Another ZX2

[Tygen1]

The 195 is the stock thermostat, use it. I've tried 180 and 195, 195 was superior. Don't worry about how often the fan runs, you can manage that with good ducting.

[LmidgitD]

Wow. These things like to run pretty hot then. I'll have to change that out this spring since it's simple.

[bkalina]

Originally Posted by Tygen1

Good to see you here LmidgetD I presume you are on TeamZX2? If not, then get there.
When you mod your car, you need to mod it around your drive/commute. I spend a lot of time at 50mph and holding it steady, so aero mods and lean burn really help. Aeromods won't help you if you are in the city or in traffic. So lets talk about your drive before you go too crazy.
I like to compare Basjoos vs. PaleMalnsian {sp} Basjoos has modded his car the highest degree and get's excellent results. PaleM. has almost no mods and just uses PAG to get excellent results as well. You should read up a bit on those guys and look at what they have done to get an idea of what you can do.
I have an ATX, so my commute is well suited to it. You have an MTX, so you have a bunch of options that are open to you adjusting the way you drive. On TeamZX2 you will see a little post I had about a 107mpg ZX2, read about that guy to get some ideas. I also got a worklog over their that covers almost all of my mods in some detail.
Ecomodding is a natural step from "tuning".
It is possible to have performance and mpg as well. 98% of the time, I am driving slow and boring, but occasionaly I like to take it to the drag strip

Hi Tygen1-- I've wondered what would be needed to get my ZX2's engine running lean. Could you offer any recommendations? Thanks!

[Tygen1]

I wouldn't sugget doing this unless you are extremely confident in your skills. I've been modding cars for quite some time and I can change out the motor or transmission if I cause any problems.
If you have the skill and resources. Then you would start by getting a tuning program such as SCT PRP, Sniper or Tweecer to learn the tuning ropes, then once you have a quality Wideband O2 sensor to monitor how lean you are, you start to tweek the AFR to run lean under a light throttle cruise.
The Zetec motor seems to respond well to running lean

[cbpldc]

Originally Posted by Tygen1

I wouldn't sugget doing this unless you are extremely confident in your skills. I've been modding cars for quite some time and I can change out the motor or transmission if I cause any problems.
If you have the skill and resources. Then you would start by getting a tuning program such as SCT PRP, Sniper or Tweecer to learn the tuning ropes, then once you have a quality Wideband O2 sensor to monitor how lean you are, you start to tweek the AFR to run lean under a light throttle cruise.
The Zetec motor seems to respond well to running lean

I'm assuming that the OP was intending to run lean by disconnecting a vacuum line. I've found that while it does improve your fuel mileage, it also does terrible to things to your engine if you don't regulate it.

I accidentally blew off a line on my Supercharged Mustang GT and while I got 26 hwy mpg, I popped the headgasket in about 1000 miles.

Lesson learned.

Chris

[Tygen1]

The disconected Vacuum Line does not cause the engine to run lean. It just fools the PCM into thinking less air it going into the motor than actually is, therefore it believes it is under a lighter load and advances the timing to match the load it believes it has It works well because the ZX2 is ignition advance starved, just put a filter on it so you don't suck in dust.

[Gealii]

ill be in a zx2 5 speed here in a bout a week or so. my brothers been driving it and he says he gets around 29mpg and hes just light driving not hypermiling. I'm going to sell my intrigue and use the money to buy it off him for $800. It has a lot of new parts and i feel is a lot more reliable then my current car, gets better mpg's, and its a 5 speed =)