This Sucks... - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Mogal · 02-17-2009, 10:35 PM

Hey all! First post. (you all gave me the eco bug!

)

I've had my Geo for about 5 years now, and always had the gas milage thing in the back of my head. Finding this site has has enlightened me even more!!

I always thought I got better milage then what I was, using imperial gallons (by mistake) insted of US... Doh!

anyways... the GEO is not doing to well at 37mpg.
(City Driving - higher RPMs - Not eco-ing yet

)

So tonight, I tracked down a Tach and a vacuum gauge.
(The Tach is on order) and I've installed the Vac Gauge.
Some pics attached.

Do I have the Vac gauge installed in the right place?
Where else could/should it be installed?
The reason I ask is, with the car at idle, the guage reads nothing!
I start to accellerate, and the guage climbs... Video of Vac Gauge

Can someone give me some insight of whats going on?

Car seems to be running very well at the moment.
I've changed my timing from 0deg TDC (stupid Mech) to 8deg BTDC, and ensured my tires at 44psi since the last mpg reading.

Mogal · 02-17-2009, 10:45 PM

Sorry guys, Carbon interface error.
I changed the location of the vacuum line, and I now get 18" at idle...

MetroMPG · 02-17-2009, 11:01 PM

Hi Mogal - welcome to the forum, and glad you figured out the vac gauge.

cheers- Darin

Johnny Mullet · 02-17-2009, 11:36 PM

My vacuum gauge was one of my best investments.

Welcome to the site.

90metro · 03-03-2009, 11:27 PM

Sorry to sound ignorant (you're dealing with Mr. Mechanically-challenged here), but what is the benefit of a vacuum guage? And once I understand the benefit, what would one cost to install??

David

Christ · 03-04-2009, 12:33 AM

Benefit - You can get a good idea of how much load your engine is under at any given point in time, so you can adjust your foot with a visual aid, instead of guessing at it.

Cost - About $20-$30, usually.

Mogal · 03-04-2009, 12:46 AM

The vacuum gage represents engine load.
And with that info you can define your acceleration rate, and steady state driving.

Mine cost me 28 bucks CND.

Some more info here: Vacuum Installation Guide

wikityler · 03-04-2009, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mogal

Mine cost me 28 bucks CND.

Where did you buy it?

Mogal · 03-04-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wikityler

Where did you buy it?

I picked it up at a local store called 'Esquimalt Auto'

Lordco had the same unit for 34 bucks...
(ask for a discount, sometimes they will)