Saabotage 9-3 Aero 2.8t Goal!

[elhigh]

Good going so far, man.

I love SAABs. I learned in a 1970 96, four on the tree and a length of twine holding the glitchy freewheel handle out. It got 40mpg back in the day, damned good - pretty good even now.

Interested to see how it plays out. I know having the instant grin factor of the turbo is an attractive temptation, knowing there's what amounts to four extra cylinders just waiting a little deeper into the pedal travel. That's hard to resist.

[Fat Charlie]

Completely doable, especially in the summer- I could string several 500+ mile tanks together in my 05 Subaru Legacy GT wagon with a 16.7 gallon tank.

Both cars are turbo manuals and they have similar EPA ratings, but the Saab's most likely got better aero and front wheel drive. Not far over 30 mpg will get you 500 miles, and until the car started to give out towards 200k I was getting in the 30s all the time.

[Arragonis]

Your gauge will go down faster on the second half because the float will be at the top.

Good luck.

[NateHale88]

Update! Welp I completed my goal the other day! Had to circle to Gas Station to get the last .2 miles but the results were pretty decent. Best tank thus far at 32.63MPG out of the ole Saab. Not too shabby. I think I may aim for a 34MPG tank next.

As for the fuel gauge that is true of most older vehicles. Most now have adjusted the gauge to better reflect an even depreciation of the fuel.

[BabyDiesel]

Great fuel mileage!

I had an idea as I pondered before going to sleep last night. You could add an oil cooler before and after the turbo. It would cool the oil before it got to the turbo, and before it went back to the engine. This should lower the turbo's internal temperatures a bit, but it would require additional plumbing.

[Arragonis]

Better solution maybe is an electric oil pump which continues to circulate oil when the engine is off. If the car is still moving then the oil is cooled naturally anyway. Could also circulate oil if the engine is shut off with a hot turbo. Kind of like a turbo timer ?

[NateHale88]

The turbo is water cooled and pressure lubricated by engine oil which also provides cooling, making it both water and oil cooled. The car must have some sensor that when I drive it hard and really get into the boost it will power the cooling fans after it is turned off, for about 5 minutes.

When I am going for economy though, the turbo is getting a minimal amount of action. Shifting at or bellow 2000 RPMs seems to be the sweet spot.

Side note. I am currently at an average of 34MPG for 100 miles that are on it so far. This warmer weather has helped a ton! :-)

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by NateHale88

The turbo is water cooled and pressure lubricated by engine oil which also provides cooling, making it both water and oil cooled. The car must have some sensor that when I drive it hard and really get into the boost it will power the cooling fans after it is turned off, for about 5 minutes.

Some cars, turbo or not, have this fan run on feature if the car is parked with the coolant over X degrees. The idea is to avoid heat soak, not to save a hot turbo being shut down. If coolant/oil are not circulating, it's not cooling your turbo or engine for that matter.

[NateHale88]

Whoops!! I forgot to post my goal being met!! 500 miles and 15.32 gallons.

I hit my 500 mile tank with relative ease a few weeks ago. I have currently been averaging 32MPG over the last 3 tanks.

Not too shabby for what it is :-). Warm weather is here so I may attempt a new goal of a 34MPG tank..... but we shall see!

[Daox]

Nicely done Nate.