Fuel Economy

[Red leaf 67]

My daily driver is a 99 GMC Jimmy with the 4.3 L Vortec V6. Seems thirsty for a midsize SUV, estimate 14 - 17 MPG. My question is, is it worth spending the $$$ to change air filter/intake, performance chip, fuel injector riser block, etc.. to gain maybe 2-3 MPG?? I currently keep air & fuel filters changed when needed & watch tire pressure. Ethanol fuel may be part of the equation. I know there are truck forums out there, but thought members here may have some experience. I used to drive a 1973 International truck with the 304 V8 that did as well on fuel, and was a lot more substantial a vehicle than the Jimmy  . Any thoughts??

[Woodchuck]

That mileage is about right for those guys. The Vortec 4.3's were not fuel sippers. 

[Special T]

If you read in the commercial Trucking driving mags the talk a lot about fuel effeciency and what effects it. How you drive effects 1/3 of your milage. The DRIVER is where the main improvements can happen. 

Would those things help? Probably but im not sure they will actually give you those gains. This forum I think is the best for S series  rides. Its an organisation of a bunch of backyard engeneering. Is actually a pretty decent tech article on the 4.3.

I had an S 10 that we did a 2.8L to 3.4l build with 4.3L injectors to fuel it.... all the ideas came off this site... hope it helps

http://www.s10extremist.org/forums/

[mikeybuck]

For what you will spend on that truck to gain 1-3 mpg, you might as well do the civic mod.
800-1200 buys you A civic that gets 35-38 mpg.

[jackelope]

If you run 5000 miles, the rig gets 15mpg, that's +/- 333.33 gallons of gas.
If you run 5000 miles, the rig gets 18mpg, that's +/- 277.78 gallons of gas.
At $3.25 a gallon just for the sake of discussion, you saved yourself roughly $180.00 in gas.
If you spend $500.00 to do those upgrades, you'll have to run roughly 15,000 miles to make your money back.


Did I do that right?

[Woodchuck]

 

[JimmyHoffa]

If you run 5000 miles, the rig gets 15mpg, that's +/- 333.33 gallons of gas.
If you run 5000 miles, the rig gets 18mpg, that's +/- 277.78 gallons of gas.
At $3.25 a gallon just for the sake of discussion, you saved yourself roughly $180.00 in gas.
If you spend $500.00 to do those upgrades, you'll have to run roughly 15,000 miles to make your money back.


Did I do that right?

Sounds good, but fuel can vary that.  It was $1.99 this winter and a bit over $4 not too many years back.

[jackelope]

 

If you run 5000 miles, the rig gets 15mpg, that's +/- 333.33 gallons of gas.
If you run 5000 miles, the rig gets 18mpg, that's +/- 277.78 gallons of gas.
At $3.25 a gallon just for the sake of discussion, you saved yourself roughly $180.00 in gas.
If you spend $500.00 to do those upgrades, you'll have to run roughly 15,000 miles to make your money back.


Did I do that right?

Sounds good, but fuel can vary that.  It was $1.99 this winter and a bit over $4 not too many years back.

Sure...so since it seems to be rising in price right now and maybe it will drop given 15k miles will take the average person a year or so to drive, the number of miles needed will vary...it wasn't meant to be exact science. Just a number to throw out there. It will be close to that though. My point was, you've got to plan on driving the vehicle a while to make your money back, then you'll start saving money, which is the goal. It's not going to happen overnight.

The other thing I will throw out there is that most folks will tell you the benefits of a cold air intake are pretty much nil if you don't put a more free flowing exhaust on the vehicle. If they're going to "inhale" more freely, they have to be able to "exhale" just as freely. I didn't see exhaust on the OP's to-do list.

[follow maggie]

My last pick up was an F150 with the 4.6L and an air intake on it. Made exactly 0 effect on power, 0 effect on mileage. Waste of money. Special T is right- the best mpg improvement comes from your foot.

[Romulus1297]

My trucks computer says 11 mpg now 

[NW-GSP]

Save up and commuter vehicle.