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Old 06-27-2016, 12:19 AM   #14 (permalink)
19bonestock88
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: KY
Posts: 1,346

IGL - '04 Saturn Ion
Team Saturn
90 day: 56.19 mpg (US)
Thanks: 63
Thanked 364 Times in 268 Posts
Well, my car has the 4T45E transaxle(still despise it's being an automatic but no manual was offered on this car) with the 3.63 final drive ratio, and I turn around 2600 at an indicated 80mph... Other final drives were offered (the 4T45 behind the 3.5V6 was 3.08, and the Malibu Maxx had like a 3.23 ratio to compensate for weight), but I don't know how well my L61 (2.2 L4)PCM would play with a taller transmission... Not that it has power to turn taller gears anyway... The main issues with getting great highway mpg is the interstate on which I do much of my highway driving(most of it is two lane at 55-60mph), it has lots of 5 and 6% grades, on which the engine struggles, and the trans kicks down, and then I'm turning 4000+RPM getting an instant reading of about 12... Figuring out how to get the trans to stay in OD and still maintain speed is just a matter of reducing resistances(drag, rolling resistance, weight), but I'm just getting started...
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