>50 mpg w/ 3/4-ton pickup

[t vago]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Dave

UPDATE:

I filled up this morning and my real mileage for the whole tank came in at 41.0 mpg over 1,435 miles. See the details here:
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...0-a-22273.html

But you haven't yet reached 50 MPG.

Huge round of congratulations deserved here. 41 MPG out of a 3/4 ton truck? That's awesome!

[Diesel_Dave]

Originally Posted by t vago

But you haven't yet reached 50 MPG.

I had to leave something to shoot for

[ECONORAM]

Originally Posted by Diesel_Dave

I don't have an electric fan on mine. My factory fan is a clutched mechanical fan. Even with the grille completely blocked off, my fan almost never switches on.

I have considered blocking the entire chrome area of my grill, and opening up the small black plastic slot in the bumper (typically where a winch would live) and using that with a clutch fan or E-fan. I'm sure it'd work on the highway. Then I could put some sort of aero nose on the front!

==>This weekend I installed a used Taurus 3.8L e-fan. Much better than the Zirgo and knock-off (pair of) fans I was using. It's one that several in the Dodge RAM community pick for their e-fan mod... It's a two speed, but I've not wired in the high-side yet.

[slowmover]

Unreal, DD . . congratulations!!

Memorial Day to Labor Day ought to be a real record!

.

[non-prophet]

Damn, that's incredible.

[radioranger]

pretty impressive improvement from the oil, wondering if you ever updated the differentials to synthetics, made the biggest or at least equal to the engine oil change in seat of the pants test so far for me last time I used it, unfortunately switched when i changed out a seal on my 300 k Ranger about four years ago, now running the valvoline semi stuff, redline worked great for me, the axle bearing surface was like polished chrome. will be going back to it this week or next time i get a dry day to change it. and will post test when done, I have an old American Flyer train set and it would barely chug around the tree, I took a match heads worth of the redline red chassis grease and put it on the tiny worm gear motor drive and the train now goes so fast it fly's off the track on curves, so I'm hooked on their stuff, even when new it never went like that,

[Diesel_Dave]

I put some Amsoil Severe Gear Synthetic Extreme Pressure Gear Lube 75W-90 in the differential and some Castrol Transmax ATF+4 Full Synthetic in the tranny. Can't say as I saw any sudden, noticable improvement, but I'm not positive what fluid was in the differential before I changed it.

That being said, my mileage has fallen off much less this winter than last. I suspect the synthetic fluids helped with that.

[radioranger]

Good on that, my little 2.3 Ranger has almost 400 K now of which i've driven most, one advantage i have with this testing stuff is i've only got 88 HP so any difference is noticable right away , Great work on your truck, lots of good ideas,

[ECONORAM]

After re-reading this entire thread, I was going to ask what your typical driving speeds were, but as I went through I see you aren't necessarily trying to hit/maintain the speed limit. That was a foreign concept to me until now. Do you aim for a certain speed for 6th gear? I ask because I can get just over 20mpg in 4th, but I can lately hit over 30mpg in 5th at 40-45mph...

A daily fuel log? Interesting concept. Makes me wonder if I can push my commute past 30mpg. May require me rearranging my daily drive to avoid morning rush hour.

I also did some Google searching and learned I can leave my block heater plugged in for extended periods. Thought I'd risk cooking something, so I've almost never had it plugged in more than 20 minutes... Gotta thank MetroMPG for posting stats on temp rise: Experiment: how long should a block heater be plugged in? - MetroMPG.com

DD, ever look at a filtermag? I don't think it does anything for FE, but it does trap ferrous debris in the oil filter... www.filtermag.com

[Cobb]

Wow. Ive heard for years that there was a guy who drove a chevy avalanche hybrid that claims 50 mpg on i95 he purchased used from Richmond Ford. I guess that isnt as far fetched afterall?