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Old 08-21-2008, 05:09 PM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,530

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
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A few more small aero Metro tweaks; still improving

So, the permanent Kammback is now mounted on the car and I did a few other minor tweaks.

1) Taped the hood/bumper gap. It's actually a fairly significant opening on the Metro, as you can see in this pic:



That gap is maybe 24 square inches. Running at around 50 mph on level roads, my coolant temp was sitting at 198-202 F with that gap taped up, which is a couple degrees higher than with it open. This car's fan kicks on automatically at 205 or 206 F, and off again at 195.

2) Deleted the exterior antenna from the A pillar. Just like Mullet did to his car. Taped over the opening for now.

3) Removed windshield wipers (beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky)

I'm seeing some pretty nice numbers at speeds I haven't seen before. Just did a 60 mile round trip on secondary roads 38 mph avg/59 mph max, driving with load on the open road where traffic permitted (pulling over, or speeding up where it didn't). EOC and P&G at either end where appropriate and saw 80 mpg (US) even for the round trip.

On one 7.7 mile stretch of mostly level road, in a flow of traffic (NOT drafting) with an 8 kt following wind, I saw 75.8 mpg averaging 52 mph/59 mph max.

I'm not saying these three mods are particularly significant or made a noticeable difference, but those are numbers I'll happily take!

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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