Need Assistance proving I am correct?

Question

My friend believes that no pick up can get decent fuel economy, he has a 98 Dodge pickup with V-6 and he says he only gets 12 mpg in town. I try to explain its because he doesn't do the schedueled maintnance like oil changes and air and fuel filters, he believes that NO pickup can get decent fuel ecomony, and he calims his dad is an aerodynamicist and has told him this.

I KNOW that driving with the tailgate down actually hurts your fuel economy and driving with it up is the best bet. but he won;'t believe me. Can anyone point me in the direction of scientific studies I can read online and show him to prove my point.

Answer 1

www.dailyfueleconomytip.com
Check out this link
The Myth Busters proved up is better
Google- "tailgate up or down for best MPG"
Dodge & ford seem to get poorer MPG than chevy
My 04 GMC ext cab 4WD 5.7Liter gets 19 MPG

Answer 2

well don't know about scientific studies but here is a fact i had a 66 f-250 2wd 352 fe block v8 true dual side exit exhuast and a holley 500 cfm 2-barrel and got 20 mpg. also had an 84 ford e-150 351w c-6 auto that got 20 mpg would of been better if i didn't have such a heavy foot. good filters high flow exhuast and a proper tuneup and adjustments will help any vehicle with gas mileage. and on his truck he can get a power programmer that will help performance and mileage once the other routine maintenance is done.

Answer 3

I dont know any scientific studies but I can tell you that I drive a 1973 GMC 4x4 pickup on 35 inch tires with a 350 (thats a V8)
with a 4 barrel carb and I get 18 miles to the gallon in town and i know beacuse I have an hour drive to work every morning

Answer 4

I had a 1999 GMC Sierra pick-up truck
with a Vortex 325 Cu. In. V8 engine.

I hardly ever drove trying to get the best mileage,
yet I consistently got 17 mpg.

Before that I had a new 1997 Dodge Dakota Sport
pick-up with a V6. It always got 20 mpg.

Both trucks had automatic transmissions and all the driving
I did was at 70-75 mph on the freeway, with the
windows up A/C on, 25,000 miles per year.

Answer 5

It all depends on what you mean by "decent" fuel economy. Of course, no pickup can get fuel economy that would compare favorably to the average sedan, but if you consider less mpg than that to be "decent", then you have a point. Otherwise, you're just arguing linguistics.

Answer 6

I don't think it will matter what you say to this person. Their mind is already set. So no matter what you say, they will still believe what they think to be true. The boy's father has told him how it is, so who is he going to believe?

You are wasting your time. Trucks are not known for their fuel economy, they are known for their ability to haul the load and get the job done.

Regular maintenance will help improve their mpg, but a lot of it is how you drive that will make the difference.

Just drop the subject and find something else to talk about. It is a losing situation for you, no matter what. good luck.

Answer 7

I have a '97 Ram 1500 with the 360ci engine AND a Vortech 8lb supercharger. If I keep my foot out of it I get about 15mpg mixed city/highway. 17mpg all highway and as low as 13mpg all city. I stay on top of the maintenance religiously and at 110,000 miles it's still going strong.

I've noticed very little difference between leaving the tailgate up or down. I have a solid bed cover on it now and still dont' tell much difference.

Answer 8

My friends old gen 1 Toyota gets really good mileage, about 20mpg. It has a 4 banger on a 3400+\- lb truck. In contrast my Chevy 350 only gets 8/12 with my large tires and lift.

Answer 9

Just by watching and listening to the ads on TV your friend is dead wrong when it comes to the mpg's of the newer pick ups

Answer 10

I don't know of anything but your right. My 18 wheeler gets 8 miles to the gallon with 30,000 pounds in the back.