Ecomodder's Top 10 backstory

[BabyDiesel]

For those of us who are newbs on Ecomodder (I being one), checking out the Top 10's is something interesting, mind-boggling, frustrating and awe-inspiring wrapped up in a simple click. These are the Legends of fuel economy, some even being known nationally! Their journeys are extensive, but not to far out of the reach of the common lay person. What I would like is for each member of this Top 10 to write a short testimony about how they got to where they are at.

Here are the Top 10 in Overall Fuel Economy as of 04/18/2015

1. 1992 Honda civic VX - MULE VX 85.46
2. 2005 Toyota Echo - Echo-Troll 66.59
3. 1995 Honda Civic VX - Mr. Bean 63.84
4. 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage DE - 14 Mirage 63.09
5. 1992 Honda Civic CX - AerocivicLB 61.96
6. 1998 Honda Civic DX Coupe - Black and Green 59.63
7. 2009 Honda Fit Sport - PaleFit 58.58
8. 2012 Toyota Aygo T2 Air - Aygo 58.02
9. 1999 Suzuki Swift - The White Gnat 57.16
10. 1992 Honda Civic VX - SLOMOTO 56.49

Here are the Top 10 overall gas trucks! 4/19/15

Top 10 Trucks Gas (MPG US)
1. 1998 Toyota Tacoma - Smudge 40.16
2. 2014 Renault Kangoo - EMMA 32.5
3. 2001 Ford Ranger XL - The Long Ranger 31.78
4. 2010 Ford Ranger XL 2 door supercab - grayranger 31.48
5. 1996 Chevrolet S10 LS - 1996s10 31.45
6. 2011 Ford Ranger XL - Graynger 31.22
7. 1997 Chevy S10 WT - 1997 Chevy s10 31.16
8. 2006 GMC Canyon - Nameless 30.94
9. 2007 Ford Ranger XLT - the truck2 30.64
10. 2000 Chevrolet S10 W/T - 2000 S10 4.3 30.4

Here are the Top gasoline cars in % over EPA, 4/19/15

1. 1991 Talon TSi - MisFit Talon 129.167%
2. 2009 Fit Sport - PaleFit 102%
3. 2005 Echo - Echo-Troll 101.788%
4. 1992 civic VX - MULE VX 100.14%
5. 1998 Civic DX Coupe - Black and Green 98.7667%
6. 1993 Civic VX - Civic 77.3095%
7. 1998 323 Astina - Baa 74.6%
8. 2014 Mirage DE - 14 Mirage 70.5135%
9. 2005 fiesta 1.4 trend - Fiesta 70.2941%
10. 1988 CRX dx - N/A 70.2188%

Here are the Top 10 gasoline trucks in % over EPA, 4/19/15

1. 1998 Tacoma - Smudge 136.235%
2. 2000 S10 W/T - 2000 S10 4.3 78.8235%
3. 1997 Tacoma 4x4 V6 3.4L DLX - Urquhart 64.0625%
4. 2006 Canyon - Nameless 47.3333%
5. 2014 Kangoo - EMMA. 46.7269%
6. 2005 Tacoma 4x4 Manual Access - Amocat 44.1111%
7. 1996 B2300 Se - The terminator 42.8571%
8. 2001 Ranger XL - The Long Ranger 38.1739%
9. 1998 T-100 SR5 - BZP T-100 current (2015) 37.4706%
10. 1996 S10 LS - 1996s10 36.7391%

Now we CAN search through your build threads, but that can take a loonngg time, especially with one's like Echo-Troll and MULE VX. Having a quick write up here can make it much easier to find for those new to the site.

Nothing brutal! Just have where you started FE wise, the best mods for you, and a quick overview of your progression. Adding links is encouraged

We look foward to seeing what becomes of this

Edit - if everyone can post the category they are representing in their post title, that would be awesome

[RPM]

Hey, is that a lifetime or 90 day average? If the latter I can get in there if I update my logs.

edit: found out it's a 90 day average. Cool, it's a nice incentive to keep the log up to date.

[Chrysler kid]

Black and green is on here and active poster, mule vx I believe is down and running his brothers white vx

Black and green has underbelly pans and wheel skirts and uses an alternator kill switch to reduce drag on the engine

Mule vx was running no alternator and extensive aero mods and 2 deep cycle batteries.

[The donkey CRX]

Here are some random thoughts about the Mule VX.

