So, I finished up slapping mods on the Civic this weekend and ran a second set of bi-directional average speed runs from 70 through 100 km/h (44 - 62 mph).
I'm super pleased with the results. I might say chuffed, even!
>>>
15% average improvement over the A set of runs. <<<
Take this with an appropriately sized grain of salt. I'm not planning to remove/reinstall this set of mods for a proper A-B-A test under the same day/conditions.
The
absolute MPG figures just seem too good to believe: with all the mods in place, the ScanGauge reported 64 mpg (US) at 80 km/h (50 mph). Unmodified, it showed 55.9 mpg at that speed. I'll just have to wait for a fill up to calibrate it and see how close to (or far from) reality it is.
Though I would think the
relative/percent change should hold, regardless of whether the gauge is calibrated or not.
UPDATE: calibration against multiple fill-ups showed those numbers were optimistic by ~10%
That 15% average improvement represents the sum effect of
15 mods:
- Increased tire pressure
- Daytime running lights switch (DRL's off)
- 6.5% taller gearing (taller tires)
- Reduced tire/fender gap (taller tires and slightly greater wheel offset)
- 100% smooth wheel covers
- Civic hybrid style decklid spoiler (CAD ... cardboard... version)
- Civic hybrid style rear wheel spats
- Full upper grille block
- Partial lower grille block
- Licence plate relocation (better aero than the stock bracket)
- Passenger side mirror delete
- Driver side mirror folded (highway), with convex mirror mounted on trailing edge
- 1 wiper delete
- Vertical spoilers on the rear bumper corners
- Big @$$ air dam (which scrapes now & again)
Tomorrow I'll make a nice graph and post some more pics of the mods I've done since the last photo shoot.
Teaser! (Hybrid style rear spoiler, C.A.D... cardboard aided design version. You can also kinda see the vertical spoilers on the bumper corners.)
