Might be a good time to switch to diesel?

[oil pan 4]

I use 31 inch tall tires on 15 inch rims and 3.08 rear gears.


"real diesels" like the cummins take around 3 gallons of oil.

I guess it would have required too much thinking on their part if they had changed your oil, only replaced 6 quarts and charged you $30, then before you drive off you top it off with your own oil.

[BackroadBomber]

I say go for it, but if you don't use your truck to haul/tow too much, I'd say get a 4.3 out of a wrecked blazer or s-10. They're cheap, parts are easy to find and cheap, one will bolt up to your Trans and use the same fuel pump, and it's not unheard of to get around 20 mpg. The easiest thing though would probably be to.put in a 305 which would use your existing wiring harness. I had an 88 Cheyenne st. cab long bed automatic with a 305 with trailering package and 3.08 rear end and it got 15 mpg average and 22 hwy completely stock which I thought wasn't too bad for a full size truck

[VBOD]

Hey your right. I never thought of going smaller; I did consider the 305 and other SBC's and even the 250/292 sixes but not the 4.3L. True, empty cruising could consume less fuel and with the gearing I've got, could pull what I need. Speed isn't an issue since it's not on the freeway a lot.
Thanks

[slowmover]

Sometimes small engines work harder and consume more. Rolling resistance may not matter much in solo situations, but loaded or towing -- and especially on the highway -- the small engine may not be up to the job. Plenty of examples from years past where a V8-350 was no better than a V8-396 as gearing, manual transmission, etc, become critical. I would study the use of V6's carefully.

[VBOD]

Thanks Slowmover,
Ya, if I did go from 5.7L to 4.3L I would be one of a few, very few who did. But if the price was right eg. $0 I might give it a try just to see.

[JQmile]

It's a little different for me because I make up so much power with nitrous, but I would be lucky to get half the HP and half the fuel economy out of a gas rig on a stock 230K engine with head studs and o-rings.