Someone told me that headers actually increase gas mileage. Is this true? If so, why is this so? Thanks

-Burt

 

I believe it is true. Headers give you more flow which means more efficiency which equals better gas mileage.

 

Yup you'll get marginal gains, nothing major at all, I havent really noticed any yet, but its too soon for me to tell. If you are trying to convince yourself to get em, well heres a reason. You'll save money on gas!!!!, and after oh about 300 years they'll actually pay for themselves with the savings. :p

 

Ok, sounds good, but with the same driving habits, the headers won't DECREASE miles per gallon right? Gracias.

-Burt

 

LonghornTL,

Hey, I got your little message the other night at Java & Cha. I guess you didn't know it was me. Anyhow, thanks for your compliment.

I'm assuming you bought a TL. But about your header question, I really didn't see any difference in my MPG. However, my MPG has decreased significantly after I installed the intake and headers. I also went back to my CL-S rims. All in all, the headers don't increase your intake air flow, thus not increasing your fuel, because the ECU makes that fuel increase with an increase in the intake air mass flowrate to maintain the air/fuel ratio. I hope that made sense. I kind of said it all in one sentence. Anyway, the headers increase your exhaust flow by decreasing the backpressure. This results in more room in your cylinders for combustible air. If this somehow increases your intake air flow, then the headers would result in decreasing your MPG.

No one really knows the answer unless they have done engine analysis with and without the headers, so my best advice is to learn the theory and make an intelligent assumption.