[FatCat0]

Originally Posted by hackish

I think it's nice that some people have posted ABA results which do move toward a bit more of a scientific approach. That in itself is still quite susceptable to confirmation bias and given that driving style has a very significant impact on fuel consumption it is still far from being scientifically sound. My 5 gas analyzer is over $5k, dyno time costs me $100/hr, I get it not everyone has the equipment or coin to research all their ideas.

You do make a good point that this is a shelf full of stuff people can pick and choose from but few people have a highly indepth background in aerodynamics, vehicle safety, engine management to make an informed decision about the "tricks" posted here.

In theory some of these things are good ideas, poulsen's hybrid idea for example but what does 38lbs of junk attached to your wheels do to the suspension components? Is it safe? Will it cause premature failure of your wheel bearings? Does it have a safe failure mode? What happens if one side's regen fails? Adding that unsprung weight also has a significant impact on the handling.

This is an enthusiasts site, I get that, but it is very important that some of these mods be heavily researched and discussed before adoption or promotion as a good idea. Tailcones- what do they do in a collision? Are you going to lose your duct taped parts on the highway? Is your magical engine cutoff switch or alternator cut or whatever the eco-mod of the week going to catch your car on fire? Short out and burn you? What happens to 200lbs of lead acid batteries in the trunk should you be involved in a crash? Shutting your car off to roll down a hill, does everyone who read that tip know what happens to your braking system once the brake booster is empty?

I'm not against car mods - I do that every day for a living. I do have a bit of a problem with statements and advice given out that may not be well researched, tested or safe to do or try. Maybe in this section it would be worthwhile to weed through all the items, have some technical discussions and build an endorsed list of hypermiling tricks or mods.

I'd rather PM this but I can't quite yet (I'm very new around these parts): Where could I find the thread of yours on P&G?