Lowering your car in order to increase fuel economy

[philmcneal]

out of context i noticed you use mobil 0-20 for your transmission fluid. Is that the same as your engine oil, or different lubricant?

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by philmcneal

out of context i noticed you use mobil 0-20 for your transmission fluid. Is that the same as your engine oil, or different lubricant?

It is the same for both engine and transmission.

[krousdb]

- 3/7/06 Evening Commute: 39F, Dry roads, 10 MPH head wind, engine on 78% of distance, 52.48 MPG

- Closest matching pre drop data:
3/1/06 Evening Commute, 41F, Dry roads, 10 MPH head wind, engine on 81% of distance, 51.39 MPG

- Current Tank FE as measured by SuperMID
421 miles, 51.66 MPG

[SVOboy]

Woot woot. That's pretty nice, m8. I got my front camber kit today so I'll be trying to drop 3" or so pretty soon, when I get my car running, . Junkyard tomorrow though.

[krousdb]

This trip started OK but I began to get concerned when I was dropping below my target FE at the various milestones on my route. I was downright pissed when my IGN off coasts were ending way too early. I almost pulled over to check if I had a low tire. But when I got to work I checked weather.com and found that my normal 9MPH tailwind had turned into a 6MPH headwind today. Not bad results considering a net 15MPH increase in wind speed.

- 3/8/06 Morning Commute: 26F, Dry roads, 6 MPH head wind, engine on 70% of distance, 54.29 MPG

- Closest matching pre drop data:
3/1/06 Morning Commute, 28F, Dry roads, 9 MPH tail wind, engine on 69% of distance, 55.00 MPG

- Current Tank FE as measured by SuperMID
447 miles, 51.80 MPG

[Matt Timion]

It's amazing to me how much you use wind to your advantage. Wind is never that consistent here, or if it is I never notice it.

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

It's amazing to me how much you use wind to your advantage. Wind is never that consistent here, or if it is I never notice it.

During the winter here the prevailing winds are usually from the North. So most of my drive to work has a tailwind but its payback time on the evening commute. That is part of the reason why my FE differs on each leg. Other reasons are more traffic on the evening drive and +200 ft elevation difference.

Also be aware that when I say tailwind/headwind, that doesn't mean a perfect tailwind/headwind. It means that the wind usually at my back/front as my route changes direction several times. As the crow flies I drive SSW in the morning and NNW in the evening.

During the spring, summer and fall, the winds are more variable in direction and speed.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

It's amazing to me how much you use wind to your advantage. Wind is never that consistent here, or if it is I never notice it.

i suspect you may not notice it. it doesn't take much to have an impact.

also it's harder to "see" wind in the winter when the leaves are off the trees.

i did a drive a week or so ago and i was seeing 57-58 mpg at 80 km/h. i also couldn't see any wind. however when i headed back in the other direction it was obvious there was wind out there.

i tend to be very aware of wind anyway, since i sail a lot.

[krousdb]

Originally Posted by Matt Timion

It's amazing to me how much you use wind to your advantage. Wind is never that consistent here, or if it is I never notice it.

I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to adjust my route such that I have a tailwind on the way to work and on the way back. So far I have had only limited success. :-)

[krousdb]

- 3/8/06 Evening Commute: 41F, Dry roads, 9 MPH TAIL wind, engine on 80% of distance, 54.20 MPG, A NEW RECORD FOR THE EVENING COMMUTE thanks to the tail wind.

- Closest matching pre drop data:
3/1/06 Evening Commute, 41F, Dry roads, 9 MPH HEAD wind, engine on 81% of distance, 51.39 MPG

It appears that having a 9 mph tail wind versus a 9 moh headwind is worth nearly 3MPG.

- Current Tank FE as measured by SuperMID
473 miles, 51.93 MPG

- 54.5 MPG as measured by the digital fuel gauge.