48mpg City Geo Metro

[MadisonMPG]

So, how do I accomplish this? Without P&G it's almost impossible, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

List of (planned) mods:

1. 3tech cam/gear
2. 50lb reduction from car
3. 50PSI tires
4. passenger mirror delete
5. grill block
6. lower 3/4 coil front and back
7. smooth wheel covers
8. engine block (coolant) heater

What makes this a true pain is the 4 mile commute I make to and from school. I could get 48 all day if it was 40mph for 10 miles, but with the 4 miles my engine never gets warm. I only want to fill up 3 more times before the end of the school year... tall order? Maybe, but technically I should be able to go to school for 2 months on one take of gas, but that may be a bit far fetched.

[wyatt]

I like your smooth wheel covers. Pizza pans? hopefully not steel ones, people have lots of problems with those rusting. Where are the 50 pounds of weight saving coming from? Rear seat delete? Your car looks nice. 48 is going to be tough with only 4 miles... you could use a bicycle to artificially increase your mpg. Let's say you only average 40 mpg, but you bike one day a week it's like getting 50 mpg. Something to consider.

[Wonderboy]

If it's only 4 miles, have you considered riding a bicycle? I hear that gets you awesome gas mileage.

[MadisonMPG]

Originally Posted by Wonderboy

If it's only 4 miles, have you considered riding a bicycle? I hear that gets you awesome gas mileage.

I think I may end up biking it after it warms up. No gas, and I get great gas mileage!!!

[Christ]

Something you can consider with the car is the ability to lose weight on a larger (smaller?) scale.

Just because the rear seat weighs 50 lbs doesn't make it the most useless weight in the car. Often, there are areas that are braced and don't really need to be, like the rear hatch. Behind the plastic, you can cut some 1" holes through the upper brace where the hatch bolts on. It's only a few ounces per hole, but they add up. If you're serious about losing weight, it's only going to take a few thoughts and a good plan.

In fact, I've actually replaced floor pans with aluminum plate, replaced seats with lighter OEM versions, replaced OEM parts for lighter ones (usually made from scratch, like the front cross member on 4th gen Civic/ 2nd Gen CRX models.) etc. There is LOTS of weight to be lost.

If you don't ever find yourself looking out/needing those 1/4 windows in the back, remove them and replace them with body-type sheet metal or aluminum panels. If you do happen to use them, replace them with lexan. It's lighter than glass, and still legal in most states if it's not a "primary window". (Driver and passenger door, front glass.)

[Johnny Mullet]

I suggest a block heater.

[MadisonMPG]

Thanks guys.

I have the following stuff ordered/ready to be ordered:
block heater
+10 cam gear
Delta XFi cam

I have the following stuff done/ready to be made:
grille block
alternator cut out
weight reduction

[Christ]

The +10 and the cam will probably be the two most beneficial things there for you. Of course, every little bit counts, right?

I'm still waiting to find the right size piece of metal to do the rear 1/4 windows on Cara.

[MadisonMPG]

I actually dropped the cam idea, I don't see it paying for itself at the way I drive. I may get another geo, and make it for highway. Then keep the one I have now for city.

[Christ]

I would suspect the cam would help you even more in the city where you're accelerating more often, due to the lowered torque curve. Of course, I'm not Samus Aran, and know nothing to speak of about Metroid, so maybe I'm full of it.

No one said it had to all get done at the same time, did they? It would be just as easy to do some things, then use the savings to pay for more stuff later. After all, it's like money you didn't have, right?