Before:
After:
Got the grille block just right: the electric cooling fan threshold is 207 F; temp sat around 184 F at 80 kph / 50 mph; low 190's at 105 kph / 65 mph; the max coolant temp for the day was 197 F (climbing for a little while @ 105 kph). Ambient temp was around 75-80 F.
After after:
52.6 mpg = 4.5 L/100 km
This was a round trip, mostly taking the scenic route. Details:
- 80 kph / 50 mph posted limit for most of the drive, drove at or near the limit everywhere (a few above or below depending on traffic).
- includes 50 km / 30 miles @ 100-110 kph / 62-68 mph
- includes passing through many small towns (lower speed zones), some with stop lights
- twice through the downtown of a small city (pop 117,000), many stops & traffic lights
- NO engine off coasting. The onboard fuel consumption meter does NOT update when the engine isn't running (regardless of whether the car is moving or not) and I'm trying to calibrate it. So all coasting was the E-ON-C variety.
- Engine off at long lights, though
- fine weather, dry roads, negligible winds
- aside from the air dam & grille block, the only other mod is tires at 45 (sidewall max.)