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Old 03-14-2010, 06:36 AM   #10 (permalink)
thatguitarguy
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Leadville, CO
Posts: 509

Maroon Ballon - '98 Chrysler Town & Country LXI
90 day: 26.42 mpg (US)

MaEsTRO - '95 Geo Metro 5spd hatch, 3 cyl
Thanks: 47
Thanked 54 Times in 38 Posts
A grill block goes in front of the grill, not behind it. A radiator block goes behind the grill. A grill block helps force the air up and over the car for aerodynamic advantage, while still allowing some air to the radiator, but not much.

Auto-choke was used in older cars with carburetors - with fuel injection the computers sprays more fuel to increase the ratio of fuel to air. To trick the computer you would have to make it think that the engine is warmer. It has sensors in the coolant and in other places.

The best thing you can do is to learn how to adjust your driving. Don't power your way up to a light and then hit and hold the brakes. Watch ahead of you and see how far ahead the light is green. If it's red, don't power up to it, let off the gas and coast up to the light or the car in front of you before braking, or if it's about to change, brake early and then as the traffic starts rolling, you are already traveling at the right speed, and you don't have to come to a complete stop.

The biggest FE killer is starting from a complete stop, whether from a traffic light or from park. It takes a lot of power to get a car rolling from a dead stop, and every time you bring it to a stop, you have to start over.

Don't ever "punch it". That will kill your FE. Accelerate smoothly from a stop, and when you are up to speed, ease off and see how far you can go before you have to hit the accelerator again.

Make it a game. The winners are always rolling without ever hitting the gas or the brakes. The less you use either pedal, the more FE points you rack up.
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