Need some information...

Hey everyone, I need some specifics on how to improve my gas mileage for my situation. I have a 1993 K1500 V8 5.7 350. I’m looking for some ways to improve my gas mileage, right now I drive with no tail gate does that help? I know my main bearing in my engine is shot and I get terrible oil pressure mainly when idling does that have anything to do with it? What all should I get replaced to help get better fuel economy. I am due for another oil change and I’m thinking new plugs and wires the air filter is pretty new.

Any advice would be great

Thanks,

Kevin

Well according to Mythbusters, you should get better mileage with the tailgate in place. Something about a vortex buble of air that builds in the box behind the cab and forces the remaining air over the tailgate....

Make sure oxygen sensor(s) are good. If they are original I would replace them. I had a check engine light on that was an O2 sensor and noticed that my mileage sucks lately but I need four and don't feel like paying $50 a peice.

[quote=TaNK_EmWhat all should I get replaced to help get better fuel economy. Any advice would be great

Thanks,

Kevin[/quote]

replace driving the truck with driving a geo metro. 40+ mpg

I’m going to put the tailgate back on once I get around to it its laying in my yard right now, about the O2 sensors I want to get all of them replaced so that will run me about 200 dollars? Should I just go into Murrays / AutoZone and tell them that I need four new O2 sensors for my blah blah. I’m also up for another need of an oil change and I’m going to replace all of the spark plugs and wires. As far as my shot main bearing goes do you guys think its making my gas mileage worse better or no affect. My dad told me that it probably actually helps on the gas mileage but I don’t know about that. I’m thinking about rebuilding the engine here soon. And as far as the person that says get a geo metro I live on a dirt road, my driveways ¼ of a mile long uphill I need four wheel drive here during winter.

- Kevin

Been doing some thinking still about improving my truck overall and gas mileage. I plan on changing the oil here soon should I stick to the GTX high mileage or maybe more over to synthetic. Also with the low oil pressure from the main bearing being shot is there anything I can get/ do to get my oil pressure higher at idle?

- Kevin

Hey everyone, I need some specifics on how to improve my gas mileage for my situation. I have a 1993 K1500 V8 5.7 350. I’m looking for some ways to improve my gas mileage, right now I drive with no tail gate does that help? I know my main bearing in my engine is shot and I get terrible oil pressure mainly when idling does that have anything to do with it? What all should I get replaced to help get better fuel economy. I am due for another oil change and I’m thinking new plugs and wires the air filter is pretty new.

Any advice would be great

Thanks,

Kevin

Plugs and tune up may help some. If your 02 sensors are not bad why replace them. If one of them is bad you usually get a check engine light.
A little engine honey like old stp may help a little on oil pressure.
But if main bearings or what ever is that bad it is time to fix or trade it.
Or just consider another truck that gets better gas mileage.
The price of fuel may help you pay for it.
Depending on your gears and trans and engine the 93 4x4 is usually not a very good truck for gas mileage.
MT

Yeah I was talking to my dad and he says why waste the money, so I don’t think I’m going to replace the O2 sensors. As far as the STP goes should I get some fuel additive or what? Still does having a bad main bearing affect my gas mileage? Yeah I’m not sure on my gears I think its 3.73 I don’t know I’m going to try and figure it out as long as with the transmission. Also I want to clean out my engine compartment is it safe to power wash?

- Kevin

Yeah I was talking to my dad and he says why waste the money, so I don’t think I’m going to replace the O2 sensors. As far as the STP goes should I get some fuel additive or what? Still does having a bad main bearing affect my gas mileage? Yeah I’m not sure on my gears I think its 3.73 I don’t know I’m going to try and figure it out as long as with the transmission. Also I want to clean out my engine compartment is it safe to power wash?

- Kevin

For the oil pressure aid just good old STP engine oil treatment/motor honey the good old thick stuff will help a little.
Weak Bearings should not affect gas mileage.
If you power wash it just watch th dist cap. It may get moisture/water in the dist cap. If so remove cap and let it dry out. Wash when engine cool or cold is better.
MT

i live on a dirt road with a metro also. 90% of the people on the road "think" they need a 4x4 and they actually dont. ill drive my metro during snowstorms instead of my 4x4 truck cuz it works just as well.

