Remove some car parts in an attempt to improve MPG?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

yelo333

Senior member
Dec 13, 2003
990
0
71
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Replace all 4 wheels with donut spares? Far less weight than 4 full-size wheels...and smaller contact patch = less rolling resistance = better mpg?

Ah, I can just see the hypermiler types trying this ... anybody heard of them doing so?

:laugh:
 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Originally posted by: yelo333
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Replace all 4 wheels with donut spares? Far less weight than 4 full-size wheels...and smaller contact patch = less rolling resistance = better mpg?

Ah, I can just see the hypermiler types trying this ... anybody heard of them doing so?

:laugh:

don't encourage them
 

potato28

Diamond Member
Jun 27, 2005
8,964
0
0
Originally posted by: XZeroII
Drop as much weight as possible...from the car and you. You just got your oil changed? Drain all fluids from your car. These only add unnecessary weight. Get rid of the seats and sit on milk crates (find free ones at your local grocer). Get rid of your tires and drive around on your rims. Get rid of anything under your hood that doesn't get hot when your car has been running for awhile. If it isn't getting hot, it isn't doing anything useful. Remove your entire exhaust system...it just unnecessarily restricts exhaust flow. Remove all windows. Cut the roof off your car and replace it with cardboard; you may need to wrap the cardboard in plastic wrap so it doesn't melt away in the rain. Replace your headlights with those little LED flashlights...the power it takes to use headlights decreases your gas milage. Make your trunk air-tight, then remove all the air from it.

Now thats the spirit! :laugh:
 

OUCaptain

Golden Member
Nov 21, 2007
1,522
0
0
And people called me crazy for never getting more than a 1/2 tank. Gas is heavy after all.
 

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
Fuel gauge isn't usually linear, that is from F to 1/2 represents more fuel than from 1/2 to E. You'll notice you think you are half way but the gauge will start to move faster the closer it gets to the E.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
Originally posted by: exdeath
Fuel gauge isn't usually linear, that is from F to 1/2 represents more fuel than from 1/2 to E. You'll notice you think you are half way but the gauge will start to move faster the closer it gets to the E.

That's my experience, too. Most cars I've driven get about double the miles out of the first half compared to the second half of the gauge.
 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
Originally posted by: exdeath
Fuel gauge isn't usually linear, that is from F to 1/2 represents more fuel than from 1/2 to E. You'll notice you think you are half way but the gauge will start to move faster the closer it gets to the E.

Always figured as such, but the difference seems somewhat negligible as one end of it only got me about 20 more miles.
 

DanTMWTMP

Lifer
Oct 7, 2001
15,908
19
81
Maybe the 30 miles of pure highway driving where you did a ton of gas-saving driving techniques helped a bunch?

I once got about 37mpg out of my mazda 3 by doing solely that (otherwise avg about 27-28)
 

PlasmaBomb

Lifer
Nov 19, 2004
11,636
2
81
Originally posted by: Injury
Originally posted by: exdeath
Fuel gauge isn't usually linear, that is from F to 1/2 represents more fuel than from 1/2 to E. You'll notice you think you are half way but the gauge will start to move faster the closer it gets to the E.

Always figured as such, but the difference seems somewhat negligible as one end of it only got me about 20 more miles.

My gauge is terrible, I can do about 250 on the first half of the tank then maybe 50-100 on the second half.
 

mooseracing

Golden Member
Mar 9, 2006
1,711
0
0
All pumps are different even if they are certfied by the Ag dept. I highly doubt you are getting 41mpg.
 

EightySix Four

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2004
5,122
52
91
Lets see... What else can be removed or changed?

Underdrive pulley
Remove A/C
Lightweight wheels
Remove stereo
replace driver seat with lightweight seat
carbon fiber body parts
work out
remove gauges
remove hood
remove carpet
chop off the top
remove body panels except for front (aerodynamics)
don't eat before driving and frequently visit the restroom
only pump enough gas into the tank to get to the next gas station (weight savings)
wear lighter clothing
liposuction
remove horn
remove shocks (replace with lightweight solid aluminum rods)
put bicycle wheels on (1:8 rule, every pound unsprung is worth a pound elsewhere)



But seriously, interesting project.