Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 11-21-2008, 04:05 AM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: los angeles, ca
Posts: 151
Thanks: 2
Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts
Grrrr......can't break 60mpg!

Ok so I have a 1982 Chevette diesel, rated at 55mpg highway. Until this last week, I got 56mpg without trying too hard. Recently I did a few tests with the grille blocked, tires up, cetane booster in the tank, the windows rolled up, and did a little bit of pulsing and gliding (hard in Los Angeles).....the result? 57.3mpg over 300 miles. Arg! Barley made a difference. Drove 50-55mph too. Might try to get fuel from a different spot and see if that helps. Ideas?

__________________
1989 Dodge Diesel 972rwhp, 27mpg.
1971 Nova tubbed, solid cam 355 w/nitrous, 8mpg (sorry).
1960 Nash DIY Hybrid Project
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 11-21-2008, 08:00 AM   #2 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Problem is you're now aiming for a target without any kind of feedback to tell you how well you're doing until it's too late (after filling up).

I realize there aren't any simple options for putting instrumentation in your car, but that's the answer, and finding a solution would be my goal if I were in your place.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2008, 12:16 PM   #3 (permalink)
Dartmouth 2010
 
SVOboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hanover, NH
Posts: 6,447

Vegan Powa! - '91 Honda CRX DX
Team Honda
90 day: 66.52 mpg (US)
Thanks: 92
Thanked 122 Times in 90 Posts
Send a message via AIM to SVOboy Send a message via MSN to SVOboy Send a message via Yahoo to SVOboy
Well, it is getting colder, too (even though I was just in LA and I sure wouldn't call it cold).

Try slowing down?
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2008, 12:20 PM   #4 (permalink)
Pokémoderator
 
cfg83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,864

1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
Team Saturn
90 day: 40.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 439
Thanked 530 Times in 356 Posts
MetroMPG -

Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
Problem is you're now aiming for a target without any kind of feedback to tell you how well you're doing until it's too late (after filling up).

I realize there aren't any simple options for putting instrumentation in your car, but that's the answer, and finding a solution would be my goal if I were in your place.
I want to suggest a Vacuum Gauge, but I am guessing that may not be helpful for a Diesel?!?!?!?

CarloSW2
__________________

What's your EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!
American Solar Energy Society
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2008, 12:53 PM   #5 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
While not instantaneous, even very finelycalibrated fuel gauge would help. It might at least permit you to calculate your "tank mpg" daily, rather than waiting for fill up time.

Krousdb pioneered this mod with his Del Sol (pre MPGuino days): he hooked up a digital multimeter (DMM) to his fuel tank's sending unit, measuring resistance I believe. Then he filled the tank a half gallon at a time and charted the results from the DMM as he went.

Assuming you always park in the same place (fuel tank at a consistent attitude), you may be able to get accurate daily/trip MPG readings from this to help you figure out best mods/techniques more quickly.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2008, 02:00 PM   #6 (permalink)
EcoModding Apprentice
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: los angeles, ca
Posts: 151
Thanks: 2
Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts
Hmmm.....good point, I am kind of driving blindly, not like I have a OBD-II port either.....I might screw around with fuel a little (synthetic diesel) when I got the car it was running on jet-a and got 37mpg at 65mph. I switched to regular diesel and it immediately picked up to the low to mid 40mpg range. I also think I might have some drivetrain drag, the car drops speed like a rock from 65mph.
__________________
1989 Dodge Diesel 972rwhp, 27mpg.
1971 Nova tubbed, solid cam 355 w/nitrous, 8mpg (sorry).
1960 Nash DIY Hybrid Project
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2008, 12:18 PM   #7 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ryland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 3,903

honda cb125 - '74 Honda CB 125 S1
90 day: 79.71 mpg (US)

green wedge - '81 Commuter Vehicles Inc. Commuti-Car

Blue VX - '93 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 867
Thanked 433 Times in 353 Posts
with a vehicle that old I would go over the whole drive train and do a tune up if you have not done this already, change tranny fluid, adjust the injection pump, check wheel alignment, get the narrowest high pressure tires you can find, find out your rim weight and see if there are any newer lighter rims out there, use synthetic oils, foam air filter, larger element oil filter.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bailout Plan Gives Tax Break to Bicycle Commuters SVOboy EcoModder Blog Discussion 0 10-08-2008 01:40 PM
60mpg H3 sickpuppy318 EcoModding Central 11 06-23-2008 11:02 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com