Newbie questions

[Domman56]

Originally Posted by ChillyBear

Ok mr stereo type lol. FWI, I sea foamed the oil ad gas the first week I had it and left the oil in for 300 miles (never going above 3k rpms) and then changed to royal purple 10w-30. My tires are brand new and I had the car aligned, and I wash my car AT LEAST 2 times a week, And I wash the undercarriage too ( I would spend $20 a week keeping my old truck clean). I havent run any of my 8 past cars on less than 93 octane. And there is no clutter in my car lol. And yes im 18 years old. My intro thread shows my history of cars and why I ended up here.

On the subject of the CAI, I may just go to a better filter and keep the stock intake because of that annoying droning sound coming from a stock engine with a CAI.

Well then most of the stuff i told ya to do you already did helps doesn't it

along with that I'd suggest a K&N filter or a Spectre filter in place of the stock filter since you want the stock intake I prefer K&N personally still take the intake resonator out though gives it a nice little growl when you wanna open it up

oh and since your tires are new and always kept aligned make sure to keep all of the tires at or as near as max pressure as you dare Lots of guys on here have had sucess with this increasing FE
You gotta realize all the guys here learn to live with eachothers ideas
And don't take any of it personally haha i just havent had the chance to post a sarcastic post on here yet

[ChillyBear]

none taken lol. But yes I already new this. I run them at the recommended pressure so I can handle on the back roads without skidding into a ditch.

[Domman56]

Haha good idea man Try out that K&N or the spectre if you prefer it's half the price. But i like having the backing of a milllion mile warranty from K&N and in all of our cars they've gone 45 thousand to 55 thousand miles before needing to be cleaned

[MetroMPG]

I prefer K&N personally still take the intake resonator out though gives it a nice little growl when you wanna open it up

I have zero problem with people who like speed spending time here talking about efficiency. The amount of cross-over between the two interests isn't insignificant. (I've spent many days at various tracks for fun... no, never with the Firefly)

But I'd prefer it if the speed-only related chatter is saved for the other speed related forums.

This isn't directed just at you, Domman56. I'm just asking, in general, that people consider: if the post isn't about efficiency, save it for somewhere else. There are so many other forums that want to help you burn more fuel. This isn't it.

[Domman56]

Oh i know metro i was just reffering to this that he had posted in the first page
" Now im not hardcore about mileage, I still go full throttle on a regular basis "

So I was just saying the intake resonator since it is a free thing to do and he goes full throttle anyways

[Tygen1]

ChillyBear, I've been there and done that. Currently I have a Zetec powered ZX2 and my wife drives a Zetec powered Focus wagon. Both are ATX. Check out my gas log to see what a Zetec can give you if you decide to control your right foot. Also check out my mods. I can say that all of my performance mods combined don't add up enough benefit to outwiegh the three aero mods I've done: Grill Block, Air Dam and Rear Fender Skirts. Additionally the aeromods cost me about $50 total. The performance mods, well I'm emberaced to say how much they cost. The only benefit from the performance mods is if the mods help torque at very low rpm, less than 2K, then you can pulse for a shorter time before you glide. I'd say my performance mods help me in this aspect because I can not force my ATX to shift under 2K, so I can accelerate quicker up to the pulse speed. If your driving 80 miles of highway, I also do, then Aeromods will be a BIG bang for your buck. I'd recomend doing them first.
Specfics for the Zetec and Focus. The Focus is already a CAI and in fact it is also a Ram Air. I'd cut off the Ram Air hose and clamp a piece of dryer duct on it so it can pull air off of the header heat shield, this will help. For a slight bump in torque, you can get the exhaust cam from a ZX2 Zetec for almost free from TeamZX2.com. The resonator on the Focus Air box is a non issue, no need to remove it, additionally the stock air box and intake tube are very good, no need to buy an aftermarket one for FE. The Focus sit's realy high, lower it and put some pizza pan wheel covers on for Aero. The Focus can probobly benefit greatly from a front belly pan, behind the bumper is very open. Also, what model do you have? 2dr, 4dr, Wagon? Additionally, I love my block heater! get the Ford one, the aftermarket ones from Kat's fail and don't fit well. The Ford one fits easy and even though it's only rated at 400w and the Kats at 600w, the Ford one works just a quick. I also have an oil pan and trans pan heater, the Kats adhesive backed one. Combined they have benefited me by as much as 3-4mpg this winter.
With the mods done to my ZX2 I can cruise at 50mph and easily average over 50mpg. In my gas log you'll see a trip of 653 miles where I got 50mpg and another 427 miles where I got 54mpg. I also easily surpass 30mpg city. Keep in mind I try not to exceed 55mph on the highway and coast a lot in the city and highway. As already mentioned, driving better will yeild the greatest benefit.
Something to consider: I have about every bolt on mod availble for the Zetec and all my parts are considered the best available for the ZX2 or Focus Zetec. My FE is better than almost all ZX2's I've heard of (only two that I've seen that have beaten 54mpg) and I'm ATX, they are MTX. My ZX2 also holds the Quickest Naturally Aspirated ATX ZX2 time in the 1/4 mile. 15.697 at 88.51mph (I know it's not really that fast, kinda like being the fastest Turtle). I don't see the performance mods hurting my mpg, they are very expensive and are probably a wash in the long term scheme of mpg.
With better aero, Lrr tires and little lean burning, I expect to average over 50 mpg when I am now averaging 42 mpg on my commute.
I've rambled enough, there is more to say, but maybe another time.
Hope this helps!

