YACT: Improving MPG on a car

[alphatarget1]

besides removing the unneeded stuff and keeping the tire pressures in check, are there engine mods that makes the car more efficient?

 

[KingNothing]

Posting what kind of car you have couldn't possibly help. Good thing you didn't.

 

[flot]

Think about it. If there were a cost effective way to increase the fuel economy of your car, without impacting anything else, don't you think the car manufacturer would have done it?

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: flot
Think about it. If there were a cost effective way to increase the fuel economy of your car, without impacting anything else, don't you think the car manufacturer would have done it?

nop. car manufacturers have conspired with the oil companies

 

[flot]

Riiiiiiiight.

 

[crab]

Remove weight, go easy on the pedal, keep your tire pressure up, get it aligned, even. Do a tune-up. Keep the a/c off.

I know I posted what you already know...just babbling.

 

Shift into a higher gear as soon as possible (don't accelerate quickly).
Drive slower.

Don't put fat people in your car.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
besides removing the unneeded stuff and keeping the tire pressures in check, are there engine mods that makes the car more efficient?

Absolutely there are. Disconnect half of the injectors.

ZV

 

[OS]

you gonna tell us what car this is yet??

 

[alphatarget1]

im talking about in general!

 

[ultimatebob]

Originally posted by: crab
Remove weight, go easy on the pedal, keep your tire pressure up, get it aligned, even. Do a tune-up. Keep the a/c off.

I know I posted what you already know...just babbling.

I'm not so sure about the "keep the A/C off" comment. I've found the extra drag caused by opening all of the windows and the sunroof in my last two cars hurt the fuel mileage just as much as using the A/C when driving on the highway.

 

[OS]

well, for a car that you aren't purpose building;

gut the car
get tires with less rotating resistance
get lighter rims


Also try synthetic oil and keep your air filter clean. Make sure the rest of the car is running properly of course.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alphatarget1
besides removing the unneeded stuff and keeping the tire pressures in check, are there engine mods that makes the car more efficient?

Absolutely there are. Disconnect half of the injectors.

ZV

Works every time.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: flot
Think about it. If there were a cost effective way to increase the fuel economy of your car, without impacting anything else, don't you think the car manufacturer would have done it?

nop. car manufacturers have conspired with the oil companies

not necessarily, I know that at least in India people never got the advertised gas mileage and so my dad would tweak some things and attain that gas mileage. He said people woudl take it to a mechanic to get it done if not on their own. DOn't know if you've been outside the US, but gas prices are much higher in other countries

 

[TheBDB]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: crab
Remove weight, go easy on the pedal, keep your tire pressure up, get it aligned, even. Do a tune-up. Keep the a/c off.

I know I posted what you already know...just babbling.

I'm not so sure about the "keep the A/C off" comment. I've found the extra drag caused by opening all of the windows and the sunroof in my last two cars hurt the fuel mileage just as much as using the A/C when driving on the highway.

I believe I read that around 45 mph is the speed where it becomes more fuel efficient to run the A/C because of the increased drag of open windows.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: TheBDB

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: crab
Remove weight, go easy on the pedal, keep your tire pressure up, get it aligned, even. Do a tune-up. Keep the a/c off.

I know I posted what you already know...just babbling.

I'm not so sure about the "keep the A/C off" comment. I've found the extra drag caused by opening all of the windows and the sunroof in my last two cars hurt the fuel mileage just as much as using the A/C when driving on the highway.

I believe I read that around 45 mph is the speed where it becomes more fuel efficient to run the A/C because of the increased drag of open windows.

Right. In urban environments it's better to open the windows, but once you get onto the freeway close them and turn on the AC... and learn to tolerate heat better so you don't have to use it at all.

Oh, and remove any spoilers if you have them.

 

[GasX]

It's so easy and cheap!

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob

Originally posted by: crab
Remove weight, go easy on the pedal, keep your tire pressure up, get it aligned, even. Do a tune-up. Keep the a/c off.

I know I posted what you already know...just babbling.

I'm not so sure about the "keep the A/C off" comment. I've found the extra drag caused by opening all of the windows and the sunroof in my last two cars hurt the fuel mileage just as much as using the A/C when driving on the highway.

There was a long detailed thread on this before. The basic conclusion was that AC would hurt your gas mileage mostly with smaller 4 cylinder engines, regardless of whether it's urban or on the freeway.

