New to the forum and new to this ecomodding thing. - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

akeith8607 · 03-23-2016, 04:38 PM

Thanks guys. When I pulled in the driveway this morning the factory mpg gauge was showing 41.1 mpg. Don't know if that's right or not, but if it is, that's right at 4 mpg improvement on a paper route. We will see in another day of running if it's correct or not.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 03-24-2016, 06:52 AM

Try to avoid carrying dead weight, that is one of the most effective tricks to enhance city MPG.

akeith8607 · 03-26-2016, 08:06 PM

I typically clean the car out every day when I get done so that the clutter and extra weight doesn't add up. In general, when I start my route I have around 200 lbs extra in the car during the week (about 150 papers) and closer to 400 extra on Sundays (right at 200 papers), so between that and the stopping and starting, I am very pleased with how this little car is working out.

I just added another fill up. New personal best since I started tracking it. 39.6 mpg calculated. The factory mpg gauge is a little optimistic (showed 41.3 mpg) but it has a real time and avg mileage gauge, so it is still very useful in adjusting my driving habits.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 03-27-2016, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akeith8607

The factory mpg gauge is a little optimistic (showed 41.3 mpg) but it has a real time and avg mileage gauge, so it is still very useful in adjusting my driving habits.

With so many nuts and bolts, it's still somewhat surprising that people don't look at that nut behind the steering wheel while trying to find some "miraculous" way to improve fuel savings

akeith8607 · 03-27-2016, 11:02 AM

You are right about that. I have done very little as far as actual mods to the car, but I have been adjusting my driving habits and my last tank average was .4mpg lower than the EPA highway rating. I can only imagine what this little car is capable of in situations other than daily paper delivery.

akeith8607 · 03-31-2016, 11:06 PM

So I have started prototyping some grill blocks. Testing with tape to see how much I can cover without issue and what improvement it will give before I put too much effort in. I'm thinking just top grill as the bottom has active shutters already.

gumby79 · 04-01-2016, 01:28 PM

How about finding /building a set of active shutters for the top. And just tap into the control circuit for the stock lower shutters. Just an idea.
Gumby stay flexible.

akeith8607 · 04-01-2016, 04:04 PM

I hadn't considered it, but that may be a better way to go. I recorded my best tank to date today. 40.6 mpg. I'm sure the extra traveling off the route helped that a bit but I am still stoked! ��

akeith8607 · 04-06-2016, 12:21 AM

So I am now averaging 39.5-40.5 mpg consistently. The upper grill block seems to have helped a bit. Thinking of testing smooth wheel covers next. I am loving this car. Loaded all 5 of us and the stuff for my 1 year-old's birthday party in the car no problem, drove about 60 miles that way and barely lost any mileage. Can't wait to see a 50mpg tank.

spacemanspif · 04-06-2016, 10:23 AM

Paper delivery around me is the type that are thrown from the car to the bottom of the driveway. Are you stopping and running up to each door to deliver? Or does the route just have that many stop signs/red lights?

Great job on the progress so far. I'm concerned with the upper grill shutters tieing in with the lowers; on the highway when the shutters close, all of them will and unless you have bottom cooling will cause the fan to work overtime and risk overheating.