Intake Tube. Vs. Entire System

[jaslo]

If you got that good of gas mileage, I would be tempted to get rid of my truck and car, so I can get a new truck. Does the 6 speed make that big of a difference in gas mileage?

[mtsusa]

If you got that good of gas mileage, I would be tempted to get rid of my truck and car, so I can get a new truck. Does the 6 speed make that big of a difference in gas mileage?

 

 

In theory the 6 speed should increase gas mileage (the engine has to work a lot less to maintain the same speed).

 

Mind you, these numbers are for one trip- not an entire tank of gas. Doing about 70% Highway/30% City, I still have gotten 22.7 mpg. Don't forget, these are just my experiences...I can't say for sure that someone else will see the same numbers.

[mxdirtrider56]

Don't argue with Don, you won't win.

[dlstewart01]

Don't argue with Don, you won't win.

 

 

Yeah and hes a damn old curmudgeon...

[mtsusa]

haha well you've all given me a wealth of information.

 

For the record I took my intake tube off and drove about 100 miles yesterday, and my economy on my way to work this morning dropped slightly. Feel like in the relearning phase my truck is running a bit sluggish, probably a bit lean...I'm interested to see how it changes as the week goes on.

[thisbudsforyou]

haha well you've all given me a wealth of information.

 

For the record I took my intake tube off and drove about 100 miles yesterday, and my economy on my way to work this morning dropped slightly. Feel like in the relearning phase my truck is running a bit sluggish, probably a bit lean...I'm interested to see how it changes as the week goes on.

[/quote

 

 

keep us posted I just had someone give me a drop-in k&n and i was thinking of adding the airaid mit and cat back ( dont know which one yet) looking forward to seeing what you get.

[BigBlueLB756]

Bud, if you haven't done anything to your truck yet, throw that K&N away and never look back. I'm tellin' you, the first mod will lead to others. On and on; it never ends! LOL

 

Welcome to the forum, and mod away!

Filter

MIT

Cat-back

Blackbear

etc

etc

etc

[mtsusa]

haha he's not kidding...I bought my truck and told myself I got a good quality brand new truck, there's no need to do anything to it.

 

...An in dash dvd player, exhaust, intake tube/custom air box, spray in bed liner, and several exterior accessories later, I'm still not satisfied! The mod bug bites HARD!

 

With regards to your question, though. I've done about 400 miles worth of driving over the past couple of days (mostly highway) and noticed that my mpgs are better with the muffler than with stock, but seemingly not as good as with the muffler and Airaid tube.

 

Here's my theory. An air-gas mixture is really the medium providing power to the engine where the air is the true catalyst. An aftermarket intake and exhaust system, I believe, work most effectively in tandem. If the intake allows for the engine to pull air more easily but cannot expend exhaust gases at a proportional rate due to a restrictive exhaust, the engine must work harder to force the gases out, cancelling out any advantages of the intake. The other way around, the engine can scavenge to an extent for air should the exhaust be opened up, but this, too, doesn't fully utilize the potential of the engine. Getting more air in and allowing more air out (at a "proportional" rate) allows the engine to work less to perform the same task...so if you're conscientious of your driving habits, you will see economy gains. This would explain why when I first put the intake tube on my truck without an exhaust, I saw slightly worse mpgs. Isn't it nice when everything at least seems to tie together and make sense?

 

As far as gains are concerned with bolt on mod's, many people see different results for different reasons...namely test methods and driving habits. If you're anal as I am about vigilantly watching the tach and speedo to make sure your driving is consistent and conservative for comparisons between tanks of gas, you will see more of a gain in that respect. Power is a different story...you might notice improved throttle response but for the daily driver, I don't see bolt on mods doing too, too much for HP because of all the restrictions in place controlled by the ECU (I'd love to be proven wrong, however, with dyno sheets!) This is where a tune comes into play and why an intake system, exhaust system, and tune seem to make this ideal trifecta where everything complements each other well.

