These Basics are the same for Diesel and Gas Vehicles:
TIRES Be sure your tires are properly inflated. The more surface of the tire that touches the road, the more fuel it takes to turn those tires. Keeping tires properly inflated can increase your mileage about 3.3%, and its FREE! Tread is another thing to consider. A more aggressive tread will take more fuel as well.
WATCH YOUR RPMs When accelerating and driving around town, keep your RPMs under 2000. When on the highway, keep the RPMs under 2500 and you will see an increase in your mileage.
USE YOUR CRUISE CONTROL Cruise Control will manage your RPMs for you. It takes some getting used to, but another day or two added between trips to fill the tank make it worth it!
AIR FILTERS Make sure your air filter is clean. A dirty, clogged filter can reduce your mileage by 10%!
TUNE UPS Can increase your mileage up to 4%.
HOW YOU PARK In a parking lot, pull through to the second parking spot, so when you are leaving, you don't have to back out. This saves an extra start and stop, and saves you fuel.
LOOK AHEAD When driving, look ahead, check for stop lights, if the next one coming is turning red, take your foot off the accelerator.
The Basics for diesel truck performance are: 1) Intakes & Filters, 2) Exhausts, 3) Chips/Tuners. There is much more, but first lets discuss the benefits of the basics.
1) INTAKES & FILTERS An easy-to-install system to get better mileage. Here's why it'll help with mileage: Everything your engines does takes energy. To make energy your vehicle needs to breathe. What you do to make your engine "breathe easier" will increase mileage /economy as well as performance we're used to looking for! Performance Air Intake Systems and Filters use high flow air filters, allowing more are in at a faster rate. Because of this, your truck will give you better throttle response, more power, and better mileage! Since wash them and use them again, that's another savings.
2) EXHAUSTS An open flow exhaust system will help your diesel truck get better mileage. Here's why: The same way your intake is your engines inhale, your exhaust is your engines exhale. Your truck needs to be able to push that exhaust gas out with the least resistence and work, because if your engine has to work harder to push the exhaust out, that will take more energy, more fuel. Upgrading your exhaust pipes to a larger diameter sytem with smooth bends to allow the exhaust to freely flow out will increase your fuel mileage. AEROTURBINE PERFORMANCE MUFFLERS create a vacuum that actually pulls the exhaust out, allowing your engine to breathe easier and increasing your mileage and performance!
3) CHIPS & TUNERS Vehicles have a "brain" that controls the internal workings of the car. Diesel cars and pickups are no exception. This brain is your Electronic Control Unit (ECU), and it controls such things as the fuel and air ratio. Adding a performance chip helps the engine work at a higher level while still keeping fuel consumption low. Chips can increase your EGTs (exhaust gas temperatures) so we recommend gauges to monitor your temperatures.
OTHER DIESEL HELPS:
FUEL ADDITIVES Gas or diesel additives boost cetane, and increases lubricity, which is even more important with diesel's low sulfur fuel. Stanadyne Performance Formula increases mileage as much as 8%
TURBO AIR GUIDE By smoothing and directing air flow into the compressor wheel, it reduces drag, increasing performance also increasing mileage as much as 2 mpg.