1st post

[Striker2237]

truck added, recorded the fuel use on my last fill (I normally refill at about 1/3 left)

[awcook]

It's hard to say how you can reduce emissions without just throwing all the exhaust into an aluminum bin then using that as fuel, then recycling those emissions.

If you are producing a little more emissions than stock, but are getting more MPG than stock, then you shouldn't really be having a problem. If it really is a concern for you, then buy some new filters and that should be good. New filters can increase HP, MPG, and reduce emissions.

I'm not too much of an environmentalist myself (I mean, the only thing that cars produce is H2O and CO2, which is basically plant food), but I do care about money. The more MPG I get, the thicker my wallet. If that means I save the environment, then I guess I made some hippie friends(?).

[awcook]

Awesome. I fill whenever I have 1/4 a tank left. Normally I fill around 10 gallons, that way my math for calculating MPGs in my head is easier.

[Striker2237]

New filters? As in air filter? Reason it worries me is because my car has an abnormally sensitive computer and it says my cat is only doing 96% of what it should and as a result is giving me the engine code P 0420.....annoying because of the light but also because of what it means

[awcook]

I'm not too sure which filter, I just heard someone say that changing some filter would be beneficial to reducing emissions.

Your car might just think that since it isn't the stock or original cat that it isn't doing what it should be doing. I've heard that some cars don't take so kindly to new things.

If all else fails, just go to the local mechanic and have them fix it up for you.

[Striker2237]

I kinda am a mechanic lol! on the weekends I help out in my friends shop in exchange or access to his lift and other heavy equipment, we couldn't figure out how to fix it short of going back to the factory cat but thats not possible any more due to it using only a single exsaust and now its a true dual

[spacemanspif]

If you are that worried about emissions, start riding a bike on nice days. When you finish the engine build and are getting 4mpg you'll only drive the truck for fun and put somewhere around 5,000 miles/yr on it because of the gas bill thus, reducing your carbon footprint. You'll also love your beater because you can park it in tight spots, whip it around in the city and not care about dings and scratches. Ask me how I know this...and my "racecar" gets a whopping 18mpg!! I don't run cats because I am emissions exempt for the age of the car and the 5,000 miles/yr I drive it is probably not affecting the ozone layer much. Plus, I feel that keeping a car running has a much smaller footprint than destroying one and building another.

[awcook]

I'm not much of a mechanic, so you probably know more than me about CELs and stuff. :P

I agree with spacemanspif, driving less is a much better way to save the environment than driving a lot. I would drive less and I hardly get 8000 / year!

[Striker2237]

I only do 4500 a year already lol

[spacemanspif]

I just took a look at your fuel log. Your last tank was 211mi and you took 17gallons. My focus burns 6 gallons to get me as far lol. I mention this in case you need real-world numbers to convince you that an extra car can put money back in your pocket. 4,500 miles a year isn't many but still enough to make a difference...it will just take longer for it to pay for itself.