How do I score?

[RandomFact314]

So how do I score in the 40mpgs in my neon? I went from 26 up to 32... Is there a secret to this?

Some things that I don't understand about ecomodding that might help:

1st question:::::The thermostat.... are people replacing them with higher temp ones? can i do that? should I do that? what is the usual advantages? Mine usually stays pretty low (about half) so I could spare some degrees if it will help me enough...

2nd question:::::And what is "lean burn" will someone explain this to me? can I do that to my car? *sorry im ignorant*

3ed question:::::I have no idea how to do this and dont have the money anyways but how much would it cost to convert to manual? how much would that make me go up?

Thanks for the help

[RandomFact314]

Sorry about all the CRX-CRAZY comments I make all the time...
I think I just realized that it cant be THAT hard to get a good 40mpg in the neon so I think I will just keep the neon and be happy with it

[McTimson]

1. I don't know. A block heater would probably do more good, but since you're in SC, it might not make too much of a difference.

2. Lean burn is a feature on certain engines, I know Honda and Mitsubishi have them, that basically reuses some exhaust product as gas again. Some quick definitions are available here. It's not really a 'bolt-on' modification you can just add to your car, unless you want to swap the entire engine with a lean burn engine. Unless another model of your car had a lean-burn engine, it would be pretty difficult to add the engine, you'd have to make custom engine mounts, fit the engine to the transmission, and deal with other issues as well.

3. It will cost whatever a manual transmission, clutch pedal, shifter assembly, and some other various parts will cost you at a junkyard, eBay, or wherever else you can find them. Let's say $500 in parts, plus the time it will take you to swap the transmission, and figure out all the other electronic stuff as well....the newer the car, the harder it is, for the most part. You probably wouldn't see an overall financial gain for a while, unless you could sell the automatic parts for a decent amount. Personally, I would save the manual swap for when your automatic starts acting funky, or developing leaks, or some other reason to replace it. I'm sure that you can find a guide online for converting a Neon to a manual. Neon's are fairly common cars, and I'd be surprised if there wasn't already a guide on how to do it.

Also, what does your typical route look like? Unless you're driving highway miles, 40MPG is going to be very tough with an automatic. If you're getting 32 city, then that is very impressive, and you really should be happy with it.

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by McTimson

1. I don't know. A block heater would probably do more good, but since you're in SC, it might not make too much of a difference......Also, what does your typical route look like? Unless you're driving highway miles, 40MPG is going to be very tough with an automatic. If you're getting 32 city, then that is very impressive, and you really should be happy with it.

Hey thanks!

I'm sorry but what exactly is a block heater, I understand it heats the block of the engine but is it something i bolt to the block or almost just like a normal heater that i just plug in and put under the engine to heat it up a little before i drive?

Jeez, that would be awesome if I can go up on the heat on the thermostat b/c it never gets over half anyways, even in the worst conditions iv only gone up like 1 mm haha..

My typical route I would say is litterally probably 1/2 suburbs 1/2 highway
I usually try to go 40 in the suburban roads and 55 on highway, unless its night, which case I usually go 50-55...

[RandomFact314]

for my old fiero I got to choose from 160, 180, and 195 degree thermostats all for the same model so there should be a way to go up on the neon...

[Christ]

There is probably a 185 or 190* tstat in there now. I'm assuming you have the 2.4 w/ a 3 speed auto, right?

There is no lean burn option for Neons (or any Chrysler, for that matter..) There is EGR, but it's difficult to mess with safely.

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by Christ

There is probably a 185 or 190* tstat in there now. I'm assuming you have the 2.4 w/ a 3 speed auto, right?

There is no lean burn option for Neons (or any Chrysler, for that matter..) There is EGR, but it's difficult to mess with safely.

Well my stock thermostat is a 195 so I would need a little higher

[Christ]

Not likely to find one, honestly. 195 is fairly high as it is. The Tstat options are actually only there if you're having problems with running too hot. If you block your grille, it's probably OK to go down to a lower temp tstat, to give your radiator more of a chance to cool the fluid from a lower temp than normal.

IF you're overcooling, obviously, you'd want a higher t-stat.

Your OEM temp gauge is crap - get a thermometer or a scangauge or something to actually monitor your real engine temps. That OEM gauge reads normal within a certain range of temps... not the actual temp. It won't tell you that you're overheating until you're right near danger zone.

So what engine/trans do you have?

[RandomFact314]

Originally Posted by Christ

Not likely to find one, honestly...............................So what engine/trans do you have?

2.0 Liter
3 speed auto

[Christ]

Your auto has lockup, but it's fluid controlled.

You dont have a TCU/TCM, so you can swap in a 5 speed from a Neon/PTC at will, as long as it's one that comes from a 2.0/2.4 engine.

The longest gears are from base model PTC's. You'll need to swap in the PCM from a 5 speed Neon, though.

Check Neons.org for swap info, but I probably wouldn't bother signing up there, it's a "brat" community.