Lets talk "Power Adders"

[Viturro]

then, last choice, stirling engines on the radiator FTW! hahahaha
it should be beneficial, what diameter have the stock and other exhaust?
More FE put off 2 fuel injectors and 2 spark pugs (?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Less restrictive intake and exhaust really help, and often a different cam profiling can do miracles too.

Originally Posted by wmjinman

Electric fans - not sure. I've heard they help, but I've also heard that a properly operating clutch fan doesn't take any power either, so I'm not sure on that one.

Electric fans do really work, not just due to the overall lesser fuel consumption but they also lead to a quicker warm-up.

[SilveradoMike]

Regarding lsx exhaust next time your around a corvette or camaro check out the stock manifolds then check out a trucks. They are totally different the truck manifolds suck. Corvette or camaro manifolds would be a huge improvement over truck manifolds but thats not smog legit in Commiefornia.

One thing about automotive manufactures I think alot of people dont think about is cost. Yes they want to say they have vehicle type (fill in the blank, sedan, coupe, pickup, ect.) that has the best epa mileage. But these things are typically true for "ideal" conditions. Those of you who haven't read my intro thread please do all my "stats" are there (link to it in my sig). My driving conditions demand alot from my vehicles. That said if one part of a vehicle will cost the manufacturer $100 more then they otger part, draw those numbers out over 50,000 units a year. And in the case of my Silverado they were basically identical from 99-06 (aside from a few cosmetics). Yes they want the best mpg numbers on the market at the time of launch/sale but don't you think they would rather have the cash in their hand? Smaller initial investment with basically the same return. Please don't always beleive "factory is best" as it may be for cost but not all ways performance or effiencey.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by SilveradoMike

Regarding lsx exhaust next time your around a corvette or camaro check out the stock manifolds then check out a trucks. They are totally different the truck manifolds suck. Corvette or camaro manifolds would be a huge improvement over truck manifolds but thats not smog legit in Commiefornia.

The smog-nazis really don't have any common-sense regarding engine tuning

[wmjinman]

Well, if you're really "working" your truck, which I'm starting to see you are, then maybe opening up the exhaust would help. I should have also said I don't think it would hurt at any rate. Just hate to waste money "for nothing". If you're seeing over 50% throttle a lot, that might be a good thing - the best BSFC (power per ounce of fuel used) are usually at higher power levels and near the engine's torque peak rpm.

Whoa - so you could mount enough cells to almost take on your entire electrical load?!?!?! Seems like someone on here was experimenting with an "alternator delete" and got something like 5 more mpg out of it. But of course, he had to charge the battery up all night long every night.... But - yeah - too bad solar is still so expensive. I would love to do SO much with solar, but dammit - the cost!!!

[Viturro]

maybe best things to do in your case is aerodynamic, exhaust and intake will help you, but the better thing to do is aero mods, i did read your intro thread, one thing that you could do is the underbody plain. why don't you start with the body?

hahahaha lol, the cost of the solar energy ,burns me out!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by wmjinman

Seems like someone on here was experimenting with an "alternator delete" and got something like 5 more mpg out of it. But of course, he had to charge the battery up all night long every night....

That's one thing I'd only recommend with an all-mechanical Diesel swap, which back there would be illegal into a '99 Silverado due to the non-compliance to the OBD-2 mandate. Anyway I'd still be quite skeptical about it...

An alternator underdrive pulley, by the other side, would be more reasonable than a full alternator delete, for safety reasons such as lights and even the ABS modules...

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by wmjinman

... Seems like someone on here was experimenting with an "alternator delete" and got something like 5 more mpg out of it. But of course, he had to charge the battery up all night long every night....

Yup, that's me. It needs about an hour of charging time per hour of drive time. That's with one 10 amp charger for each of the two deep cycle batteries that power the electrical system. Delete was done by installing a switch where alt output cable meets the battery. So for a long road trip I just close that switch and the alt does its job.

The point I want to make in this thread though, is that I've found real gains from relieving the engine of the job of powering accessories. Take your pick, the gains are there for a radiator e-fan, a/c delete, p/s or alt delete.

Example: I recently removed the power steering belt. Idle fuel gallons per hour was 0.158-0.159 prior to the delete. After the delete, at same engine temp on same day, idle gph was about 0.151-0.152 gph. I will say 0.0075 gph difference at idle.

Calculating the savings at highway speed: rpms would be 4x idle speed so fuel used to rotate engine is 4x (I verified that by idling at 4x idle or 2500 rpm). And fuel saved with p/s delete is 4x .0075 gph or .03 gph at highway rpms. That translates to an increase of about 1.25 mpg highway in my case, not a bad return.

[SilveradoMike]

Wow .158 gph at idle... My truck is about .49 gph at idle.

[brucepick]

You need a Civic truck!