Mods to Increase Fuel Economy ?

[Robertdoubting]

Hey all,
I’m interested in gathering a series of recommendations and mods to increase fuel efficiency.
I have a 4-door WildTrak with the 2.7. I was getting about 17.5 mpg, but topped up the tires to 40 psi and am now getting about 18.2 mpg.

Besides tire pressure, I’m interested in a bunch of mods that I have heard improve(or at least don’t reduce mpg):

• Slant back top
• K&N air filter
• Blow off valve

Not sure if any of these will make any difference, but they’ll be fun to try out.

Recommendations welcomed.

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[Aonarch]

What is your goal, fuel cost savings?

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

Get a new Land Cruiser…..

You can burn money on mods all day long, but that MPG will not rise enough to justify the cost.

Another option is to wait for the hybrid Bronco which may come next year, per a few rumors. For the rest of us; them dinosaurs ain’t gonna burn themselves, so we’re contributing.

Bronco - American Excess at its finest!

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

Ohh and I have a K&N air filter; not sure that affects MPG at all.

 

[brkdncr]

• Use cruise control religiously.
• Remove back seats.
• Remove spare tire.
• Ford performance tune.
• Use eco mode or just go easy on the throttle.
• Go the speed limit.

 

[JT58Bronc]

Drive with a light foot, easy, slow take offs, use cruise when you can, 68 MPH on the interstate. K & N air filter may help- I have seen 1-2 MPG increase in the past on other vehicles but they were more fuel efficient that the Bronco to begin with. I drive like I noted an for my work commute has many straight sections where I go 50- 55 MPH. I average 22.7. I have a 2.7 and Sas but I have a 2 door. 87 octane gas, 38- 39 PSI in the tires. No K & N filter yet.

 

[Rumbloki]

Skinny tires with a less aggressive tread and weight reduction are the only options.
I don't see how a K&N will help. More air requires more fuel.
A tune can help improve MPG, but if it requires premium, it won't offset the 20% increase in cost per gallon.

 

[PrepVet]

Don't drive a "larger" car.

The K&N in the long run will hurt your MPG or any gains anyone may want. Those "wet" filters are great for a very short window before, by their nature, they get clogged up and reduce air flow or dry up and reduce air flow. BUT if you are near religious about pulling the filter every few weeks, or every week depending on where you live and where you drive, and clean, then clear and reoil the filter it will be fine, but the gains are really not worth the hassle IMHO.

 

[Chrome_Pony]

Diesel swap.

 

[indio22]

My fuel saving "mod" is limiting my wife driving our Bronco. Good lord you'd think she was at the track, pedal hammered and power shifting the manual trans with turbo winding out, lol.

 

[Brian_B]

No lift. Smallest radius / width tires you can fit at the highest air pressure you can run them at. Cut as much weight as you can (no armor, no winch, plastic bumpers, spare delete, etc). Taller gears will help some.

I lost 0.5 mpg on average by raising my Bronco 0.5" - so there's a data point for you.

Pretty much - the exact opposite of what most Bronco people are doing

Engine tuning and the like seems to be a mixed bag - they probably actually would let you get better milage, but once you have the tune, most people are going to drive it like it has a tune and negate the efficiency benefit in favor for more power.

As far as body mods (different tops, etc) - not sure. I could see a case for the MIC maybe having slightly better than the soft top, but only slightly. I could also see a case where no top may win out (weight reduction versus changes in aerodynamics) -- a lot of that is going to be dependent on the cruising speed, and these things are ~extremely~ sensitive to that. The difference between 55 mph and 65 mph is staggering on a Bronco.

But mostly, if you can keep the turbo from kicking in, or at least minimize the time the engine sits in turbo when it does - that's probably the best thing you as a driver can do.

 

[Aonarch]

What is your goal, fuel cost savings?

Quoting myself since OP hasn't responded.

Spending money to save on fuel costs is pretty hilarious.

You'd need to calculate the ROI, which will be a lot longer than you expect.

All of those higher flow intakes will generally do a poorer job at filtration. They might net marginal power gains and marginal fuel economy gains, but at the same time could actually be worse.

Engineering Explained and Gale Banks have done in-depth videos on air filters and intakes.

 

[Brian_B]

You can burn money on mods all day long, but that MPG will not rise enough to justify the cost.

I think this is going to be the most true statement here. I'm all for being conscious of your mileage, but there just isn't a big market of Bronco Hypermiler drivers out there to cater to.

Same goes for premium fuel - some people see better milage with that, but no where near better enough to justify the higher price.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

I think Ford offers a body kit that helps ...

 

[JerryC]

Drive like you hate the brake pedal.
Hitting the brakes kills your mpg. Plan out the road ahead of you so you will use the brakes as little as possible. Be safe about it, but if you are using the brakes then you will be using the gas pedal. The fewer of those gas-brake-gas cycles the better your mpg.

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