Reducing throttling losses?

[t vago]

Label	Date/Time	Distance	Consumed	FE	OAT	IAT	delta-T	Status
B	16-Jun-2012 1:32 AM	58.7 miles	2.89 gallons	20.31 MPG	67 F	118 F	51 F	Active
B	19-Jun-2012 1:32 AM	58.7 miles	2.93 gallons	20.03 MPG	68 F	119 F	51 F	Active

I consumed 1.4% more fuel today, than on Friday. In other words, no significant change in fuel economy over the course of my homeward commute.

I'm still investigating this idea further. The increase in fuel economy during straight and level stretches of road (and downhill inclines) are offset by a decrease in fuel economy on uphill inclines. I have observed fuel economy in-town of around 21 MPG with the wedge, which is slightly more than the 18 MPG I had been getting without the wedge, and slightly higher than the EPA rating of 13 MPG.

[t vago]

Ugh... Guess I must check my tire pressures more often. Right rear was at 15 psig - not so good.

[t vago]

Well, today I could do more than just pump air into the tire, like I had been doing the past two days. Swapped the leaky tire with the spare, and will take the leaky tire to Sam's Club tomorrow to get it repaired. The leaky tire has a nice, pretty nail embedded into the tread. All 4 tires are again at 44 psig and steady.

I will have a good data set tonight, hopefully, that I can compare to the 16 June readings above.

[t vago]

Label	Date/Time	Distance	Consumed	FE	OAT	IAT	delta-T	Status
B	16-Jun-2012 1:32 AM	58.7 miles	2.89 gallons	20.31 MPG	67 F	118 F	51 F	Active
B	22-Jun-2012 1:47 AM	58.7 miles	2.77 gallons	21.19 MPG	72 F	122 F	50 F	Active

Amazing what fully inflated tires can do... The throttle body wedge provided a 4.1% improvement in fuel economy.

I think there is some merit in pursuing this idea further, of reducing throttling loss.

[baldlobo]

why not dome the rod side of the throttle plate(or the inverse); to ease the transitional flow.