What have you found that really helps save fuel?

Hi! Guys & Gals,

I have a 1997 Chevy 1500 4X4 with a 5.0 V-8 and 5-speed manual trans. With the price of fuel what it is today am looking for ideas that work to save on costs.

Things I think will help are the usual.

1)Keeping the tires aired up.
2)Making sure the alignment is dead on.
3)Drive as smoothly as possible.
4)Possibly go up a size in tires to get a slightly better gear ratio.

Things I plan to do or am thinking about.

1)Since I am a Amsoil Dealer I plan to change this truck over to their products from one end to the other. The drag reducting ability of their lubes is something I know from experience.
2)Looking at buildling one of the simpler Brown's Gas units.
3)Possibility of also using acetone as a fuel additive.
4)Maybe doing something with the induction or exhaust.

What have I missed? What are your experiences with trying to save a few bucks?

[Shorts]

Driving reserved and inflating tires properly does the best. Keep the tune up fresh...clean filters, unfouled plugs and contacts in the cap and rotor. I wouldn't change the tire size up, just stay with the stock size of 265s. Account for an off odo and speedo is more trouble than its worth. What gear ratio do you currently have in the truck now? If its the 3.42s, all the better for 265s. You start bumping up tire size and you'll have to account for additional rolling resistance.

[dave]

I think indexing the spark plugs will help some, it sure won't hurt anything. Maybe one reason the multi-tip type spark plugs help is due to the fact that the electrode is open to the combustion chamber? I think synthetic motor oils also help, but I only use / recomment synthetic oils on low mileage engines.

[4x4mike]

I have been reading everywhere that people are spending a ton of money to save gas. You'd buy new tires or dump a bunch on synthetic all around. Even if you got used tires and you got a deal on the Amsoil you're still out $.

First of all, stay off the skinny pedal, it uses gas. Leave plenty of time for trips so that you're not in a hurry and speeding around. I'm trying to teach my wife this. Next, dump all the extra weight you need to. My Chevy had a cross bed tool box with close to 150 pounds in it. None of it was really needed for daily in the city driving. Weather conditions and destinations should be the reason you are packing extra weight. Next is tire pressure. I ran my 285's at 50 psi all around. I got 40,000 miles out of the first pair and the second pair had 25K on them when I sold the truck and they looked great. I had only owned the truck for 6 months before I worked it so good it wouldn't align to spec, by a long shot. I got these mileages on the tires with not one alignment but rather rotation every 3,500 miles at my oil changes (regular 10W-30 BTW). Another method is mixing it up. Walk to the store once in a while. Try carpooling. Riding a bike, bus train, etc.
In 2007 I drove my truck only 4,000 miles. Granted I worked less than 5 miles away so I rode my bike but I saved a ton of money mixing it up and not buying fancy oil, different sized tires, crazy exhaust or intake, re gearing, engine swaps (the list goes on and on and gets crazy).

FWIW I sold that gas hog of a truck and bought a 4Runner that is much more capable and gets great mileage even when I flog it. I didn't sell it because of gas prices though. I thought I'd own that truck long enough to have my kids drive it and that i'd be buried in it when the time came. What came was a talk with my wife. She said she didn't like it, wouldn't drive it if need be and that our children would not ride in it (this was her speech to tell me we were having a baby).I was ready for something else. It hurt me to see it go but life goes on.

Originally Posted by dave

I think indexing the spark plugs will help some, it sure won't hurt anything. Maybe one reason the multi-tip type spark plugs help is due to the fact that the electrode is open to the combustion chamber? I think synthetic motor oils also help, but I only use / recomment synthetic oils on low mileage engines.

Thanks for reminding me about indexing....old racer's fine tuning trick....

Have you seen the Pulstar plugs? I recently read an article about them in Farm Show magazine. The guy that wrote it is very impressed with them. According to him they helped the starting of a gas tractor he has and improved the torque and fuel economy. It would be great to hear if any of the forum members have tried them and could give some feed-back.

As far as using synthetic oil in high mileage vehicles .... the last two I converted to Amsoil had 90,000 + miles on them when I purchased them and one has racked up another 100,000 + miles with the other not far behind. No excessive oil useage just lots fewer oil changes.

[Shorts]

I have not tried the plugs you mentioned, but they could be good. Just keep in mind not to go chasing snake oil or you'll end up spending more than you save. But I'm sire you already know

[newguyJD]

The best fuel saver I have found(but do not use) in a BYCYCLE!

[Shorts]

Originally Posted by newguyJD

The best fuel saver I have found(but do not use) in a BYCYCLE!

Very true. I have mine here...but...I find I'd rather walk if it's close enough...less thinking to do. I'll count it as my 'light workout'

Putting on gear to ride my motorcycle takes just as long as walking

[newguyJD]

I got one of them new mountain bikes a few years ago. But lemme tellya them skinny pointy seats aint made fer a strapping young man such as my self. painful

[Shorts]