Modifications with better mpg?

[Firebird Phoenix]

So what modifications would benefit in the obvious of acceleration/hp but have an effect of better mpg?

I was told a CAI does because its more cooler and free flowing air.(which I have one installed)

Also would a Aluminum driveshaft do so too?

I'm rather hit off on modifications that have this side effect as I drive a lot of highway miles weekly. Thanks

[slow6]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

yes aluminum FTW!
idk about colder air though

[UDLOSE98]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

yea CAI does help mileage and power, a little
spark plugs, wires, coils
synthetic oil
flush and refill tranny and diff fluids
electric water pump


all these will effect gas mileage, somewhat.

[Firebird Phoenix]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

yea CAI does help mileage and power, a little
spark plugs, wires, coils
synthetic oil
flush and refill tranny and diff fluids
electric water pump


all these will effect gas mileage, somewhat.

I've changed to synthetic (royal purple) recently.

I have been planning plugs, wires, and coils so thats next I guess.

Electric water pump.....is that cause it won't be driven off the belt anymore and "freeing" up power correct? How hard is it to install one?

Keep them coming, i'm sure i'm not the only one who wants to know this. Thanks

[slow6]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

wind resistance/drag is worse on fuel economy than more weight
of course we all have aerodynamic cars
I've heard before that cold air isnt always better on MPG, but maybe i misunderstood
I would say the electric w/p would be an improvement if you had a HO alternator.
I heard that the mechanical -> electrical conversion is more draining
BIG SHRUG

[CDNFB]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

Although they look like crap, install steel rims with much narrower tires. Keep tire pressures at absolute maximum (rock hard).

Best MPG gains to be had with this car is by changing your driving habits like avoiding excessive accellerations and stop and go traffic. Also shutting down instead of idling for long periods of time and coasting help alot too.

[3.4 slow to go]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

yeah, full synth lube, tire at proper air pressure, clean car, god tune up, aluminum/alloy parts, and losing a couple pounds yourself ;)

I'd have to get a list of all his mods, but VinnieGTP from goclubgp has actually gotten better milage w/all his hop ups. He picked parts & they made his engine more efficient.

[Niko97RS]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

believe it or not....if u do alot of highway driving...make sure ur car is WAXED and the paint extra slick like butter...glides through the air better...less friction=better mpg and longer paint life

[matt3989]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

exhuast, high flow cat, headers, the right tune, just about anything that will make your engine more efficient.

there are two things that make power, air and gasoline, obviously if you increase either of these you will make more power, but if you can increase the amount of air flow without increaing the gasoline intake you will make more power. If you make more power your engine will be able to do the same amount of work with less strain/fuel intake, theoretically anything to give you more power without adding more gasoline or raise the normal operating rpms will give you better gas mileage.

you can also make your car more effecient in putting the power to the ground, lighter wheels, driveshraft, axels, or a lower gear ratio will all increase fuel economy.

then dont use your a/c, keep your windows up, shed excess weight, the amount of things you can do to increase fuel economy are limitless.

[youngsc]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

believe it or not....if u do alot of highway driving...make sure ur car is WAXED and the paint extra slick like butter...glides through the air better...less friction=better mpg and longer paint life

This sounds like one for Mythbusters. I'm going with busted. Aerodynamics are not going to have that great of an effect at highway speeds even if that is your primary route every day. Sorry I got to go with :bs:

[Niko97RS]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

then why do they wax all airplanes, even small ones that only going like 130 mph?

they cut through the air better...while it wont be a HUGE mpg gain..even like 1/2 is still an increase...

its like saying driving with ur windows down on the highway doesnt slow u down...it does

[homedog119]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

yea they said on myth busters that driving with the windows up and the air on is better then them down because of air resistance.

[Atreus21]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

yea they said on myth busters that driving with the windows up and the air on is better then them down because of air resistance.

Nobody saw the Mythbuster's episode with the truck tailgate up and down?

They checked to see which got better mileage, and the one with the tailgate down ran out of gas first, because the air falling off the end of the tailgate generated more drag. The one with the tailgate closed created less, as the air circulated in the bed and didn't do much of anything.

Aerodynamics does affect mpg.

[matt3989]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

because of the way our cars sit we have aproximately the same areo dynamics as a dodge carravan, air circulates up and under the front end and hits every little thing under the car, if you dont beleive me go to a book store, theres a book in the automotive section that tells you the air ressitance of every production vehicle.

another good example of areodynamics is the 1965 shelby cobra, it was designed as a race car, Carl Shelby being the genius that he is looked at it and said hed find away to win races with it. He then took on the task of completely changing the body style to the one we all know and love. Him and his crew did hundreds of hours of testing to make it as areodynamic as possible, when it was completed it shaved 1.5 seconds of its previous lap time, and even more importantly only refueled 2/3s as much as the rest of the cars.

I saw a show on discovery about it.

[88gtman]

Re: Modifications with better mpg?

yea they said on myth busters that driving with the windows up and the air on is better then them down because of air resistance.

Apparently you did not see the episode where they revisited this myth. It turned out that driving with the A/C on is worse for gas mileage if you are traveling less than 55mph. Mpg is better if driving with the A/C on rather than having windows down at speeds greater than 55mph.