Fuelly mods

[sipNzipHatchT]

being that i havent seen a dedicated mpg mod thread yet, heres my attempt. Anyone who has modded their car with mpgs in mind, what have you done and what were your results?
ill start.
replaced stock air filter with k and n #33-2510. perfect fit.
replaced air intake piping between stock air box and turbo inlet with 3"hard piping.
seeing an overall increase of about 6mpgs with careful driving, yet decrease of about 8mpgs with a heavy foot. basically meaning it burns more gas than stock when on the throttle heavy but is still more efficient when running low rpm

 

[keto06]

IMO the best mod for MPGs is a tune. Not only can it lean out the cruise AFRs but if they also raise the part throttle timing values, depending on your intended fuel octane, you need less throttle to get the same acceleration; if youve already modded the intake, i think it should be your next mod. Also, consider looking into the DIY CAI if you dont have fogs...

After that, Id say #2 is Wheels. A good set of lightweight rims and LRR tires, such as the Cruze Eco/Ecopia package AndrewGS is running, is probably good for another couple MPGs.

Above that I think most of the gains will be found in Aero mods (not counting driving style)

 

[Stratton_Chevrolet_Sonic]

IMO the best mod for MPGs is a tune. Not only can it lean out the cruise AFRs but if they also raise the part throttle timing values, depending on your intended fuel octane, you need less throttle to get the same acceleration; if youve already modded the intake, i think it should be your next mod. Also, consider looking into the DIY CAI if you dont have fogs...

After that, Id say #2 is Wheels. A good set of lightweight rims and LRR tires, such as the Cruze Eco/Ecopia package AndrewGS is running, is probably good for another couple MPGs.

Above that I think most of the gains will be found in Aero mods (not counting driving style)

^^^^agreed

 

[Eric Smit]

I agree with keto. The tune is great for mileage, and so are LRR tires.
Also;
Remove your spare tire and associated tools and bring a can of fix a flat.
Don't keep excess junk in your trunk.
Don't try to drive 10 miles to save 2 cents on gas. Keep an eye on gas prices on your way to your destination, and fill up at the cheapest on the way back.

Driving style is also a huge factor.
When you park, back your car in while it's still warm, so you can pull out forward.
For reverse, don't use the throttle.
Pulse and glide is a terrific MPG technique. Google it for a description.
When you get in your car, adjust mirrors and seats and whatnot before starting it.
Turn off your car at long lights, but keep an eye out behind you.
When a light turns red, just coast to it. No need to race to a stop, anyway.
And there is SO much more.


-Eric Smit

 

[sipNzipHatchT]

thanks. im pretty good with the driving part, my intentions were mostly to solicit info about mechanical or physical modifications to the car. thanks again for the comprehensive responses. so ive heard of the mpg benefits of the tune, but not much hard info about actual numbers before and after. and im already thinking about danny5's cai/ram air project.

just a note i prefer not to shut off the car at stop lights just for the extra stress it causes on certain components on the vehicle

 

[sonic hotness]

With the tune do you need to run higher octane?Or can you still run 87?

 

[DMex]

With the tune do you need to run higher octane?Or can you still run 87?

you will have to run higher octane fuel, but the tune can be modified to run whatever octane you like

 

[Eric Smit]

So the answer is no, you don't have to run higher octane fuel.


-Eric Smit

 

[RichieRocket]

sipNzipHatchT, I started a similar thread on the MPG forum a long while back.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t737/

I did install the grille blocker but never got around to making some smooth hub caps. I was on ecomodder.com a lot this winter dreaming about adding a Kamm-back, underbody panels, and covering over the rear wheels. But this spring has been so mild, I have been out riding my mountain bike, not in the garage wrenching!

I'm not sure if the air filter and intake really help much for mpg. You should be shortshifting and keeping the rpms low, so the airflow in the intake is not fast enough to get restricted much by the OEM airfilter and intake. The lightweight wheels will add aero drag if they are big open-spoke designs. On ecomodder and similar sights, they refernce studies showing the increase in drag with big wheels. If you look a Bonneville salt flat top speed car, that all have smooth hub caps!

There have been other threads on why a CAI doesn't give more mpg. On a NA engine like the 1.8L, you want a "Hot Air Intake" HAI to minimize pumping losses and get better mpg. It's more complicated with the turbo and intercooler...

I have been doing some of the things Eric said, like shutting down at long stops, but my commute really sucks! I've said on other threads, my 10.5 mile each-way commute has 13 stop lights and 8 stop signs...that really sucks for mpg!

 

[PapaSmurf805]

Mostly city driving on my first tank and remembering how to drive a MT. Changing some driving habits and route to work (more freeway vs. back road) and will see what the second tank yields. 26.6mpg first tank 1.4T 6sp MT LTZ Hatchback. Hope my fuelly signature below works.?.

 

[SteveSonic]

Like Richie said, ecomodder.com and cleanmpg.com are two primary web sources for tips on maximizing fuel economy. Those sites also include links to technical studies and other lab research that support or refute some claims made by the DIY'ers.

For example, the Sonic has a very clean bottom side (no projections into the air flow), although only the front 25% has an aero panel installed (on those cars sold before Jan 2012). Toyota and Honda have shown that panelling a large portion of the bottom is worthwhile on a production car.

My next Fuelly report is going to show a big gain over my previous 38-40 mpg averages. Four things have changed during the past three weeks: The morning air temps are higher; AMSOIL full synthetic is in the crankcase; I've been re-calibrating my foot to a Trifecta tune (not yet logged and optomized, yet, either); and, I'm running on BP 93 versus Shell 93. Now, which one, or the sum of which of those, has lifted my economy to about 43 mpg, I don't know.

 

[Eric Smit]

You should pulse and glide for one tank. It's thrilling to see the numbers.


-Eric Smit

 

[sipNzipHatchT]

sipNzipHatchT, I started a similar thread on the MPG forum a long while back.
http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t737/



I'm not sure if the air filter and intake really help much for mpg. You should be shortshifting and keeping the rpms low, so the airflow in the intake is not fast enough to get restricted much by the OEM airfilter and intake.


hmm. i dont know. i do shortshift, just under 2 if conditions permit. i swear my city mpg numbers got better. maybe i just learned how to drive better, but i consistently average around 35- 38 mpg in town. and thanks ill check it out

]

 

[sipNzipHatchT]

and steve i also run amsoil in the crankcase. usually use exxon 93 with lucas upper cylinder lube. i average around 43mpg on the highway and like 39-40 combined. i also put zmax engine treatment, and lucas full synthetic oil stabilizer in with the oil during my last change. zmax transmission treatment also. i enjoy adding the additives and always have in my other veichles. been through three smooth running gms so far, so i like to think it helps. drove my 97 bonneville for 14 hours straight at 85mph to florida, and back, with about 140000 on the dash. religously refreshed the royal purple and zmax in the case every 3000 miles and from what i hear the motor still purrs to this day with about 200000. i like to think it was my lube treatment lol