How to Make Pickup Trucks More Fuel-Efficient

Tips for Adding Saving Money on Gas

Pickup trucks are among the most versatile vehicles available to the average consumer. Everyone wants to be that friend with the truck, especially when someone needs help moving and offers to pay you in pizza and beer. While they’re incredibly useful, these trucks don’t get the best gas mileage. What can you do to make your pickup truck more fuel-efficient?

Keep Your Tires Inflated

When was the last time you checked your tires for proper pressure? Most of us don’t think twice about our tires unless we get a flat, but losing just one psi can drop your fuel economy by 0.2 percent. That might not sound like much, but if you’re down 5 psi on each tire, you’re potentially losing 1-4 percent of your fuel efficiency. Keeping your tires inflated costs you nothing and can make your truck more fuel-efficient.

Maintain Your Pickup

Oil changes, air filters and other regular maintenance tasks might seem like a hassle, but in addition to keeping your truck running smoothly, they can also improve your gas mileage.

Upgrading your motor oil can improve fuel efficiency by 1-2 percent. On the other side of the coin, using the wrong oil can cost you that much in mileage, so make sure you’re sticking to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Swap Your Fuel Tank

While most modern cars have made the switch to plastic gas tanks, many older models still come equipped with steel tanks. While the polyethylene might not be as strong as steel, it’s also up to 20 percent lighter. Reducing your truck’s curb weight by swapping out your fuel tank can help to improve fuel economy.

Install a Cold Air Intake

Adding a cold air intake to your truck might seem like a pricy upgrade, but it has a lot of benefits. For one, it helps to increase performance by letting air flow more efficiently through the engine. For another, this extra airflow can improve your truck’s fuel economy by anywhere from 3-5 miles per gallon — a substantial improvement that can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Slow Down

When it comes to fuel economy, lead feet lead to empty wallets. Once you hit 50 mph, your truck’s fuel efficiency starts to drop. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, reducing your speed by 5-10 mph can improve gas mileage by anywhere from 7-14 percent.

Looking Forward

Owning a pickup truck doesn’t mean you need to empty your wallet every time you go to the gas station. Try out a few of these tricks to improve your truck’s gas mileage before your next fillup. You might be surprised how much further you can travel with a polyethylene fuel tank and a well-tuned engine.