Well according to Mythbusters, you should get better mileage with the tailgate in place. Something about a vortex buble of air that builds in the box behind the cab and forces the remaining air over the tailgate....

I was going to quote the Mythbusters findings myself. I was really surprised at that one. Turns out the auto engineers actually know what they are doing after all! I was interested in that test since I was considering one of those remote tail gate openers that would let you open the gate to the half way point. Seemed to make sense it would act as somewhat of a spoiler - guess I was wrong.

I've heard synthetics can improve milege by 1-2 mpg. I've also heard that average mpg may vary by more than that in each tank full. Not sure if you could gain anything there.

Over inflating the tires a bit is known to help slightly, but you are still in that same range as the synthetic oil gives you - about the same as the normal variance of a tank of gas.

I suppose the only thing that can really help mileage is staying out of the accelerator! I bought a Charger back in October and that beast can be thirsty if you don't ease away from traffic lights and the like. I'm getting better. I'm up to about 18.5 mpg vs. the 16 I was getting when I first bought it. See variance notes above. :p

Yeah I don’t really think I’m going to bother power washing the engine, Picked up new spark plugs and wires today. Picking up a new drive belt tomorrow, Still on the list are new shocks, brake pads, etc. bansheetaz I’m not trying to insult yorr knowledge or anything but in my situation I need 4x4. In the fall and spring when it gets wet there will be up to 2 foot groves in my driveway from vehicles sinking. During the winter with lots of snow and drifting a metro wouldn’t even make it ¼ of my driveway. We don’t plow the driveway, I park on my lawn and I need four by four just to move it some days during the winter. Plus the fact I’m on the fire department means I don’t have time to mess around with getting stuck. I have put the tailgate back on weather whats going to happen as far as gas mileage goes I don’t know. With the price of synthetic I think im just going to stick with high mileage oil. Yeah I try and take it gentle but sometimes the 350 just takes charge of my foot haha. I bought some STP fuel injector cleaner today maybe that will help things out a bit.

We will see,

Kevin

Yeah I try and take it gentle but sometimes the 350 just takes charge of my foot haha. I bought some STP fuel injector cleaner today maybe that will help things out a bit.


I know what you mean with the Charger! The Hemi is a 345 and just wants to go. First day I was on my way to work with it on the highway (divided six lane) I hit the accelerator and was doing 100 before I knew it.

As for the fuel injector cleaner, I haven't used any of the store bought stuff in years, but when I did a budy of mine who spent far too much time working in a garage told me to ignore the directions - which usually indicate to mix with about 16 gallons of gas - and instead add it when I only had five or less gallons in the tank. The higher concentration was supposed to work better was the theory.

I had the dealer clean the injectors on my '97 C2500 shortly after I bought it (at about 85k miles) along with a complete "tune up" and the truck ran like new when I got it back. Huge difference, even though my truck's previous owner did mostly highway miles hauling a horse trailer.

Well today I took my truck on the expressway ran pretty good, Picked up my spark plug wires. This weekend I plan on at least getting the spark plugs and wires done and possibly an oil change. I added some of the injector cleaner after I put some gas in it today I think next time I’m going to add the stuff with less gas in the tank. I found some stuff at meijer my place of employment some gum out shit that’s supposed to help the engine out sounded good, said gets rid of knocks.

- Kevin

Go easy on the gum out stuff. It may gum out more than you want gumed out.
Just a little motor honey will do you more good than anything on oil pressure.
MT

For the oil pressure aid just good old STP engine oil treatment/motor honey the good old thick stuff will help a little.
Weak Bearings should not affect gas mileage.
If you power wash it just watch th dist cap. It may get moisture/water in the dist cap. If so remove cap and let it dry out. Wash when engine cool or cold is better.
MT

You put that motor honey in, Im sorry but anyone who puts that in there engine is a idiot. Be sure to ask and research about that if you dont believe me, before you pour TAR into your engine.

