54.2 after lowering car, 4 mpg gain

[me and my metro]

I tore down the used Swift tranny today and it needs a new 2nd gear not just a brass syncro ring. At least it is a 3.79 ratio, I paid $100.00 and bought it as a core. So I put the new bearing kit into the original tranny from this car today. I installed it tonight and replaced one outer boot. After the test drive I was amazed how quiet the car is now with the new bearings. The gear ratio is what I expected because I drove this car with the original 4 banger for a couple of months before the powertrain swap. I should have more fuel numbers by next weekend. This is a fun ongoing project for on old car guy like me.

[99metro]

I have the same size tire 175/70-13. Mostly because I thought the wider tire would be better on the grooved concrete roads. The past 6 months they have repaved everything so this isn't a problem anymore. Back to 155/80-13 next time around.

8% increase of FE on a lowered car? That seems like a lot. If it's true, then I guess I'm overdue for a lowering. 5 mpg extra would be great. Mostly it is dry out here, but we do get snow. It's a gimme to drive the 4by when things get ugly. A lowered car would high-center too easy. I'd like to see the data (before/after) of someone who lowered their Metro.

[me and my metro]

This is the first tank with the new tranny. The car went 200 miles on 3.5 gallons of e-10 Shell regular. I am very pleased, the car glides better with all the new bearings and the Mobil 1. I've contacted Mike @ 3tech about an xfi cam and 10 degree gear. I will send in a spare cam and gear as cores and await my new parts. I probably will run the car the way it is for a couple of weeks just to verify this increase. It is great to see the results of all your research and development. Thanks again fellow ecomodders. Cheers Andy

[Frank Lee]

I lowered my car years ago by cutting the springs, by about 1.75-2".

Couldn't detect any fe difference.

But I like the mod anyway. Corners with more confidence. Looks better. It's true though, about winters- I've gotten stuck where I think if it wasn't lowered I would have motored on through.

What's yer test methodology for arriving at 8%?

[me and my metro]

I have been keeping detailed fuel records for the last 2000 miles. I fill at the same pump, at the same nozzle setting, never top off, and at the same time of day. This is as close as I can get with OBD 1 car. I think the increase jumped out at me because I had been trying a set of 195/50-15 tires and 7" wheels for two weeks prior dropping the car and going back to the 175/70-13's, now with the new trans, the first tank is at 57 mpg, I'll see how that holds. I believe my driving style is improving constantly, so that may also be part of the jump.

[Frank Lee]

Multiple test variables pretty much invalidate the "test".

I have gas logs spanning years and looking at them, you'd never be able to pick out the point at which the car was lowered.

[dentprone]

Originally Posted by Binger

now she can't remember anything that happened before the 6th grade.

BE CAREFUL!

Oh Hell......I thought that was normal I had better go get me noggin checked out

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by me and my metro

This is as close as I can get with OBD 1 car....

Don't forget the MPGuino if you want to instrument your car...

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Multiple test variables pretty much invalidate the "test".

I have gas logs spanning years and looking at them, you'd never be able to pick out the point at which the car was lowered.

Frank's right on the money there. Can't really assign the 4 mpg gain to lowered ride height when several things were changed @ once.

Nevertheless, I just made your car the poster (OK, thumbnail) child for "reduced ride height" in the EM mods list: Vehicle mods for better fuel economy.

[owlafaye]

I installed a hand throttle on my 89 4dr Geo and got 56.6 mpg @ 55 mph...however, it was a handfull (No pun intended)

I got 54 mpg maintaining 55 mph rigidly, without the hand throttle.

I eventually removed the hand throttle.

Point? conservative driving equals high mileage...55 mph does VERY well in Geos.

Hand throttles and hills make for complicated driving. Forget I mentioned them.