Huh. I swear that we always tell people "For every 10% weight reduction you increase fuel economy 5%." That means that if you reduce your weight 100% you only increase MPG 50%!
However, when I looked up Aerohead he said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by aerohead
I looked back over my materials,going back into the 1970s,and couldn't get a "straight answer" about weight reduction.In 1975,a 10% reduction would net about 3.7% average,the range was 4.8-6.48%. A 1973 intermediate car(3500-lbs) would see 0.4mpg hwy/0.5mpg city.In 1965 the SAE allowed 1/4mpg per 100-lbs weight loss.------------------------------- In 1991,100-lbs is supposed to yield 1mpg.----------------------- 1993 100-lbs nets 0.5mpg. Another source says lose 125 pounds,and pick up 0.5mpg.----------------------------- CAR and DRIVER compared the Mercedes 300E to the 300SEL and said the 470-lb weight difference( 12.41%) was good for 15% better fuel economy.---------------------------- Try and make sense out of all that!------------------------- I think if you drop 10%,you'll see it at the pump,especially in the city.Out on the open road I don't know.My CRX at 3,300-lbs only lost 2mpg compared to 1876-lbs.Good luck.
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I feel like that could have been formatted--or punctuated--more clearly.
What does Jules Verne say?
69 vehicle mods for better fuel economy says The EPA estimates that an
extra 100 lbs can mean a 1-2% increase in fuel consumption, with smaller vehicles affected more than larger ones.
Nissan is aiming to reduce vehicle weight 15% (from 2005 models) by 2015. They say that will yield a 10% drop in fuel consumption.
We can A-B-A test a run with a 100-pound weight reduction. Maybe your passenger and back seats weigh that much, but I have hardly had my passenger seat in my car since my brother walked on the roof.
Do you know what would be an easier test?
A-B-A test extra weight!
Of course, you would also be adjusting the ride height...