I think most of the drivers in the top 10 are trying to get the best MPG while still being able to drive at the posted highway speed. My goal is to use all the EXTREME ecomods and techniques available to get the highest MPGs possible.
Every time I make my 108 mile round trip commute, it is a contest to maximize MPG. My average MPH is around 40 MPH. I drive around 45 MPH on country roads and 55 MPH on the 24 mile portion that is interstate highway. The overall average of 40 MPH is due to time spend slowing down for stop signs and lights and posted speeds lower than 45 MPH. I would say if you do not have some kind of gauge to calculate your actual average MPH, it is very hard to estimate.

Other than driving 45 to 55 MPH, the best mileage technique I use is EOC (engine off coasting). Next would be DWL (driving with load) and DWB (driving without brakes). I only P&G (pulse and glide ) at the top part of a long downhill section of road when I EOC.

The Red Mule is a Honda Civic VX with lean burn capabilities. This means when I am able to maintain a lean burn condition it adds about 20 MPG to my total MPG. This is why there are a lot of Honda Civic VX's in the top 10.

Other than lean burn the other items that add the most MPG are aero mods (about 12 MPG) and the Bridgestone Protenza RE 92 in size P165/65 R14 (about 8 MPG) with 50 lbs of air pressure. NOTE It has been reported that only this one size of the Protenza RE 92 is the best low rolling resistance tire

Here are the aeromods:
Front air dam with adjustable grill blocks. I have temp gauges to monitor both the temp of the water coming out of the engine block and the air going into the intake. I would not recommend blocking your grill unless you can monitor your water temp accurately. (worth 3-4 MPG along with mirror delete)

Delete of OEM side mirrors

Complete totally flat belly pan with 6 inch side skirts. (worth 3-4 MPG)

Rear wheel covers

Rear Kammback, diffuser and rear side extensions to square off the rear of the car. (worth 3-4 MPG along with rear wheel covers)

Let me know if you have any other questions

[The donkey CRX]

Opps, I forgot to mention the alternator delete and pre-heat systems added over the winter. I am hoping these two modifications will add 10 MPG to my previous numbers for the same time of year (seen on my fuel log). Just a note to add that all the modifications mentioned in the previous post probably have a reasonable pay back period, but these two, at least the way I did it would take a very long time to breakeven

Also the link to all the details of all other mods is located in the fuel log.
Sorry I don't know how to add a link here. Maybe someone can help me with that. Thanks

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by Chrysler kid

...Black and green has underbelly pans and wheel skirts and uses an alternator kill switch to reduce drag on the engine...

Hi. Yes, there are a few mods that I like most, but it is hard to say what is most effective, since some are only useful in certain driving conditions. Others are only effective because the help hypermiling. For example, and injector kill is best when you are doing EOC, not just sitting at traffic lights every so often. So in no particular order:

wai
air dam
grill block
side skirts
wheel skirts
injector switch
1992 VX wheels
alternator switch
1993 CX transmission
power steering delete
plug-in deep cycle battery
200+ lbs (91 kg) weight loss

james

[BabyDiesel]

I have you covered, donkey crx

Details: MULE VX - 1992 Honda civic VX Fuel Economy - EcoModder.com

Great info, y'all!

That was good advice given about how only certain mods help out at only certain times, CaliforniaCivic. Having them all together is what makes the difference.

What kind of mpg were y'all getting before the aero mods, deletes, additions and switches?

[OG VX]

I love this thread! (so far). Great idea BabyDiesel.

Only thing I'll add is that the top 10 only denotes highest MPG. Is there a way to include some of those that are killing their % above ETA numbers? IMHO, that's just as impressive/notable.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by OG VX

I love this thread! (so far). Great idea BabyDiesel.

Only thing I'll add is that the top 10 only denotes highest MPG. Is there a way to include some of those that are killing their % above ETA numbers? IMHO, that's just as impressive/notable.

Yes, many of the top ten % mprovement cars are the same as the top ten fuel economy cars, but there are important exceptions, especially at the top of that list, such as the MisFit Talon which is amazingly better than EPA at 129% and the PaleFit at 102%. The latter is a hypermiling virtuoso devotee. Here is te link to the full list: EcoModder Fleet list - EcoModder.com

Go ahead and edit your original post if you agree and then invite some of these folks to comment. Well worth it.

[BabyDiesel]

Originally Posted by OG VX

I love this thread! (so far). Great idea BabyDiesel.

Only thing I'll add is that the top 10 only denotes highest MPG. Is there a way to include some of those that are killing their % above ETA numbers? IMHO, that's just as impressive/notable.

Thank you, OG VX

I thought about those who are in the Top 10 over EPA having a thread, and they do need one. I didn't want to do it because I'm fixing crack that list and it would seem like I am "tooting my own horn."

Shoold I add it to this thread, or start a new one?

Edit - I am in agreement! I will add the Top 10 over EPA and message them so they know that their info is needed.