Improving Fuel Economy in Stock International Scouts and Trucks: Tip and Tricks

Dan from Binder Boneyard discusses fuel economy in stock International trucks amid high fuel costs, using his 1973 Travelall (392, 727 auto, 3.31 gears, 27-inch tires, Pertronix ignition) as an example and explaining how tire size and gearing affect RPM. After switching from Delo 15W-40 diesel oil to Valvoline VR1 10W-30, he records road-trip tanks improving from about 12.5–13.1 mpg previously to 12.9 and then mostly above 13 mpg, with a best of about 13.9, even while carrying extra weight, which he attributes to the oil change and plans to monitor for consumption and noise. He outlines economy tips: strong ignition and timing, correct carb jetting and CFM sizing, avoid overfueling, reduce drag (brakes, alignment, bearings), use appropriate lubricants, grease U-joints, inflate tires, consider fan drag, match gearing and weight to power, and notes EFI (Holley Sniper) can reach 15–16 mpg for some, though 20 mpg isn’t realistic.