The White Gnat (1999 Suzuki Swift 1.3L manual)

[MetroMPG]

Nicely done!

Even though you're not able to measure gains from some of your mods (including on the truck), I wouldn't dismiss them as ineffective. They may just be too small to measure above the noise of normal variability in testing.

More for next year...

[California98Civic]

At El Mirage, this Suzuki Swift. Owner said he bought it for just $500. His only mod was a set of LED daytime running lights.



And congrats on your new high watermark 58!

[wmjinman]

Whoa, the gnat's older cousin, it looks like!! Gee, only $500!!! Makes me feel like I've been ripped off - mine cost about 8 times that much. But, every tank of 55+ mpg, and I can tell myself I'm getting "payback".

Oh, I'm at 570 miles on this tank. Had to "hurry" to Reno and back tonight with the fiancee on board, so I don't know if I can make it to 600 again. I had calculated 60+ mpg earlier in the tank, though.

[tpotts]

I had a swift years ago in Slovakia, I remember I had snow tires filled with nitrogen. In the Tatras during winter storms it would take me over the top when 4 wheel bmws could not do the climb. Amazing little front wheel drive car, very good milage 40 plus when the weather was good. Hope you have it back together soon!

[wmjinman]

Well, after my little "incident" of trying to take a "roundabout" too fast and hitting the curb hard with the right front wheel and bending it and the lower control arm, I have it all repaired: new wheel from the junkyard (the tire survived, amazingly), new lower control arm, and new 4-wheel alignment, and it looks like I'm back in business.

Out of curiosity, I did another speed vs. mpg test last week, as it's been several months and about 10,000 miles since my only other one, and it looks like the numbers are up - as much as 4 mpg at each speed. I was actually able to turn in 3 consecutive runs at 70+ mpg at 30 mph. - not sure how often I'll get to drive 30, though....

But I also recently changed from 0w30 weight synthetic oil (Mobil-1) to 0w20 for the winter, and am probably going to look into getting some sort of engine heater as well.

I'm encouraged by the 650 mile tank I just got, and the 70 mpg test I just got, so maybe I can get a tank that's better than my old record of 61.x now. (fingers crossed)

[wmjinman]

I look back at my fuel logs, and it's now been over a year since I permanently got the 'Gnat back and got serious about it's fuel economy. And though I'm a little unhappy about my 53+/- mpg tanks I've been getting during the winter months, when I look back at that first tank of 24.91 and the next couple in the 30's, I'm glad. ....I don't anticipate getting under 50 again, ever.

And I'm expecting 2014 to be better yet. In the works are a warm air intake I'm about halfway finished on and that I hope to have in operation while it's still cold, and also a kamm-back that I'm also about halfway finished on that was forced into suspension by the weather becoming too cold overnight to cure epoxy resins. Also planned are a fuel injector shut-off swith and a hand throttle "redneck cruise control".

With these mods installed, I would like to try at least one maximum effort run to see if I can get a 70 mpg tank, and also see if I can realize my original goal of "55/55", which means 55 mpg at 55 mph.

[StudeChamp]

Originally Posted by wmjinman

Head's done. Back from the machine shop...

Mechanic says he thinks the oil leak that drenched the alternator was from the cam seal. Gonna replace that when installing the rebuilt head.

I know that machine work isn't cheap, but there sure is something satisfying about it. I've got a new paint job and full engine rebuild on my 1991 (salvage title) Geo, but hey, that cost isn't even close to first year's depreciation on a new car, and I plan on keeping the Geo a long time. You're doing the right thing, don't worry

[wmjinman]

So my fiancee has a nephew in New York who will be getting married in June. Trouble is, we didn't see any way to afford going. However, she just found out her sister (who racks-up MANY frequent flier miles) will buy her round trip ticket. Guestimating the distance and price of gas and my recent mpg, I might be able to drive there alone for $100 less than air fare. Of course, it ignores the cost of all the meals and motel rooms, which would run it way higher than air fare. - But we'd have a car there....

Anyway, it could also be considered an excuse to do some really "long range testing/record attempting". I'm thinking I should probably go totally nuts with the aerodynamics if I were to do this. - definitely finish and install the bobbed boattail/kamm-back and some better rear fender skirts. Should I try to get a full belly pan on there? Install smaller side mirrors? Try to improve my grille block? What are everyone's thoughts?

[MetroMPG]

Fun! Belly pan would sure improve the performance of the boat tail (the bottom of it will probably be in turbulence, otherwise).

[Gasoline Fumes]

Where in NY?