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Old 07-31-2008, 06:57 PM   #14 (permalink)
orange_eskimo
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 5

Car Ramrod - '96 Dodge Ram SLT
90 day: 15.16 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dave View Post
What I've found:

If you can live with a tonneau, get one. I had a flat tonneau and it was worth 1.5 MPG. Better yet, a fastback bed cover.

To help change the nut behind the wheel, install a pyrometer and a digital tach. For Ford (I-H) 7.3s the magic numbers are 2000 RPM and 600 degrees F EGT. The numbers should be similar on a 12V Cummins.

Since you are 4x2 maybe you can economically regear. I dropped from 3.73s to 3.08 gears. That gained me 3 MPG. But you have an auto and those gears may wreck your auto. I get away with it because I have a hand-shaker. Don't sweat the towing/hauling with 3.08s. My 7.3 tows Bobcats, macinery, and five tons of building materials just fine. No self-respecting Cummins jockey will admit the school bus motor is better than a 12V Cummins at low RPM.

A 4x2 can also be practically slammed, resulting in a 4 or 5 percent reduction in frontal area.
Thanks, I have thought about all three of those and tonneau cover will probably be coming with my next bonus.

Oh and its just a 5.9 gasser so no cummins jockey here.

Wish I had an update but Im only 1/2 way through my first tank on these mods so by next week we will see if they paid off.
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