TopGear.com America high mpg project (regeared, aeromodded diesel Rabbit)

[tasdrouille]

Using a grimy old cone air filter we found on the shop floor seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn't, and replacing it with a $20 oil-cotton air filter netted us nearly 5 mpg

...over the grimy old filter should you have specified.

Else Congrats! You'd just have found a way to increase mpg no one else in the TDI community has found before. As a matter of fact, anything other than stock OEM filters has never been proven to increase max power or fuel economy. The only thing that has been proven with those oiled filter, even when properly oiled, they kill the MAF on the ALH TDI (which is a heated film, more sensible to dirt than the previous heated wire type MAF in the mk3).

Good job on this article, very accurate with good references.

You already busted you budget though, without counting labor and you're still missing nozzles and tuning (at least $500).

[basjoos]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

And to set the record straight, basjoos (Aerocivic) doesn't draft trucks. Neither do I (glommed on plastic and aluminum Metro owner). .

Even if I did start drafting trucks, it would result in almost no improvement in my mileage since my Cd is so low that drafting has almost no effect on my coasting performance. In a sense, my car is drafting off itself.

[eyesoreracing]

We're not wasting any time.



Project Sipster: California or bust - Top Gear US

Another epic is up. This should answer a few of your questions, but not that many...
There's also a video. Click around a bit, you'll find it.

-Dave

[MetroMPG]

Nice! So all we have to do to get contraband through US customs is make a web site and post fabricated stories about efficiency improvements?

EcoModder.com is so busted.

Just a thought: if TopGear.com is going to keep lobbing Prius/Sipster MPG comparos, I hope the credibility of the series isn't flushed by comparing the bunny's "ultimate" fuel economy performance against the Toyota's EPA rating.

I know a Prius owner who demonstrated his lightly aeromodded car is good for 70 mpg US @ 60 mph in summer weather on flat roads. (Either that or 55 mph - I forget - but it doesn't change my point...)

Ideally you'll run a Prius through the same gauntlet you use for the Sipster, since everybody (here) knows most vehicles can either vastly outperform or underperform their rating depending on conditions & how far you diverge from the driving regime the EPA's tests are based on.

EDIT: not defending the Prius specifically, just an apples to apples approach.

[tasdrouille]

Start in 2nd, it's faster to 60 that way. 1st is almost useless on those cars. It's Harder on the clutch, but I don't think you mind if it doesn't last 100k miles...

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

EDIT: not defending the Prius specifically, just an apples to apples approach.

Kinda off topic, they probably could've dropped in running gear from a wrecked Prius and pulled the same mileage/acceleration they're seeing now. The power/torque outputs and fuel consumption figures are more or less the same, which puts into perspective any claims about out-sipping a Prius and annihilating it to 60mph.

That's like sticking a 400hp big rig engine in a F-350 with a curb weight of 8k lbs, then bragging about how I get better mileage and can accelerate faster, ignoring of course that the rig weighs in at 40k-50k lbs more than the pickup.

[giff]

Hey guys, not too much on the aero or engine modification front this time around, but figured you would be interested regardless. The mileage and aero tweaks are on their way!


Project Sipster: Safer Sipster - Top Gear US

[SVOboy]

Hey giff, thanks for the updating! Looking forward to the more hardcore ecomods

[Daox]

So, whats the total cost up to now? Thats $1k in suspension upgrades.

[MetroMPG]

Dave: you're being too hard on yourselves with the "Necessary for 70 mpg?"
column in the table of suspension upgrades! They don't all have to read "NO".

Just Google "death turn hypermiling" to find out what I mean. Conserve momentum!