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Adding MPG's ?

Discussion in 'Performance and Tuning' started by muddymedic, Jun 18, 2012.

  1. Jun 18, 2012 at 3:36 AM
    #1
    muddymedic

    muddymedic [OP] Tacoma FireMedic

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    David
    Virginia Beach, VA
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    2012 Tacoma Double Cab Off Road Mica Gray
    3" Lift Front and Rear Hood Gas Strut (Red Line) BFG All Terrain T/A KOLT285/75/16 Kicker Component Speaker System Dynamat Throughout
    I'd like to pose a question and I'm wondering since we have such a diverse and long lived group with years and years of experience has anyone done mods for mpg gain??? I'm thinking a cold air intake with a aftermarket chip will give me about 8 more mpg but I want to take it further. Has anyone tried a propane mod? How about a hydrogen fuel cell? They are both relatively simple to buy or build but what do u think I'd be looking at as far as gain? Has anyone tried it??????
     
  2. Jun 18, 2012 at 5:36 AM
    #2
    Pugga

    Pugga Pasti-Dip Free 1983 - 2015... It was a good run

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    Massachusetts
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    You won't get 8 MPG from a CAI and a chip. If you see any gains from the CAI, they will be slight. Figure if you buy a $300+ CAI and gain maybe 1 MPG, the payoff isn't there. Best mod you can do is change your driving habits. A Scangauge or an Ultragauge can help you with that.
     
  3. Jun 18, 2012 at 5:51 AM
    #3
    KeithB

    KeithB Well-Known Member

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    Keith
    Cheshire, CT
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    SWB '09 Tacoma DCSB Sport 4x4
    Wheels and Tires: 17x8" Ultra Goliath wheels with P285/70R17 Falken Wildpeak AT3/W tires, Suspension: Fox coilovers set at 2", TC UCA's, 1.5" lift 3 leaf pack with overload left in Other: TRD SS exhaust, Pioneer AVIC 4100 H/U with Android Auto (awesomeness), sat radio bluetooth, Accessories: Toyota roof rack, black Toyota running board steps, cargo divider, weathertech floor liners, Literider roll up soft tonneau, thule bars over tonneau, USB ports front and rear, seat heaters, birddawg mirror riser Cosmetic: window tint, grillcraft black mesh upper/lower grill, vinyl armrest in doors, Clazzio black seat covers with blue stitch, Redline steering wheel wrap Lighting: fogs only mod, back up lights, amber interior accent lighting, amber 10" LED light bar in hood scoop, 33" LED bar behind the lower grill, amber lamin-x on fog lights, Tacomabeast headlights and matching tails.
    Free mod that has gained me 4mpg. Accelerate very slowly like there is an egg on your gas pedal that you do not want to break and keep it to 55mph on the highway. Also, keep your distance from cars in front of you. I found I was constantly breaking and having to accelerate again after someone in front of me wanted to turn. Went from 16 to 20mpg with 33's and 3" lift. Getting close to 400 miles per tank, well not quite. Closest I ever got was 380.

    For my 20 miles commute - reducing from 75mph to 55mph only cost me 5-6 minutes giving me another 75 miles to a tank or another 2 days of commutes.
     
  4. Jun 19, 2012 at 8:38 AM
    #4
    KaeserTRD

    KaeserTRD Member

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    An electric fan fit may get you 1-2 mpg. But they are over $300 so you will probably not see any payoff.
     
  5. Jun 19, 2012 at 8:47 AM
    #5
    xgalvanxgx

    xgalvanxgx seymour butts

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    Gerardo
    OC (Lake Forest) California
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    X2!
     
  6. Jun 19, 2012 at 9:56 AM
    #6
    KaeserTRD

    KaeserTRD Member

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    Iconic step bars
    Your alternator is always spinning and creating a charge. There is no clutch on a alternator so that means there is no way to vary the load it adds to the engine. Adding electrical components to a car will not add more load to your alternator, its the same all of the time.

    Here is a good site for gas mileage helpers.... The electric fan is listed on there as well.

    http://www.4wheelparts.com/buyers-guide-reviews/fuel-economy-save-gas-mpg.aspx
     
  7. Jun 19, 2012 at 10:05 AM
    #7
    Lurkin

    Lurkin Well-Known Member

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    Rod
    Pearland, TX
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    Alt is always spinning yes, but the load on the engine is not constant, it varies based on the electrical load required.

    On the electric fan, you can take the word of some website that throws generalities around in order to generate sales, or you can listen to those who have installed an electric fan on this truck and have seen no noticable gain or loss,,, just a quieter startup, your call.
     
  8. Jun 19, 2012 at 10:18 AM
    #8
    stowayman

    stowayman Well-Known Member

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    4X4 trucks are not meant to be commuters. I'm impressed with the overall mpg 18-20 I get with a very capable off road vehicle...buy a TDI VW to commute in if you need better mileage :(
     
  9. Jun 19, 2012 at 11:49 AM
    #9
    spins615

    spins615 Well-Known Member

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    Eastern PA
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    i drive roughly 600 miles a week..all highway. 300 a trip and ive ranged anywhere from 16.5 to 20.4. I noticed that i get better gas mileage when i dont use the cruise control..seems the truck cant make up its mind on hills what gear it wants to be in and constantly changes gear and ramping up the RPM's...kinda wish i still had a manual..but either way. i noticed a change in 1-2 miles after i put a new air filter in and a magnaflow exhaust.
     
  10. Jun 21, 2012 at 7:49 PM
    #10
    ManMan

    ManMan Well-Known Member

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    You should DEFINITELY build a hydrogen fuel cell!!!!


    Let us know how that works out for ya
     

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