40 mpg and beyond?!

[mhmitszach]

So I've been hitting 40 mpg pretty consistently now with minor modifications; grill block, 40 psi tires, 5w20 oil. I just got my scanguage the other day and have already found a couple little tricks with my driving technique that should help me out even more. Such as coasting in gear down to 45, then neutral as fuel cutoff takes place then. So after even more practice with scanguage I'm thinking 45 is a possibility. Also, with the tps at 19 on a slight incline i can maintain 60 mpg from 40-55 mph.

However, thanks to a fellow zx2er on here. I think I may have found some more possibilities.

I think this one has been done by other people here before. Resistor in intake temp.
40+ Mpg - TeamZX2.com

I'm not sure what this does exactly. Makes the auto shift faster? If so that would be promising. Getting into last gear on cold start is a bear without punching the gas too hard.
ATX Resistor Shift kit - TeamZX2.com

Then possibly this intake mod?:
http://www.teamzx2.com/showthread.php?t=4402


I'm also planning on redoing grill block. I'm considering doing a small air dam with black yard trim. But where should I have it hang from? Inside of front bumper?

Any input/other ideas ?

Thanks, zach.

[mhmitszach]

Wow. I never thought I'd have to bump my thread on here.

Please, I'd really like some input on this.

[millenniumtree]

I don't know much about automatics (Only ever driven one of them, back when I didn't know jack about cars)

There are always more steps to take.

Pizza-pan the wheels, bolt coroplast all over the place, draft semis, change your route to avoid stop signs/lights and aggressive traffic.

I'm not sure if you can safely EOC with an auto - chime in if anyone knows... I know my father in law switches into neutral in his 1.3L CVT Civic (in England) I'd love a 1.3 (with a 5 speed though) He'd probably be better off just letting it coast in drive though. *shrug*

Sometimes taking the road less traveled gives you more opportunity for P&G or just slow driving in general. Or maybe shifting your commute a half hour one way or the other could get you away from the nasty road-ragers.

[Arminius]

The wheel dam should be closer to the wheel than the bumper. If you don't have a front bellypan (don't feel bad, even the 2003 Corolla doesn't have one), you might want to do that first. Then you will have something to attach the dam to.

Also, I think you'll find that coasting in gear will get you worse FE than neutral, unless you intend to stop soon or want to slow down anyhow. There are a couple of threads on the topic, so I won't repeat what they say here.

I can't comment on the resistor issue.

[i_am_socket]

EOC in an auto depends on the car since it depends on the engine to keep the fluid moving for cooling and such. I do it, but never all that far or fast (although I've wanted to a few times).

If a 5 speed tranny would just show up on my doorstep mysteriously one day...

[mhmitszach]

Well i EOC a bit. No problems yet.

But i'm not really concerned with driving techniques anymore. I've got the scanguage for that.

Does anybody have inputs on those modifications?

[SVOboy]

Originally Posted by mhmitszach

Wow. I never thought I'd have to bump my thread on here.

Please, I'd really like some input on this.

Some of us have been out of town,

Anyway, I've got one word for you, wrapped with the candy coating off all these other words: aero

It's not even a word, it's an affix!

[azraelswrd]

driving, aero, tires, and weight = the fantastic four of FE

drive smarter/better
make the car more aerodynamic
make the tires better
reduce the excess weight

I can't comment on ICE mods. I'm a scientist, not a mechanic.

[mhmitszach]

I decided I need to stop eoc coasting in my auto. Seeing as how I realized what isn't happening when I do that, trans pump.

So might take a small hit on mpg from that.

But removed 5 pound weight from glovebox. My dad usually thinks hypermiling etc is pointless, "just drive the car". But even he laughed about the fact that their is a piece of metal with a metal bar in the glove box.

Did partial intake modification. Removed intake casing around airfilter and plastic box ( resonator?). So better airflow and about 5 pounds less weight.

I'm trying to counteract weight of when I take my bike with me.

Still trying to disconnect knock sensor. Its impossible to get a good angle on though.

[Tourigjm]

I only EOC in town, speeds less than 30 mph. on the hwy i P&G in neutral, coasting in gear isnt worth it because i decelerate too quickly.

I think if i do end up damaging my transmission i will be able to get a new one for a decent price (i've seen auto trannys for my car on ebay/craigslist for <$200) and i can do the repair myself.