I really hope this question wasn't asked before. . . but here goes:

I'm looking to go FI in the near future, and have been actively looking at many different turbo options. I know the S/C has been known to have some problems, but it looks like the '07 updates should address those problems.

A little background: I bought my car in November of 2006, and at this current time I already have over 20,000 miles. Gas accounts for a BIG part of my spending. However, I don't really care for rediculous gains in power (an extra 40hp would be acceptable). Nitrous is an option, but I'm also concerned about the possible damage caused by frequent use (don't argue with me here, even if you're right, I just don't want to take the risk, although I'm going to leave that option on the back burner). The fact of the matter is that I would be spraying at least 10 times a day. . . so no.

The question is, how much will gas mileage be hurt by going FI, and which option is the least damaging to my fuel economy?

 

Well if you go turbo, your not always going to be boosting, whereas with a supercharger you will always be under some boost.
I'm not boosted quite yet, so I can't give you any solid numbers for differences.

 

actually, i'm pretty sure that turbo's tc strangely get better mpg. not so much that you'll make up for the cost of the turbo in gas down the road, but seriously it is a straight phenomenom.

search the forced induction forum, you'll find it.

 

Ok, if you're not getting on it that much and just regular day to day driving...turbo will have the slight mpg advantage...but under the gas...turbo will burn a little more due to producing more boost and more hp. Now honestly, the difference between the 2 in mpg is about 1mpg...that's all! So you will be able to go about 14 miles more with the turbo (not an exact # for the smart @sses) which would probably save you $1.50 per fill-up as long as you drive conservatively. Under full boosting...i have no clue. So really, just go with what you would rather have...turbo or s/c because the mpg difference between the two is extremely minimal. Since you're in cali though, maybe the s/c is better for our wonderful CARB laws since it's the only legal forced induction mod

 

i know when i drive on the freeways, i got greater mpg, at one point averaging like 31 mpg.....strangely, with the turbo, without going heavily into boost all the time i get overall better has mileage

 

I've had the s/c for about 15,000 miles. It really makes no big difference in fuel mileage. I only dropped about 2mpg when I got it. The added cost of premium unleaded is far more of a hit to the finances than the loss in mileage itself, though I don't really even consider that cost significant. I've gotten up to 31 mpg on all highway with it, and average about 23 - 25 mpg in a mix of city/highway driving.

 

Thank you for the replies!

So I see that we have one member (jrussell) who is reporting that the SC does not come with a big penalty in MPG. How does that compare to a turbo application?

I mean, 31 MPG is pretty friggin good! But I'm thinking that if I go turbo, I would go for a set up with very mild boost. I'm only shooting for 200HP. . . and no, NA with giant obnoxious fart cans, headers, and generally annoying sounds coming out the back does NOT interest me. Anyway, 200hp is pretty hard to hit NA.

 

200 hp na would also bankrupt you. just get a zpi stage 0, emanage, pressure sensor and gauges. that shouldn't kill your mileage or break the bank.

 

not really...
stock = 145/146 whp
Strup headers = 10-12whp
ARK N2 exhaust (catback) = 12whp
ZPI crank pulley = 8-10whp
Injen CAI = 8-10whp
ZPI stage 1 head package = 21whp

total N/A whp = 204 whp - 211 whp

total cost = about $2100 without installation

little cheaper than the turbo kits offered

 

i stand corrected i suppose.

and yet nobody has done that yet have they?

what are you n/a guys waiting for?

 

I've never heard an aftermarket exhaust on a tC that I could live with. . . except for the TRD which basically has no gains. Add headers and it's rasp city.

 

really, listen to this one...you don't like it

 

do you really believe with all of that, you'll get 200+ whp?

 

If you can add those numbers...you will get over 200whp (on a MT, auto is lower)

Every one of those numbers i posted are posted on their respective websites with dyno proven results

You can believe it, or you may not...don't really care. I'm just stating what they make seperately and helping out the original poster

 

No offense to you or that exhaust (if you like it, then I totally respect your choice. . . and if it helps performance, then great). . .




But I think that sounds like total crud. It sounds cheap and reminds me of a high school parking lot. I can't show up to a client who drives a 911 or a BMW or a Ferarri and expect him to take me seriously. Even if all that stuff made the car faster than a Veyron, it's still COMPLETELY tasteless to the majority of people out there. Don't get me wrong, as a car enthusiast, I can respect it and would NEVER give you crap about it in person. I would probably give you props. But since you ask my honest opinion, most people are NOT gear heads and most people are not into the import tuner scene. Remember, I'm in sales. . . and this is my daily driver. . . until I can get an IS250/350, G35, or 335. I can afford one now, but I can justify depreciating a car that expensive, at least not yet.

A relatively stock looking car with some clean and subtle mods, with a refined engine note does far better in the professional world. The tC looks good. . . stock. It fits in parking next to a lower end BMW and it doesn't look like a cheap economy car (to 99% of people). Slanted mufflers, big cans, and huge wings are things you always see on cheesy cars. . . especially in LA. Just about every POS 1989 Civic DX has some crazy slanted exhaust. I'd rather my car look more like a STOCK BMW than a hopped up and rusted Civic DX. I don't even want to associate with that!

And also consider that I have 20,000 miles in just a few months. All those bits and pieces are TOTAL cop bait!!!! If you are conservative, you can hide intercoolers and you can hide superchargers. But anything that sticks out on my car is GOING to get me pulled over. That's a fact. With the amount of mileage I drive, it'd just be a matter of time.

But if it were my weekend car, I might consider it. Even then, I'm just a big fan of sleepers. My ultimate goal? Coilovers (raised to stock height), and major engine upgrades camoflauged to look stock. No stickers, to advertising, no wings, nada. I already get enough idiots trying to race me, and my car is pretty much stock at this point! I don't want some 16 year old kid with a terminator wing on his civic trying to race me when I cruise at 85mph. . . and then get pulled over for "racing."

Please, please, please don't get mad. I respect your car, and props to you man. But what you got just isn't for me.

 

no offense taken at all man...i respect your opinion and choice as well. If you like the stock look...check out the ark DT-s also...good exhaust, stock look and good performance also.

 

...those are peak horsepower numbers in optimal conditions....the power curve with f/i is much more linear. I would estimate that with those mods and real world conditions you would see 180- 190--not 204. I'm pretty sure you can't just add them together.

also, as posted earlier, there was a thread about this very subject and the turbo guys were getting a lot better gas mileage than i've ever gotten

 

If I'm cruising highway, I get 30MPG still. If I'm driving around town boosting a lot, I get down around 20mpg. It's just a question of how your commute is.

 

thanks guys. . . every single one of you. You guys ALL had some productive to say.

This place rules. I still feel like a jack hole for responding in such a volatile way towards buddhastc. . . different strokes for different folks, and I kinda snapped a little (all those civics doing 55mph with giant cans on the back who hog the fast lane during my commute drive me NUTS).

 

297whp, 302wtd, 10 psi, AVG 24MPG and I get on it quite often. Also running the Dezod black blox which actually richens up the fuel mixture a little under partial throttle.