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22:00:26 - 04/24/2024
V8 Dakotas
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2007
08:18:40
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 Subject: MPG = MPG + 2
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I'm up to just under 18 MPG from ~15.5. How did I do it? First let's start with the truck.
2002 QC 4x4 4.7L auto 3.55 LSD with 75k miles and with leer fiberglass shell, front suspension & Transfar case skid plates, UAW toolbox stuff full of auto necessities (3T craftsman rolling floor jack, extra fluids, hand tools, tie downs, many many more). Basically the truck (with me driving) tops the 5,300 lb mark easily.
It's basically a stock truck. I still have a set of the halo plugs in it (without checking my records i have around 15k miles on the halos now).
Up until 2 weeks ago I was using Mobil 1 5w30 oil. In the last 2 months of using the M1, I was getting ~15.5 mpg. In the last month of using M1, I would use cruise control set on 65 (speed limit here in GA where I live). So basically using cruise control for a month and not using cruise control for a month I saw a very minor difference in fuel economy - .1 to .2MPG difference.
What I changed in the last 2 weeks was nothing more than an oil change and a new air filter.
2 weeks ago I switched to using SuperTech full synthetic oil. Yes, this is the synthetic oil made for wal-mart by Warren Distribution (http://www.wd-wpp.com/). You can tell from the WPP on the bottom of the bottle. Among other things, Warren Distribution blends private label oils. For those that do not know, a private label oil would be something like SuperTech, citgo, napa, autozone, etc.
Warren Distribution is a privately owned manufacturer, marketer and distributor of automotive aftermarket products.
To see some of the products they handle, check out http://www.wd-wpp.com/linecard-list.html.
Why did I choose to use Super Tech oil over all the other brands. Many of the brands commonly talked about on these boards are Mobil1, quaker State, Royal Purple, Amsoil. First off, it's a member of API (http://www.api.org/).
About the API - API is the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Our 400 corporate members, from the largest major oil company to the smallest of independents, come from all segments of the industry. They are producers, refiners, suppliers, pipeline operators and marine transporters, as well as service and supply companies that support all segments of the industry. I don't think amsoil is a member (we'll have to ask our resident amsoil dealer why).
SuperTech is labeled by the API as "energy conserving". check out http://new.api.org/certifications/engineoil/categories/upload/EngineOilGuide2006.pdf for details on the API logos labled on the bottles. What does energy conserving mean?
Energy Conserving: The “Energy
Conserving” designation applies to oils
intended for gasoline-engine cars, vans,
and light trucks. Widespread use of “Energy
Conserving” oils may result in an overall
savings of fuel in the vehicle fleet as a whole.
So in a nutshell I switched to Super Tech oil from M1, installed a clean air filter and drove the speed limit with cruise control on the highway. so in 2 weeks (~650 miles) I've seen an average of 17.7 mpg.
In additon to the 2 MPG increase, I'm also saving money for the cost of the oil change as super tech oil costs around $13 for 5 quarts vs m1 costing around $22 for 5 quarts.
If this keeps up and I continue changing my oil at 5,000 intervals, I'll be saving $36 in oil changes and around $440 in gasoline (this is assuming the cost of gas is $2.75/gallon) a year. This is also assuming I drive 20,000 miles a year (last year i drive ~ 22,000 miles).
- Dan M
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jayb
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2007
10:44:09
| RE: MPG = MPG + 2
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sounds like an oil advertisement.
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mobil 1 user
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2007
10:50:47
| RE: MPG = MPG + 2
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jayb = amsoil sales man
Dan M great post! thank you
(and its not even my oil of choice as you can see)
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Marv
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2007
20:42:34
| RE: MPG = MPG + 2
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So was it the oil, or was it the less restrictive new air filter?
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or
Dodge Dakota
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4/28/2007
17:01:14
| RE: MPG = MPG + 2
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they recently reformulated the gas for warmer weather,that always adds about 2 mpg for me.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
4/28/2007
19:46:59
| RE: MPG = MPG + 2
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LOL that's right!!!!
They add that ethanol stuff or whatever in the winter months ONLY. Many ppl note a drop in MPG during the winter months.
But who knows. 2 MPG from any oil is amazing.
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crow318
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2007
08:28:04
| RE: MPG = MPG + 2
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Here in NY, we have 10% enthanol all year round. Sucks for us.
I gain about 2 mpg in the spring, and loose it in the fall. Hmmm, I wonder why.
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jayb
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2007
14:08:48
| RE: MPG = MPG + 2
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because you dont have it year round. or they add something else that drops mileage. either way something changes.
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