Noobie from newfoundland looking for mpg gains
 

Hey there, I came across this site site as I looked for ways to increase my mpg. So far I've tried to adjust my driving habits (really love to get one of those scan gauges) and pumped up my tires. I by no means drive the most efficient vehicle but I felt as it has potential. I drive a 2003 Chevy tracker soft top 4x4 with the 2.0L dohc and the 4 speed auto (mpg bummer). The 'new' EPA stock rating for the trucklette is 20 city 23 highway. And ok, this isn't for the faint of heart but I get an average of 17-18mpg city!!!:mad::mad: I've done a number of this to try bring this up besides what i saw above. This included adding manual lockout hubs to replace the perma locked ones, new air filter, cleaned MAF, synthetic oil being used. The check engine light is not on (yes the bulb works! ;) ) and i'm not sure where else to go with it?? some gearing info is; it has a 4L30-E (2.860, 1.620, 1.000, 0.723) with a 4.88 final drive. tire size is 235/75r15. The only other thing worth mentioning is the second cat has been removed (no o2 sensors past first cat). I know you guys know what kinda stuff drags down mpg so if you have any idea let me know!

also this got sorta long and detailed for a intro so move if necessary:rolleyes:

The big tires are killing you i would think , especially if they are all terrain, I'd rig up a Grille block also , just watch the water gauge, also read up on driving techniques, should net you another 4 easy , got to learn to coast all you can , if it's legal there. other guys will probably agree on some of these things , grille block the most , warms it up quicker and much less drag, good luck , great little site here,

I've only spent 3 or 4 days in St John's before, but I seem to remember that city driving is going to be a real challenge with all the hills. You invest a lot of energy getting up to the peak, but don't always have the opportunity to coast, unimpeded, down the other side (what with stops, lights and limited "roll-out" areas, unless you're amphibian!).

That said, I would still strongly recommend you get a gauge. You can't (easily) manage what you don't measure.

A block/coolant heater will help too, if your trips tend to be short ones.

thanks! i'll read up on the grille block, it has a massive fan in there so it would be ok on temp. funny thing is i had 205/75r15 tires and there was no difference in mpg?? and yeah it's a pretty funny place for city driving, most roads are old cart paths that turned into roads over the years so the are wild. it has block heater also, i'll try that out tommorow.

Hi Perry! Welcome to ecomodder, Lots of info on this site. Check out tips and mods top of page. I have a scanguage it just monitors every little change you make so you know if the change is worth $$$ or you're going the wrong direction.merry xmas!!

welcome....ditto what ranger said.....and get a gauge.

Welcome...how long if you're usual drive? is the engine cold most of the time?

yes about half my drives my car doesn't get all the way to operating temp. also with scan gauge, can you correct it's mpg estimates for a different than stock tire? my tire make my speed off by about 6.5 % which would render a lot of that detailed info wrong. If you can't i might just try a vacuum gauge to help my driving. This site is great everyone is so bestkind to new members, thanks for all the feedback

I bought a 1965 MG Midget from the dealership there in St. John's...way back in 1965!

Yes, You can adjust your scangauge for over/undersize tires.
I set my scangaugeII using my Garmin Nuvi GPS. I'm 9% off in my Kia.

words of wisdom.
I find that the easiest mpg improvement came when I was driving at cruising speed (50-60pmh)for the majority of my drive.
THe aerodynamic improvements kick in and the larger tires lower the final rpm. Also the engine has warmed up.

If you have short commute or hilly terrian, then it becomes more dependent on driving skills. TIming the lights, coastto stops etc.
just my humble opinion.

wow I didn't expect you could do that, that settles it for me. I'm getting one of these!

Not getting up to operating temp is a big red flag for fuel economy. The engine is running rich, and the transmission is probably holding lower gears to get the engine up to temp. If you have somewhere to plug in your block heater, I'd definitely put that at the top of the list (along with a gauge). You shouldn't need more than about 2 hours of pre-heat time.

perry, if using a gps, the switch to meters and set on meters, you can change back to miles. Meters give you a more accurate reading