the engine doesn't care if you got anything below 40, that's the lowest it will go. that's why those things don't work in the winter.

 

Are these 1/4 watt or 1/2 watt resistors that you did your test with?

 

Doesn't matter.


Adding a resistor to lower the temps will cause extra fuel to be sent into the cylinders as the computer thinks the truck is cold. When you start a cold vehicle, the blend runs extra rich until it warms up and then it leans out. So, by putting in any type of resistor in your IAT means you will get reduced gas mileage! The power to be had with any resistor or powerwire is negligible.

Also, you CANNOT go by the onboard computer for your mileage estimates if that's what you have done. It does not give a fair reading for very short distances as the numbers will change dramatically depending on exact time driving..I.E..foot to the floor type of thing..ETC...
Any alcohol blend gas will give reduced mileage since it burns quicker.
The easiest way to improve mileage is to get 100% gas and STOP listening to your exhaust and being harsh on the gas. You cannot have a V8 deep exhaust and a fast truck that gets Prius mileage. Just going without your exhaust screaming to please your ears will certainly help out in the MPG department.

 

Agreed, because there is not muc passing through these resistors. However to asnwer the question, I used 1/2 but thats only because thats what RD had in stock

Thats what some people say, but this whole "old" idea and test comes from so many guys running Powerwires and claiming they are getting 1-2mpg more. I myself dont put a lot of faith in such claims but if a pack of resistors only costs $1 each, what can I lose?

Again, some people claim 1-2mpg. I personally would be upset to buy one at $50 and get nothing it claims (claims are listed below)

No, on my spreedsheet I have ambient temps, AIT temps, octane level, SC tune, overhead MPG and hand calculated mpg as a few of the more important items to record. With no resistor but running a 87 tune with the SC on 100% fuel, my OH says I was getting 13.4 while my hand held says 12.98mpg.

Yep, thats why I try hard to find stations who dont sell blended gas when 100% is only a few cents more. Why now (as of yesterday) it was the same price from the blended stations and the non-blended stations. Its all about how edcauted you are or how much you care.

You are absolutely right, but there is one main thing you need to recognize and understand. Ive never complained about my MPG. I knew when I bought the truck it was going to be bad and I didnt but iy fors it great gas mileage either. Im not one trying to turn a HEMI into a Prius either. This thread to merely to help others who are wanting to use a Powerwire determine if they really need to use it and spend $50 on it or use other alternatives.

The website for Powerwire says "Reports of .5 to 1 MPG have been reported under easy driving conditions." Well you need to be able to read into that and understand the said but not fully comprehended words. It says under easy driving conditions. Well hell I could probably get that now if I didnt keep my cutouts open and kept it under 2k RPM. But there again, that isnt why I bought my truck and not why Im am posting all of this info. This isnt for me, this is for the guys who want some numbers and (I used the term loosely) education.

So overall and now that you have taken the time to reply on the topic, I am curious on what mileage you get on what fuel and how you feel about having/using a Powerwire? Is it a sham or a pure try to achieive slight better mileage and power?

 

gotta get you on your syntax. Alcohol fuels burn SLOWER than gasoline, but you need more liquid alcohol fuel to have the same energy output as gasoline, so you pump more in to get the same power out.

the benefit of the power wire is not the added fuel. the benefit is the tweak in timing because it thinks the air is colder, so it thinks you won't knock. of course the downside is the potential for knock.

The reality is, however, that we have knock sensors that way over compensate for a knock condition by retarding timing. a 5k resistor shouldn't be enough to make the engine knock, but if it does (high load condition maybe?) you lose all your benefit and then some. But then it will try to advance till it knocks again, and go back and forth. eventually, I think it will just compensate for the resistance value.

if your going to put a resistor or powerwire on there, start pumping a higher grade of gas so the engine can advance timing and not knock and you can get the full benefit permanently.

 

Yea well I didn't buy a truck for mpg or anything, but getting a little more is a bonus. I felt better throttle response with the power wire on mine, but my mpg which I hand calculate was worse. I think Nick has stated that the power wire only adds fuel at WOT and the rest of the time the A/F ratio is locked. I'm not sure how my mileage was worse when using it since I never went WOT when I had it installed. I need to find a station around me that sells pure gas b/c everywhere I have been is 10% ethanol.

 

So my understanding of the Powerwire is is it true PnP right? Do you have a meter you can check the resistance across the leads and on each wire and post the results? Ive seen people ask for it before but no one has produced any answers.

 

I haven't checked the resistance on the power wire, but I think it just uses a 4.7k resistor in on of the wires which you can get from radioshack. I still needed the wire as an extension wire for my intake so I just cut the resistor out of it.

 

Hi Guys, first time posting here, but I've been reading on this site for weeks.

Anyway, I'm very interested in this Powerwire I read so much about, but I'm not really sure if I understand what it does.

I know that it makes the computer think it's cooler outside than it really is (depends on how big of resistor you use) but what does that make the computer do? I've read it gives it more fuel but does it also change the timing any? I'm looking for ways to get somewhat better mileage from my 03 Hemi. I know, I know, it's a pickup, get used to it. 85% city and 15% highway I'm lucky to break 11.0 mpg. I'm looking for any good ideas to help, and if this Powerwire does the trick, I'm all for it. Does anyone see any problems doing this on a daily driver with 86,000 miles on it?

Thanks,
-Jake

 

First off this is not a Prius. If you want to play you are gonna pay. I have toyed with allot of mods with my truck just to see what happens with gas mileage. I have tried CAI,Super chips,Power wire but I think the one thing that made the biggest difference was installing the electric fan. There was an immediate increase in my gas mileage +2.5 MPG and this is doing the math not paying attention to the liitle monitor on the roof.