Modding an 06 GMC Canyon

[JRMichler]

Another year without any new mods.

In winter 2012-2013, I drove 1368.2 miles and burned 47.53 gallons, for a total of 29.36 MPG. The mileage was down because the truck spent several weeks in the body shop after hitting a deer.

In summer 2013, I drove 3688.6 miles and burned 104.38 gallons, for a total of 36.04 MPG.

Average weather was less favorable than the previous summer and winter, with colder temperatures and more headwinds. The truck also had new tires. Against that, I estimate that minor improvements in DWL, EOC, and DWB added 0.2 MPG or so.

[Jethro]

I'm super impressed with the build on the aero-cap. Looks great!
I love the idea of the heat shrink grill block, I think I'll be trying that rather soon.

[mikeyjd]

I wish you could get the 2.8 4cylinder manual trans with 4x4!!

[Kleck]

JR,

Great thread, I enjoyed reading about your project and success! I bought a 2005 Colorado Crew Cab, Z71, 4x4, that I'm planning on doing some mods to. Been tracking my mileage and working on driving habits. Started off around 17-18 mpg, up to 21.5/22 mpg now which was my 1st goal (to be at or above the stated highway mileage). Next goal is 25-26 mpg range.

I've been reading this forum for a month and will eventually start a thread on my project. Just wanted to say thanks for the knowledge you shared.

K

[Hog F150]

What does DWL stand for?

Thanks, Mike.

[Arragonis]

Driving With Load.

[JRMichler]

Revision H: Vacuum gauge

My winter 2015-2016 results are in: 3180.0 miles, 100.16 gallons = 31.75 MPG. This is by far the best winter mileage I have ever got with this truck. My best previous winter mileage was 30.08 MPG. This winter was warmer than average, which I estimate accounts for about 0.5 MPG.

The remaining improvement came from learning how to work with the engine control system. I have a Scangauge and a mechanical vacuum gauge. I noticed that, at 55 MPH (1800 RPM) and 10 In Hg vacuum, the instantaneous mileage could be either 22 or 25. Then I noticed that the instantaneous mileage under those conditions was 25 if I was slowly increasing throttle from about 13-14 In Hg vacuum, and 22 if I was decreasing throttle from 5-9 In Hg vacuum.

Similarly, MPG at 15 In Hg can be 35 to 45. If I very lowly close the throttle to 15 In Hg, it shows 35 to 38 MPG. If I close the throttle at a moderate rate to 15 In Hg AND the speed at 15 In Hg increases by 1.5 to 2 MPH, the instantaneous MPG increases to 42 to 45.

My current technique in rolling hills is to climb at 5 In Hg, get to 55 MPH at the top, then back off to 15 In Hg, let the speed pick up, and watch the MPG climb. When the speed decays to 55 MPH at the bottom, I will slowly open throttle to about 10.5 In Hg at 27 MPG until the speed starts to drop, then go straight to 5 In Hg.

I think what is happening here is that the cam timing has hysteresis in its programming with a switching point around 10 In Hg, and another switching point near 15 In Hg combined with a speed rate of change factor. Whether true or not, my mileage this winter was 5.6% better than I have ever done in winter.

(1-31-2017) Link to my vacuum gauge thread: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...uge-29579.html

(2-1-2017) Summary of MPG results:
Summer 2013: 36.0 MPG
Winter 2013-14: 28.7 MPG
Added the vacuum gauge
Summer 2014: 38.2 MPG
Winter 2014-15: 30.0 MPG
Summer 2015: 38.5 MPG Had wheel covers this summer
Winter 2015-16: 31.75 MPG This winter was warmer than normal
Summer 2016: 38.6 MPG

The vacuum gauge, with the driving techniques described above, added about 2 MPG.

[MetroMPG]

The first part of winter here (in eastern Ontario) was way milder than normal, but it's been pretty cold through Feb (near record cold for a stretch). I didn't drive enough to note any difference from average though.

Your attention to detail in your instrumentation is above average, safe to say.

Thought about putting instrumentation on the cam timing mechanism? I was able to do something similar to my '07 Civic -- added an LED indicator to know when I was in/out of its "eco" VTEC mode. It was a binary system though.

MPG-sensitive cruise control.

[JRMichler]

Revisions I and J: Wheel covers and air dam

A little late updating this thread, but here's a link to my wheel cover test: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...yon-32761.html.

MPG results from the wheel covers:
Summer 2014: 38.2 MPG
Summer 2015: 38.5 MPG Had wheel covers this summer
Summer 2016: 38.6 MPG

The short version is that wheel covers did not make a measurable difference in MPG.

And also the new air dam: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...dam-34650.html.

[JRMichler]

Update for results of the air dam that was installed 12-3-2016. Average mileage before the new air dam:
Winter 2015-2016: 31.75 MPG
Summer 2016: 38.6 MPG



Average mileage after the air dam:
Winter 2016-2017: 33.0 MPG
Summer 2017: 37.6 MPG. This summer was colder than normal.
Winter 2017-2018: 30.7 MPG. This was the coldest winter yet, and with the most headwinds. Only about 5% of the total winter miles were with a tailwind or zero wind. All other miles had headwinds.

The new air dam apparently does not affect the gas mileage. This is not a surprise because it is only slightly (about 1/2") lower than the factory chin spoiler. It has, however, survived several impacts with snowbanks without damage.