Greetings, and Please Don't Shoot the Pony =) - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

xOrion73x · 08-11-2008, 02:12 PM

Hey!

I am pretty stoked that I came across this site.. I've been tracking my economy on a different site for a while now, but there is no real community there to speak of. I just wanted to say Hi! and start delving into the forums a bit.

I acquired a completely stock 1995 Mustang GT Conv. back in February, and decided that I was going to try to be as efficient with it as I can manage. When I received it, I was getting an abysmal 13 mpg. It had been in an accident at some point, and was sitting for about 8 months. Within a few months of first driving it, and very little physical changes to the car (reset the computer to learn how I drive, new plugs and wires, removed the a/c) I have managed to average up over 17. There's still a ways to go, and I am interested in seeing just how much I can get out of it.. I think my mpg can be improved greatly while still having the ability to let it gallop once in a while.

azraelswrd · 08-11-2008, 02:29 PM

Howdy! Whoa, didn't know horses could get that low in mpg but at least you can only go up, right?

100+ hypermiling / ecodriving tips to increase gas mileage - EcoModder.com
big help on starting out for me

Red · 08-11-2008, 02:47 PM

Welcome to EM. Got a couple of other 'stang owners on the board. They should chime in

xOrion73x · 08-11-2008, 02:53 PM

Thanks for the greetings!

I just went ahead and put in my mileage data from the other site.. having the EPA comparison is a little daunting, but a really nice feature.

I am hoping that my relative lowness has something to do with the front suspension being a little on the screwey side. I am actually going in this afternoon to get a quote on getting it straightened up a bit.

trikkonceptz · 08-11-2008, 02:54 PM

Welcome,

And wow have you started behind the eight ball ... LOL

The car is beautiful, I should know I build them up here at work, but here is what I have noticed about the new Mustangs ..

-Horrible front end aero design
-Convertible top ... ouch ..
-Front and rear bumpers and body design allow the wheels to hang outside the bodyline, doing nothing but creating all kinds of bad airflow
-Mustang under bellies are a mess ...

The good news though is I was thinking about this very thing today as I stared at a GT500 and thought that a widebody kit would go a long way to improve the vehicles looks plus aerodynamics. Add a bellypan to this design and you can see some mean improvements ..

For now though concentrate on driving habits, I drove a coupe for a couple of days with a supercharger and was getting 19mpg on the hwy.

Good Luck

SVOboy · 08-11-2008, 03:09 PM

Welcome to ecomodder! Is the 95 stang obd2?

xOrion73x · 08-11-2008, 03:40 PM

I *think* so.... but Im not sure... what would be a difference between OBD and OBD2? I know I have a jack tucked away around shin level somewhere.

(I am actually going nuts trying to find factory data to fill out the stuff in my garage entry.. I would imagine OBD generation would be hiding out with it somewhere.)

SVOboy · 08-11-2008, 03:46 PM

I think that some 95 mustangs came with obd2, should be a diagnostics port around where you mentioned. This allows you to hook up stuff like a scangauge II.

trikkonceptz · 08-11-2008, 06:32 PM

My apologies on the comments regarding the 95 aero, I have new Mustang on the brain and convinced myself you had a 2005 Mustang convertible.

cfg83 · 08-11-2008, 06:53 PM

xOrion73x -

Welcome to EM! You will find a good bunch of Mustangs here. To find out if you are OBD II compatible, go to an Autozone style store and see if they can read your car's OBD II port. Hmmmmm, but that will only "officially" cover scan codes. You want more info than that.

From what I understand, 1996 was the year of mandatory compliance, but the auto companies were implementing the OBD II spec early in some cars. I am betting you will be able to see "some but not all" OBD II variables. On Mustang forums you might get a better answer to this. Also, some of the other Mustang owners may be able to chime in for you.

I just went here and looked for your Mustang :

ScanGaugeII - Compatible Vehicle List

Code:

Year    Make     Model(s)          Engine(L)
1994    Ford     Mustang           3.8
1995    Ford     Mustang,Windstar  3.8

It looks like they implemented it on the 3.8 Liter drivetrains. Since you have a 5.0 Liter, your iffy for compatibility.

CarloSW2

Tango Charlie · 08-11-2008, 07:40 PM

Welcome!
Don't worry, I haven't seen any shooting around here. There's SUV drivers on here doing what they can with what they got.
I always liked the '95 body style Mustang. Sharp car.
My advice;
Peruse the 100+ tips...implement as many as you can.
buy a ScanGauge-if you're OBD2. If not, build a MPGuino.
Have fun.

Johnny Mullet · 08-11-2008, 08:04 PM

Welcome to ecomodder. I have a feeling you will break 25MPG with that Pony by next year.

Greenblazer · 08-12-2008, 08:18 AM

Welcome! Ponys are kewl. The biggest difference is had by adjusting the nut behind the wheel.

Later,

Allan Greenblazer

xOrion73x · 08-12-2008, 03:11 PM

Thanks for all the warm welcomes =)

I'll definitely have to see about a Scanguage.

trikkonceptz- no worries =) for some reason initially I actually had wondered if you were thinking the newer body style.

I just got a frame shop to look at my front end, and it seems that it will not be bad at all to get it de-tweaked. I am planning eventually on installing some aftermarket suspension components to reduce weight wherever I can.