throwing all kinds of codes, and will also try to adjust the fuel mixture to where it will be running worse..

woodsy · #15 10/12/12, 02:45 PM

I don't fly around with the flaps on my airplane down either..........

Interesting article just the same, Not sure if thats holds true for tailgate off, study was done with tailgate DOWN, LOL defies logic just the same but i'm no aerodynamicist .

I did say pre-catalytic converter didn't I ?

simi-steading · #16 10/12/12, 02:48 PM

I hope you do when you're landing

woodsy · #17 10/12/12, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simi-steading

I hope you do when you're landing

Flaps work good for slowing down.

flewism · #18 10/12/12, 03:21 PM

Heavy hauler, what is the rear end gearing?

PFS farmer · #19 10/12/12, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simi-steading

hhhmmm.. I've seen wind tunnel tests done, and mythbusters also checked out the tailgate myth.. and turned out it was a myth... With the tailgate on, it forms a bubble over the bed, and the air flows over it, and leaves the back of the truck with less turbulence... With the tailgate off, the bubble doesn't form for the air to flow over, and it creates a lot more turbulence behind the truck, causing more drag..

Wish I could find the video of a wind tunnel test I've seen of it..

Best I can find right now is an article about it.. Tailgate Up or Down.

I'm also wondering how you got past the O2 sensors on either side of the cat? If you remove the cat, your computer will start throwing all kinds of codes, and will also try to adjust the fuel mixture to where it will be running worse..

I also forgot to mention the tailgate ON thing.....Good Post.

PFS farmer · #20 10/12/12, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flewism

Heavy hauler, what is the rear end gearing?

Also good post and beat me to this. Putting taller tires makes higher/taller gear ratio. Little better mileage, but messes up towing/pulling take off. I left my F250 with stock tires. I bought it to work and that is the way the factory specd it out.