[gizzardgulpe]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Biggest way to get better mpg is to adjust the nut behind the steering wheel. Sounds like you are going a constant highway speed. You need to mix it up by slowing down and speeding up to add a P&G cycle to your drive.

As soon as I figure out why the car slows down so much when I try to coast, I'll add that in.

Originally Posted by Cobb

Sounds like its at the stock height, have you considered cutting the springs to lower it and reduce air profile?

This is a tricky mod because the car has a semi-trailing link rear suspension, and the wheels canter outward when the springs are compressed. By shortening the springs, the wheels will raise relative to the body and the insides of my tires will likely wear away from the extra contact. I really want to lower the car, but I would also have to alter the alignment for it, and I don't quite have the technical know-how to do it safely.

Originally Posted by Cobb

Have you done a compression test as the engine maybe warn more than it was before.

I have not. In fact, I don't know how to do that and I never thought about it.

Originally Posted by Cobb

Have you checked timing, air filter, plugs and such? Have you double checked to see if a wai helps mpg on your longer trips or actually hurts it?

The timing has been a bit of a pain. The official manual has a method for doing the timing, and when I followed that method, I lost a ton of power in second and third gear. It was too dangerous to drive in town because I couldn't pull into traffic fast enough. So I'm at a bit of a loss as to how it should be timed. Currently, I have it set to idle smoothly in drive with the brake set (maybe 15 to 20 degrees at ~700 RPM?), as if I were stopped at a stop light. Before, it felt like it would die when I came to a stop.

Air filter and plugs are new and in good condition. As for the warm air intake, I've only gotten gas once since then and it was about 1 mpg higher than before. I don't yet have enough data to see if it is making a difference.

Originally Posted by Cobb

Is the egr clogged up or working of? Has the alignment been checked at some point?

I would be mighty surprised if the engine has an egr. If it does, it's complicated and hidden away, because the exhaust manifold is pretty simple, and so is the intake.

The alignment I think was checked back in March, but I don't recall. I really only remember the problems he pointed out, and not so much the incidental stuff (and the paperwork seems to be missing. I swear it was behind the passenger seat...). For what it's worth, the car goes straight when the wheel is centered.

Originally Posted by Cobb

Is the electric fan cycling or running all the time?

I have it connected to a toggle switch on the dash. I run it when the temperature gauge gets high and turn it off when the engine cools.

Originally Posted by Cobb

All these little things add up.

If more little things are what it takes, I'm all ears.