The White Gnat (1999 Suzuki Swift 1.3L manual)

[Pierrel]

You're numbers are really impressive! Sadly life caught up to me leaving me with a bunch of crap to deal with, meaning I haven't really focused on the Eco part these last 4 weeks or so. Just changed from winter to summer tires, hoping for a small gain will eventually get the Tiny sponge a minor tuneup.

Keep it up mate!

[wmjinman]

Thanks, Pierrel! It looks like your mileage was up with this last tank, though. Summer tires & hopefully warmer weather might help some more. Minor tune-up should, too.

Gotta keep all the 4 cylinder Swifts "in the running"!! HAH!!!

[wmjinman]

Had a fill-up today, my second one over 52 MPG. What's more, the "lifetime MPG" and the "90 day MPG" are no longer the same - - - the 90 day is higher now, which must mean that dismal first tank has dropped off the average. With a new number (46.41), I had to check the standings on the "list".

Well, good news and mediocre news; The White Gnat is now the top 4 cylinder Swift again at 51st place, and also the top of the SECOND page. That brings us to the mediocre news - still not in the top 50 on the FIRST page.

I would have changed my transmission fluid today to the thin synthetic I'd bought awhile ago, but the weather was a little nasty. Well, maybe early on THIS new tank.

[wmjinman]

The universe finally lined up, the weather was nice, I had some time, so I finally jacked up the ol' "Gnat" and drained the oil from the trans. It seemed awfully thick, so I expect my mechanic fell for the old mistake of using the incorrect weight oil called for in the shop/owner's manual when he "serviced" everything during the head rebuild/engine swap fiasco.

I became so obsessed about getting all that old gunk out of there, I did an impulsive move I hope wasn't a mistake; while jacked up, I put about a half gallon of gasoline in it, started the engine, and then ran it through all the gears with the wheels elevated. It made quite a bit of noise in 5th. So I drained it again & left the fill & drain plugs out for awhile, hoping most of the gas would drain and/or evaporate.

I would have left it open longer, but ran out of time, so put the drain plug back in & filled it with the Redline thin synthetic synchromesh MTL I'd bought awhile ago. While driving it, I thought it seemed to "roll easier", shift easier, and run quieter. Of course, there's the distinct possibility it's just "wishful thinking" - HAH!!

I also made patterns of the rear fender openings while waiting for it to drain, then cut out a couple pieces of coroplast for fender skirts. Maybe I'll be able to do some A-B-A testing of fender skirts tomorrow. Will it be able to do 60 mpg at 50 mph? I hope!!

[wmjinman]

Wow, I couldn't believe it. Something went "right" this tank, because I got a whopping 2 mpg better than my old record. Maybe a lot of it was the new synthetic oil in the transmission, and maybe some of it was all the driving I did trying to test my new coroplast rear fender skirts.

But the White Gnat has moved to 46th place on the "gasoline cars" list with a 47.18 mpg 90-day average. Again, with these recent tanks, and my old, original tanks with the "sick" engine falling off the other end of the 90-day moving window, I'm thinking my average might be into the 50s in a couple more fill-ups. This is so exciting!!!

[nemo]

Congratulations on the new record. Got any results to post from your rear fender skirt testing?

[MetroMPG]

Numbers are all pointing in the right direction! Fun.

[wmjinman]

Originally Posted by nemo

Congratulations on the new record. Got any results to post from your rear fender skirt testing?

No! I tried to A-B-A test it two different times, but had similar things happen both times. Got a good baseline result from the "A" test, but then when I'd try it with the skirts on, the mpg would drop - RADICALLY!!!! Finally, I'd change the mode from "trip" - "current" to "gauge" - "instantaneous mpg", and was seeing unbelievable low numbers - like in the low 30s - after getting a baseline of 56 or whatever. One time, it was in the low 20s.

So I opened the hood & saw a wire had come loose at a connection. The wire went from the wiring harness to a bolt on the throttle body, so I guess that means it's a ground. I fixed it yesterday, but niether the car nor the ScanGauge seemed to work any differently with it off than on.

Oh, and the ScanGauge worked better than before, although it showed my tank average as 51.1, but the pump showed it as 54.2. I assume the low ScanGauge average was from the period of time I was getting those ridiculous low numbers. And, worried that I just wasn't filling it up enough, I REALLY topped it off good - to the point the gas was standing in the fill neck (after what seemed like half an hour clicking in 0.05 gallons at a time at the pump).

So I don't know what's wrong. Oh, in one of the tests, I took the fender skirts off, and the mileage continued to be terrible, so I don't thnk the skirts were what was doing it. So, I don't know what's up. ????

[nemo]

Wow. Sure sounds like what could go wrong did. I applaud your attempt. Where I am there is no place I can think of in close proximity that would work for testing, just too much traffic.

[wmjinman]

Driving around town last night I heard a "thump, thump, thump" sound that seemed to match the revolutions of something. Eventually, after looking for scuff marks on the tires, etc, I figured it out; on the right rear wheel, the valve stem stuck out far enough it was hitting the edge of the coroplast every time it came around. DUH!! So I took that skirt off.

Today, I made a run to Sacramento & back. The ScanGauge was showing 70 mpg when I finally got down to the "flat" of the valley, spending most of the tank "rolling downhill" off the Sierras. But even on the trip back, I kept tabs on it & have 56 mpg still showing back in Carson City. This was all with just the drivers side skirt still on.

I also kept a close eye on the temperature because it was pretty warm (84 in Sacramento), and there are some pretty steep grades in the mountains. But it never got above 207. In fact, I kinda wish I would have seen 208 just once so I'd know it didn't just stop at 207. ???? But - everything seemed ok, anyway.