Some truth in that. However, if you NEED the E150 --to carry tools, or materials, or whatever--then switching to a 300D or a Prius is not a viable answer, either. Sometimes the most fuel-efficient vehicle is the one that gets only 8 mpg, but gets it all done in a single trip, with a single vehicle.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Well, I think someone could do it getting a lot better than 8mpg, even if they couldn't use a Prius or a compact car w/ an efficient driveline. In general, weight matters, but not as much as aero and drivetrain efficiency. Rocker ratio don't much worth you know what. A large ~4-6k lb truck could average 25-35mpg in normal driving, but most people don't care enough bother with the mods needed for something like that.

I think that is a dream at this point. Don't know and won't be able to tell because people lie so much about mileage it is not worth the time to pursue. I believe that you would waste a lot of time and money and never save a lot of gas. If you want to say you get great mileage just lie like the rest of them.

My big dodge gets 22 running about 65. I suspect I could get that to the high twenties with aero mods and a taller gear....really easily. I think if I could get a 355 in there in place of the 373 I would jump 3 mpg immediately. Then if I put on a belly pan, front spoiler and an aero bed cover I could get to 29 or 30 wo too much trouble.

How much are you willing to spend, that is the question?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It's not a dream, so much as work most people aren't willing to do. It's hard enough to get people off their own couch, much less get them to drop in taller gearing via changes in the rear-end/trans, fabricate an aerodynamic bed cover, do some other aero mods, etc, etc... Well, that and the way a lot of guys think about their truck, you'd think it was their purse.

A lot of the conventional wisdom simply doesn't work in practice. Great in theory, makes perfect sense, until you throw mother nature into the mix.

I got an increase (slight) in mileage by going to lower gearing in my camper van. The 4.10 gears make cruising up hills in third gear easy work for the engine and it stays near the peak of the torque curve when torque is needed. Still cruises in OD nicely.

Throw a big box like a van into the wind and efficiency left about a quarter 'til three yesterday.

A lot of people lie (some innocently) about their mileage. Some of those are selling you something. Over the years I have seen a few vehicles that perform beyond reason for what they are. They are rare.

Car MPG Efficiency Modifications Main - EcoModder

It's fun to check this stuff out but good luck getting any of it to pay off. Big vehicles need big brakes and tires to stop and lots of gas to go. If you can reduce the amount of gas to make it go you should be able to reduce the amount of brakes to make it stop, no?

#1 gas saving modification: Live close to where you work. Don't give your money to scumbag oil companies or scumbag real estate developers.

#2 Don't drive within ten miles of a Wal-Mart.

You wouldn't swap in lighter duty brakes, you'd swap for a lighter duty vehicle.

One of many counterpoints is when work is driving the van.

It's getting more difficult to not live within ten mile of Walmart. Even if you don't move, Walmart closes in.

Sixto
87 300D

I would have to drive about nine miles to be ten miles from the nearest Wal Mart, and that only works if I head east. Headed north, by the time I'm ten miles from the north Carson store, I'm getting close to one of several in Reno. Heading south, I go five miles toward the south Carson store before I start getting farther away, and you have to go down almost to that Wal Mart to take U.S. 50 over the hill to go west.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I suspect the poster who said less brakes meant coast more brake less, as a driving style.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.