My 1978 chevy k10 has been getting very bad MPG since it got hot out. I am looking to improve my MPG, but I don’t know where to start?
I am going to do a tune-up this weekend, but I was not sure what all I should replace besides the basics?
Does this SeaFoam stuff work?
Would a K&N Filer Make Any Difference?
0 responses so far ↓
1 josh s
change your filters, and yea, a k&n filter will help. the better shape your trucks in the better itll do on gas, like smaller tires and stuff
2 vip800nut
unfortunately that truck wasn’t make for gas mileage but a tune up and K&N will help but not alot you might only see a 1-2 mpg better the best thing you can do is make sure that you don’t have any extra wieght in the truck that doesn’t need to be there and make sure your tires are at the proper psi low tires will kill your gas milage. Good luck we are all in the same boat with gas prices.
3 alaisjones
I would start with a newer auto.
Tune up: Carb kit, plugs, plug wires (good ones) Distributor cap, rotor, timing chain etc. Good luck. Buy the way, the mileage increase if any will still be poor, especially if the auto has an automatic transmission.
Get a new car.
4 Paul
The biggest difference will probably come from a transmission swap. Put in one with overdrive. A 200-r4 should be a direct fit. I’m assuming you have a th350, but any more modern GM transmission should do it. Check out bowtieoverdrives.com
5 Shaun T
A rocker arm adjustment to a 1/4 turn past zero lash(which is within spec) will get you 2MPG by itself if it is currently set a 3/4 turn.
Drain the diff fluid and replace with some slick 75W90 from Royal Purple or Mobil 1. Also Royal Purple/Mobil 1 Synthetic in the engine, too. Try 10W30.
For $10, buy an advance curve kit for an HEI distributor and install the lightest tension spring to start with. Get a dial back timing light, rev engine to acheive full mechanical advance and set total timing to 34 degrees.
You can also install a Fel Pro head gasket PN 1094 to tighten quench clearance between head and piston which will greatly enhance flame speed, mixture atomization, hot spot reduction, and detonation resistance regardless that it will raise compression over a half point.
If you have a single exhaust, stick with it and install something like a 50 or 70 series Flowmaster muffler.
Set Idle Mixture screws using a vacuume guage and untill you get the highest idle vacuume. But do this after timing and rocker arm adjustments as these will effect vacuume to the carb.
Do all of these things and you’ll see major fuel mileage gains and very nice drivability and performance gains, too.