You put that motor honey in, Im sorry but anyone who puts that in there engine is a idiot. Be sure to ask and research about that if you dont believe me, before you pour TAR into your engine.

Well good grief. What is your problem.
The poster here was needing help with his low oil pressure.
I have used motor honey on many older worn engines many times with good results.
And it has been used on the race track in many racing engines.
Have you not saw that STP commerical on TV?
The main purpose of motor honey/old STP is to buildup the oil body that helps oil pressure and oil comsumption.
Works good on a engine that has wear and I have saw some people that use it in a new engine with no problems and may have even helped it.
MT

Hey everyone, I need some specifics on how to improve my gas mileage for my situation. I have a 1993 K1500 V8 5.7 350. I’m looking for some ways to improve my gas mileage, right now I drive with no tail gate does that help? I know my main bearing in my engine is shot and I get terrible oil pressure mainly when idling does that have anything to do with it? What all should I get replaced to help get better fuel economy. I am due for another oil change and I’m thinking new plugs and wires the air filter is pretty new.

Any advice would be great

Thanks,

Kevin


I have a 95 Silverado, 5.7L....I replaced the exhaust with a free flow muffler. That helped both gas milage and horsepower (provided I could keep my LEAD foot off the throttle). Increased about a mile, sometimes two (depending on weather and road conditions) per gal.

Dennis

Well over the weekend me and my dad put the new spark plugs and wires in. this took a great deal of time being it was a pain in the ass to do. Anyways it’s running pretty good on the new plugs. I’m going to invest in a flow master here eventually once I get the general maintenance stuff done. I was talking to my neighbor and he says it might not be my main bearing that’s shot but rather a bad oil pump. So how difficult is it to change the oil pump I’m pretty sure it’s inside the oil pan. As far as doing oil change what should I get right now I have 10w-30 in it and I’m thinking of getting 10w-40. Which is the best for my truck? Also when dissembling my air filter assembly to get to the distributor we found some sort of mice nest in the assembly. It makes me wonder how long my truck sat with the previous owners.

- Kevin

Chevys are somewhat unique in that the oil pressure fluxuates in somewhat extremes. On both my 95 and 98, the oil pressure on the road will read near 80 and at a stop sign it will drop to near 40. I asked a mechanic about it cause I thought it was strange. He said as long as the thing has some pressure, say 5 or above, you will be just fine.

Hope this helps,

Dennis

Flat rate time on oil pump varies some from 4-8 hrs.
Take a look at the oil pan and see if it looks very easy to remove.
A reg K-1500 around 4 hrs or the silverado may run up to 8 hrs.
But first put a manual oil pressure gauge on it and check the actual oil pressure.
You can not go by electric gauge on dash.
Also make sure you are using the correct AC-Delco oil filter.
Fram and othe brands of aftermarket oil filters sometimes cause oil pressure problems.:grinyes: :lol:
And sometimes a good oil change will bring up the oil pressure.
Does the oil have a gas smell or how long has it been since it was changed?
MT

As far as what Dennis said, sometimes at idle after driving such as stopping at lights the oil pressure drops all the way down into the red and check gauges comes on. Mt – shit that’s a long time. I’ll have to do the test with a manual pressure. I have kept it up to date on the oil changes and I don’t think it’s my fram filter that’s causing the low pressure. Next week in auto class I’m going to put a mechanics stethoscope up to it and see if I can hear what’s knocking rather it be the engine from not getting enough oil or the main bearing. Right now i’m not really sure because the knocking only happens for a few seconds when I start it and at idle, so i’m actually thinking it might be my oil pump and not my main bearing. I still have to put the new drive belt on and get new shocks and breaks. Also I have a question for anyone that’s good with electrical. I am putting some off roading lights on my truck and have calculated it to be drawing about 35 amps. I don’t think my truck and its current power output is going to be enough. If I put a 140 amp alternator in there will everything be able to handle that much? I’m pretty sure i'm going to have to wire all of the lights right into the battery and fuse it along with grounding it to the frame.

- Kevin