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Old 01-01-2011, 01:39 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Laura the Lancer - '81 Mitsibishi lancer LX
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this should speed things up (using small calibrated fuel canister for testing mods)

ok well im sick of filling up and then trying to get perfect result for one test through that whole week so ive got an idea

im going to buy a 1L fuel can and mount it in the engine bay and connect it to the fuel pump with a switch that will let me go between fuel tank and fuel can.

this way i can quickly evaluate fuel economy decreases/increases. that i will be doing soon.

now i just need to find a good straight road and i think i have the one.
i believe this is good for simple "bolt on items" as then i can really see the difference between timing changes, hotter thermostats etc..

anyone care to share thoughts

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Old 01-02-2011, 02:40 PM   #2 (permalink)
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- I take it your car is carbureted, not fuel injected (MPGuino not an option?)

- Another option which I've seen used: calibrate your fuel gauge with a digital multimeter connected to the sending unit.

- I also assume your car doesn't have the pressurized "return" fuel line, and in-tank fuel pump?

- I've seen a few "Mythbusters" episodes where they use a small removable fuel tank which they weigh between tests to compare consumption.

- And I know of a guy (the guy who built this streamlined Model T Ford in the 1930's) who put a small graduated fuel container in his car to do the same thing.
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Old 01-03-2011, 10:40 PM   #3 (permalink)
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yep good old trusty carby
and nope standard mechanical pump with no return line

hmmm my fuel gauge needs calibration anyway... its a bit saggy (full tank looks like 3/4 tank on my gauge)

would you care to teach me or divert me to a link on how to do this calibration you speak of
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Old 01-03-2011, 11:41 PM   #4 (permalink)
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90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
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"digital fuel gauge" DIY

There's a post on GasSavers that member krousdb wrote (he's a member here too, inactive now). I'll see if I can find it.

In a nutshell though: he connected his multimeter to the fuel gauge sending unit on his car and measured its resistance, if I recall.

Effectively: he made a digital fuel gauge with vastly better resolution & accuracy than the analog OEM gauge.

He started from an empty tank, then recorded the readings as he progressivlely added a small measured amount of fuel (quarter gallon at a time?) until the tank was full.

He made a plot of multimeter reading vs. fuel volume from empty to full.

Since he always parked in exactly the same place each night (tank in the same attitude as when he calibrated it), he could then fairly accurately measure daily fuel consumption from his commute by comparing the multimeter reading to the plot he made from the calbration exercise.

The main thing that comes to mind that would mess it up (slightly) would be thermal effects on fuel volume.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
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Old 01-03-2011, 11:50 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Found it:

(from Feb 2006. Funny what sticks in your memory...)

Vacuum Guage and Digital Fuel Gauge - GasSavers.org - Helping You Save at the Pump Hypermiling and Fuel Efficiency Forum

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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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