My mileage increased 50% by using ARX and FP!

[Big O Dave]

Okay, now that I've got you here, this is the real scoop:

In April of this year I bought a used F250... a 1983 4x4 with a 460 in it, and 4.10 gearing (no OD). It had 97,000 miles on the original engine and transmission. Mileage ranged from 5-7 mpg, and that was after installing new plugs, a new fuel filter and a new air filter, and a free-flowing exhaust system.

Now the truck has 106,000 miles on it, and it gets 9-10.5 mpg (which is what these beasts got when new). What did I do?

I went through two treatment cycles of ARX, and religiously have used FP. And, about 500 miles ago I changed the timing set to a "straight up" version for a 1970 Lincoln, which yielded an additional .5 mpg. Finally, with this last OCI I added 14 oz. of LC to the oil.

It runs great, with boatloads of low-end torque and great throttle response.

Oh, I almost forgot! I also used ARX in the transmission (which really seemed to shift quite well), and it tangibly improved the shifting, as well as thoroughly cleaning it (I have to admit that I was fortunate that the two previous owners had done trans flushes at 30K intervals).

As some of you may know from reading some of my past post, I have done LOTS of experimenting with fuel additives on this truck... massive doses of MMO, double doses of Techron, and probably stuff I've forgotten.

Anyway, I'm sold on ARX and FP. I did have to brave wild oil pressure gauge fluctuations (and I finally replaced the oil pressure sending unit) as part of the ARX process, but it all turned out great, and this fine products allowed me to salvage this engine with no mechanical work to the engine or carburetor.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

 

[glennc]

Big O Dave,

It sounds like that truck REALLY needed some internal cleaning. Your results are very interesting. Do you have any way to differentiate the results caused by A-RX from those caused by FP? Could it be that one or another is mostly or totally responsible for the improvements you've noticed?

- Glenn

5-7mpg! Yikes!!!

 

[04SpecV]

Thats the problem with using so many different products. You have no idea what worked and what didn't.

 

[sprintman]

So what worked and what didn't?

 

[Rich21]

Cleaned up ring packs get my vote for a large part of the increase. Increased compression coupled with likely a gentle right foot likely has alot to do with it.

I also find it interesting that even with 30K transmission fluid changes, ARX improved trans shifting. Perhaps shift points changed as a contributing factor.

 

[Big O Dave]

I know that it's not scientific, because of all the different additives, but the big gains in mileage came during the rinse phases of ARX, and with the timing set change.

I've driven this truck with the same light foot ever since I've owned it.

The FP seems to have been responsible for better driveability and cleaner carbureting (better throttle response, better starting, etc.), and most of these improvements came early on. I used Techron after these improvements took place, in hopes of removing deposits from the intake valves and combustion chambers... same with MMO, after reading about Gary's experiments. MMO's changes appeared to be temporary, only while MMO was being used, while the effects of FP appear to be more lasting. I think FP actually does a thorough cleaning of the fuel system, while MMO does not, or doesn't do much. MMO does make the truck run very smoothly while it is being used, however.

I really think that most of the improvement was due to the cleaning of the ring packs, with subsequently better compression. This would've been a result of using ARX, as I haven't used LC until the last few hundred miles.

This truck sat for a long time before I bought it, and was not used a lot before that, which is why there were so many deposits.

I am a real believer in the capability of these products to resurrect an older vehicle like this that is really not worn out, but is overwhelmed with deposits from too little use and improper storage.

 

[Tremo]

Ouch! A 460 with 4.10 rear end and no OD? You can proabably watch the needle on the gas gauge fall as you drive. Big blocks are fun, but too thirsty for my wallet. ****, my small block with 5-speed is thirsty aplenty.

Best luck coaxing better mileage out of it.

 

[Big O Dave]

Thanks, Tremo.

I think I'm just about there, as far as mileage improvements go. The only thing that would yield a gain now is one of those aftermarket overdrives, and they're $2,500 or more.

Let's see... at 10 mpg, I use about 1,200 gallons per year. At $2.50 per gallon, that's $3,000 per year in gas. If I could bump it up to 13 mpg, I'd use about 925 gallons per year, which would be $2,313 per year, a savings of almost $700. At that rate I would break even on the OD in about 3.5 years.

Hmmm... that's looking pretty good.

 

[Jim 5]

Yeah,

And that's assuming no increase in the price of gas...factor that in and the payback happens even sooner.

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

---

Let's see... at 10 mpg, I use about 1,200 gallons per year. At $2.50 per gallon, that's $3,000 per year in gas.

---

Heck ..just the evolution from 5-7 to 10 mpg should be enough to have your pockets overflowing with cash in a couple of months. Where will you fit it all?

 

[Big O Dave]

You've figured it out, Gary! I'm driving a 10 mpg beast to get rich from the savings as I improve the gas mileage!!

It's kinda like buying something you weren't planning on buying, because it's on sale so you can save money!

I love that logic, and it's why I like old pickup trucks with big, powerful, thirsty engines... it's so much easier to save.