Weight reduction

[nascarnation]

Fuel is one of the most easily removed weights.
Although adding the amount every day for that day's projected use has some drawbacks. One of which I believe is evaporative emissions from the refueling process, assuming you're using a home supply via fuel cans.

[PaleMelanesian]

1) My mileage varies from 59 mpg with a full tank to 62 mpg with an empty tank. 800 daily commute data points are consistent. 10 gallons, 6 lb / gal gas = 60 lb.
-60 lb (2.6%) = +5% mpg

2) On a certain route, with my family on board, I got 56 mpg with ideal conditions yesterday. Compare that to my 63 mpg average on that route, driving solo.
+200 lb (9%) = -11% mpg

[Aalok]

It should also be mentioned that the more interior you start pulling out the louder road noise will be. It's obvious but the impact can be quite astonishing. I don't notice my Saturn being any louder than any other car, but my father can barely stand riding in the car. Considering that it still has all the carpet and sound deadening material, it goes to say your mileage may vary.

As almighty said, it's not exactly for the average user.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by nascarnation

Fuel is one of the most easily removed weights.
Although adding the amount every day for that day's projected use has some drawbacks.

Not to mention the value of your time, or the fuel burned in making repeated trips to the gas station.

[Big Dave]

Would it be a valid weight reduction strategy to pull all the sound deadening material (all of it tends to be heavy stuff) and simply wear noise cancelling headsets?

[jasonm]

You should probably avoid noise canceling headphones while driving.

[roflwaffle]

Originally Posted by saunders1313

I've heard that reducing the weight by 10% will increase the fe by 4-5%, does anyone have any data on this? Also, how much luck has anyone had with actually lowering the weight enough to make a difference. My car is around 3500 pounds so I don't know if I can drop 350 pounds out of it, I might try anyway though.

Depends on specifics. Assuming optimal engine efficiency over your route, your car is roughly 4088 square inches which is about 2.64 square meters and supposedly has a drag coefficient of .36. At 3700lbs (200lb driver/stuff) curb it's about 16460 newtons, and assuming a typical rolling resistance of .012 needs ~198N to roll. To move through the air at 55mph or 24.6m/s, ya need, about ~352N. So... since you're at ~550N right now, shaving off 300lbs in a 3700lb car would decrease the force needed by ~3400/3700(198N)+352N=~533N, so your mileage would go up by ~550/533=1.03, aka 3%. Now, the problem is this is assuming the engine is operating at otpimal efficiency, and if it's not, which it tends not to be for most cars, then you'll see less than a 3% gain. Naturally as your average speed drops from 55mph, the gain is greater, and as it rise, it's less. On the other side of the spectrum, if you have 14" wheels available (j-yard?), you could run LRR 14" tires (rolling resistance of ~.008), and gain around 13-14% assuming ideal engine efficiency or less w/o it.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Would it be a valid weight reduction strategy to pull all the sound deadening material (all of it tends to be heavy stuff) and simply wear noise cancelling headsets?

Cops around here frown on headphone use while motoring.

[Clev]

Originally Posted by almightybmw

I haven't even brought the grinder out to remove random metal.

Note: ^ Not for the average user ^

Just don't go too far: How to get your econobox into the 14's-A must read.

[almightybmw]

Originally Posted by Clev

Just don't go too far: How to get your econobox into the 14's-A must read.

I love that read. Read it first many years ago, had me rolling. Certainly impressive they dropped so much weight, and gained so little time. 1674lbs from 2762lbs. That is beyond impressive, that's just insane. And gained 2 seconds and 10mph to 14.3 @ 93.2mph. I think I'll stop when the sawzall comes out. Road Rally racing needs some structure beyond the full cage.....