Does anyone actually know if a vented tailgate actually helps increase gas mileage? Any if so by how much? Any information would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.
Shane
Does anyone actually know if a vented tailgate actually helps increase gas mileage? Any if so by how much? Any information would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.
Shane
Decades old question that has been long since answered. A tailgate down or removed will actually increase the trucks drag rather than the expected decrease. In tests I have seen the resulting mpg change is negligible. If your intent is to increase mpg then you'd be wasting your money with a vented tailgate. If anything it would go down but more likely no measurable difference.
What miles said. Save your money. It is a truck
Get a bed cover, hard or soft as they both decrease the drag and should, some testing claims they do, increase the mpg, but as miles and Roy said, the increase will be minimal.
I know I read about tests done with a camper shell. It did reduce the drag but the increased weight offset any gains. Don't know about a bed cover but leaving the tailgate down won't help.
I have read an exception to this. When towing a typical RV trailer some slight reduction in drag occurs with the tailgate down. Don't know if its specific to TT's or FW's or what.
I have a rollback aluminum cover on mine and really didn't notice much of a difference. What it did do however is make the sliding rear window just about useless at highway speeds as it does get loud.
I can see me leaving my tailgate down.... first turn, my FW will curl up the corners.
FMB (towing a Fox)
Thanks to everyone who responded it really helps with a new baby. I don't want to be spending any extra money if it's not going to help me save any money in the long run. What is everyones thoughts on a K&N
I saw a vented tail gate the other day and I thought it was you, Roy. The tail looked like it had about 100 rounds through it.
FMB (BTW, I have the video on file of the 50 cal, have an email addy?)
Roy,
The video isn't useful, but if you could let me barrow the 50 cal I could make my own vented tailgate! :)
Shane
Save your money and dont waste it on the POS k&n filter. All hype pure bullshit.
Unless you are or have made considerable mods to your engine, you will see no gains for your money with it. Even if it manages to give you the claimed
5 HP, do you really think that you would even notice it with the size and weight of your vehicle? If money is important then I would save the $60 or more that it costs by not buying it.
Hell, post it here with the usual warning.
Roy
azwiley, TBone, FMB, Roy... Thanks for all your input after reading everyones comments it sounds like I better off not getting any of that and put my money towards gas.
Thanks again,
Shane
The filters are junk but their CAI is ok and can improve performance on some vehicles. However, I prefer other brands such as AirRaid. For permanent filters I prefer Wix or Napa Gold.
Huh? Maybe if the engine is modified and the speed is close to 100mph.
There are some vehicles that can benefit from a better air intake especially going from a hot to a cold intake.
Where is this cold air coming from? Usually from the engine compartment. Anyway no matter where it get's the air it travels through a tube that is hot as hell, so any cool air is now heated. The getting isn't worth the going on a stock engine imo
How about outside the engine compartment?
Yes but depending on the material used any transfer of heat in the split second the air travels through the tube is negligible. Some of the all metal single layer tubes I suppose could conduct too much heat.
If it is a forced air setup, the engine's gotta be modified and should be at about 5500 or better rpm and have a speed better than 75mph.to assist the cold air such as it is to the intake imo.
As is any performance increase you might realize in a stock engine.
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