Removing the front driveshaft...
Removing the front driveshaft is an option on vehicles without lockout hubs. This modification will increase mpg.
18. Selection of the appropriate drivetrain components is critical to achieving drivability and mpg goals. Direct-drive transmissions can yield a +2% advantage in mpg from lower-gear mesh losses and lower spin/oil losses.
19. Road roughness can increase rolling resistance up to 20% due to energy dissipation in the tires and suspension (10% loss in mpg). The best surface for fuel efficiency is polished concrete.
20. For every 10 mph of headwind or crosswind, mpg is reduced by nearly 13%. You cannot escape increasing wind resistance.
Notice this truck's extended...
Notice this truck's extended air dam. It pushes air away from the non-aerodynamic undercarriage.
21. A list of behaviors exhibited by drivers that consistently obtain good fuel economy:* High percentage of trip distance in top gear (90+% recommended)* High percentage of distance in cruise control* Minimum service brake activity* Minimum percent idle/PTO operation
22. Michelin is offering a new X One tire for tractor-trailer rigs. Replacing the dual-tire setup with one extra wide tire is said to increase fuel efficiency 5%. A tractor with duals has a total wheel and tire weight of 2,704 pounds, whereas when fitted with the wide X Ones , the total weight is only 1,963 pounds. The X One tires turn much easier than a set of duals because the duals are fighting each other anytime they are not going perfectly straight.
Be careful when spending money...
Be careful when spending money to save money. Additives and fuel saving devices should come with a written guarantee that backs up their claims.
DP Diesel Power Note:
Which staff member at Diesel Power has the most fuel-efficient foot? Stay tuned to find out.
23. Don't Keep Tank Full
Remember that diesel fuel weighs about 7 pounds per gallon. Vehicles have a tendency to nickel and dime their owners to get some revenge and make every pound count. Remember the straw that broke the camel's back.
24. Remove Front Driveshaft
This easy modification drops the vehicle's weight. It also makes for one less moving part on vehicles without lockouts. When winter comes or if fuel prices drop, put it back on.
25. Locking Hubs
Disconnecting the wheel from the axle with lockouts will improve .4 mpg.
26. Live On the Edge and Ditch the Spare
This option will become more real once run-flat tires become an option for consumers. Still, tires today are so good the spare rarely gets used. We would guess that 3 times out of 10, the vehicle's spare tire doesn't have air in it anyway. In its place, have a few plugs and an old-fashioned hand pump. Craftsman came out with a 19.2 volt handheld air pump that inflates low-volume tires up to 200 psi. As for plugs, the ones from Napa are much better than the cheap ones. There is a big difference.
27. Look To Racing
Now is the perfect time to upgrade to fiberglass fenders. Why stop there when you can spring for a carbon-fiber hood? With fuel at the prices they are, one can't afford not to.
The problem with air dams...
The problem with air dams is they get ripped off when off-roading. An adjustable or hinged air dam might be a solution to this problem.
28. Lexan
Replace as much glass as possible, although be sure to leave the windshield alone. Imagine what would happen if every pickup and SUV would replace just one piece of glass with this welterweight material.
29. Aerodynamic Tricks
Air dams and tire skirts push air away from un-aerodynamic areas. Early Broncos and many other cars from the '50s and '60s used tire skirts. With everyone's attention focused on fuel consumption, we might see this retro styling return.
30. Manual Trans Swap
When shopping for a used truck, avoid three- and four-speed automatics, and seek out five- and six-speed manuals so your engine can stay in its torque peak.