@FuckItsDaytimeAgain
Yep, every pickup truck I see on the highway has two gaping holes in the rear; the rear wheel arches. If those would be covered with skirting it would be a significant reduction in gallons per 100,000 miles.
There’s also the idea of putting an aerodynamic truck bed cover on which is even better for HWY MPG:
@FuckItsDaytimeAgain
Water Injection (or methanol injection) is indeed a mod you could install. I’ve heard that it helps add some fuel efficiency (even BMW were trying it) but I’ve never tried it. I have, however, sprayed or poured small amounts of water down carburetors before because doing so will clean the combustion chambers exceptionally well. How well? My neighbor’s mower was stalling constantly (bad enough to need a new spark plug just to start the engine) and after I sprayed water down its carburetor multiple times (at which point the caked on carbon was spat out,) I never heard it stall again.
@kleptomage
I’m thinking that Semi could get 14, maybe 15 if Shepherd added a few more mods to it.
The most astronomical MPG figure (over stock MPG) that I saw is also from Ecomodder. The man, Diesel Dave, drove a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup with a Diesel Engine and Manual Transmission. Through a few mods and
very rare (and not legal everywhere) driving habits (most of his driving was with the engine off) he managed to average over 50 MPG on a few tanks.
Here’s the thread.
Although Engine Off Coasting (and keeping the engine off at red lights) does work to increase fuel efficiency, for obvious safety and legal reasons I MUST stress the obvious; it’s risky, you could die from it, I’d never do it in front of my Mother and it will could use up your battery much quicker.
With an engine off you will not have power assisted control over steering or braking; both will be harder to control, if they control at all (I can’t speak for all makes and models.) I don’t know if the air bag system will deploy in a collision with the engine off, either. Although you could do EOCing (Engine Off Coasting,) if you do it you better:
Be more damn sure of what you’re doing;
Have a manual transmission car;
Be proficient at bump starting the engine with the transmission (instead of using the starter.)
Even if you know how to turn the engine back on while the car’s moving (with the transmission in neutral) and you know how difficult both steering and braking* are with the engine off, there’s risk in it.
*Braking Power Assist does last for 2 or 3 pedal presses after the engine shuts off in cars I’ve tried this in but I can’t speak for all models. After that, braking is “manual;” the car is then stoppable but it’s significantly more difficult.
If you have an Automatic Transmission car and try to EOC, you will need to use the starter motor much more and the car may not take to EOCing very well. You will definitely use the battery much quicker and you may damage the electrical system or give the computer glitches.
Again, EOCing is not legal everywhere either.