Picked up a solid 4mpg. 98 Cavalier 3 speed. - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

YukonCornelius · 01-30-2011, 11:04 AM

I'm loving this website. I was getting about 24.5 mpg with my Cavalier. I read through the hypermiling tips and began to use some of them around half a tank. I don't shut my car off but I do let it coast in neutral when I can. I've done a little p&g. I try to conserve as much momentum as possible, but I'm still learning distancing. I read one member say that the highest speed they've applied their brakes at lately has been 18 mph, that is skillful. I drive alot of 50-55 mph roads with many traffic lights, some on timers, it makes it tough. This has quickly become a fun game to do while driving.

I filled up last night and came to 28.6 mpg

I'm excited, driving through a whole tank should put me up to about 32. I also just checked my tire pressure today, I'm 24-26 psi all around. Yikes. I'm going to bump it up to about 46 today.

I'm running Sunoco fuel.

glhman222 · 01-30-2011, 09:07 PM

yah, that tire pressure is holding you back for sure, if you can, also try getting an ecomodder alignment

after that you should be around 35

CigaR007 · 01-30-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glhman222

yah, that tire pressure is holding you back for sure, if you can, also try getting an ecomodder alignment

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by "ecomodder alignment".

euromodder · 01-31-2011, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CigaR007

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by "ecomodder alignment".

Setting the wheel alignment to be as straight as possible.

The more toe-in or out, the more drag is caused by the tyres not rolling straight on the road but being slightly skewed.

bhazard · 01-31-2011, 07:36 AM

They still used a 3 speed in 98? Did it at least have lockup?

YukonCornelius · 01-31-2011, 11:20 AM

TH 125. It does have lock up. I was thinking about the alignment. Once I hit a wall I'm going to use HP Tuners to write a leaner tune with a lower idle.

YukonCornelius · 02-08-2011, 11:55 PM

I'm pretty excited guys, I'm 435 miles into my tank of gas and my gauge is only at the 1/4 mark! Prior to finding this site I was getting about 340 miles to a full tank of gas. If I can get 500 miles by the time I hit the E then I got 35 mpg. 400 of my miles were with the extra weight of a passenger and luggage. I might throw a gas can in the trunk and just run it until it dies to see just how many miles I can go. This may be the first time I've looked forward to filling up.

Also, epa combined is only 23 mpg for my car.

YukonCornelius · 02-09-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NateHale88

I don't suggest running it out of gas due to the fact that sediment from the bottom of the tank will clog your fuel filter and that's not fun haha.. I couldn't imagine only getting in the 20s in a 4cyl lol. I have to beat on my v6 Grand Am to get 24. Good luck!

I thought not having overdrive was killing the mileage but the epa rating for the 2.2 with 4 speed auto was still a average of 23, and only 1 mpg higher for highway. It's just a poorly engineered car. The drag coef. is .36. I also believe the factory tune is on the rich side.