Hello Everyone (student with Mustang LX 2.3L 14-18 mpg looking for help)

[cleanspeed1]

Don't know if the claims are true, but over 100 mpg should be easy with 50-80cc's and geared properly. Take a look here 99cc PREDATOR FUEL ECONOMY ? - Motorized Bicycle: Engine Kit Forum

[cleanspeed1]

Here's an 80cc job; 2 stroke

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOc-C...eature=related

[cleanspeed1]

Here's a 4 stroker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0-FctafAVM

[cleanspeed1]

Here's an electric conversion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngxs6...eature=related

[cleanspeed1]

No diesel or alternate fuel kit. Hmmmmm. Veddy disappointing.

[Frank Lee]

When I was a student, even while working it seemed the college was able to absorb all the money and I had little. He may not be in a position to go buy anything costly. If he likes tinkering he might be able to fix up an old moped/scooter/little motorcycle, or put an engine on a bike, within a budget.

We don't have any info about the routes he takes... could an ordinary bicycle do it? Could any two-wheeler do it? Busses? Or stuck with a car? Any opportunities for ride sharing? Dumpster diving?

[cleanspeed1]

Those Chinese kits are pretty cheap, probably less money than completely tuning up the Mustang. But like you said Frank, don't know how long the commute is.

Hey kid, how many miles do you travel everyday and what is the terrain like?

[Mustangwill]

Sorry its taken so long to get back to you guys. I had work today and I work late hours. Okay, lets start with my commute to school: From my driveway to the my campus then back (without stopping anywhere else) is sixty-two miles round trip. I usually take the interstate, put the mph at 75, and put on the cruise control. There are some hills and my cruise control speeds up/slows down to compensate. If I work on my school days, I can just stop on my way home (its on the same route I take to school).

Now, for my car condition. Its been abused, no doubt about it. Before I got it, the car was t-boned on the passenger side, repaired (not very well, mind you), and after a few years, I got it. When I got it, i was thirteen (I'm twenty now) and the first thing I did was change the oil, oil filter, and air filter. The oil had been really thick and sludge-like, and the air filter had small twigs and debris in it. Since then, I change the oil every 3,000 miles (give or take a few miles), and I've replaced A LOT of parts on it. I've replaced practically every part (I know I haven't but it feels like it) in the engine, new exhaust and catalyatic(sp?) converter, and even the windsheild. Transmission is automatic, and I haven't really messed with it other than the rear main seal. But, in November I was in my first wreck with it when I merged into the fast lane on the interstate and didn't realize a truck was at my rear quarter panel. So my driver side rear quarter panel is crushed and I'm currently waiting on getting a little extra money so I can replace it. It's still driveable (obviously) and, to answer the first poster to this thread, I do NOT want to replace this car, because it was a gift from my father and I love this car.

[nemo]

Originally Posted by Mustangwill

I usually take the interstate, put the mph at 75, and put on the cruise control. There are some hills and my cruise control speeds up/slows down to compensate.

First slow down.

Tip #40

40) Reduce speed

Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed, so reduce highway cruising speed as much as practical and safe.

Generally, a vehicle's most efficient speed is just after its highest gear has engaged.

See the Ecomodder Blog for more information on tracking fuel consumption.

Tips # 42 and 43

42) Cruise control - when to use it

Set the cruise control if you're the type of driver whose speed creeps up higher and higher the longer you're on the road, or if you have difficulty holding a steady speed (it wanders up and down).

But realize that cruise control is just a band aid for those behaviours. Generally it's less efficient than constant throttle driving, and much less efficient than "driving with load" / "target driving".



43) Cruise control - when not to use it

Only use cruise control on flat roads. On hilly roads, cruise responds to changes in grade - by feeding in more throttle on the uphill and releasing on the descent - in the exact opposite way an efficient driver would.

You mentioned it had been t-boned. Does the car have abnormal tire wear? If so, has the car ever been checked to see if all four wheels are in alignment?

[cleanspeed1]

OK, let's see..........You drive too fast, aerodynamics not too good because of the damage, trip is 31 miles one way, automatic and a 2.3 so it's kinda pokey. Student and money is tight. Don't want to get rid of car, like car.

Alright, here we go: driving 75 mph on the cruise control is killing your mpg. You have to slow down. Regardless of what you replaced, you don't know the condition of the engine on the inside. If the engine has low compression ( and very well can since it was abused ) you are pissing fuel out the pipe. Is the ignition timing ok? Are the injectors spraying properly ( lack of fuel filter changes and carbon fouling mess the spray patterns up and bam! fuel economy takes a dump ).

Replacing the car: how about this. Make a decision about what you want to live with. How about keep the Mustang, but get it off the road and fix it up properly and get something else that gets much better fuel economy that you don't have put so much time and money into? You live in a warm region and there are plenty of other cars that get better mpg by design than your Mustang, use that as your daily. You drive a lot, and the distances are pretty decent. If you were driving an old Civic, Corolla, Sentra, Saturn, even an Escort, you will be starting at low to mid 30s in the mpg and able to save a little money.

This is just looking at things from a strictly business view with no sentimentality. You have to drive.

On the other hand, if you want to continue to drive Mustang everyday, how much is it going to cost to get her up to proper working condition so that it doesn't take all your money?