[ChillyBear]

Tygen, does the zx2 exhaust cam's year or transmission make a difference for fitting on mine? I know some cars have different cams for different transmissions. This is a VERY good tip by the way. Thanks, I just wonder if I will need to reprogram my computer for this or not.

Mine is a 2004 zx3 with a 5 speed. I agree with the earlier post that this forums isn't for performance. Which is fine, I go elsewhere for that stuff, and in reality my car is fine for back roads where little power is needed, Im probably going to do the "invisible" aero mods because looks of a car a truly more important than a 2mpg gain. Ill most likely do the underbody and possible grill mods, along witht he block heater. I havent figured out my mileage, but I really just want to lower my highway mileage because I don't have the discipline to keep it under 2k rpms in the city, I do 2.5k most of the time to keep the little shift arrow from lighting up on the dash. But I know that next year in college im going to be strapped for cash so that may change.

[Domman56]

skirts would look G on that ford

[ChillyBear]

Originally Posted by Domman56

skirts would look G on that ford

-AY
I prefer not to do skirts. anyways, I JUST BOUGHT mudflaps for the car because there is alot of dust out here in the boonies where I live. Driving a dark car sucks sometimes.

Heres some pics of my CLEAN old cars. That truck was badass, and you get to see the carnage the deer caused to my slaab.
http://s301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/corvairkid17/

[Tygen1]

Originally Posted by ChillyBear

Tygen, does the zx2 exhaust cam's year or transmission make a difference for fitting on mine? I know some cars have different cams for different transmissions. This is a VERY good tip by the way. Thanks, I just wonder if I will need to reprogram my computer for this or not.

Mine is a 2004 zx3 with a 5 speed. I agree with the earlier post that this forums isn't for performance. Which is fine, I go elsewhere for that stuff, and in reality my car is fine for back roads where little power is needed, Im probably going to do the "invisible" aero mods because looks of a car a truly more important than a 2mpg gain. Ill most likely do the underbody and possible grill mods, along witht he block heater. I havent figured out my mileage, but I really just want to lower my highway mileage because I don't have the discipline to keep it under 2k rpms in the city, I do 2.5k most of the time to keep the little shift arrow from lighting up on the dash. But I know that next year in college im going to be strapped for cash so that may change.

For the Cam, the year does not matter, neither would the transmission, however the Lower Engine Cradle is different betweent the Focus Zetec and ZX2 Zetec, so you'd have to swap a bunch of stuff over that would not make it worth while. I believe the ZX2 cams would be considered a "Stage 1" cam for the Focus. I believe the only difference is a small amount of lift and duration.
Tuning would help no matter what, more ign. advance and such always helps. I'd highly recomend trying the Air dam as well as the grill blocks. Don't be ashamed
Invest in the ScanGauge II and learn to drive better and you will be rewarded far more for that investment vs. all the others. When your ready to really push the limits....let us know