A truck is a vehicle that gives you pleasure to tow or carry heavyweights. You can drive it smoothly on rough terrain as it has a powerful engine. Apart from many benefits, one downside of a truck is that it burns a lot. Yet you can overcome the downside.
You can improve the fuel economy by reducing speed, idling, aggressive driving, and other simple ways. Just stay aware of the gas savings essential and change the old driving style.
How to Improve Fuel Economy in a Truck: Steps and Techniques
There are many ways to improve fuel economy and efficiency on a truck or other vehicles. But understanding which way is the best suited for your case, you need to read the article.
Maintain the Truck Speed
Excess speed helps you reach your destination quickly, but it also burns excessive fuel and gasoline. 75 mph driving burns at least 30 percent more power than 65 mph driving. So driving 65 mph is recommended for every truck to save fuel.
Increasing one mph speed means decreasing .14 mpg in fuel. Also, harsh and frequent braking burns more oil. It also makes the engine suffer, and extreme driving burns 5 to 10% more fuel than smooth driving. Using brake and accelerating severe burns 20% more power.
Cruise control also improves the fuel economy, so use it when you can. Avoid driving in bad road conditions.
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Stop Idling on the Trips
Idling makes the gas wasted. It burns an extra 1 gallon of fuel in 1 hour and 1.1 billion gallons of fuel in 1 year. Avoid idling and use an automatic engine start/stop system to reduce idle time. The machine also reduces its power for continuously idling, making extra maintenance costs.
Tune Your Vehicle (Truck)
Tune up the engine regularly to boost the fuel economy. A tuned-up machine has a 4% better impact on fuel economy. Check the truck wheel alignment and maintain good aerodynamics. Install a bed cover or truck bed and roof racks on your truck.
However, installing these items created drags and increased gas consumption, keeping the car steady on the road and keeping the roof clear. Remember, light trucks burn less oil.
Use Lower-Viscosity Oil
Oil gets thicker and cold in winter, and dense oil impacts the fuel mileage. However, you have to use more viscous oil when carrying heavy loads.
Use lighter oil or lower viscosity oil in winter but before that, check the manufacturer’s recommendation. Change the oil at least once in 3000 to 5000 miles to save money on fuel for the truck owners. Also, use the right kind of gas to keep the system clean.
Keep the Tire Properly Inflated
An inflated tire runs smoothly, and the engine burns less oil. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance and drop .2% gas mileage.
Keep the tire inflated and maintain proper psi, so your vehicle won’t lose gas. Monitor the pressure on tires and read and inspect it before towing or hauling to prevent tire wear.
How to Improve Gas Mileage Mechanically
You can do simple modifications by using truck mods for better gas mileage. Such as,
Performance Suspension Kit
When your truck has lighter components, it will improve engine efficiency and get better gas mileage. Use aftermarket parts like a suspension kit in your vehicle and replace the sway bar, spring, shocks, etc. This way, you can handle the car better.
Truck Mods for Better Gas Mileage: Chip or Tuner
Install a performance chip or tuner to customize the ignition timing to make the pickup truck more fuel-efficient. You can also know the fuel mixture balance and monitor the truck’s performance.
Cold Air Intake to Improve Gas Mileage
When trucks get hot, it burns more fuel. It also reduces noise and gives the engine more oxygen, so the operator gains more payload capacity. So, install a high-flow cold air intake system to enter the quality of harder and denser air to the efficient engine.
Exhaust System for Lifted and Pickup Truck
An exhaust system improves engine efficiency by removing the exhaust gas properly. If you are using a pickup truck or mini truck, this change of the system can come really handy. It replaces the OEM system, and the larger pipes can drain more gas.
How to Get Better Gas Mileage in an Old Truck
- Old trucks need particular and better maintenance to improve the gas mileage and reduce fuel costs. Upgrade the high-flow exhaust system to improve fuel efficiency.
- Use synthetic oil or premium fuel with a high-capacity filter. Make a visual inspection regularly and tune up the vehicle for proper fuel savings.
- Monitor the spark plug and change it after 60,000 miles.
- Check the tire pressure often and pay attention to the suspension. If needed, add a helper spring and use a better jeep wheel. Also, check the gear ratio after repair or replace any parts.
- Do not use any unnecessary accessories that burn more fuel. Upgrade the electronic grounds and clean the fuel injection regularly.
How to Increase MPG on Diesel Truck
Even diesel prices and gas prices have dropped over the past few months, and you should maintain some things to increase the MPG like,
- Use shore power and avoid revving the engine. Keep slow the following gear to burn less diesel.
- Maintain the cruising speed and use the ac less. Do not stop the car completely; you can slow down when needed.
- Stopping less means maintaining the extended following distance of a car ahead of you.
- Do not press the accelerator too harshly.
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