Anybody looking for better MPG...

[Mattzq8Sonoma]

Seriously...if you are, you need to get an e-fan. I installed mine about a week ago on saturday, and I've noticed a big jump in mpg. Before I installed it on my 2.2 5speed I was getting about 29.5mpg average with city and highway. Now its up to over 33.5mpg in the same kind of driving.

I did a calculation and found that I will now burn 12.1 gallons less gas when I drive 3000 miles...thats about $33 every 3 months, based on gas prices right now in my area of about $2.70. So, if gas goes up to $4 like people are talking about thats close to $50 every 3 months that you'll be saving.

Now, I got the Flex-a-lite #60, which costs $200 and a little change, but based on a $3 average for gas, it'll pay for itself in 18 months. God willing, I'll be keeping my truck for at least another 3 years so its gonna be worth it for me in the long run...plus its only money...

[Dimemaster]

E-fans are a great investment. Less parasitic drag = better efficiency and more power to the rear wheels. E-fans have consistently been the best investment in efficiency and drivability on all of our 2.2 trucks. We also get about 33mpg. One trip from Colorado with a tailwind we got 35.1 mpg.

[Brian_K]

Any little improvement for the ol' monster V6...
I'll have to hit the boneyards over in Eugene after I get moved.
I read somewhere the e-fan from a Ford Taurus is just about a
bolt-in. :)

[nick83cap]

How hard is it to install an electric fan? I'm interested in one now but have no clue how to go about installing it.

[Brian_K]

If I recall, installing the e- fan isn't exactly "Plug & Play;" but, it's
relatively easier than installing a new audio head unit. I think there
used to be an article on it in the tech section, though I haven't looked
in a while. The annoying part is probably finding a belt to fit after
removing the regular fan pulley. I think the tech article had some
suggestions.

[P-ToWnBaLLEr951]

Seriously...if you are, you need to get an e-fan. I installed mine about a week ago on saturday, and I've noticed a big jump in mpg. Before I installed it on my 2.2 5speed I was getting about 29.5mpg average with city and highway. Now its up to over 33.5mpg in the same kind of driving.

I did a calculation and found that I will now burn 12.1 gallons less gas when I drive 3000 miles...thats about $33 every 3 months, based on gas prices right now in my area of about $2.70. So, if gas goes up to $4 like people are talking about thats close to $50 every 3 months that you'll be saving.

Now, I got the Flex-a-lite #60, which costs $200 and a little change, but based on a $3 average for gas, it'll pay for itself in 18 months. God willing, I'll be keeping my truck for at least another 3 years so its gonna be worth it for me in the long run...plus its only money...


what in the hell am i doing wrong i am lucky if i get 20 MPG.

[Dimemaster]

An efan is pretty much a bolt-on, or a snap on, or a zip-tie on, depending on your fans mounting system.

Leave the pulley in place--it drives the water pump. No new belt needed.

Installing an e-fan and thermostat is quicker than reading the instructions on how to do it. It's more work to get the old fan and shroud off than to install the new e-fan.

[Mattzq8Sonoma]

Yeah, getting the old fan off is kind of a monster...but once you get it off its downhill from there. After my brother helped me get the fan off, I did the rest by myself. The wiring wasn't the funnest thing to do, but it wasn't hard at all...just a little time consuming. Splicing into the ignition source and running the rest of the wires to where they needed to go took some time and patience, but after getting the wires in, you just have a little t-stat temp. tuning to do and you're basically done.

The cheapest I found the e-fan for was at <a href=http://www.summitracing.com target=_blank>Summitracing.com.</a> I got it for $218 with shipping. Minus the part about removing the clutch fan...the directions are dead on and actually pretty helpful because they help you get oriented with the install and have good wiring diagrams.

[jines1284]

Ive also been told its supposed to give us an aditional 5hp. There is alot of drag on the system withthat thing running. But ive heard form the gossip line there might be some issues with extreem heat and system lights kicking on.

[Mattzq8Sonoma]

What I've noticed is that when I run w/ the AC off it stays at the same temp as before I changed it. However, with the AC on it actually runs cooler than before.

If you have a system though, a good investment would be a spare battery. I have a Red Top and when the fan kicks on at night, my headlights dim for a second so if you have a system its probably gonna put some strain on your battery and alternator.

[Sam]

I have the flexalite #60 and it's great. My lights also dim for just a split second when it turns on. It's just enough to notice, but you can still see the road fine. I noticed that with the constant cfm of the new efan, the a/c gets colder. with the stock fan, you get different cfm with rpm and temp, and stuf like that. If the stock fan is running at idle and slipping, then you get very little air over the condesor. with the new efan, you get the same airflow at idle all the time. this leads to more consistent cooling and cooler a/c even at idle.

[s10mafia50]

what in the hell am i doing wrong i am lucky if i get 20 MPG.

I totally agree with you, I mean i think some of the 2.2's were set up to get milage and some werent. btw GET RID OF YOUR FACTORY FAN ON 00' model year!!!!!!! I dunno if mine was a lemon, But I had 2 transmissions in 72k(dunno why, guess floating isnt good for em! :rolleyes: Never a clutch though :confused: ), a rear end, a fan blade break off and cut an a/c hose , an alternator(i was even running a 1 farad cap) , a/c compressor, 2 batteries(again, i had a 1 farad cap!!!), and then maybe it was yet another freak set of events!!!!!!! Glad I have my vortec now!!! :cool!!! I just drove 5 hours to school, and averaged 19.9MPG W/ 4.10:1 gears!!!! but isnt it wierd how some 2.2's get milage and some dont?? Just my 2 cents,
Andrew

[jines1284]

Its all where you go, how you take care of you truck, how long you run it. and if its 117 outside with no chance of cold air in the engine

[Dimemaster]

The 2.2 autos with standard gears struggle, so they run with a much more open throttle, and thus burn more gas, especially if an extended cab with lots of options. Add electrical accessories and the alternator load drags the engine even more. High-mass wheels and tires with large rolling radii (18s-20s) can also significantly reduce efficiency, especial with tall gears. Add a bunch of bolt-on toys, and your little 2.2 is really straining. I've seen such trucks drop to 16-17mpg.

A 2.2 in a standard cab with few options, 5-speed, and low gears doesn't work nearly so hard since it operates closer to its torque peak and is hauling 5-600 pounds less mass. Mid-20s is the norm for a stock truck. Open up the intake and exhaust so it's easier for the engine to suck and blow, get the fire lit better with a MSDS, reduce parasitic drag with an efan, and 30mpg is pretty easy. With good driving, 33mpg is possible under good conditions.

[Hammer]

i don't get below 21 mpg in my xtreme and that is combo highway and street. last tank was just over 24mpg.

it's a 4.3L reg cab 5sp with 3.42's the g80, etc etc etc. NO MODS though except a kn drop in.

tire pressures and driving style seem to be some of the biggest factors on vehicles in good running condition.

i could get 27mpg when i ran 38psi now i'm running 30psi because i ran them with too high of pressure for too long... lol. the middle's didn't wear as slow as the rest of the tire. on a side note, i had some hoosier street tires for passenger cars about 10 years ago, and i ran 40 psi in them for 10 years and 50,000 miles and you would never know they weren't brand new, besides the dry rot.... lol. those WERE SOME GOOD TIRES.

[SmokinChevy2000]

Anybody have any suggestions on what brand of e-fan to buy? I really want to get one but there are so many options and I've heard nothing but good things about them.