Small things can add up
Beyond swapping in a smaller engine, there are a few simple things you can do to improve your truck's overall fuel economy. Make one or two of these changes and you can expect to see small gains immediately. Do several of them, and they'll compound. Of course, some of the advice we offer will cost some money, but when calculated over the life of your vehicle, it's likely the up-front investment will end up paying for itself in savings. Here's our top seven. Maybe you have a few to add.
1) Dump Weight: Get rid of all the tools and gear you don't need on a regular basis. Take an inventory and be very guarded about exactly what you need for your next trip. If you don't need it, don't bring it. Check your bed, behind the seats, the door cubbies, even the glovebox. Additionally (but a more expensive proposition), consider aluminum wheels; it could save you as much as 20 pounds per wheel in unsprung and overall weight.
2) Get Lubed: Synthetic oils are slipperier and typically have longer lives. Both will save you money in the long run. Engine, transfer case, transmission, and differential synthetic oil will cost more, but they can each deliver as much as one-percent added mpg benefit when replacing petroleum-based lubes.
3) Compound Interest: We all know tire inflation is critical for peak mpg performance, but also consider researching what types of chemicals are in your tires. More and more tire makers are beginning to produce stiffer and harder compounds to get better fuel economy. Be aware of the tradeoffs—they're likely to cost a little more, have street treads, ride quieter, and have different braking characteristics than traditional truck tires.
4) Cold Charge: There are several companies making cold air boxes specifically designed to reduce the intake air temperature, thus producing a denser air/fuel mixture, which will make a more efficient and powerful combustion chamber burn.
5) Smooth Wins: Be aware of your driving habits and try to smooth out your stops and starts. The worst thing you can do is not pay attention when slowing down and taking off from a start. Most of your mpg wins and losses are decided by how aggressive you are in these two common driving situations.
6) Injector Inspector: We'll assume you keep your vehicle in good health with regular filter and oil changes, but going one step deeper into the injectors and spark plugs can also help a great deal. Check the plugs once a year to make sure you're getting a clean burn. Excess carbon buildup could mean a spitting injector. Likewise, clean injectors will mean a more efficient burn.
7) Breaking Wind: As any over-the-road trucker will tell you, streamlining your aero is critical. Take a look at your truck as if you are the wind. What can the wind grab onto? Lightbars, storage racks, and spot-lights might look good and be functional but it creates mpg-robbing turbulence behind your vehicle. Additionally, OEs have spent a lot of money testing in wind tunnels to measure how your pickup cuts through the wind--keep your tailgates up.
More Power with an Intake Kit
Although exact pricing will vary and each installation kit is slightly different, expect to pay around $350 for a half-ton K&N Intake Kit, with the average install time (assuming you have all the needed tools) ranging from 15 to 45 minutes. Below are the K&N recorded results from their own horsepower before-and-after tests.
Toyota Tundra 5.7L V-8 -- +14 hp
Chevy Silverado 6.0L V-8 -- +18 hp
Ford F-150 5.4L V-8 -- +16 hp
Nissan Titan 5.6L V-8 -- + 14 hp
Dodge Ram 5.7L V-8 -- +11 hp
GMC Sierra 5.3L V-8 -- +17 hp
Stock F-150 Peak Horsepower 241.4 @ 4700
Stock F-150 Peak Torque 272.1 @ 4600
Stock F-150 Fuel Economy 19.2 mpg
Intake Kit F-150 Horsepower 260.8 @ 4700
Intake Kit F-150 Torque 291.8 @ 4600
Intake Kit F-150 Fuel Economy 21.0 mpg
Horsepower Increase 8.5%
Torque Increase 7.3%
Fuel Economy Increase 9.4%