New Kei car owner, wants better mpg.

[niky]

Probably partly both. It's a secondhand, but even brand new old-school Suzuki automatics slip like hell. I had a van for a week that never locked up the torque converter in traffic... EVER. Annoying, and expensive to gas up.

The short gearing does play a role, but if it was only that, simply never going above 60-80 km/h should do the trick. I don't think it will.

[Honda100]

I think the trans is mostly to blame, but also that the older Hyundais like this just aren't as good on gas for whatever reason. I don't know why, but that's the way it seems it is. I had an Elantra which was a fantastically reliable car, but it never saw the other side of 30 mpg on the freeway. 22-28 was all that ever came out of it.

Tires: As of now the tires are at 40 psi (max sidewall = 44), and the wheels are already alloys. I got a flat tire yesterday and changed it. The steelie in the boot was noticeably heavier. Also, in Cambodia there are no RX7s or AE86s and importing wheels would be too much for too little gain I imagine.

Package Features: This car came straight from Korea (I'm the first owner here in Cambodia), and it seems like the Korean market cars come in any shape, package, etc. Makes sense, seems how Korea is one of Hyundai's biggest markets.



Anyway, I am starting to think maybe I might be stuck with sub 40's for mileage, considering I'm not willing to go for a standard transmission.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Honda100

I am starting to think maybe I might be stuck with sub 40's for mileage, considering I'm not willing to go for a standard transmission.

Why would you avoid a manual transmission? BTW how hard might be to get a 4-speed (with overdrive) automatic transmission to retrofit into the Atos?

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Honda100

Anyway, I am starting to think maybe I might be stuck with sub 40's for mileage, considering I'm not willing to go for a standard transmission.

You've got some things working against you, but you still have some options. In my pickup, I was still able to get ~25% improvement even though it had an auto.

You can pulse and glide (Engine-on, it's an auto) and coast to a stop as well as abunch of other techniques.

Aero tweaks will help, especially for highway driving. Lose the mudflaps. It's not a side profile shot, but from the pics your spoiler looks like it is kicking upwards which won't help. Lose the spoiler or see if you can modify it to fit the aero profile a bit better. The usual grill block and air dam or belly pan would help. Look for tires with lower rolling resistance when these need to be replaced.

It's not one big magic pill, it's a hundred mundane motes.

[3-Wheeler]

Hi,

38 mpg sounds too low. Especially considering the small engine size.

My daughter's Toyota Echo MT was ScanGauged two years ago at 55 mpg at 45 mph on a dry, flat road, in the summer. Her engine size is 1.5L, and your's is almost half that.

Jim.

[Honda100]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Why would you avoid a manual transmission? BTW how hard might be to get a 4-speed (with overdrive) automatic transmission to retrofit into the Atos?

If you Google Cambodia Traffic, you'll see why. 4 speed? Probably no dice, there is barely any space for the miniature trans it has.

Originally Posted by darcane

Lose the spoiler or see if you can modify it to fit the aero profile a bit better.

I would, but it's a cover to a frame underneath which is the structure to contain all the wires and such. That structure is bolted to the hatch and looks awful without it (all the holes, etc.)

For me I think the best mods are going to result from fuel maps and/or fudging with the O2 sensor/map sensor, etc. because my avg. speed right now on my scangauge equivalent says 14.5 km/h, which isn't even 10 mph. Any aero mods are going to be useless I am thinking, considering the driving I do.

P.S. I also adjusted the ignition timing (I noticed it starts to ping a little under a load when hot) and the mileage seems to be a little better. Usually at 100 km I am below 1/4 tank, but now I am slightly above. Anyway, I know the stock fuel gauge is inaccurate, but you can still judge vaguely on it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Honda100

If you Google Cambodia Traffic, you'll see why.

I never went to Cambodia, not even considered to do so, but really, the comfort of an A/T in heavy traffic really pays back. Also, under certain circumstances, the higher expense with fuel is still cheaper than fixing a worn-out clutch

[Honda100]

Haha, I am getting depressed. At 360 km I was out of fuel (just 5 liters left in the tank) which translates to 29 mpg.

I'm going to get the transfluid changed and switch over to synthetic oil, I am sad at my mileage. Although I can't complain I guess, my 1.6 Corolla only manages 17-18 mpg.

[brucepick]

You could sell it and get something else..... Probably that's not a very doable option.

[Frank Lee]

Although I can't complain I guess, my 1.6 Corolla only manages 17-18 mpg.

So does my V8 4x4 F150.