HAI Experiment

[theholycow]

More data: Here's a gaslog I didn't see before...user Project84's Saturn SL2.
http://www.gassavers.org/garage/viewgaslog/1083

13 tank (December through June) average before HAI, not including his first logged tank which was abnormally low (22.46mpg) or one other that was abnormally low (21.84): 26.6mpg

18 tank (June through March) average after HAI, not including one abnormally high (43.66): 32mpg.

If I put back in the extreme tanks that were removed, the spread increases: 26mpg vs 32.7mpg.

If I take out summer data from the post-HAI tanks and just use 10 tanks from October through March, it's still at 31.23mpg.

No matter how I slice it, I can't deny that Project84 has real results. He has saved gas after the HAI that he didn't save before it. That's way better data than ANY of the sources cited in the argument that HAI can't work on any car.

Nobody's trying to say that it would work for everybody...just that it works for some.

[Project84]

This makes me smile. I had forgotten about this site on purpose because of my recent poor gas mileage and lack of enthusiasm for attempting to save gas... my rings are shot (or at least, they've got 1 foot out the door).

But I just signed back in the other day and posted about someone's SL2, advising him to add a HAI... now today I'm getting a big thumbs up of gas saving when I'm least expecting it.


Truth is, my HAI cost me about $12 and paid for itself within a month, ever since then I'm saving gas. Even now, when my numbers are slowly lowering because of my engine about to need an overhaul, I'm more than willing to bet if I took the HAI off I'd drop 3 or 4 MPG on my next fillup.

Lets keep in mind the HAI is my only mod other than my ScanGaugeII. Hell, I haven't even checked tire psi in 6 months. I do not P&G, EOC, or any other acronym. lol I literally just DRIVE, and try to "smart brake" when I remember to.

EDIT: I also never completed any insulating as has been discussed by other members, which will increase IAT's even more. Mine is a VERY savage design. Some flashing as a heat shield, dryer ducting for an intake, and it's got a hose clamp on a 90* PVC plumbing fitting just hanging out of the bottom of the airbox. I'd say if I'm lucky I'm only getting about 60% hot air into the intake, the rest is going to be engine bay air/fresh air. Intake temps rarely get above 150*F, and that's on the HOTTEST of summer days. It's been tested and found beneficial to reach 170-180*F in the Saturn S-Series. I've never seen temps that high. I can only imagine if I did get 170-180, I'd be saving even more gas (although there is a lack of engine power at those temps, and I've heard emissions #'s get ugly)

[Jay2TheRescue]

@Project 84: I wouldn't try to get your IAT's up any more, since you already suspect that your engine is starting to fail. I'm guessing that you're losing compression? If so, heating the air more, and losing even more power... Well that car may not be able to get out of its own way afterwards. However, after a repair or replacement of the engine I'd totally go for it.

-Jay

[Project84]

I've given up on FE mods.... for now. Been tinkering w/ my Z28 and finally got my Turbo Miata build underway. Right now it's performance. I cannot concentrate on two aspects of the auto industry at the same time and be productive.

Plan is, as soon as I purchase a house (I've been in the market about 7 months now, but I'm picky and want a GREAT DEAL; currently have an offer on a bank owned property in Short Sale, waiting 3 weeks to hear back from them) I'm going to use the garage space to re-ring and hone the Stock block, and drill oil relief holes in each piston, OEM didn't think of that for some reason. Might try some somender grooves for the hell of it while I'm at it, although, I'm not sure lowering the compression any more will help, as the car is slow until about 4500 rpm as is, which it never sees.

If I have to replace more than the rings, I'm going to port the exhaust side of the head and then have it decked, upping compression a bit, carve some somender grooves, evening things out, and hope for a more friendly FE vehicle, that doesn't run on oil, but only uses it for lubrication. lol

2 quarts every fillup (300 miles)