gas mileage auto vs manual...

Same transfer case ration, same differential ratio, different final drive ratio...

Manual tranny is around 1.0, the auto is around .80. Can you see the difference on the highway in top gear on both vehicles? The auto will turn slower and thus get better gas mileage. Now two things...I'm remembering these final drive numbers from my head due to the wife throwing my info out (damn neat freaks), secondly this applies to on the highway specifically.

In town I would expect the manual to get better mileage as it compensates with gears rather than slipping the torque converter.

As far as the "10 cent fuse", how many 6 cent bolts are holding your transfer case together? Maybe you could hold it together better manually.

Oh and BTW, assuming the post is readable, tdis aint no spellin bee so settle down beavis. One can inject or interject an opinion, its a matter of symantics.
_________________________
"I see" said the blind man to his deaf dog.