cold air intakes
fallin22
01-19-2015, 10:38 PM
I have a 09 f150 with 26k miles. It has the 5.4 v8 and gets 16 mpg consistently. Does anyone have any experience with cold air intakes or powertech econ programmer? I was told they would increase horsepower (which i don't need) as well as gas mileage. Are they safe for my truck and is it worth 350.00 it would cost me? Thanks for any help.
65comet
01-20-2015, 08:48 AM
People claim to get an average of 2 extra MPG.
If you travel 100 miles at your current 16 mpg, you use 6.25 gallons.
100 miles at 18 mpg and you will use 5.56 gallons. Saving .65 of a gallon.
At today's price of $1.79 (what I filled up this morning), that will save you $1.16 per 100 miles.
So, to make back your $350.00, you will have to travel 30,172 miles to cross over the break even point and start earning on the investment. When gas goes higher again, that number of miles till break even will go down.
To get that higher mileage, it makes the settings leaner. A little leaner is probably ok, though most modern computers adjust for conditions and already try to be very lean without doing damage to the pistons. So, is over 30,000 miles of leaner condition before you start making money worth it? Will you even have that truck then?
If you travel 100 miles at your current 16 mpg, you use 6.25 gallons.
100 miles at 18 mpg and you will use 5.56 gallons. Saving .65 of a gallon.
At today's price of $1.79 (what I filled up this morning), that will save you $1.16 per 100 miles.
So, to make back your $350.00, you will have to travel 30,172 miles to cross over the break even point and start earning on the investment. When gas goes higher again, that number of miles till break even will go down.
To get that higher mileage, it makes the settings leaner. A little leaner is probably ok, though most modern computers adjust for conditions and already try to be very lean without doing damage to the pistons. So, is over 30,000 miles of leaner condition before you start making money worth it? Will you even have that truck then?
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