Fuel economy of 7.4L (454) powered 3/4 ton suburban

[oil pan 4]

Last partial tank was 13mpg.
Its starting to cool off and the engine is running a little leaner than what I would like to see.

[oil pan 4]

Last tank was 9.5mpg. A weak battery, leaving for work before sunrise and leaving at dusk or after dark, halogen head lights have been causing me to not do any EOC.
After not being able to restart after my usual 1.5 mile EOC, having to grab my jump pack and boost the battery at a country road stop sign sucks.
I also did some engine run time to aim the LED head lights on the road while the weak battery was in there.
I installed LED head lights then replaced the weak flooded lead starting battery with a 2 year old red top, group 34/78 optima battery. Now I can EOC as much as I want at dawn or dusk.

[oil pan 4]

Last tank was 11.25mpg.
This was due in part to several days of non stop rain, had to run the heater constantly so the windshield would not fog up.
Changes for next tank:
Removed power steering belt, will keep it off as long as I can stand it.
The radiator is getting replaced since I have no idea how long I will be driving it in its current configuration I cant just keep putting water in it.
Its getting cooler out and since the cooling system will be able to stay full of coolant I will pull the belt driven fan and install my http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...9-a-32503.html

Been averaging about 1 gallon of gas per day.

When I get the VW back I am still driving this tank.
Last repairs on the VW cost me about $1200, so far that makes about $2000 this calendar year.
So driving the VW isn't going to save any money.
If I run over a twig or go through a mud puddle could be another $800+ trip to the dealership.
$2000 would have bought gas for the 454 suburban for about 3 years.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Last tank was 11.25mpg.
This was due in part to several days of non stop rain, had to run the heater constantly so the windshield would not fog up.
Changes for next tank:
Removed power steering belt, will keep it off as long as I can stand it.
The radiator is getting replaced since I have no idea how long I will be driving it in its current configuration I cant just keep putting water in it.
Its getting cooler out and since the cooling system will be able to stay full of coolant I will pull the belt driven fan and install my http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...9-a-32503.html

Been averaging about 1 gallon of gas per day.

When I get the VW back I am still driving this tank.
Last repairs on the VW cost me about $1200, so far that makes about $2000 this calendar year.
So driving the VW isn't going to save any money.
If I run over a twig or go through a mud puddle could be another $800+ trip to the dealership.
$2000 would have bought gas for the 454 suburban for about 3 years.

What are your outside temps in the morning going to work and in the afternoon on your trip home?

Can't wait for the results on the fast warm up system.

[oil pan 4]

So far the coldest that it has been is in the 40s.

[pgfpro]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

So far the coldest that it has been is in the 40s.

So you won't have to worry about over heating then, nice!!!
Its very strange that you have cooler temps then I do up here in the Pacific north west? You must be way up in elevation?

Will you redo your carb. jetting?

[oil pan 4]

With the intake drawing air from under the hood the temperature stays some what consistent, I don't plan on having to rejet the carb from what I am seeing on the wide band O2. But it really runs like crap when its cold and I first start it.
I regularly start out colder and end up warmer than new England.
I am at 4400 feet above sea level.
This is why I do insanely over kill warm up mods then at the same time I am usually trying to do equally over kill cooling mods. There is a 125'F temperature differential between here the coldest winter nights and the hottest summer days.

[oil pan 4]

Still running the cooling system on water only.
With a radiator that keeps all the coolant in and a cooling system that holds pressure its staying at prescribed temperature even on 80'F days with no fan.

The radiator I bought was $140 at advanced, is aluminum with plastic side tanks and I painted it flat black, front and black.
I went cheap because the diesel has a $330 welded all aluminum radiator. Plus the diesel radiator is larger, has a build in oil heat exchanger and the transmission cooler is on the correct side for the diesel.

So this next tank will be with no radiator fan and no power steering.

The 19,000btu/Hr coolant heater is installed but coolant lines are not hooked up. I found I can get stainless steel hose barbs a good bit cheaper than brass barbs and a bushing.
(needed a 3/4'' NPT to 3/4'' barb and a 1'' NPT to 5/8'' barb.
The stainless barbs will go on with no bushing, look better and be cheaper than brass.

[oil pan 4]

The last partial tank was 12.4mpg.
It has been getting colder.
I would have expected this tank to be closer to 11.5 to 12mpg.

Now that the cooling system is staying full of coolant its taking longer for it to warm up.

[oil pan 4]

Now that the radiator isn't leaking I found leak on the coolant pump.
Ran it on water too long I think.

So I think I will replace it with a Meziere 300 series 55gpm electric.