Potential fuel economy mod?

I thought u were talking about this black piece at first.

 

I don't want to be a knob about it, but, if there is a difference that was totally spurious and we all go out and buy weather stripping only to find it isn't different after bragging to our coworkers about our aeronautical prowess... well... we will likely regret not asking Skittles93 to characterize his variance a little. I am not insulting what Skittles93 is doing. Aeronautics (for sailboats and gliders) is a hobby of mine and gaps CAN cause a measurable difference. I think this is great and I wish we had more of it hear.

 

I find it hard to believe a simple piece of weatherstripping is going to do much for fuel economy, all other factors considered. And given everyone's driving style differences it would seem everyone is just going to be an n=1 experiment given the variables, aka region, gas octane used, terrain, etc etc.

However interested to see the results cause science.

 

I know, Cadmus. I was just kidding about the statistics terminology because I have to use stats in my work, a little bit. But don't you agree the P value would be interesting?

 

The most accurate way is going to be figuring out your actual fuel useage at fill ups. 10 mile trips arent accurate. Maybe 10 tanks of gas that are consistently higher may be more convincing.

Just do the old miles ÷ gallons = mpgs.

 

That isn't hard, you could build a mixed model that statistically controls for those factors... but yeah you run out of degrees of freedom pretty quick if everyone only does it once.

I am more of an Information Theoretic or Bayesian guy at heart but sure we could just do a t-test on Skittles' truck.

sorry i will stop... i am having fun with this.

 

If this works my 4-runner friends are going to rub it in.

 

I have a magnaflow catback and the Ko2s are loud so I don't really think I will notice any noise decrease. Anyway I managed 21.3 because the grade is ever so slightly in my favor from the next town over to where I live. My lifetime average is 17.6 but thats because I turn into a sixteen year old off the line every time a modified civic blasting music is next to me at a light, which is pretty often. I took quite a few statistics classes in college mind you so I will be sure my p value and all that junk is in order .

 

Lost me, Cadmus. I'm out.

 

The weather stripping comes on and off too easily so I will wait and see if it works first and then use an adhesive that will last a while longer, I bought a bottle of goo be gone just in case.

 

I'm all for new ideas, but testing fuel efficient mods would require a much larger sample than 10 miles.

Over my last 2,259 miles (6 fill-ups) recorded mpg on fuelly has been 19.77, 18.53, 19.61, 20.68, 20.72, 21.44. Same truck, no mods/changes, same driver but a 3mpg range.

 

@ziggynagy I get that and its a work in progress, I was just updating TW as to what my idea is and how it pans out. I am going to do 10 runs with and 10 runs without while trying to maintain similar ambient temperatures and traffic patterns. The biggest source of error would by my scan gauge or the freeway entrance which I have no control over.

 

Man, so many naysayers.

Ignore the haters, and let us know how it works out! I may try it, even if you see a minimal gain. Even a tiny gain compounds quickly!

Thanks OP for trying this out!

 

Will removing my mudflaps after improve my mpg? It's so small seriously. Is it actually a whole mpg or smaller? Also taking off the mudflaps isn't the best idea if you off road since you're kicking rocks under your truck.

 

If I baby my truck around I can get around 20 MPG but I've added a bunch of shit too it.

To the original point. I "doubt" you'll see any significant changes in MPG but I do like what you did there. Looks good and cleaner between the bed.

 

just


no

 

That could not alone could not be calculated. If I had to make a guess it was all about wind noise. I live in the mountains of Maine the wind blows out of the north west often at 30 mph or better my AC behind the rear edge of the small door howls sitting still in the wind if I put my hand over the back edge the noise goes away.

 

^^ the only way you could calculate that extremely insignificant mod... is inside a wind tunnel and with instrumentation

 

The problem, as has already been shared is that so many thing can have a positive (or negative) effect on your mileage. Even with the scangauge it would be almost impossible to exactly duplicate a single run. Wind speed and direction changes, humidity level, and temperature are just a few things that you must consider. A comparison of 10 trips on the same route would be more revealing...better yet 100 trips. But, like others, I'll be interested in seeing what you come up with.

 

I heard that it was added to reduce wind noise at freeway speeds. I'm not doubting its potential for saving mpg though