Gas Mileage Improved with Lift?

[T4RNightHawk]

I just had my V8 4Runner lifted and before I was getting like in the low 13 mpg's. Now I'm getting 15mpg. I didn't change anything, including my driving style. I haven't tested it manually but the computer is generally right in my experience. My friend also reported MPG gains when he lifted his jeep.

My question is can anyone make sense of this or has anyone else had this happen. I thought it would go down because of reduced aerodynamics.

 

[RedSled]

Must be one of them miracles. :flypig:

 

[Tamez10]

did you do a leveling kit?

aerodinamics coefficient calculation has a rule of thumb that uses the frontal area which is the 2D silhouette seen from the front of the vehicle.

Imagine a bullet. if the bullet is traveling point straight forward, the coefficient is as low as it can get. now imagine that same bullet but with a little bit of nose dive traveling in the same direction. then the coefficient would rise due to the frontal silhouette.

Back to the 4 runner... when using a leveling kit the rake on the frame and body is almost 0 degrees now, which would tend to reduce that silhouette just like the bullet.

 

[RedSled]

did you do a leveling kit?

aerodinamics coefficient calculation has a rule of thumb that uses the frontal area which is the 2D silhouette seen from the front of the vehicle.

Imagine a bullet. if the bullet is traveling point straight forward, the coefficient is as low as it can get. now imagine that same bullet but with a little bit of nose dive traveling in the same direction. then the coefficient would rise due to the frontal silhouette.

Back to the 4 runner... when using a leveling kit the rake on the frame and body is almost 0 degrees now, which would tend to reduce that silhouette just like the bullet.

I'm kinda old so i don't know if this is right, but i thought when you lift a vehicle you catch more air and that makes you like a rolling brick. opcorn:

 

[chitown40]

First rule of thumb: The computer is generally not correct. The only way to truly know your MPG is to hand calculate it based with:

MILES DRIVEN / GALLONS USED

Simple as that. You can multiply your miles driven by a coefficient if you have larger or smaller tires to get the true miles driven.

Also, physics tells us that you should be getting lower MPG with a lifted vehicle.

So once again, the computer is not accurately reporting your MPG.

I can reset my computer and then drive like a grandma for 50 miles and have it tell me I'm getting 23.5MPG, but I know that the math doesn't add up.

 

[4bammer]

Must be one of them miracles. :flypig:

Seriously, OP, what lift do you have and where did you source the unobtainium?

I lost 1-2 mpg on lift and another 1-2 on tires.

 

[deegaw11]

After lift and 1/2 inch bigger tires I lost a good amount of mpg. I doubt your gas mileage improved.

 

[T4RNightHawk]

Seriously, OP, what lift do you have and where did you source the unobtainium?

I lost 1-2 mpg on lift and another 1-2 on tires.

Sorry forgot to subscribe. I have OME 886 and 895 with Billies and now that I got my bumper on and disconnecting my battery my MPG's are around 13 by the computer. I know it's not accurate but since I drive the same it's still precise. I just use it for comparison.

And on the magic... I park over the sewer grate on my street so some radioactive gas from the sewage must've affected my car for the better.

 

[jasonochs25]

When my wife and I were looking at a new car awhile back, one that we looked at was the Honda element. The element SC got 1 MPG more than the standard element. Why? It was 1" lower than the standard. If you lift, you are catching more air, plain and simple. As others have said, you cant use the computer. Do the math to be sure what your MPG is

 

[CXS]

Must be one of them miracles. :flypig:

My HP, torque and MPG's improve when I wash it.

 

[T4RNightHawk]

My HP, torque and MPG's improve when I wash it.

I mean obviously because it makes it more aerodynamic and science. But you don't know true HP until you throw on TRD stickers.

 

[NinjaOne]

My HP, torque and MPG's improve when I wash it.

I need more HP/MPG...

Wash mine for me? Mine apparently needs your magic touch.

 

[CXS]

I mean obviously because it makes it more aerodynamic and science. But you don't know true HP until you throw on TRD stickers.

No, no, no - stickers disrupt the aerodynamics and will drop the numbers significantly!

I need more HP/MPG...

Wash mine for me? Mine apparently needs your magic touch.

Sure, send it on a transport asap. Don't forget a signed title!

:hiding: