MPG Experiment

[metallitera]

Inspired by the K&N filter thread, I thought I'd play around with fuel additives and see what difference they made.

I have a '96 7.3L dual rear wheel 5 speed with 115,000 on it. Appears to be stock 'cept for cat & muffler delete and DIY intake i just installed (details below)

I got 15MPG on the drive home with a drop in K&N filter that came with it, all on the highway with cruise set @ approx. 68MPH.

9MPG after oiling the filter and driving in the city.

Installed 46637(WIX) DIY intake and we'll see what kinda mileage I get, also added 2cycle oil in the other tank so we'll see if that makes a difference.

I'm gonna try a quart of general purpose ATF, a quart of marvel mystery oil, and maybe sea foam in the next few tanks as well and will post results. Give me some ideas on what else to try also, as long as we know no damage will result hehe

UPDATES:
9/15-
New intake on highway with cruise at around 65-68MPH - 12.59MPG
2 cycle oil (1 oz per gal.) on highway with cruise set around 70MPH - 14.1MPG
Pulling my trailer (bumper pull approx. 3500lbs) cruise set at 70MPH - 10.3MPG

9/28-
City driving and shifting UNDER 2K rpm - 11.5mpg
Approx 3/8 tank city driving as above and then i added a quart of 2cycle oil and ran on highway with cruise set at 65MPH - 13.25MPG

10/10-
All highway, cruise set at 65MPH, 1 qt. 2 cycle oil added - 17.5MPG!!!
highway, cruise set @ 65MPH, 2 qts 30weight added - 13.67MPG
mix highway & city, 2 qts 30weight added - 12.06MPG
some city, & highway @ 65MPH - 14.505MPG
highway @ 65MPH, some city - 15.55MPG

10/24 -
I got this from another forum, its pretty nifty.

[Got Diesel?]

you get 9 miles per gallon city??? something isnt right... cause i can get 18 mpg in city and 16 high way, (both with my chip set at 40hp)... thats if i baby it now if i run the dog crap out of it and have the chip at 100 hp, i get 14 city and i dont know about highway...

[lifewitlooie]

so you get better MPG in the city than the highway? I think you made a typo..

[Got Diesel?]

yes i do get better mileage in the city..i think its cause im cruising at like 1500 rpms in city and on the highway im cruising at 2500rpms

[metallitera]

I've got more numbers, took a cpl trips the last 2 days and burned up 4 tanks so i have some more numbers. not as good as i want but i have low geared rear end and dual rear wheels, PLUS a dragging caliper LOL i'll post the numbers ASAP

[ford_trck]

I just got back from my parents house a few hours north. My dad filled it up before I left so I don't know the mileage on the way up but I filled up tonight and I was getting 21.6 MPG. I crapped myself. I checked my math and everything added up thats with a fridge in the back of the truck doing 75-80. I trully love my truck.

[n9viw]

Metallitera, you're better off making ONE change at a time rather than two or three... if you just arbitrarily change things, you won't know if the results you get are for one change, the other, or both.

You said you changed the intake as well as added 2-stroke oil recently. You might try JUST the new intake for a few tanks WITHOUT the oil, THEN add the oil for a few. Try switching back and forth between intakes, so a couple-three tanks on one intake, then a few on the other, then switch the oil, then switch intakes, etc. You could even plot your results on a chart then, to make it easier to determine what did what.

[metallitera]

Originally Posted by n9viw

Metallitera, you're better off making ONE change at a time rather than two or three... if you just arbitrarily change things, you won't know if the results you get are for one change, the other, or both.

You said you changed the intake as well as added 2-stroke oil recently. You might try JUST the new intake for a few tanks WITHOUT the oil, THEN add the oil for a few. Try switching back and forth between intakes, so a couple-three tanks on one intake, then a few on the other, then switch the oil, then switch intakes, etc. You could even plot your results on a chart then, to make it easier to determine what did what.

yea, i got to thinkin about that so i havent added andything else to the fuel yet, just drivin with my new intake. I'll post numbers I have so far later tonight if i remember

UPDATES ON FIRST POST

[metallitera]

more updates on first post. The tank im on now i think im on track to be around 18-19MPG!!! Im at the in-laws so ill have more data when I get home. I added 2 quarts of 30weight dollar store oil to each tank to see what difference that makes. Been all highway driving with cruise set at 65MPH

[Jarrod B]

how will adding oil in the diesel tank increase the mpgs?