2014 Mitsubishi Mirage 5 speed build thread

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Nice work! Do you find that the Mirage could do with some taller gearing? Was this with the alternator turned off?

[Daox]

Yeah, the Mirage could definitely use taller gearing. It is nothing like the Insight. In fact, in the UK it does have slightly taller gearing.

The alternator was disabled for this trip.

[Daox]

My latest tank looks pretty funny. This tank included new LRR tires plus the alternator delete and lots more P&G due to California98Civic's 70 mpg challenge. My previous best tank was a respectable 51 mpg, and now it is a much improved 60 mpg!

[19bonestock88]

My best tank looked like that too. Right after I got tires and then got in the accident and the car has been returning some spectacularly bad numbers... then again I’m not even really hypermiling at the moment either...

[Daox]

One more tank down with me using more P&G plus a few mods. I ended up at 58 mpg. I lost a couple mpg I think mainly due to cooler weather. Still, not too shabby. I also think its probably time to put the full grill block back in. I removed the upper (mail slot) grill block during summer because the engine bay heat literally melted my PLA 3d printed grill block. I'll looking at putting the WAI back on as well.

[MetroMPG]

58's not bad!

But I got a 55 tank in my crapcan Miata ... gotta up your game, buddy!

[Daox]

The weather continues to get colder out, but the Mirage has really continued to impress me this year. Last winter it did well and got in the mid 40s. This is pretty good, but not amazing for us here on EM. This winter it has a few more mods and a driver who is pushing for higher mpg. I'll admit last year I was lazy.

Recently I've taken the time to reinstall some of the cold weather modifications that I removed for warm weather. This includes a WAI and a full grill block. Its nice to have a quick warming car, and one that stays warmer!

Yesterday it was 12F out when I left for work. I got a good preheat with the block heater and coolant temp was in the 90s when I pulled out of the driveway. Traffic was lighter than normal and I took advantage of it. I was able to get 55 mpg. In 12F weather I find that impressive.

Now, this morning it was only 6F out. I made sure to get a good preheat and coolant temp was just over 100F when I left. Traffic was even lighter today and I took the opportunity to slow down a bit more. This lead to a pretty awesome 56 mpg!



I'll say I can't even tell that it is that cold by the way the Mirage shifts with its thinner transmission fluid. Though, to be honest I couldn't tell with the old fluid until it got to around 0F out. I'm sure that is helping a little at these frigid temps.

In any case, I am very impressed by mid 50s in this weather. That is a full 10 mpg gain vs last year with a handful of new mods, and using more P&G. We will see what the tank comes out to though. But, most of my trips are well above 50.

[Xist]

Have you done anything new with your car in the past eight months?

[Daox]

Not much. I've worked on the different alternator delete but no direct mods have been done.

I did also tinker with modding the electric power steering. The stock system has way too much assist. It really kills road feel. Alas, my efforts came up short and I could not figure out a way to dial down the assist without fully disabling it.

[Xist]

How bad is disabled power steering?