Better gas mileage

[2006wrxtr]

Cheap or in expensive ways to increase fuel mileage.
I have been able to get 35mpg in my 97 Aspire. I was getting
30mpg on average but driving like a mad man.
Only thing I change are my driving habits and I gained 5mpg.
What else can I do to increase it?
Would lowering the car help?
Some type of cold air intake?
Inflate the tires to max recomended psi?
Take weight out of the car? Was thinking about removing the rear seat, carpet, and sound deadning.
Would synthetic oil, and trans fluid help? or is the added cost prohibitive
Would a taller tire help since i do mostly interstate driving?
Would a larger exhaust help? Mine right now has to be only about 1 1/2" and has tons of leaks. Would 2" help some?
I know I need a tune up, plugs wires, cap and rotor have no idea the lasttime they were changed but I would bet it has be quite awhile.
The car has 133k on it doesn't burn any oil (leaks a bit)
Any ideas are appreciated

[VroomPshhTsi]

Driving habit is the most important way to improve mileage. Much easier to do so with a manual car because you can just coast down hills which saves a ton. I was able to get a 45 mpg tank on my brother's Honda Fit and 43 mpg tank on my brother's Civic (both manual).

Of the ones you listed, I would recommend losing extra weight and bumping up your tire pressure. If anything I thing a bigger wheel will hurt gas mileage rather than help.

[Yooformula]

more air pressure, lower vehicle weight, less oil in crankcase, fuel filter change, remove a/c belt in cooler climates, electric fan in lieu of clutch fan,(helped alot in my yukon), lower weight rims to reduce rotational mass, maybe a better drop in air filter(cai use more fuel iirc)

[brotherbenn83]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ijddey2mL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

/thread

[flyin_blue_egg]

^^^I've heard those things don't work that well, and in some cases hurt MPG.

[lordairgtar]

35 with an Aspire? My much heavier HHR panel gets that.

[88Nightmare]

Only 35? Seems really low. My escort gt got 35mpg on straight highway driving. My girlfriends new chevy cruze does low 40s on the highway and it's an automatic

[BoosTT]

Wow. 35MPG and you want more? I would take 23 mpg average (on 93 octane). lol.

[pOrk]

35 with an Aspire? My much heavier HHR panel gets that.

the 2.2 in the hhr is only rated at 32 mpg hwy...

[Al]

I have been able to get 35mpg in my 97 Aspire. I was getting
30mpg on average but driving like a mad man.

Some type of cold air intake?


Don't forget to take the weather into account. Hot air tends to increase fuel economy, but also reduces the potential of the engine to make maximum power. A CAI will most likely reduce fuel economy.


the 2.2 in the hhr is only rated at 32 mpg hwy...

But that is with the new fuel economy standards.

[brotherbenn83]

Only 35? Seems really low. My escort gt got 35mpg on straight highway driving. My girlfriends new chevy cruze does low 40s on the highway and it's an automatic

It's a 6 speed auto though, like most of our new car's transmissions. Easier to get good mileage with 2-3 extra gears.

[Sprayaway Fox]

Pump the tires up to to max rated and install a vacuum gauge or a old school fuel mileage/performance gauge (basically a vacuum gauge) from JC whitney.

[Gregor]

install a vacuum gauge or a old school fuel mileage/performance gauge (basically a vacuum gauge) from JC whitney.

My brother did that and retrained himself to drive vs his lead foot. My wife gets 16 MPG out of my 4.6 F-150 I get 12 different driving habit do make a difference.

[lordairgtar]

the 2.2 in the hhr is only rated at 32 mpg hwy...
I drive it very carefully sometimes. I like to see how high I can get the mileage gauge go...I'm not gonna say how high I can make my DIC go...ooops, I already did.

[The Shaolin]

Keep the warm air intake...and make sure your underhood insulation is intact.

Other than that, keep tweaking your driving habits and give everything a tune-up, make sure all your maintenance is up to date.

[88Nightmare]

It's a 6 speed auto though, like most of our new car's transmissions. Easier to get good mileage with 2-3 extra gears.

yeah and my 5 speed manual escort with 180k miles was getting only 5-6mpg less and was 18 years old??? An aspire should be able to do better then 35mpg I would think, unless his car is an automatic, which would just be super gay

[Turbo-Triumph]

If you do interstate driving ide think a slightly taller tire would help. It would allow you to do the same rpm, but at a faster speed. Youde have to find the best rpm for mileage and stick with that. Assuming a flat terrain, I don't see how you'd loose mpg.

Ok so this might sound crazy and dumb (but everything worthwhile always is so) lol but I read in car and driver I believe it was that blowing compressed air into the low pressure zone behind your car increases your aero significantly, so also mpg. They said it was a few mpg.

Here is a similair article but they took a slightly diff approach. I realize your not driving a semi, so the gains wouldn't be as great (20%) but you asked..

http://www.expeditersonline.com/trucking/Truck_Topics_1/How_To_Cheat_The_Wind_And_Increase_MPG_71_printer. html

Another forum I used to visit, a guy made his 4 cyl run on 3 cyl via turning off an injector. He said "it didn't work in the city but yeilded large gains on the highway"
Seen a similair setup on a dodge van (6 to 4) with same results. I think they were both on turbododge.com. (don't think that's great for the motor but who knows)

On feoa.net this guy built his escort wagon for mileage and seen decent increases. He added a wing for aero and did a bunch of other things.. hooked up a laptop to his car and datalogged it somehow if I remember correctly. (Been a while)

Now more sensible ideas would include buying a "performance chip" (resister) and wiring it in. Basically leans out your a/f ratio. "More powa!"

