Citroen AX Diesel from Portugal

[NothingFace]

Hello my name is João an I am from Barreiro in Portugal (near Lisbon).
I'm 18 years old and a Mechanical Engineering Student, i've been looking at the forum and there are some great ideas here.

This is my first car a 1993 Citroen AX 14TRD but the 1.4d engine was swaped for a 1.5d from a Saxo, the 1.4d is a bit more economical but it goes through head gaskets like crazy.

155/70R13 tyres, Light Steering so no assist is really needed, no AC but electric windows very confortable, I've put on some nice Sony Speakers and Blaupunkt Radio so really has all you need.

The combined anounced MPG is 52 MPG(US) but I don't buy it, even though i've been thrashing it I've been able to get 56 MPG (US) and this includes 10 to 20 minutes of stop and go traffic heading to Lisbon at the entrance of the 25 Abril Bridge. All this stock and at 32 PSI wich is the recomended tyre preasure.

The car has the original 1.4d intake manifold but I'm not really shure what are the effects of this but the car also feels preety fast when you put your foot down, it is the VJZ engine with 58PS

I'm planning to make a small Kammback like the Citroen AX Eco concept, and maybe some wheel covers on the back, not shure if I can put some flat trim on the alloy wheels what do you think ?

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by NothingFace

...I'm planning to make a small Kammback like the Citroen AX Eco concept, and maybe some wheel covers on the back, not shure if I can put some flat trim on the alloy wheels what do you think ?

The Kammbacks are popular here, but as you are already showing, just smart driving can beat the official fuel economy ratings pretty easily. You'll get a little benefit from all the usual easy stuff too... pump up the tires, airdam, rear wheel-well skirts. Though you have partial wheel well skirts from the factory you could extend them for a probable greater benefit. If you're changing the tires, look for LRR (low rolling resistance) tires. I run 175/70-R13 sized "Michelin Defenders" here in the USA, though that name is certainly not used where you are.

Good luck! Start a fuel log here at EM so we can all see what progress you make.

[NothingFace]

Already did the log

Yeah even though I've not been that carefull and i've even did two top speed runs (about 110 MPH on the tach) and lots of stop and go traffic. I don't really know how it was this good.

But this way I've got a baseline comparison and will improve on it try to get 65 MPG or more as a first objetive, but I think this will be easy to do as its not that cold here in Portugal (rarely below 10ºC in the winter here near Lisbon).

[deejaaa]

i'm planning on discs for my alloys. i will drill/tap and either use aluminum(old stop sign) or thin stainless. still planning though.

[NothingFace]

The Small kamm I plan to do on top of the spoiler.

image url

The spoiler is already the right shape, I'm just going to extend it so that it meets the roof.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Old-school Diesels are cool, I wish I could get one of those to perform some experiences with vegetable oils as an alternative fuel...

[NothingFace]

I'm probably not going to use vegetabe oil since I read that the Lucas fuel pump I have doesn't like it that much.

And it's already preety cheap to run ( for the fuel prices we've had recently, about 1.25€ per liter for diesel)

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by NothingFace

I'm probably not going to use vegetabe oil since I read that the Lucas fuel pump I have doesn't like it that much.

The ones fitted with a Bosch pump are usually more suitable to alternative fuels. Anyway, with the 1.4D it can still get some mileage figures comparable to a 250cc motorcycle

[alexandertorres]

My dad had an old diesel AX as a replacement car back in 1990, and it was so economical he'd forget to fill up.

BTW, have you seen this?:
Peugeot 205 5th gear swap (8.2% improvement at constant 50 mph) - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

It's about a 205 but the owner talks about his own Citroen AX.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by NothingFace

All this stock and at 32 PSI wich is the recomended tyre preasure.

The AX is very light, so increasing the tyre pressure may make it bounce which isn't good for handling.

You could increase the pressure bit by bit and see how it behaves.
But that way, you won't get great instant changes in fuel consumption.

I'm planning to make a small Kammback like the Citroen AX Eco concept,

That'd work best when you do enough kilometers driving at higher speeds.

Driving around in the city, it won't have much effect.
In the city OTOH, reducing weight will have more effect.

and maybe some wheel covers on the back,

A cover to go on the wheels, or a cover for the wheel opening in the car's body ?

Citroen has already closed up the upper part of the wheel opening.

not shure if I can put some flat trim on the alloy wheels what do you think ?

It's possible.
Forum user Vekke sells some stuff to fit plastic disks to alloy wheels using zip-ties.