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Old 05-15-2013, 06:23 PM   #13 (permalink)
laserwizard
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: virginia
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Update

Over the past week I have worked on streamlining the front of my 1997 Escort.

First, I used foam and filled in the places where most cars have their fog lights (my car doesn't have them) and then I used duct tape (body color) and carefully masked over the tape so that there were no ripples. As this is a test, this isn't intended to be permanent but I want it to look good anyway! Used a good tape and it cost $3 and change at Walmart.

Second, I went to Dollar Tree and got a firm weather stripping with one sided tape backing and used this to fill in the crack for the hood sides and over the headlights and grill area to close off the gap between that and the hood. Cost $1 Thankfully my car is white and the tape and weatherstripping are also white so it doesn't really stand out.

Over this past weekend I averaged 49.8 mpgs (via scanguage II) over a round trip of 90% highway and 10% mixed driving - total distance 120 miles. This is roughly 2 mpgs better than it got before the mods - I was averaging about 47 mpgs on the highway before - and the pickup in mileage also had me driving in more traffic than usual so I was really watching not to impede traffic with too much coasting down hills and light acceleration up them. I am sure I can hit 50 mpgs on average.

Next road trip I'll bump up the pressure in tires from 40 to 42 though I will watch pressure since the temps are now warming up and I don't want to overdo it.
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