Sold my van that did not like gasohol and got this 1996 Suzuki X-90. The guy I bought it off said he got 38mpg going from Charlotte to Atlanta and 33mpg average. He changed the fluids to synthetic and ran the tires at 25psi.
All these numbers are with 10% alcohol gasohol, probably would get a little better with full gasoline.
1st week I drove it and averaged 33.7mpg without any changes to get a baseline. Then the fun starts, first thing was to reduce a little weight. Stock curb weight is 2400 and I live close to some digital DOT scales so I confirmed that minus my weight...lol. I have learned to live without a space even driving with a flat tire for over 30 miles. I carry a plug kit which I can usually plug a tire on the car without removing the tire and I carry a small lightweight cig lighter air compressor. So I took out the spare and a very heavy jack. Went and weighed and I got it down to 2,220 without me in it again so not bad.
Next thing was to change the air pressure which when I checked was 20psi front and 15psi rear. Checked the sidewall and it states max psi at 44psi so I start pumping them all up to 44psi which takes a while when you have to let the air compressor rest. Do a test run to Atlanta and get 42.3mpg on the way down driving 70mph+. On the way back I stayed under 65mph and got better gas mileage at 44.8mpg.
So moving on to more serious mods today I removed the engine mounted flex fan, and since it has power steering I removed the power steering. Then I side gapped the spark plugs and advanced the timing a couple degrees. Then I went out in 102.1 weather and tested for a couple hours and the temp stayed normal even doing stop and go and letting sit and idle for an hour. I have a digital thermometer so I checked various spots and at the hottest(top of radiator) temp was 190^F. So no worries there. Also noticed it was extremely fun to drive now with the extra horses have to forget they are there to keep getting good mileage. Ohh almost forgot also made a tunnel from the exhaust manifold area to the now block off cold air intake and re-routed it take in the hotter air. I made it with some aluminum foil. Worked out pretty good. Will have to take some pics but here is a pic of the car itself. Being that I ride with the T-tops off mostly in the city I haven't done any aerodynamic mods yet. But stock aerodynamics should be very good to start with. I would like to change out the custom grill and find a stock grill to go back in it. I did take off an antenna dice and put the antenna all the way down into it's pocket.
