Hello from Wisconsin Tax H*ll

[Jim Dunlop]

Hi there.

I followed a link here from a saturnfans.com forum.

I have already implemented several mods (including gas-saving) on my 2002 SL 1.9L 5-speed, most notably:

- Removed carpet, spare, and jack from trunk
- Altered driving habits
- Inflated tires to max pressure
- replaced stock wheels with aluminum Konig's

I am not sure if these will save gas:

- Switched to fully synthetic oil
- Replaced paper air filter with K&N airbox filter
- Ran tube from fog light hole to airbox resonator hole (custom CAI)
- Drilled holes in stock muffler
- Replaced upper torque axis mount
- cleaned EGR

[psyshack]

Hello ,,, Welcome

The K&N isnt helping anything.
The tube from your fog light to the airbox isnt helping.
And the holes in the muffler may have very well been a bad move.
The Koing's will look better. But if there wider and weight as much or more than your OEM wheels. There hurting.

Altering your driving habits so far is the very best mod you have made.

psy

[Hockey4mnhs]

2nd that motion. btw welcome to the site

[usedgeo]

Another Saturn to contend with . Welcome.

[thisisntjared]

sooo... how much do the konigs weigh? and when are you going to start a gas log?

[OdieTurbo]

Originally Posted by usedgeo

Another Saturn to contend with . Welcome.

Damn Saturns are popping up all over! Hello and welcome!

[cfg83]

Hi Jim -

Welcome to GS!

CarloSW2

[Jim Dunlop]

I have been tracking mileage since last August, just not on this site. Averaging my last 10 tanks of gas gives me 38.6 mpg.

You're right, the new wheels/tires actually seemed to hurt me. I think it's because the tires are 1/2" wider and they are AVID Touring tires (possibly a lower durometer than stock).

I noticed the biggest single influence (besides habits) is the ambient temperature, especially where I live. When the weather is below freezing, MPG suffers pretty severely. I am definitely thinking about some kind of plug-in block heater for next winter.

Also, despite my best attempts, for each tank of gas I always seem to find myself in a situation where I need to accelerate hard, go 80 mph to save time, or run the A/C.

Last fall my stock air dam got caught on a parking stall stop and the splash guard was damaged, so I took it off. I'm reluctant to replace it since it's kind of pricey, but if there are any S-series owners here who have "great" improvements (like a couple MPG) from replacing a splash guard/air dam, please chime in.

Oh, I also replaced the fuel filter at 105k...that "seemed" to help a little. I have not torn down the old one yet.

Another thing too...90%+ of my driving is 65-70 MPH on the interstate.

[psyshack]

Jim

Some Sat's seem to respond very good to warm air intakes. Esp. in the winter months. I believe some of our Sat. pro's have also worked with a Intake Air Temp sensor mod. that fakes the system into thinking its getting warmer air than it is. Again the Sat. pro's have the in's and out's on the possible mode and WAI.

Some of the Sat. drivers get mpg that makes my new Civic look like crap. There is something to be said for the Sat's. that are almost Accord size and push into the 50 mpg range at the drop of a hat.

As for your new wheels and tires. Get the air psi up to atleast or near max sidewall psi.

Your hwy speeds and hard runs to 80 or so mph isnt helping and the A/C can and will kill your mpg. I too fall victom to the rack the tach syndrome every once in a while. Hondas just love redline.

Have Fun
psy

[Jim Dunlop]

Testing sig