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

[MetroMPG]

^ This one doesn't get driven in the winter. I completely agree with your ideas, but the roof is down about 95% of the time it's being driven!

........

This year's only mod-



195/65R15 Prius tires on the back.

Lowers the RPM another 50 @ 50 MPH vs. The 185/65's that were on it before.

Probably good for another 4 or 5 MPG, right?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

^ This one doesn't get driven in the winter. I completely agree with your ideas, but the roof is down about 95% of the time it's being driven!

This is my experience as well. Sometime a bit of rain doesn't even stop me, that roof is going DOWN.

[MetroMPG]

830 km = 516 miles. It'll be another 2 or 3 to the gas station tomorrow.

Edit: almost forgot... the actual distance is greater with the oversize back tires! Have to do the calcs when I fill tomorrow.

[freebeard]

Is this the right thread for this?

Building a Custom Miata Fastback in 10 Minutes!

[Xist]

Would you guys give me Schrute Bucks if I did that to Chorizo--in accordance with the Template?

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by Xist

Would you guys give me Schrute Bucks if I did that to Chorizo--in accordance with the Template?

You'd get all of the Schrute bucks.

[Xist]

Wahoo!

I should really replace the heater core and reinstall the dash, right?

I should probably replace the head gasket in the 2002 Civic and get that out of the way, right?

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Building a Custom Miata Fastback in 10 Minutes!

THAT DID NOT TAKE TEN MINUTES!



----


Well, I filled about a week ago, and it came to 55.4 MPG US, a hair from my previous best. Must be the giant Prius tires, eh?



55.4 latest fill vs. record of 55.6 in 2020.



And that last tank was a sub-optimal "year-spanning" one, including driving from the end of 2021 (colder months) plus this summer. So that leads me to think there's more to be had.

In fact, based on my analog MPG-computer....





...the current tank is looking like a new record. I was +20 km at the 2nd milestone. (Huh... really mixing my units & metaphors there.) Assuming I didn't have an unusual short fill.

I'm motivated! I'm right now charging up one of my old deep-cycle boat batteries to support some alternator-optional motoring.

[MetroMPG]

Squeaked 55.5 MPG US = 4.2 L/100 km from the latest fill - a new best tank!

I tried fairly hard ... and the sad thing is it would have been 57+ if it weren't for a cool (10C / 50F) ~100 km trip in a convoy with a friend's car. (I drove a bit faster than I would have normally.)

Annnnnd... that'll be the last fill-up for 2022.

The trees are turning, we've had a few frosty evenings. I haven't seen ice in the puddles in the morning yet, but it won't be long before it's too cool during the day to open & close the top without risking cracking the old vinyl/plastic (cracking it MORE, I mean).

And I'm ordering a thermostat - the last time I ran the heater, the engine temp cooled waaaaaay down.

[Daox]

Very nice mileage Darin!