Or simply buying a $400 beater geo that'll getcha 40+ and look cool doing it

[Turbo-Triumph]

Wait the guy with the van.. might of been 6 to 5.. he also might of blew the motor. I'm trying to remember but I can't lol. I know its out there tho just gatta search

[2006wrxtr]

If you do interstate driving ide think a slightly taller tire would help. It would allow you to do the same rpm, but at a faster speed. Youde have to find the best rpm for mileage and stick with that. Assuming a flat terrain, I don't see how you'd loose mpg.

Ok so this might sound crazy and dumb (but everything worthwhile always is so) lol but I read in car and driver I believe it was that blowing compressed air into the low pressure zone behind your car increases your aero significantly, so also mpg. They said it was a few mpg.

Here is a similair article but they took a slightly diff approach. I realize your not driving a semi, so the gains wouldn't be as great (20%) but you asked..

http://www.expeditersonline.com/trucking/Truck_Topics_1/How_To_Cheat_The_Wind_And_Increase_MPG_71_printer. html

Another forum I used to visit, a guy made his 4 cyl run on 3 cyl via turning off an injector. He said "it didn't work in the city but yeilded large gains on the highway"
Seen a similair setup on a dodge van (6 to 4) with same results. I think they were both on turbododge.com. (don't think that's great for the motor but who knows)

On feoa.net this guy built his escort wagon for mileage and seen decent increases. He added a wing for aero and did a bunch of other things.. hooked up a laptop to his car and datalogged it somehow if I remember correctly. (Been a while)

Now more sensible ideas would include buying a "performance chip" (resister) and wiring it in. Basically leans out your a/f ratio. "More powa!"

Or simply buying a $400 beater geo that'll getcha 40+ and look cool doing it

I paid $200 for this car and it is an Automatic, with working A/C. 35mpg is city and hwy mixed Mileage.

[Turbo-Triumph]

What's your point about your $200 beater? You asked how to save gas I made some suggestions with proven outcomes...

Your willing to buy bigger tires (assuming by your question about larger tires) but you won't invest $3 in a toggle switch and 10 cents on a radio shack resister?

Ok how's this...

Turn your ice cold hard earned a/c off and pump your tires up to 90psi, assuming you can afford the quarter.

With all due respect.. why make a thread and shoot down the post that has the information that leads to the biggest gains? Seems folish and disrespectful. Your welcome for my input.

[HITMAN]

I paid $200 for this car and it is an Automatic, with working A/C. 35mpg is city and hwy mixed Mileage.


What's your point about your $200 beater? You asked how to save gas I made some suggestions with proven outcomes...

Your willing to buy bigger tires (assuming by your question about larger tires) but you won't invest $3 in a toggle switch and 10 cents on a radio shack resister?

Ok how's this...

Turn your ice cold hard earned a/c off and pump your tires up to 90psi, assuming you can afford the quarter.

With all due respect.. why make a thread and shoot down the post that has the information that leads to the biggest gains? Seems folish and disrespectful. Your welcome for my input.

Looking at 2000wrxtr's post, I fail to see where he was foolish and disrespectful to you. Believe me, I know disrespectful when I see it ;) and this ain't it. Seems to me he was just answering some earlier questions about his vehicle and they just happened to land in your response. You might want to turn your sensitivity meter down a tad...

[lilws6]

my 5 speed 93 saturn would get 40mpg on the high ends mostly rode about where your at 35-38mpg. 1st off i babied the hell out of the car because if i got on it it would smoke out the road lol. i left the factory intake on it. it have 15" steel rims with some low pro tires on it when i got it. i put some taller factory tires on it and it got better. i did drive alot of highway. i feel going from a 205 50 tire back to the 195 60/65 tire made a better difference. as long as you dont go over kill. i had a fart can on it for about forever. that made no difference. i don't think on that motor exhaust will help if you bump it up in size. as for weight i know weight will help you get better mpg how much is debatable only way to find out is to do it. if you want to rip all of it out to see what you get i say do it.

[Turbo-Triumph]

might want to turn your sensitivity meter down a tad...

ha, ya, overreacted a tad :goof

[2006wrxtr]

What's your point about your $200 beater? You asked how to save gas I made some suggestions with proven outcomes...

Your willing to buy bigger tires (assuming by your question about larger tires) but you won't invest $3 in a toggle switch and 10 cents on a radio shack resister?

Ok how's this...


Turn your ice cold hard earned a/c off and pump your tires up to 90psi, assuming you can afford the quarter.

With all due respect.. why make a thread and shoot down the post that has the information that leads to the biggest gains? Seems folish and disrespectful. Your welcome for my input.



Wasn't shooting your suggestions down. Just giving info on the car.

I have some recomended reading for you.
Reinventing your life: The breakthrough program to end negative behavior and feel great again.
Apparently you have some issues.