Ecomodding a '95 Mustang GT - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Canary5_0 · 04-07-2011, 01:39 AM

Hey everyone, just wanted to start a thread documenting my progress of various ecomods to my mustang. My goal is to consistently get over 25 mpg combined (from a 2008 EPA of 18) which is going to be no easy task with a 5L V8 and a 4 speed automatic. I want to keep the car looking as stock as possible. Thus I'm not looking at doing major body work. I have just finished fixing various problems related with almost 150k miles on the odometer so its running in tip top shape. I have also begun adjusting the nut behind the wheel so when my MPGuino gets here (should ship out by the end of this week) ill be ready to start testing various mods I have planned which i have listed below. I will post before pictures soon. Any input would be greatly appreiciated,

Current Ecomods:
Mobil 1 0W-30 motor oil
tires to 40 psi (stock= 32)

Planned Ecomods:
Lower grill, foglight, hood heat extractor, and side scoop blocks
Block ventilation holes on bottom side of front bumper
Body panel gap seal
Spoiler delete
Antenna Delete
Weight Reduction
Partial bellypan

suspectnumber961 · 04-08-2011, 05:54 AM

Best bet would be to keep your foot out of it...as in watching the tach and keeping the revs under whatever you see in top gear say at 55 mph. Sort of defeats the purpose of having a Mustang?

You might consider treating the engine and trans with Motorsilk. Trying some fuel additives.

Canary5_0 · 04-08-2011, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suspectnumber961

Best bet would be to keep your foot out of it...

I already do but without instant feedback its kindof hard to know what the sweet spot is for my car (already bought a MPGuino, but its shipping as we speak)

Quote:

Sort of defeats the purpose of having a Mustang?

Some might say that but when your trying to save money and this is the most fuel efficient car you have and you can't afford to buy something that gets better FE and when its slower than crap anyway...

Quote:

You might consider treating the engine and trans with Motorsilk. Trying some fuel additives.

Haven't heard of that have to look it up. As for fuel treatments I've tried different things for a while now and have seem to hit a wall with them so im just going to back to my usual can of Seafoam in the gas at every oil change (3000 miles).

Christ · 04-08-2011, 11:37 AM

I can't dress enough that with things like spoilers, you actually test the results. It may actually have a positive effect.

Canary5_0 · 04-08-2011, 12:31 PM

I have done a 75-55 mph coastdown with the spoiler on then off and with it off it increased the coastdown time by an average of 6 seconds. I have since put the spoiler back on as I want to see the difference in MPG once I get my MPGuino is installed

Christ · 04-08-2011, 02:08 PM

Not a bad idea, and thank you for that input. I wouldn't think the Mustang's spoiler could be beneficial, but then again.... Ya know?

Canary5_0 · 04-08-2011, 02:28 PM

Yea when it's raining hardly any water gets on the back window so I guess that means the air is repeating at the roofline (with the spoiler on) and reattaching at the spoiler? This would inturn create downforce from what I understand. Please correct me if I am wrong. I will try to get a picture of what the spoiler looks like on later today.

Christ · 04-08-2011, 02:38 PM

aIts little more in depth than that... Just bed cause the air is hitting the spoiler doesn't mean it's creating negative lift (down force), as it could have been added to neutralize positive lift. There is an ideal profile of 14-16°, depending on roofline taper, and everything in front of it. If the tail edge of the spiller falls well into that range, it might be better to keep it.

Coast down testing at high speeds, IMO, isn't very accurate. Everything has such a great effect on your vehicle at high speed that the coast times are too short to mute variability, unless you're going from, say, 70 to 25. Something above and below the 50% threshold.

Canary5_0 · 04-08-2011, 02:44 PM

So using the MPGuino would be a more accurate way to test then? Also how would I go about measuring the roofline taper, ideal profile etc.?

Christ · 04-08-2011, 02:51 PM

Search function. It took Ben and Darin forever and a loaf of bologna sammiches to get it working properly.

Find aerohead's streamlining template, and layer your car into the image in profile view.

Yes, testing with instant feedback is better. As long as you don't instantly adjust for it. Define some controls and stick with them