Quote:
Originally Posted by PhileasFogg
holycow ...... I lot of the stuff I have read suggest car makers are worried about emissions alot more than mpg. These sorces suggest there is alot to be gained from getting air in and out of the engine more efficantly. Do you think this is bunk?
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While I agree that they are more worried about emissions than fuel economy, I don't think it has a detrimental effect on intake and exhaust plumbing. 30 years ago it did (the exhaust on my 1980 Buick is abominable) but the technology has completely matured. Both issues are far overshadowed by the market's demand for more power, most of which you won't be using (if you have any interest in saving fuel at all) and therefore even negligently designed plumbing will have no effect on you.
If you do anything with your intake, do a homemade warm-air intake. It probably will have zero effect on fuel economy but it's the only plumbing modification that has a chance of helping (and maybe paying for itself).
For exhaust, it
may be possible to improve fuel economy slightly with longtube headers and mandrel-bent pipes but they will never ever pay for themselves, not even in a million miles.
(Again, this all applies to people who aren't racing or otherwise running WOT@redline all the time.)
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