Oh, absolutely! Less backpressure is your friend!
However, as many of the ::ahem:: younger guys have stated, it can often be tough "keeping your foot out of it" anytime you do performance mods - which of course, is highly detrimental to your mpg!

 

With mine I didn't see any mpg gains from the exhaust. It was mostly from the intake and the irridium sparkplugs gapped at .044. The exhaust made it louder tho. Also using the steelies is the way to go for mpgs unless you can afford some light weight 15 inch alloys.

 

My horsepower days are long gone, Ive traded them in for MPG , glad to hear that less backpressure is my friend, it just makes sense! Thanks for the info.

bB, do you have a header? Reason I ask is...if Im reading your post right you mentioned an intake & exhaust & spark plugs gave you better mileage, if you dont have a header it seems to me the exhaust really wouldnt help much because the flow of air would be bottlenecked where the header should be. I know very little about engines and such, enlighten me please! Thanks man.

 

First off I got no header. The stock header has nice sized runners and the outlet pipe is actually larger than the flange where the axleback exhaust connects so I'm sure it flows fine for my needs. The mpgs actual dropped a bit with the exhaust because some back pressure is good to build low end torque. This helps with efficiency. It's all good tho cause I love the sound and am willing to lose a mpg or 2 in exchange.
I know the plug upgrade was good for like 3-4mpgs cause I took a long trip right after installing them. That was when I had a tank ring in at 37.5 mpg.

 

In theory this should work, but really don't know if this is true. Another thing to consider though is that it may not be cost effective. The increase in mileage from special intakes or exhausts I would guess would be very little. Maybe at best a couple mpg. Headers and intakes can cost big bucks compared to the marginal savings in fuel economy. But maybe over the long haul it might be worth it?

So far the best mod is your brain and right foot connection. That's good for 10+ mpg increase and it's free.

Airing up tires also free unless you live in some weird place like Vegas where they charge.

Air snorkel removal- free

What I'm wanting to see is a kit to replace the stock altenator with an motor/generator and have some kind of a bolt on retro hybrid kit. That would be cool and I'd pay a couple thousand for that depending on the increase you get.

 

eCycle is working on that with their Motor/Generator but as far as a drop in product you will have to wait for that to happen. They just got the controller refined to a point where it regulates the regen voltage to the battery. A really good battery will be needed next so when the AltairNano battery becomes consumer available we will be ready to convert to an ISA. Ideally connecting a motor between the engine and transmission would be best so that you could run on electric without needing the engine spinning at road speed. Dan (eCycle President) already checked out my xB on my last visit and figured there was plenty of room to add one so if there is an interest we could put something together.

 

You've got my interest! Here's another company I've been waiting to get updates from for retro fit hybrid kits..

http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/elect...trocharger.php

 

Just discovered there's a JDM name for your folks...

Nenpimania, Japanese for "mileage maniacs."

See:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...OjA&refer=asia

Enjoy!

Tom

 

My theory is if the electrocharger worked, would the automakers be using it already?

 

Looks like they are using an eTech motor which is a brushed motor with some serious rpm limits and brush wear issues. Ultra caps are a good idea but have limited capacity and are expensive.

 

From their press releases I gathered that they originally had brushed dc motors like you said and they were having failures so they have been updating their technology and plan to possibly launch at the end of this year or beggining of next.

There are many things that manufacturers could do but they don't. Other wise why would any of us tinker with our cars? IE: Some with the Toyota Prius instead of getting 50-60mpg improve and hack the software and even modify battery packs and get 80-100mpg. Also GM is using a similar type of system for their hybrids. They use an alternator/generator set up.

 

Hmm i'm getting 32-34 mpg after this mod. pretty cool.

 

What kind of MPG were you getting before the mod TJ?

 

I was getting 29-31 mpg depending. I didn't change my driving habits. But with the increase of 1-3 mpg, it's not bad. I will continue to monitor my results.

 

I was getting 35mpg into 20 mph head winds at 70 mph today and that is low for me. Coming back I got 48.9mpg - 82 mile round trip.

 

I did mine yesterday so it's too early to tell about MPG increases or anything. but I did notice a little more power on the hills by my house while I was on my way to work this morning! It could be just in my head , since I did it last night and didnt drive it afterwards. But I will keep everyone updated on any noticable changes I see in performance or MPG.

 

I took mine off and changed my airfilter, it was one or the other gave me a little more seat of your pants power, and it sounds almost like a Sti now to me with that snorkel off. Which is cool cause I love the sound of those boxter motors

 

Because this is my second post here, and this is my first non chevy vehicle, which I have had for only 3 days, please humor me. This is what should be removed right?:

 

Yep, exactly^^^^

 

You got it! One bolt removed, and a good yank on the other end, and you're in business!