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Old 08-28-2012, 11:20 PM   #33 (permalink)
Varn
Do more with less
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North Eastern Missouri
Posts: 930

OD - '05 Ford Econoline
90 day: 18.64 mpg (US)

Joetta - '86 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Oil Burner
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 49.71 mpg (US)

Benzilla - '85 Mercedes Benz 300D
90 day: 28.08 mpg (US)
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Welcome

You probably can get 8-10 mpg better if you drive like you have an eggshell under your rt foot and keep your speed to 55 mph. Take a mile to get up to speed. If your car is a manual get it in top gear as soon as you can bordering on lugging the engine probably with a v8 you can't hardly lug the engine just keep it to 1500 or 1700.

I can get 18 mpg in a loaded econoline doing exactly that. I can get 26 mpg in a 99 windstar with a stock drivetrain and high mileage. Both probably have 2x or more aero drag than your small car.

If you only use light throttle cheaper fuel will not be a detriment. The cylinders are choked off and don't fill up at high pressure like they do with the throttle valves open.

I bought a VW Diesel for less than 2000. In the two years that I have owned it I have put on a fan belt, a set of tires and a fuel line. I've done some aero work and am getting about 54 mpg. I am in top gear before 35 mostly. The engine has amazing low end pulling power. You can let out the clutch in first gear and roll away no throttle needed. Easy to do that with a 300 hp v8. It starts basically instantly 3 seasons a year. In winter it likes to be plugged in for an hour.

Do the math on converting water into its separate components It takes more energy to do the electrolysis than the energy you get out of it.


Quote:
Originally Posted by BBrown7888 View Post
Hey everyone, I just joined today and have a few questions. I will be building an eco car for my monthly trips from NC to NJ and also what ever other long drives I find myself taking. Right now I do them in my CTS-V which gets about 20 MPG on premium and costs $130-$150 to go to NJ and back which sucks when you do it constantly.

Please feel free to chime in and tell me I'm wrong or if there is a better/cheaper way... but here is my plan

I'm think about starting with an '88-91 honda CRX (I dont have my heart set on this so if there is a better choice let me know)

Completely gutting the car to reduce the weight as much as possible.
replace the front bumper and side skirts with flat plastic.
Fabricate flat hub caps
fabricate rear wheel covers
Lower the ride height
"Boat Tail"
Skid Plate
Skinny, taller tires
Seal all seams
Remove power steering

Over time I am also thinking about adding a hydrogen kit. I know it won't increase the MPG's by to much but it will reduce my cost per mile which is the main goal.

Like I said before, any and all advise will be appreciated.

Thank you,

Brian
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