Performance (mpg) upgrades and mods

[RichieRocket]

No offense to people hot-rodding their Sonics, to each their own!
Since I get plenty of adrenaline taking my motorcycle on the racetrack...I'm concentrating on maximizing my fuel mileage for commuting and long highway trips...Anyone have any ideas?

easy
- lower grill inlet blocker, maybe with manually adjustable louvers
- smooth hub caps
- low rolling resistance tires (once current tires wear out)
harder
- underbody smooth panels
- extend the "Kamm-back" spoiler to reduce pressure drag
- remove side mirrors, install remote cameras with screens inside

 

[Gimpster]

I've thought about replacing the LARGE stock battery with something smaller to reduce weight, and also perhaps removing the spare/jack/etc. I've also thought about removing all of the rear seats etc and making a light weight deck... I never have passengers and I'm always hauling around computer junk. Light weight forged wheels? Perhaps a light weight free flowing exhaust too. In general we need to get this car lighter, but i think maybe ~~100lbs could easily be dumped without much pain and suffering.

A "hot air intake" might help economy like the Geo Metro guys make.

Getting the ability to tune the PCM ourselves would help too.

I like your idea of LRR tires, but those will have to wait until these are cashed out.

I'm kinda new to trying to get a lot of MPG

 

[mjspiess]

As a current owner of a '95 Geo Metro, I have done a lot to improve fuel econemy. My best tank has been 62 mpg. I try to shift at 1500-2k RPM, installed MPGuino (shows instant/average mpg), Passenger Mirror Delete, Retracted Radio Antenna, Removed Side Trim, Aero Windshield Wipers, Clear Plastic Headlight Covers, Disabled DRL, Full/Partial Grill Block (depending on time of year), Front/Rear Tire Spats, Front/Rear Belly Pan, Rear Wheel Skirts, Front Wheel Well Spoilers, Sealed Headlight Gaps, Partial Kammback, XFi Camshaft with 60A +2* Sproket, Advanced Ignition Timing 8* BTDC, "Warm" Air Intake, Full Synthetic 5W30 Oil, XFi 3.79 Transmission, Pennzoil Synchromesh Transmission Fluid, Solar 12v Assist, 50 PSI Tire Pressure 155/80R/13, Aluminum '99 Hyundai Accent Rims & Aftermarket Cruise Control.

Both websites are great resources for improving fuel economy.
65+ Vehicle modifications for better fuel economy - EcoModder.com
100+ Hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics for better mpg - EcoModder.com

 

[RichieRocket]

A "hot air intake" might help economy like the Geo Metro guys make.

Gimpster, you can't do a hot air intake on a turbo car...the intercooler will cool any hot air you try to draw in. Unless you have some elaborate intercooler air flow blocker, but that seems like too much trouble.