Question for gear heads

[Dad's Car]

The 4K tow package changes the final gears by approximately 5%. Does this reduce MPG by 5%; approximately 1.5 MPG at 30 MPG and $6 per 1000 miles at $3.6 per gallon?

Am I close?

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[Rivers90]

No. With the lower gear the engin does not work as hard, so on a turbo it needs less turbo boost as less torque is needed. There are still some losses as the trans and engine are turning faster but this is only in top gear.

The aerodynamics are the same at the same speed. so the power needed keep the truck moving at that speed is the same. There loss of mpg from engine trans friction with the higher engine speed but with a small turbo engine this is not much, just 4 cyl less moving parts and the engine is not pulling a vacuum so less waist.

Also this is mostly at top speed, at lower speed with the lower gears the trans could go to 3rd and not be in 2nd so the engine rpm could be the same, the time the rpms are higher is only in top gear at high speed.

Aerodynamics are going to be the biggest factor. This is from your speed, you drive faster you have more drag. twice as fast and you have 4 times the drag. Lifting the truck by a lift or bigger tires adds more drag. Adding a bed topper, hard or soft cover lowers drag.

 

[Maverickman74]

The 4K tow package changes the final gears by approximately 5%. Does this reduce MPG by 5%; approximately 1.5 MPG at 30 MPG and $6 per 1000 miles at $3.6 per gallon?

Am I close?

Also depends on the speeds at which you drive. If you live somewhere where 90mph hwy speed is your daily routine yes. But if you live somewhere that you rarely see 70mph nope. The maximum speed on our island is 60 mph, the lower gears puts us right in the power band and economy ranges for the bulk of our driving.

 

[fossil]

plenty of real world experience here with the 4K guys, it's a popular option.

4K guys chime in

 

[Montana]

Also depends on the speeds at which you drive. If you live somewhere where 90mph hwy speed is your daily routine yes. But if you live somewhere that you rarely see 70mph nope. The maximum speed on our island is 60 mph, the lower gears puts us right in the power band and economy ranges for the bulk of our driving.

This. Speed limit is 70mph where I live and I'm still well under 2 grand. In my Tacoma after doing gears I was closer to 2 1/2 (just a bit over) at the same speed, but my truck needed it. They designed the gearing/transmission to not be overkill from the factory on the Mavericks. No real change in MPG at normal driving speeds. If there is any, it's within tenths, possibly hundreds of a decimal.

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