 

Those are just my thoughts. I'm sure many people will disagree with me because what do I know...after all, I'm only a mechanical engineer

[dlstewart01]

Wow, a mechanical engineer...At just 22 you must have recently got the title...Think how it will be when you learn how to be one..

[mtsusa]

Wow, a mechanical engineer...At just 22 you must have recently got the title...Think how it will be when you learn how to be one..

 

 

haha I mean, I know theory well...but I have to bow before experience

[dlstewart01]

Wow, a mechanical engineer...At just 22 you must have recently got the title...Think how it will be when you learn how to be one..

 

 

haha I mean, I know theory well...but I have to bow before experience

 

 

Maybe I was being too hard on you...I was a process engineer for General Electric back in the 70s...what does that mean on the internet...not a damn thing..

 

have a good one

 

the grumpy old geezer

[mtsusa]

Wow, a mechanical engineer...At just 22 you must have recently got the title...Think how it will be when you learn how to be one..

 

 

haha I mean, I know theory well...but I have to bow before experience

 

 

Maybe I was being too hard on you...I was a process engineer for General Electric back in the 70s...what does that mean on the internet...not a damn thing..

 

have a good one

 

the grumpy old geezer

 

 

Oh no problem I can take it! I wasn't trying to sound condescending toward others or put myself on some pedestal...just saying that I do have a working understand of mechanical principles and what not. In any case...theory doesn't always work!

[4wd]

Away from sicnce fiction, modes hype, marketing b.. and so called dayno b....etc:

 

Stock intake is the same for 5.3, 6.0 and 6.2 does this tell anything? the only thing different is the exhaust!!

 

In common sense, bigger cylinders have more volumes which need more quantities but the same ingredients ..

 

So what you need in common sense again, is a good Chef/Cook/tuner to adjust quantities but not out of bound.....

 

The best mode I believe is to have a tuner with GM inside knowledge to tweak things for better driveability...you hear people saying:

 

MIT + drop in filter is the best bang for the buck...Not true

Custom Tune is the best bang for the buck..I have yet to experience it

[mtsusa]

Away from sicnce fiction, modes hype, marketing b.. and so called dayno b....etc:

 

Stock intake is the same for 5.3, 6.0 and 6.2 does this tell anything? the only thing different is the exhaust!!

 

In common sense, bigger cylinders have more volumes which need more quantities but the same ingredients ..

 

So what you need in common sense again, is a good Chef/Cook/tuner to adjust quantities but not out of bound.....

 

The best mode I believe is to have a tuner with GM inside knowledge to tweak things for better driveability...you hear people saying:

 

MIT + drop in filter is the best bang for the buck...Not true

Custom Tune is the best bang for the buck..I have yet to experience it

 

I'm gonna agree to an extent...I didn't see anything beneficial to the MIT until I upgraded the exhaust. Granted I only did a muffler swap, but for the cost of exhaust work + MIT + drop in filter, you could have a decent tune which really unlocks the power of that engine. I'm sure the tune will be coming soon!

[kdixer]

You also have to take into account the fact that this is a truck. If you plan on working it at all you will need torque, not hp. You could easily open it up to the point where torque suffers.

 

I used to have a Supercharged Nissan Frontier. I installed an overdrive pulley on the supercharger to increase boost, man was that truck fun. Plenty of power and decent fuel milage. But as soon as you put any kind of load on it (empty 5'x8' trailer) the gas milage was cut in half.

 

My point is there are limits to maintain the all purpose status the truck was designed for. Plus I would imagine there are limits to the range in which the MAF sensor can accurately take samples. Granted you are most likely not there with your mods. Annother thing is all dyno runs are at WOT, how often do you really drive at WOT?

 

Trust me, you are not the only mechanical engineer on the forum. And you will also find out with experience, that is not always something to advertise. They never teach you in school exactly how much every single thing you do will be scrutinized.