Better Aerodynamics for the Corolla

[Grant-53]

My Geo has more streamlined mirriors. You could possibly switch or go to an aftermarket racing style mirror on a stalk. Make sure your battery and other components don't get too hot. I have been thinking about how to vent the engine compartment either just above the engine or some other low pressure area.

[ps2fixer]

So far it only gets up to a max of 92F which I would think the battery should handle fairly ok. Relocating it, or just venting it to the fender and sealing on the inside might work. Not a large consern currently since the battery came with the car and has lived its life already (5+ years).

I'm thinking about going for a tiny mirror that I was told autozone has from another ecomodder for the passenger's side. Not sure about the driver side, I drive at night a lot so being able to adjust it would be a large help (it is electric).

Most people I talk to are completely shocked at my mileage and I have been pushing ecomodder.com and what they can do help their own mileage. When people see results, they want part of it. My dad talks about making a grill block for his car now, guy at work claims I can mod his car for better mpg (not sure if he is joking or not). Another guy I work with is looking for a better base car to start with, then going to aero mod it some. Spreading like wildfire . Once I get 50mpg+ I'll be throwing one of them "I get xxMPG" and a ecomodder.com sticker on the back. Might try to copy an idea that was for the anal probe about being a "MPG test car, please pass".

Can't wait for the 50mpg+ tanks with the help of spring/summer and more aero mods, wonder if I'll ever be able to join the 60mpg club with out a boat tail.

[ps2fixer]

Quick update on this, I got energetic and made some quick coroplast smooth hub caps. The rear ones went on great, but the front ones (different rim) isn't as smooth but should help. I took it for a really short ride and didn't see a huge difference, but hopefully in the long run I see better averages .

The hub caps went on via zip tie though the rim. Works well and I based it on another design of hub cap that used zip plugs.

I think next on the plate is rear wheel skits. I better buy some glossy black paint first though :P.

[ps2fixer]

First trip with the wheel covers looks like a for sure gain! 52.6mpg average to work (night time, no wind that I could feel). My last best to work was around 47!

If temps hold out and I'm not fighting the wind, I might be able to pull this tank off near 50mpg and meet my current tank goal, that is nearly 100% over EPA ratings with not many mods!

[ps2fixer]

Reread the MI law on mirrors... mis read it about the passenger mirror, so it is now DELETED!

Also took some new photos. Currently all mods stick out like mad since it is white on black .

Got to see the first person laughing their ass off looking at my car , it is starting to get the odd look.

It really needs a belly pan, went over some dusty roads and it really kicks it up yet.

[Flakbadger]

Let 'em laugh. I personally quite like your trash-bag upper-grille block. A little rough up close, but hey, you didn't buy the car for beauty.
Besides, isn't 50MPG the most beautiful thing anyway?
Nice job, looking forward to whatever else you do to your car.

[ps2fixer]

Yea the car is an eye sore, the white mods stick out way too much on the black , someday i'll paint it. The trash bag is pretty stealthy since the other mods stick out so much lol.

I'm planning on a belly pan and wheel skirts over time, not sure on the boat tail, maybe a partial one.

50mph on the scangauge is great, just wish the tank averages would get up there. 52+ mpg would give me over 100% of epa ratings (and my old mpg on the camry). 1/2 priced gas anyone? .

[Weather Spotter]

I think you are making great progress!

these winds are driving me nuts. its calm on the way to work and 30 Mph head winds on the way home

Glad you reread the mirror law, I was going to send you the link, I was the one that added that wiki section. I wanted to be very sure it was ok before I did it

I made my lower grill block adjustable, open and closed by a switch in the car
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ose-14328.html

Do a boat tail. YES YES YES YES

it will help about 5-6 mpg. more at higher speeds.

I get lots of looks and questions but its fun. I never have to search for my car in the parking lot

[ps2fixer]

Yes these winds are KILLING my MPG like mad. Last trip home was something like 43mpg on the scangauge, disgusted... but that is what is also pushing me forward (I have been lazy lately lol)

If I did do a boat tail, the trunk is 100% a requirement to use. I use this car as a small truck when I get computers in to recycle. The last time I had a load I got 38mpg vs around 18 for my dads "little truck". You can see the front of it in the last photos somewhat.

More on safty and people that don't like to watch what is going on now... Going 45mph all the time, most people just come up behind me, slow down, see I'm slow and pass. Some don't slow down until the last second and tailgates closer than I normally accept (can't see their front end in my review mirror). I never did a good check, but if I can't see their headlights, they are pretty close.... Anyway, I'm interested in seeing if it was be legal to put one of the slow moving vehicle signs on the back of the car to warn people well ahead of time I'm going slow. Maybe I could get some semi trailer reflective tap and mock one up?! Besides that I would like to put my mpg figures on the back so people can understand what I'm doing better and maybe make an impact on them like my parents.

I wouldn't mind throwing an ecomodder.com sign on the car too, but the shop's photos make it look like it is about 3 inches tall and a foot wide. I would want something larger for people to see (about double the size). Of course besides the great looks, it would give me a few MPG .

Really wishing it was a manual now, but seams no deals can be gotten for a stick corolla :-/.

Also for reference, I have another thread about this car. It has some odd "mode" that gives about a 20% FE gain instant and is a huge reason I'm over the high 30s in mpg. Still have NO CLUE what is so special about the mode, but ever mod I do gets me staying in it more and more. Currently the only thing really killing the mod is during warmup and fighting the wind.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...mpg-20699.html

[Sven7]

Looking good. Too bad you didn't paint those mods black before putting them on, because you wouldn't be able to see them. With just zip ties it'll take about 30 minutes to take them all off, paint them and put them on again!

You could definitely get some wide white tape and write "45MPG" big on the hatch. Stick the tape onto wax paper, draw the numbers on it and cut them out with an XACTO knife, then peel and stick like a regular sticker.

I've also been thinking about those reflective trailer stickers. I'd cut the red halves off and put them on the back bumper, saving the white halves for the sides of the boat tail.

Anyway. Set aside a half hour and paint those mods black (maybe psychedelic spirals on the wheels) and it'll look great. Get some R/C car window tint for the in-bumper turn signals and it'll look even better.

If you're worried about the trunk opening consider something like Bruce Pick is doing- a Kammback that attaches outside the trunk so you can still open it. Maybe the top of the Kammback is hinged to get out of the way.

Cheers!