94 Caprice Wagon 5.7L project--46 MPG so far

[101Volts]

Hey, if you want to pump up the MPGs a little and treat the engine a bit more gently, you could try using Amsoil UCL Additive in the gas. It's not good for a huge MPG increase, but I see you're already using 100% Gas.

I tried it in my explorer one tank, and I only saw a modest improvement from 17 to 17.7 (or 17.75?) MPG. That's 1 gallon in about every 600 miles, but it did work for something.

It's cheapest bought in bulk, of a case of 12, at Amsoil's 25% Discount. You can get it at $3.86 per bottle then.

It also quiets the engine a little, and it's supposed to prevent some wear in the valves.

https://www.amsoil.com/p/upper-cylinder-lubricant-ucl/

[funkhoss]

So…I’m thinking the unthinkable: this wagon is for sale.

Will anybody buy it? That’s the real question. We’ve had several threads here of late started by folks looking for an efficient tow vehicle or people hauler. This car is it.

Why sell? We’ve moved, I’ve changed jobs, and our situation is now different. We picked up a second Metro recently (with only 62,000 miles!) and we really don’t need three cars. We also live near family now; there are at least six trucks of various sizes that we could borrow if we ever needed to haul something big or heavy.

I truly love this car—it makes me grin every time I drive it—and I’ve poured countless hours into getting it to where it is today. Nevertheless, it’s now just taking up space, and costing us unnecessarily in insurance, registration, and inspections.

I’ve posted a separate ad here.

-Funkhoss

[freebeard]

It will always be one of my favorite Ecomodder builds.

(I need fewer vehicles and more space, as well)

[The Toecutter]

Man, whoever gets this is one lucky SOB.

If I had a place to put this beast, I'd keep it roughly as aero as it is while Mad Maxing the **** out of it with 2" thick or more steel plating, bulletproof windows, maybe an extra 2-3" ground clearance, and then shove a tuned mechanical-injection Cummins inline-6 turbodiesel into it set up to make around 600 HP and 1,000 lb-ft of torque, with a big fat set of twin 50 gallon tanks in the back. I bet even at 7,500-8,000 lbs, it would probably get like upper teen MPGs in the city and maybe 35-40 MPGs on the highway like that. And like any wagon should, it would be good at hauling. Hauling ass that is!

[funkhoss]

We sold the wagon on Saturday to fellow EcoModder Frankiec55! I was very glad that it went to someone with hypermiling interests.

I had also posted the car on our local Craigslist, and I had several folks from the general population who were interested. I took down the Craigslist ad after only a few days because I ended up with too much interest, actually. I really didn't see that coming!

We'll let the new owner share his adventures with the car, if we wants to!

-Funkhoss

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by funkhoss

I know it’s been awhile (over three years) since the last update on this project, but I thought I’d go ahead and report on the changes I’ve been slowly making.
\

Given that this post is already too long…that’s all I’m sharing for now. I welcome any questions or observations!

-Funkhoss

how did you attach the bumper air,side skirt and i rather not make new holes in my stuff


i want to get this 6.0 to 40 mpg it all ready have pretty good gear ratios 55mph at 1450 rpm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNkzhmxIbb4

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

Do more than wish, GM uses common commands on all plug ins and hybrids. (That have been tested)

If you purchase an appropriate High end GM compatible WiFi/Bluetooth obdii to Android dongle you can then download a $0.99 cent obdii app called my Volt hold made by Brian Baptista.

Of interest The app has a “Engine Off” button, this functionality (thus far) seems to work on non-Volts as well as Volts of coarse.
This app allows the vehicle to use its built in abilities but under your control when you want keeping braking, steering, pumps and other goodies running normally


If you aren’t afraid of Potentially having to be clearing a cel give the app a test.

Brian Baptista has a volt repair Facebook page and may be able to provide you insight into GM canbus sniffing, but I bet a battery monitor and engine on/off button would make you happy enough by itself

Good Luck
Ryan

will it allow me to turn off the engine at 60mph? you know coasting down hill ? and restart it when i need it?


i'm getting the Aux pump replace because it's not holding pressure anymore(it's making noise) it's causing it to stallout /shutter this is a fairly common issue on the 08 and early 09 model pump (it's 14 years old anyways)100Kmiles is the typical repair time i have the new version i was just waiting on my connector a 90$ adapter ouch

[freebeard]

how did you attach the bumper air,side skirt and i rather not make new holes in my stuff

It's good that you're still pursuing that, but funkhoss' last post was 1 January. maybe a PM?

[funkhoss]

Originally Posted by Tahoe_Hybrid

how did you attach the bumper air,side skirt and i rather not make new holes in my stuff

They are attached with lots and lots of holes.

I don't know how to do it otherwise...

Originally Posted by Tahoe_Hybrid

i want to get this 6.0 to 40 mpg it all ready have pretty good gear ratios 55mph at 1450 rpm

Want 40+ MPG? Figure out how to do P&G with EOC. There's no way I would have gotten over 40 MPG in this wagon without it. For me, that meant a manual transmission swap and several other related mods (manual steering, brake vacuum pump, deep-cycle battery, etc.). On a more modern hybrid vehicle it will be even more complicated.

And, FWIW--I don't own this wagon any more. I sold it last October.

-Funkhoss

[Tahoe_Hybrid]

Originally Posted by funkhoss

They are attached with lots and lots of holes.

I don't know how to do it otherwise...



Want 40+ MPG? Figure out how to do P&G with EOC. There's no way I would have gotten over 40 MPG in this wagon without it. For me, that meant a manual transmission swap and several other related mods (manual steering, brake vacuum pump, deep-cycle battery, etc.). On a more modern hybrid vehicle it will be even more complicated.

And, FWIW--I don't own this wagon any more. I sold it last October.

-Funkhoss

all that stuff is equipped electric power steering rack electric brake vacuum pump, deep-cycle battery,electric aux transmission pump

EOC will not work unless that volt app works with it because the engine can't be started in neutral (this might be illegal i'll have to look it up and see if GM did something illegal) or something is broken