 

[puffpio]

Anything that makes the car more efficient. The engine is basically an air pump..so the easier to suck air in and pump air out, will improve efficiency. Therefore, intake, header, and exhaust will help.
Additionally, the engine is turning a lot of things, it is spinning all the accessories, and crank pulley, flywheel, driveshaft. It finally equates to rotation of the axles and wheels and tires, which lugs the whole thing around. So, reducing the weight anywhere possible (lighter crank pulley, accessory pulleys, lighter flywheel, lighter driveshaft, lighter wheels and tires, brake rotors, calipers, hood, trunk, body panels, seats, dash)
Additionally remove unnecessary stuff will help. Don't use AC? remove the AC system and lose about 40-50 pounds. Of course you will need a new accessory belt now that the AC is not there. Dont even use the regular fan for air? Lose the entire HVAC system and lose some weight. Swap to a nonpowersteering steering rack for a weight reduction. If you remove your interior including carpeting, you will notice there is a LOT of sound deadening material that is glued/dried onto your car. Take some dry ice to freeze it, then chip it off.

For the intake, header, and exhaust..generally the aftermarket parts are lighter than the stock parts..especially if the exhaust is titanium. Also, the weight reduction on rotating parts (crank pulley, flywheel, driveshaft, wheels, tires, brake rotors) will be more noticeable than just the static weight that the car has to lug around.

There's a lot of little things you can do too. In the engine bay a lot of the wiring harnesses are secured w/ metal brackats and stuff. You can remove some of those and replace them w/ zip ties. You will save a couple ounces here and there..but if you apply that philosophy throughout the vehicle it can turn up a substantial weight savings. In addition there is a lot of extra metal just lying around on the frame that can be cut away..but be warned, you have to know what you are doing otherwise you will compromise the stiffness or the chassis and possibly the crash worthiness.

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: pio!pio!
Anything that makes the car more efficient. The engine is basically an air pump..so the easier to suck air in and pump air out, will improve efficiency. Therefore, intake, header, and exhaust will help.
Additionally, the engine is turning a lot of things, it is spinning all the accessories, and crank pulley, flywheel, driveshaft. It finally equates to rotation of the axles and wheels and tires, which lugs the whole thing around. So, reducing the weight anywhere possible (lighter crank pulley, accessory pulleys, lighter flywheel, lighter driveshaft, lighter wheels and tires, brake rotors, calipers, hood, trunk, body panels, seats, dash)
Additionally remove unnecessary stuff will help. Don't use AC? remove the AC system and lose about 40-50 pounds. Of course you will need a new accessory belt now that the AC is not there. Dont even use the regular fan for air? Lose the entire HVAC system and lose some weight. Swap to a nonpowersteering steering rack for a weight reduction. If you remove your interior including carpeting, you will notice there is a LOT of sound deadening material that is glued/dried onto your car. Take some dry ice to freeze it, then chip it off.

For the intake, header, and exhaust..generally the aftermarket parts are lighter than the stock parts..especially if the exhaust is titanium. Also, the weight reduction on rotating parts (crank pulley, flywheel, driveshaft, wheels, tires, brake rotors) will be more noticeable than just the static weight that the car has to lug around.

There's a lot of little things you can do too. In the engine bay a lot of the wiring harnesses are secured w/ metal brackats and stuff. You can remove some of those and replace them w/ zip ties. You will save a couple ounces here and there..but if you apply that philosophy throughout the vehicle it can turn up a substantial weight savings. In addition there is a lot of extra metal just lying around on the frame that can be cut away..but be warned, you have to know what you are doing otherwise you will compromise the stiffness or the chassis and possibly the crash worthiness.

You know, if you did all that to a civic HX, i wonder what kind of gas mileage you would get.

 

You would get 900mpg.

 

[Jeff7181]

Actually... when modifying the intake and exhaust system, there is a point where efficiency will start to go down because if you allow more air in, you have to put more fuel in... granted you'll make more power... but you'll also be adding more fuel. That's the reason you'll get better gas mileage at high altitude than you will at sea level... if you drive the car the same... which may not be easy to do since at higher altitude the engine will be making less power and you may be required to open the throttle more to accelerate at the same rate.

 

[BeauJangles]

done and done

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml