Horsepower and Fuel Mileage.

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Isnt havin more hp goin to keep the load movin with less strain than a smaller hp that is givin everything its got to move the same load?

 

You are looking at the wrong end of the machine. You should be looking at your trucks gear ratios. The lower you can run your engine at highway speeds the better your fuel economy is going to be. To get up to highway speed you should be using your engines torque which is different from your horsepower curve. When you are talking to sales people about the engines ask them to show you the torque and horsepower curves for the engines get the one that gives you the greatest amount of torque over the low to medium 1200 to 1400 rpm curve. It is torque that gets your truck moving not horsepower. Your gear ratio is what will keep you in the sweet spot for the engine. Too many people think the higher the horsepower the better that is not the case, they are buying into a lie.

 

higher hp gets better fuel millage if you don't use the power. if you are disciplined enough to keep your foot off the floor.

 

Imagine you have a brand new pick up truck (any brand) that weighs 6,000lbs. You can get an I4, V6, or V8 for the truck. If you get the 4cyl, it will have to work as hard as it can all of the time to keep the truck moving. If you get a V6, it is a little easier to get the truck moving and keep it moving (means less fuel and less wear and tear on the engine). If you get the V8, it can move the truck easily and you wouldn't have to put the pedal down to the floor to get it to perform at the same level that the V6 did meaning you use less fuel for the same performance and have even less wear and tear. Power-to-weight ratio can help you or hurt you. I'm not saying I would go buy the biggest engine I could find but I would figure out what would work and then go just a little bigger. If 475hp would work, go with a 500hp or maybe like a 515hp etc. Plus, if you got a bigger engine then you can run longer gears because it will turn those gears easier which will keep your RPM down when you are at highway speed thus saving fuel.

 

Nice theory but not allways true.
I know guys who sold their big block and went back to a smaller block because it worked more efficient.

 

I have a 600 signature isx no egr. 18 speed in the top hole at 70 mph the motor is at 1600 rpm. I get 6.5 all the time. Unless of course I have a big load on the catchs a lot of air. The worset I think I have gotten was 4 mpg but I was at 102,000 going to Tacoma wa from ILL.