Quote:
Originally Posted by charlo49
i have been trying. i set the cruise control at 60...
i'm also investigating removing the side mirrors and installing a rearview camera. any comments on that?
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The best place to start trying is here:
109 hypermiling / ecodriving tips ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlo49
i'm more interested in the principle of whether you can make any improvements that actually work as an experiment.
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Improvements that actually work are listed here:
68 vehicle mods for better fuel economy ...
The fun part with this is that every platform is different with its own unique aerodynamic, weight, powertrain and other issues. Identical mods will have different results on different cars. Removing the side mirrors will helpful, but will they be as helpful as wheel skirts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlo49
...i'm not so concerned with roi at the moment.
few of these devices seem to have been objectively tested so we really don't know whether they work or not. i'm willing to outlay some money in the interests of science.
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ROI is another way of saying "effectiveness." Every production car will benefit from some basic mods the moment you make them, while reinventing the wheel for combustion in your spare time may help someday- in the car that you've left otherwise as inefficient as it was the day it left the factory. Until you hone your own driving skills to be as effective as possible none of your data will be worth a damn. None of it. The driver is the biggest variable in FE and you can't objectively test anything until you can be an objective tester. Time spent working on technique isn't wasted- time spent driving without working on technique is.
There's no sense wishing for better mileage if you won't work on yourself.
There's no sense modifying your car if you won't modify the way you use it.
There's no sense reinventing combustion if you're going to ignore bigger inefficiencies.
A journey of a thousand li starts with a single step. Start with that one.