Light Ecomodding: spats, active grille shutters, underbody pans

Because I’m on the 20-year plan with my 2017 truck, I’m hoping to add a few minor efficiency mods in 2020. I’m running about 24mpg and want to see if I can get closer to 25. I’ve narrowed it down to the following three mods that seem relatively affordable as well as relatively easy to fabricate & install. I don’t want anything that dramatically reduces the ability to use the truck as a truck, so slamming the thing or getting invasive with side skirts or Prius wheels or a boat tail is off the table. I’m also not comfortable with the hyper miler pulse-glide method of shutting off the engine and gliding because I live in traffic-heavy SoCal.

So here is the short list:
1. Spats in front of the rear wheels (seen on a GM full size)
2. An underbelly pan that smooths out airflow (pic is the cool real-world deal by @skyking3)
3. An active grille block (seen on a Colorado/Canyon)

I think the spats are the easiest mod (buy and mount) and the active grille block is the toughest (cost + requires some fabrication and thermostat controls as well as wiring and, to be safe regarding overheating, a scan gauge).

I’m in the research phase right now and would be interested in getting ideas or others sharing what they’ve done along these lines. If someone in South OC wants to make the same mods and help me fabricate this stuff, PM me to discuss ideas and beer preferences for the R&D sessions.

 

Would not the cost of all these mods overcome the cost of that 1 MPG? Just asking.. armor is not cheap.. nor is it light. It just seems all the things you are putting on the truck to make it more aerodynamic is countered by the weight and cost of those mods...

 

What mod do you have? Making you getting 24mpg. I only gets about 18mpg

 

Can't wait to see where this goes. Got a pic of the truck as it sits now?

 

Money might be better spent on Michelin LTX tires with 40 PSI, ditch the spare, only fill the tank half way and hit the gym if you're packing a few extra pounds

 

i would bet going weight reduction would yield better results. The truck is heavy, focusing on aerodynamics are fine but i would want to shave more weight than add parts and pieces that will only come into effect when you are + 55 mph.

light weight wheels and tires designed to be fuel efficient would be a good start

 

I’m a yes on 1 and a maybe on 2

All good mods for desired affect

I think would pay for itself + when planning to keep truck

Thanks for write up, will be following

GO BLUE BOMBERS GO GREY CUP 2019

 

If you're doing it for the numbers (and not for financial purposes) then fill up with premium 93.. that alone should get you another 1+ mpg (if you've been running regular 87 octane and able to achieve 24 mpg.)

Edit: Perhaps I should say use premium 93 as opposed to 'filling up' since the extra weight of a full tank doesn't help your goal (as others have mentioned.)

 

Exactly. Best eco mod? Ditch the back seat. Ditch the carpet. Get some hard ass summer tread tires. Never fill the tank.
The best mods a consumer can do to increase fuel efficiency?
1. Weight reduction
2. Decrease rolling resistance.

I hope you realize that unless you test in a tunnel, those spats can actually cost you mpg. They probably add a tenth but are designed to work with the airflow of a specific truck. The other stuff? Won't help.

 

So rough numbers, if you can go from averaging 24 mpg to 25 mpg over a period of 200,000 mi, you'll save $1000 at $3/gal.

 

Lower your truck 6" at highway speeds

Biggest killer for your drag.

 

OVTune will give you more miles per gallon and more smiles per gallon, too.

 

THIS

 

Forged aluminum wheels

 

Myth. The ONLY benefit of 93 octane is higher resistance to engine detonation/knock. Doesn't contain more energy, improve efficiency, or add power.

 

I'd be very leery about installing grill shutters, these trucks in some cases have run extremely hot with the a/c on and the a/c performance ends up low. The problem is so bad that Toyota has a TSB for an aux fan. I imagine even with the shutters open air flow is impacted

 

When you put it in that kind of perspective, it really makes you say F it

 

Yeah it's kind of an underwhelming number. But it's useful to think about. Move the mpg down to 18 from 24 and that's an $8300 difference. It's worth keeping a vehicle maintained.

 

That amount is worth it. I feel that I'm getting decent MPG out of mine, north of 22, but not 24. I'm curious as to what he's doing to get those kinds of numbers. Unless he just drives with the RPMs under 2k, which is just unrealistic for me

 

Those grill shutters will add weight and so probably result in a net decrease in mpg.