"MPGiata" modding thread: aiming for 50 MPG with a 1990 Miata. Update: success, 55 MPG!

[freebeard]

Put the bow at the windshield header and the aft end at the level of the bumper and try again.

[MetroMPG]

^ Will try that. I may be doing one or 2 more kayak trips before the weather goes south. The challenge will be securing the kayak with the bow at the height of windshield header. (As opposed to on top of the header, which would be worse for aero.) I was strapping down the bow in foam against the dashboard, which was pretty easy & secure.


=====




A first for me: I drove through a brief cloudburst in a convertible. Unlike the intrepid motorists above, I did not have a handy umbrella.

I could see the rain wasn't going to last, so I kept going (country roads, 45-50 mph). And aside from a few fat drops of rain sneaking through the slipstream coming off the top of the windshield and smacking me in the forehead, I stayed surprisingly dry!

[MetroMPG]

Because my MPGuino resets randomly, I don't have a tank MPG figure.

As a low-res alternative, I've been keeping notes of my trip odometer when the gas gauge needle hits the "F", 3/4, 1/2 & 1/4 marks, and then comparing it to previous notes and past tank MPG's.

Well, I just passed the 1/4 mark and it looks like this one is doing well - better than the previous 2 tanks. How accurate is the gauge? Dunno. But I'm hopeful it'll be above 50 again.

And that's despite using the car as a cargo vehicle this week:




~350 lbs of 4-stroke outboard motor, battery, rudder, jacks, & tools in the trunk. I could sure feel it in the car's coasting distances! And the ride was much smoother. Much nicer.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

How accurate is the gauge? Dunno. But I'm hopeful it'll be above 50 again.

Seems to be pretty accurate! Filled up and got...

53 MPG tank in 1990 Mazda Miata: personal best

[ProDigit]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Seems to be pretty accurate! Filled up and got...

53 MPG tank in 1990 Mazda Miata: personal best

Not fair!
There is what appears to be a 'which's broom' in your car, aiding the MPG!

[MetroMPG]

Ha - it does look like a broom from that angle.



I set the broom to autopilot, and launch it from the cabin with a string tied to the windshield header. Good for +10 MPG.



It's actually a 50 lb rudder off a boat, seen edge-on in the pic... and that's a towel on the trunk lid.

[MetroMPG]

Live from the road this morning (taking the day off to go paddling)...

It was a bit chilly to go top down first thing (6 C... 40 F?), but the kayak fits nicely with the rear window unzipped.

No info on any efficiency difference; I had a good tail wind all the way here so the numbers are much higher than they'd otherwise be. I'll take it.

[MetroMPG]

Latest fill: 51 MPG US = 4.6 L / 100 km.


That's two 50+ tanks in a row.




It may be my last fill of the year. It's getting too cold to open & close the top!

The plastic/vinyl loses all suppleness when the mercury drops. It shrinks too, so I ripped all the (very ripe) stitching along the lower edge of the plastic rear window trying to close it a few weeks ago.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

The plastic/vinyl loses all suppleness when the mercury drops.

A breeze on the ND
Lowest I've driven it top-down was -8°C

The heater is scaldingly hot

[MetroMPG]

Hard top?


Below 10C / 50F, it becomes a problem closing the roof. And I feel like it threatens to crack in the creased areas.


The heater isn't great in this one -- probably the heater core is a little plugged up.