The 50 mpg+ Club (automatics, non-hybrids, non-diesels) - How did you do it?

[bestclimb]

Originally Posted by alexofnazareth

yeah, i wouldnt suggest running the car lean, cause youll burn the exhaust valves right up.

At high power settings this is true, but for low power cruising, it is not an issue. Calibrated manifold leaks are not a bad way to do lean burn actually, as when manifold pressure drops (high power settings with open throttle) the amount of unmetered air by % coming in drops significantly (close to 0).

[arcosine]

1977 honda accord, replaced 1600cc CVCC with 1982 1355cc, milled heads to 10:1 compression, jetted carb leaner, advanced ignition timing, replaced 5th gear with 1975 civic gear, 185/80R13 tires at 35 psi, no aero mods. 50 mpg on a regular basis, was 40 mpg stock.

[Irukandji83]

The newer your car gets, the more difficult it is to improve your mpg for the most part. I have a 2002 Toyota Corolla with a widdle bitty 1.8L and automatic transmission and the best result I've had is 42 mpg on a 4 hour toll road trip from Toledo to Chicago. Now if I had a Civic that was TEN years older I could have easily hit the low to mid 50's no problem. As the years progress, the weight increases generally as well as engine size, so the newer the car, the harder the fight.

[bluejoey]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Read up on the Efficiency mods :
65+ Vehicle modifications for better fuel economy - EcoModder.com
and the Hypermiling tips :
100+ Hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics for better mpg - EcoModder.com
and start applying as many as possible, as often as possible.
Many require only a change in driving habits, though you're probably already using a number of them to get those 40mpg.

After a while the new tricks become habits, and you can add a few other tricks.
From time to time I go over both lists to see what else I can do to further improve my FE.

It's not something that just happens the next day because you want it to.
It takes quite some time, practice, and effort.
It's really a work in progress.

Yup, I've reviewed those, and need to go back to them. Both lists were and continue to be quite helpful. : D

What mods have you done, and what habits have you picked up already ?

If you're not doing so already, start a fuel log and keep note of changes you make to the car and your driving habits..

I've done a few weight reduction mods (removing carpet, a few underbody panels) and a little aero (clear tape over the grille blocks), but the biggest changes have come from driving. On the highway I stick to 55 unless absolutely necessary, and I try to take it easy when driving in the city. In my current tank, I'm experimenting with P&G in the city w/engine-on coasting in neutral during the glides, as well as highway P&G in drive, though I might stop that since it seems riskier with how fast other cars and semis travel. I'm also switching between E10 and allegedly ethanol-free gas and trying to see if there's a difference. I'll keep y'all posted.

And yup, I'm tracking things on Fuelly. I should add a sticker to my signature.

[alohaspirit]

the best tank ive got was 38mpg 1n my AT Echo

no EoC. no aero mods.

im sure if i were to track on flat ground i could get low 40s

add aeromods and EoC (which i dont like to do) i could probably hit 50





since i dont want to change where i live

the goal right now is to aeromod and get 40 steady

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by bluejoey

the biggest changes have come from driving.

Yep.
Unless you go all the way and basjoos your ride, turning it into an aerocivic lookalike
To see really big FE improvements, you need to go a long way with aero mods.

On the highway I stick to 55 unless absolutely necessary

That's low.

I'm experimenting with P&G in the city w/engine-on coasting in neutral during the glides

P&G is definitely something to try out - though it may not work if you can't accelerate efficiently enough.
With the engine on during the glide, you need to accelerate using considerably less than double your constant-speed fuel flow to see any improvement.
My car won't do that, but others have had more luck

highway P&G in drive, though I might stop that since it seems riskier with how fast other cars and semis travel.

Yeah, I won't even try it on our crowded highways.
People don't expect you to be constantly slowing down and accelerating. Especially if they're on CC it'd be a nuisance to them.
P&G around 55mph would also get you really slow at the end of a glide.

[endurance]

Do you have a ScanGauge?

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by alexofnazareth

yeah, i wouldnt suggest running the car lean, cause youll burn the exhaust valves right up.

This is a Myth, running the car at STOICH under high power burns exhaust valves, lean might cause misfires (maybe) leading to a burnt piston. Lean is always cooler than stoich, most cars run RICH at WOT AKA 10-12 to 1 instead of 14.x to 1 (stoich) to cool combustion as stoich makes more heat.

Cheers
Ryan

[conehead433]

With the help of the addition of a partial grille block and lower front spoiler I'm at 49 mpg with my 1999 Metro. I haven't actually been on a road trip with it and think I can hit 50 with the addition of rear fender skirts and a belly pan.

[Cd]

Originally Posted by skyl4rk

If you are able to achieve 40 mpg now, build a boattail and you will be very close to 50 mpg.

I really wish it was that easy.