Echo-Troll Modding Thread (2005 Toyota Echo)

[echo-francis]

Hi Hypermilers!

HyperMileQC and I are starting an aeromodding project on a Toyota Echo 2005 Manual 5 Speed 1.5 L : The Echo-Troll Project!

EPA : 30 City \ 38 HWY \ 33 Combined MPG (US)

My MPG's : 52 to 57 MPG in a 4.3 Miles commute \ 60 to 63 mpg on HWY

Up to Date List of my Current Aeromods :
-Whiper Deflector (Tested) +1.5% MPG (US)
-Wheel Covers (Pizza Pan) (Tested) +2.15% MPG (US)
-Partial Front Grill Block (Spring Mod) + Upper Grill Block
-Sealed Gaps Upgraded+
-Frontal Belly Pan - Upgraded+
-Center Belly Pan
-Rear Belly Pan - Upgraded+
-New Front Wheel Spoilers
-New Rear Wheel Spoilers
-Side Skirts
-Passenger Side Mirror Deletion

Planned Aeromods :
-Rear Wheel Skirts (In Progress)
-Front Nose
-Front Wheel Skirts
-Boat Tail
-Boat-Tailing Behind Tires

Inside of the Car Modifications :
-ScanGauge II
-Dino Juice To Syntec Oil Swap
-Warm Air Intake
-Block Heater
-Summer Tires : 50 Psi (Front). 45 Psi (Rear). (Current Tires)
-Winter Tires : 40 Psi
-Power Steering Disable
-DRL Disable

Planned Inside Modifications :
-Next Oil Change (Mobil1 0w-20)
-Syntec Transmission Oil Swap
-Alternator Disable
-Kill Engine Switch
-A/C Deletion
-Taller 5th Gear
-LED Lights
-LRR Tires
-Wind Tunnel from Grille Block Hole to Radiator

The Ultimate Goal :
Our goal is to reach the 3.0 L/100Km (78.4 MPG) Score at 50 MPH and maybe 2.5 L/100Km (94.09 MPG) Ultimate goal. For now we haved reached 3.8 L/100Km (61.9 MPG).

The Car :


You can see here the Echo-Troll with one of it's first Aeromod, the partial grill block for summer.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for this project, please, let us know by posting in this thread. Thanks.

[echo-francis]

Wheel Covers (Pizza Pans) DIY Fabrication :

Decided to put smooth wheel covers (pizza pan).
It was pretty simple, I bought some pizza pans and I nailed the cover on the original wheel cap. Took me 3 hours to make.

Here are some picture of the wheel covers :




The Wheel Cover :

[echo-francis]

Results Of the Wheel Covers (Pizza Pans) Tests! :

Today we have tested the wheel covers to prove their efficacity and their FE with an A-B-A test.

Here are the Results :
11°C (51,8°F) / Speed : 50 MPH (80 Km/H) / 06 October 2011 / Good Conditions in general.

A = With the Wheel Smooth Covers (Pizza Pans)
B = Without the Wheel Smooth Covers (Pizza Pans)

In MPG (US) :
|-------|--A---|--B---|--A---|
Run # 1 |-61.2-|-59.5-|-62.4-|
|-------|---------------------|
Run # 2 |-57.2-|-57.1-|-57.6-|
|-------|---------------------|

Results :

Run # 1 Combined A = 61.8 MPG (US) (3.81 L/100Km)
Run # 1 Result of B = 59.5 MPG (US) (3.95 L/100Km)
Run # 2 Combined A = 57.4 MPG (US) (4.1 L/100Km)
Run # 2 Result of B = 57.1 MPG (US) (4.12 L/100Km)

Difference of 2.3 MPG (US) With the Run # 1.
Difference of 0.3 MPG (US) With the Run # 2

Final Result of the Testing of the Wheel Covers (Pizza Pans) :

We calculated a 2.15% gain in MPG (US) with the Wheel Covers. Yay!^^

[echo-francis]

Whiper Deflector in Coroplast DIY Fabrication :

Realized the wipers was really in the airflow so I decided to make a coroplast and duct tape whiper deflector to respect airflow near the wipers zone. It took me maybe 2 or 3 hours to build it. I made tests with the deflector but they are lost in the Void. We know that it is a 1.5% gain in MPG (US). Based on a A-B-A-B test. Inconveniant : some leaves and maple scrap get stuck in there.

Some Picture of the Wiper Deflector :

[echo-francis]

Partial Front Grill Block DIY Fabrication :

We are in Canada so winter is one of our preocupation. I decided to make a Grill Block to help Engine keep its heat. Its made out of Styrofoam and Duct Tape. Took me 1 hour to do and work well. Not tested. It is also blocking the hole for the fog lights (I don't have any).

Added upper grill block made of coroplast and duct tape.

Here are some Picture of the Grill Block :
Upper Grill Block :

The Front Grill Block in Summer Mod :


The Front Grill Block in Fall/Spring Mod :


The Front Grill Block in Winter Mod :

[HyperMileQC]

Went in Ontario this morning with echo-francis to take some electoral coroplast... We got 19 small and 11 large.
What does that mean?
Wheel skirts! Maybe belly pan. We will have a heated place to work on the echo-troll this winter, so we will keep you in touch with those improvements.
HyperMileQC

[CigaR007]

Cool ! Good to know that another Echo is going ahead with some aeromods.

This what I have done on my Echo so far :

Lower & Upper Grille Block Ideas (Toyota Echo)

[echo-francis]

Block Heater and Weatherstripping Tape :
Installed a block heater on the car. I also found weatherstripping tape in my house and I sealed some gaps in the front.

Block Heater :

Weatherstripping tape :

[echo-francis]

Rear Wheel Skirts DIY Fabrication :
We have fabricated some rear wheels Skirts, they are finished, and we had them installed for about 1 month. We removed them to swap the tires for winter, but we do not plan to replace them until the summer tires swap. here are some pictures :

Rear Wheel Skirts :


(The neighborhood cat approves (AndrewJ)

[echo-francis]

The ScanGauge II :
We bought a SG II a year ago. We installed it here :