New Member with a Veloster
 

Hello,

My name is Zach, I am 25 and commute 26 miles each way to work M-F. My drive consists of mostly back country roads with stoplights and stop signs throughout the drive. Speed limits range from 35MPH to 55MPH.

Right now my Veloster is stock 2012 Base model (non-turbo) with 80k miles. I don't have any particular mods that would effect MPG, I do run Mobil1 full synthetic though. I got new tires a year ago and since then my MPG have dropped, I was averaging around 40MPG for a couple months prior to. I would like my Veloster to look as OEM as possible while maintaining good MPG.

I recently put the stock Veloster over the teardrop diagram and found the aerodynamics are pretty spot-on.

Recently have been thinking about smooth wheel covers and potentially blocking the fog light covers since my Veloster doesn't have fog lights, the insert is pretty deep.

Hi, welcome!

Don't focus on the fog light covers...
Many modern cars have ridges on the bumper corners to block, rather than guide, the airflow over the corner.
This creates a high pressure area ahead of the bumper, pushing the air around the car more gradually and directing more of the air stream over the car rather than over the sides.
The model without the fog lights might have a slightly lower Cd than the version with the fog lights because of this effect.

A grill block (combined with a gauge to measure intake temp) may be effective and can be done inconspicuously, if behind the grill. Also airing the tires to max sidewall pressure, etc.
See the 65+ Efficiency mods from the link in the menu bar on the top.

40 mpg is pretty decent for a Veloster, good work!

Welcome to the site.

I second RedDevil's tips!

The tires are a suspect. How well inflated do you keep them (measure with a hand-held gauge, not the gas station air pumps)? And what tires did you buy? Were the new tires LRR rated? LRR = "low rolling resistance." Check out the specs on tirerack.com

And I agree 40mpg in that car is pretty good. Is it an auto or manual transmission?

Thank you both for the welcomes! Thanks RedDevil for the tips on the fog lights, once I hit 5 posts I will attach a picture. I read the tips a while back, I have checked out this forum over the past couple years every now and again, I will have to re-read them.

I need to check my tire pressure more often but I don't have an air compressor, I have see those tire inflators but don't know if they are any good. Anyone have a recommendation there?

I have been thinking of the grill block and was thinking of starting with the upper grill area where the emblem is but there isn't a large space there as it is so I don't know how much benefit I would get. I also was thinking about the windshield wiper cover.

I don't keep them up like I mentioned above, I need to invest in an air compressor so I don't have to go to the gas station often. I filled them above what discount tire put in there, I think around 40PSI but it has been a while since I have re-inflated them, how often do you all check your tire pressure? I use the hand-held guage.

I bought stock size (215/45/17) Nitto Motivos, they are not LRR from what I can tell, tirerack doesn't sell them but discount tire website doesn't have them as LRR. There is a long story behind my tire shopping experience. I have had them since 12/05/14 and so far enjoy them besides the MPG losses.

Sorry I forgot to mention, it is Automatic.

Here are a couple of pictures
http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3hamzfti.jpg

Paint skills with wheel covers
http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/...pssyap1vcj.png

Wheel Covers + fog covers (but sounds like I shouldn't do that)
http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/...psnqc0xazl.png

And if it is allowed, here is my "build thread" on the Veloster.org forum - Zachs Build Thread

I am not sure if I want to go full blown grill block and have to worry about intake temps, kinda over my head for now. Was thinking of doing the upper grill block, assuming I wouldn't have to worry about temperature issues because not much gets in there as it is.

http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/...psujmxzxim.png

Forty mpg tank average is pretty good in that car. Sounds like you are 33% above EPA combined rating. Also, neat little car. 1.6L naturally aspirated... that's my civic. But you are rated for significantly better EPA highway (35) than my Civic is (33). I didn't know it came without turbo. The six speed gear ratios are not half bad either.

You can get more from it. Proven stuff that can be very stealthy, easy, and cheap are grill blocks (already mentioned) and airdams. (Skip wheel covers if stealth is your goal.)

Do you have an Ultragauge or a ScanGauge?

Thanks! Yeah the six speed DCT isn't half bad, the turbo models range from 2013-current which run at about 200hp stock, mine is 138hp stock. I was thinking that if i did wheel covers in black it might be somewhat stealthy? I am not sure though I would have to experiment with it, the wife is the one who will probably object the most to it :)

I do not have an Ultragauge or ScanGuage and am not looking to invest that much money for this right now, would a bluetooth OBDII connector with an app be as reliable for my purposes?