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Increasing mpg?

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Old Jul 23, 2008 | 05:41 PM
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Default Increasing mpg?

I recently joined the forums and am getting an Xa soon (looking through the market). I know these cars get great mpg, but wondered once I get the car, what could I do to it cheaply or free to increase mpg even more?

I know in my old stang I took out the spare tire/jack and some trunk carpet and gained 1/2 mpg, so I was thinking that would be a start. Maybe I would look into a K&N hi-flow filter too.

Please give mpg gains with each thing done:
EX: Spare and jack removed + 0.3mpg

Thanks ahead of time!
Old Jul 23, 2008 | 11:10 PM
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injen sri for the xA will improve your mpg a bit along with a header of your choice you can do a either a cat back or a axle back of your choice all of those will net you a decent increase of mpg...
Old Jul 24, 2008 | 02:09 PM
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I put a full cold air intake on my car as well as a 4-2-1 header and an axle back exhaust and my car gets 40mpg or more now. BTW my car is for sale I am getting pretty desperate, let me know if you are interested.
Old Jul 24, 2008 | 05:23 PM
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More stuff I heard about was:
-Running synthetic fluids (oil, transmission fluid if possible, etc)
-Checking tire pressure(s) and running them near their max
-And removing dead/useless weight if possible+

Anything else?
Old Jul 24, 2008 | 05:31 PM
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yeah dead weight helps out alot.. but I suggest hold on to the spare, try removing the back seats if you dont use them (just the top portion, so you don't get all the road noise)
Old Jul 24, 2008 | 07:27 PM
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Change to full synthetic fluids, change your stock rims to some lightweight 15" rims, cai, header, axleback.
Old Jul 24, 2008 | 10:16 PM
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with the cai i had it ruined my fuel economy even when i was babying it all the time it gave me poor results i'm very happy with my injen sri (aka hot-aire intake system) nets me around 33-35mpg for city driving
Old Jul 24, 2008 | 11:10 PM
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Drive 40mph.

Ahahaha!
Old Jul 24, 2008 | 11:29 PM
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get a scangaugeII, hook it up, shows you your instant MPG, and GPH so you can develop effective driving habits for getting the best mpg.
Old Jul 25, 2008 | 08:36 AM
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Keep your car well maintained. Whatever Air system you go with, make sure that filter is clean. Check those plugs every 10k to make sure they aren't burnt out. Keep the fluids synthetic. And most importantly, keep it at 65!
Old Jul 25, 2008 | 06:51 PM
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on my XA, I have superlight 10lb 15" wheels, an intake, header, exhaust, synthetic engine oil. Spare tire removed for racing.

while these all increase power much less than claimed (claims are for unmodified cars) My mileage hasn't changed significantly. Spare tire removal made hardly any difference. Hell-I take passengers along on my runs

The biggest difference is the nut behind the wheel. If you drive gently, your mileage will improve.
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 05:39 AM
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Originally Posted by mrexotica

The biggest difference is the nut behind the wheel. If you drive gently, your mileage will improve.

Definitly.

Along with:
*Light weight 15" alloys(13.5lbs or lighter)
*K&N or TRD drop in air filter w/ snorkle removal
*Irridium NGK spark plugs, gapped to .044
*36-40 psi air pressure
*lower it 1.5" at least
*romove the stock side mirrors for something lower profile
*do a coctail mix of 2-3 things added to your gas tank (acetone, synthetic 2-stroke oil- 3cc , and only run 87 octane.
*I have a project that I just finished, just need to post pictures here to update my info/ inform others here.
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 04:00 PM
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do NOT put oil in your gas tank unless you want to replace your cat.
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by mrexotica
do NOT put oil in your gas tank unless you want to replace your cat.
2-3cc of a quality 2-stroke synthetic oil (Torco) is excellent for upper cylinder lubricant. Not all the time, mabe every 3-4 fill ups.
Old Jul 29, 2008 | 08:22 PM
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get one of these, actually help you drive better !!!

http://www.plxkiwi.com/
Old Jul 30, 2008 | 12:06 AM
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for 150-200 dollars you can get a scan gauge II that'll do more
Old Jul 30, 2008 | 03:08 AM
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Here is the real secret and you can paypal me 150 bucks for it. Push the gas petal no more than an inch and let the engine do the work, if its an auto let teh tranny do the work, if manual, shift when it reaches 3k rpms. Shifting early can cause poorer fuel economy than shifting late.
Old Jul 31, 2008 | 05:05 AM
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Originally Posted by cobb
Here is the real secret and you can paypal me 150 bucks for it. Push the gas petal no more than an inch and let the engine do the work, if its an auto let teh tranny do the work, if manual, shift when it reaches 3k rpms. Shifting early can cause poorer fuel economy than shifting late.
That is too simplistic of an explination of the process needed to change ones driving habits to then inflict a change in better MPG.

Buy a scanguage, study your numbers, then you'll know what time it is.
Old Jul 31, 2008 | 09:14 PM
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I hate the word "hypermiling"... it's just common sense.
Old Aug 1, 2008 | 03:00 AM
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I can not figure out why I get such poor fuel economy. I let my car warm up or cool down the inside for 15 minutes, I shift at 5 grand if stick shift, I hold the petal to the floor if automatic til it reachs the speed limit and leave od off and I get such rotten fuel economy. You mean I need to get in the car first before starting it and only give it part throttle til I reach desured speed?

Originally Posted by irocz0r
I hate the word "hypermiling"... it's just common sense.



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