Do hub caps make a huge difference

[Lean L]

I have a corolla and the fuel consumption has never been great (lucky if I get 25m/g). Recently I took the hub caps off and it seems to be lighter to drive and I can get better mileage? Placebo or legit?

 

[BassBomb]

25mpg with a corolla? you are doing it wrong...

your hub caps would drop your weight by probably 1-2 lbs which is not much, i would say negligible

 

[ElFenix]

hubcaps weigh all of about 8 lbs total at most. while that is rotating mass the effects would be negligible. unless there are big parts sticking out in the airflow the aero effect of switching from hubcaps to bare steel wheels shouldn't make any noticeable difference either.

 

[BassBomb]

hubcaps weigh all of about 8 lbs total at most. while that is rotating mass the effects would be negligible. unless there are big parts sticking out in the airflow the aero effect of switching from hubcaps to bare steel wheels shouldn't make any noticeable difference either.

It totally depends on your car... My Stanza's hub caps were like nothing

 

[ElFenix]

It totally depends on your car... My Stanza's hub caps were like nothing

i mean for all 4

 

[CraigRT]

You're an idiot

 

[zCypher]

don't most people easily get 45mpg with corollas?

 

[woodie1]

Don't see how your mileage could be so low but we don't know where you live, year of car, or much of anything for that matter. Care to share some more info?

 

[Lean L]

it's a 2000 corolla ve and in it's lifetime it has never gotten more than 30mpg

 

[BassBomb]

it's a 2000 corolla ve and in it's lifetime it has never gotten more than 30mpg

You must be flooring it always :hmm:

 

[Lean L]

You must be flooring it always :hmm:

no... I feather the throttle it most of the time.

 

[StageLeft]

Seems to be light? heh I don't think so. That's a 3000lb car. If the hubcaps weight 10 lbs or something combined, even being rotational, you're not feeling that, not at all.

 

[TridenT]

no... I feather the throttle it most of the time.

Then mebbe lewk into like... figurin' out wut is brukin' en ut.

 

[thomsbrain]

How long is your average trip? Your ratio of cold starts to miles driven makes a huge difference in mileage. The farther your trips, the better mileage you'll get.

As for the hubcaps, it's the placebo effect, but you're not hurting anything by leaving them off, either.

 

[DVad3r]

Dude that's terrible mileage, there is definitely something very wrong with your car...

 

[T2urtle]

its either your driving pattern or the car needs a tune up...

if you tell me 25 mpg all CITY in stop and go trafffic then i would believe you for the most part.

 

[simonizor]

You took off what, like 10 pounds? That's less than 1% of your car's total weight. Do you honestly think that would make any difference what-so-ever?

 

[SparkyJJO]

Is this city mileage or highway?

City, well, that's to be expected. City ain't gonna be great dude.

Highway, well..... I get 28 all the time with my Camaro when mixed with about 10-15% of busy highway/city, and have gotten 32 for non-stop highway :hmm:

 

[obamanation]

25mpg could be about what the OP should be getting assuming the OP has a 3-speed Automatic Corolla that burns oil. I mean "new" epa MPG rating is 26MPG combined.. The 3-speed automatic transmission in these vehicles is garbage. Completely inexcusable that Toyota would have a 3-speed all the way till sometime in 2005...

 

[jtvang125]

Are these spinner hubcaps? If yes, then they're creating a lot of drag and thus reduce your gas mileage.

Seriously though, hubcaps aren't heavy enough to make any measurable difference.

 

[exdeath]

*insert obligatory advice to take off the AC, disconnect the power steering pump and convert it to manual, swap to a manual transmission and inflate all 4 tires to sidewall.*

 

[halik]

your o2 sensors or maf are shot

 

[Kelvrick]

Wife's 06 corolla does about 33mpg with about 85% city.

Could be the tires too. The OEM's would give her like 36mpg but there was no grip. That, and they should be properly inflated.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Is this a parody thread?

 

[LTC8K6]

25mpg could be about what the OP should be getting assuming the OP has a 3-speed Automatic Corolla that burns oil. I mean "new" epa MPG rating is 26MPG combined.. The 3-speed automatic transmission in these vehicles is garbage. Completely inexcusable that Toyota would have a 3-speed all the way till sometime in 2005...

Yes, if it's the 3A, then 25mpg is right in the ballpark.