10-13-2009, 03:33 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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My Goal: 35 MPG All City
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
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Plugs & Wires, MPG gain... take it as you will
Got new spark plugs and spark plug wires.
One plug and wire was particularly pretty screwed cuz the RETARDS who put the 1 spark plug wire in put in one that was NOT for a neon... and I know this b/c it was SHAVED down to fit in the barrel where the spark plug is.... I KNOW RETARDED RIGHT?!?!
I knew that one looked weird from outside appearance but they claimed it was the same so I went with it... It rusted the inside of the wire, the plug and some of the barrel...
Anyways... I replaced them & my MPG went up i'd say about 1/2 to 1 MPG but I know how you guys are, you will say I just got lucky missing a few lights or drove in better weather or something haha  dont beat me up for that comment
Anyways in the snip it shows all the MPGs that would be consistent w/ each other (How I was driving, weather, exc...) and you see the 10/10 one went up a little... 
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10-13-2009, 06:43 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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chop suey
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Obviously if you fix a misfire you improve fe.
But if you take a perfectly functioning stock system and add miracle wires/plugs/whatever and claim fe increases, prepare for critiques.
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10-13-2009, 06:49 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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My Goal: 35 MPG All City
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Lee
Obviously if you fix a misfire you improve fe.
But if you take a perfectly functioning stock system and add miracle wires/plugs/whatever and claim fe increases, prepare for critiques.
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Well while I was ideling sometimes it would dip and act like it was going to turn off so I pretty much just hoped that it was the wires or plugs and they were so yeah... It was also jumping a little down the highway too but im not sure if that went away, I have not notice it do it yet so maybe that was it too...
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10-14-2009, 12:50 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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Moderate your Moderation.
Join Date: Nov 2008
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A tune-up does wonders for an engine. You might do well to spray clean your engine now, since you're aware of a misfire condition in it's history. You'll want to take a spray bottle full of water, and lightly mist it into the intake with the throttle partially open.
The alternative is just to use some SeaFoam as per the directions on the can, which might appease any fear of water in the engine you have.
As far as the shaved spark plug wire, I've seen/done similar. I got plug wires for the wrong Honda engine before, and just trimmed them up to fit on the engine that I was using. It happens, and if you're good, and use dielectric silicone grease, it doesn't cause a problem. In your case, well... you see.
Unfortunately for your mileage increase, you've also been testing a partial grille block, and one tank just isn't enough to show a marked improvement. Your "improvement" is well within the margin of error, and thus, could be counted as variation. What you'll need for proof is a sustained improvement over an average of tanks.
While I'm not doubting that you got something from doing this, I also want you to know and be prepared for what will undoubtedly be recognized by others.
__________________
"Ώʞɐǝɹɟ ɐ ǝɹ,noʎ uǝɥʍ 'ʇı ʇ,usı 'ʎlǝuol s,ʇı"
I'd like to think that people might open their eyes at some point... instead, I find it more and more likely that I'll just close mine.
-- Author kept secret.
Je ne veux pas d'une meilleure vie. Je veux κtre heureux avec celle que j'ai maintenant.
(I do not want a better life. I want to be happy with the one I have now.)
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10-18-2009, 02:24 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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My Goal: 35 MPG All City
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 616
Thanks: 20
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UPDATE: not so good
Wow, I was hoping for a good consistent next fuel log but instead I hit an all time low??  3MPG less? Is there an explanation for this or do you think it was just having bad luck with lights or something? 
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10-19-2009, 09:35 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Idiot Suv?? Sav?? Sev?? S
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Perhaps a light issue, or the first tank on winter gas.
Stuff happens, that is why you need long time records to show an improvement trend.
__________________
You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything - even poverty - you can survive it. Bill Cosby
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The Following User Says Thank You to metroschultz For This Useful Post:
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10-20-2009, 12:53 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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My Goal: 35 MPG All City
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 616
Thanks: 20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by metroschultz
Perhaps a light issue, or the first tank on winter gas.
Stuff happens, that is why you need long time records to show an improvement trend.
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Hmm, I didn't think of that at all... Thanks 
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10-29-2009, 11:06 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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My Goal: 35 MPG All City
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 616
Thanks: 20
Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts
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My fuel logs are going back to the mid 28s again... YAY! I blame it on the plugs, wires, and getting the other 2 LRR tires I was missing... BTW I put on a full grill block recently, maybe it will help a little
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10-29-2009, 11:08 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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My Goal: 35 MPG All City
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 616
Thanks: 20
Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts
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10-29-2009, 04:59 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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...beats walking...
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
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...new plugs & wires = putting things BACK to where they're SUPPOSED to be, which just gets you BACK to 100%-optimal efficiency...anything goes wrong and you're DOWN to less than optimal.
...count the LRR tires as ABOVE 100% because they weren't OEM on the car, they're a BONUS over that 100%-optimal benchmark.
...count the grill block as ABOVE too, if it works well enough (some changes are only subtle).
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