Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Major projects, rebuilds and overhauls covering multiple areas

Topic author
pengyou
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:20 pm

Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by pengyou »

If i lower the van 1" will it get better gas mileage? If so what would be the best way to lower it?
New owner of a 1996 Astro named "Plain Jane" - stock right now - with 200,000 miles on it and running like a champ

ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by ihatemybike »

What kind of mileage do you get now? Do you hypermile at all? Is lowering practical for you? I'm going to be trying a huge air dam on the front of Grumpy. It's going to be made of old conveyor belt and sit about 1.5" off the road, but will be flexible enough that it won't rip off or break should it make contact with anything.

Similar to this.
Image
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86
User avatar

GEJ
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1487
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:50 pm
Location: Rochester,NY

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by GEJ »

Welcome to the site.You might want to fill out your signature so everytime you post a question we know what yr van you have and if it is a AWD or RWD and what you have done to it so far.You can do so by going to your control pannel,then click on your profile,then click on managing your signature.It will help us answer questions you might have.

I don't think a 1" drop would make that much difference.But that is just my two cents of a opinion.
Call me Gary

1985 Astro-"Ole Yellar"
1994 LT Astro
1981 Winnebago-"Baby"
12'dual axle enclosed trailer
The vendor trailer


Lead with my heart & take the hits because of it like a man.
User avatar

Smiliesafari
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2667
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by Smiliesafari »

I agree with Gary. You won't be able to measure any difference. \:D/
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
User avatar

blk lt awd
I sleep in my van
Posts: 336
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:09 pm
Location: VANcouver
Contact:

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by blk lt awd »

you won't get any difference in mileage by doing that......remember..ure still driving something shaped like a brick.....lower for looks only.
1995 Black LT AWD
2000 Ninja ZX-6R
2003 Mazdaspeed Protege (spicy)
1961 Impala...gone but not forgotten.

http://www.propertystation.ca/
User avatar

SoCalli V8
Retired
Retired
Posts: 1209
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:42 pm
Location: Lost Angels, Sovern KarlyFornia.

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by SoCalli V8 »

My gas milage went up when I fitted a V8.... \:D/
`86 V8 Lowered Cargo, extensively modified, shaved bald, wearing the shortest, sluttyest white primer dress....

A British Wanker living in So KarlyFornia.
My Astro tows my toys to Glamis sand dunes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp2pqjQtpso
First ever canal jump at Glamis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZjM84x_Xc

Topic author
pengyou
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:20 pm

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by pengyou »

SoCalli V8 wrote:My gas milage went up when I fitted a V8.... \:D/

woahhhh dude! :^o
New owner of a 1996 Astro named "Plain Jane" - stock right now - with 200,000 miles on it and running like a champ

ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by ihatemybike »

A mild V8 can actually get better mileage than a V6 since its often not working as hard to move the van.
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

You can also get better mileage by swapping in lower ratio gears, ie 3.73's or 4.10's in place of 3.23's or 3.42's.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Topic author
pengyou
I finally get the smurf thing
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:20 pm

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by pengyou »

What kind of highway increase would I see if I put in the 3.7's or 4.1's? What effect would that have on my top end speed? Reduce it from 70 to 65? ;)
New owner of a 1996 Astro named "Plain Jane" - stock right now - with 200,000 miles on it and running like a champ
User avatar

Smiliesafari
ASV Supporter
ASV Supporter
Posts: 2667
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2006 12:34 pm
Location: Orlando, FL

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by Smiliesafari »

You'll still be able to do the speed limit. BUT.........if you push this box past 70mph your mpg will go down regardless of any mods you do. \:D/
1996 Safari SLX Hotair balloon transport vehicle
User avatar

GEJ
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 1487
Joined: Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:50 pm
Location: Rochester,NY

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by GEJ »

Smiliesafari wrote:You'll still be able to do the speed limit. BUT.........if you push this box past 70mph your mpg will go down regardless of any mods you do. \:D/

I agree-but the question I have for you is how fast you want to go??.
Call me Gary

1985 Astro-"Ole Yellar"
1994 LT Astro
1981 Winnebago-"Baby"
12'dual axle enclosed trailer
The vendor trailer


Lead with my heart & take the hits because of it like a man.

ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by ihatemybike »

You could add a 2' Kamm tail and reduce the wake by roughly 54%.

Aero discussion about Grumpy on GasSavers.org
http://www.gassavers.org/showthread.php?t=6921
Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

ihatemybike
I plan to be buried in my van
Posts: 2224
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:57 pm
Location: Elgin, IL

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by ihatemybike »

Aaron

2005 Astro (Gandalf) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, 130k+ miles
1997 Astro (Grumpy - $250 Rally Van) - AWD, 4.3L, 3.42, LSD, 2" lift, 31" tires, 335k+ orig engine, $30 eBay fuel pump
Prev Astros:99,97,00,94,87,86

LiftedAWDAstro
I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
Posts: 4379
Joined: Sat Sep 09, 2006 3:35 pm
Location: New Haven, NY

Re: Trying to squeeze more out of every gallon

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

A lot of the mileage increasing considerations rely on your driving conditions. Tell us about the terrain you drive on...hills, mountains flats etc. Do you drive highway, city or both? Do you do less than 10 mile trips at a time? etc. etc. etc. Let us know ALL these factors and I will tell you if doing a gear swap will increase your mileage.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
Post Reply