How do you improve gas mileage?
03-22-2003, 04:04 AM
#3
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Location: Sacramento CA
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Car Info: 02 Impreza WRX sedan
Originally posted by awns729
I don't know much about cars and i was wondering what you could replace in the WRX to impove the gas mileage. Thanx
(no disrespect to bensonwrx) I've not bought a K&N because one tuner performed dyno tests and found a 2 to 3 horsepower loss after installing a drop-in K&N on a WRX stock airbox. This indicates to me that it may not be as free-flowing for this application as previously thought. Could be that the stock panel filter's greater number of pleats has an effectively larger filtering area.
The tuner also encountered one customer who may have over-oiled the K&N filter. After experiencing rough-running in his WRX, the owner tracked it down to his MAF sensor in the intake - it was coated with a layer of K&N filtering oil. After a thorough cleaning, the car ran fine again. I don't think this is typical, though. I've used K&N filters in the past and have never seen an oil residue in the intake passageway.
Whatever you do, do not purchase a Tornado Fuel Saver device. This gadget has been discussed on this message board before, as well as other places on the internet. Money is better spent on other things.
The biggest improvement in fuel economy can be had by altering driving style. I've seen one magazine that stated their average fuel economy was something like 12 miles per gallon! They admit that they drove the car hard most of the time. On a WRX, this really makes a difference. Another thing I've noticed is that minimizing the number of upshifts and downshifts (within rational limits) and just generally driving the car as smoothly as possible, with minimal variation in throttle application can reap 1 to 3 mpg. In my daily 15-mile commute, which includes mostly traffic congested freeways, I average 22.5 to 23 miles per gallon. On the open road where I can cruise at a steady 65 mph, I've gotten 29.5 mpg but I got on it hard on a few occasions during those runs.
I didn't purchase a WRX for its gas mileage, though. Last weekend, I met up with fellow i-Clubbers for a spirited drive (twisty mountain road). I drove the car as hard as I was willing to do with a passenger along for the ride.
--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush
I don't know much about cars and i was wondering what you could replace in the WRX to impove the gas mileage. Thanx
(no disrespect to bensonwrx) I've not bought a K&N because one tuner performed dyno tests and found a 2 to 3 horsepower loss after installing a drop-in K&N on a WRX stock airbox. This indicates to me that it may not be as free-flowing for this application as previously thought. Could be that the stock panel filter's greater number of pleats has an effectively larger filtering area.
The tuner also encountered one customer who may have over-oiled the K&N filter. After experiencing rough-running in his WRX, the owner tracked it down to his MAF sensor in the intake - it was coated with a layer of K&N filtering oil. After a thorough cleaning, the car ran fine again. I don't think this is typical, though. I've used K&N filters in the past and have never seen an oil residue in the intake passageway.
Whatever you do, do not purchase a Tornado Fuel Saver device. This gadget has been discussed on this message board before, as well as other places on the internet. Money is better spent on other things.
The biggest improvement in fuel economy can be had by altering driving style. I've seen one magazine that stated their average fuel economy was something like 12 miles per gallon! They admit that they drove the car hard most of the time. On a WRX, this really makes a difference. Another thing I've noticed is that minimizing the number of upshifts and downshifts (within rational limits) and just generally driving the car as smoothly as possible, with minimal variation in throttle application can reap 1 to 3 mpg. In my daily 15-mile commute, which includes mostly traffic congested freeways, I average 22.5 to 23 miles per gallon. On the open road where I can cruise at a steady 65 mph, I've gotten 29.5 mpg but I got on it hard on a few occasions during those runs.
I didn't purchase a WRX for its gas mileage, though. Last weekend, I met up with fellow i-Clubbers for a spirited drive (twisty mountain road). I drove the car as hard as I was willing to do with a passenger along for the ride.
--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush
03-22-2003, 04:40 AM
#4
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keep your tires inflated at appropriate levels
check your spark plugs and wires and replace if needed
get a high flow air filter
do regular oil changes (every 3k miles or 1500 if you drive harder)
keep in mind that a wrx is not an econo-box and will suck down gas. IIRC it requires premium fuel and if you use a lower grade you'll get poor milage and screw up the car.
check your spark plugs and wires and replace if needed
get a high flow air filter
do regular oil changes (every 3k miles or 1500 if you drive harder)
keep in mind that a wrx is not an econo-box and will suck down gas. IIRC it requires premium fuel and if you use a lower grade you'll get poor milage and screw up the car.
03-22-2003, 11:59 PM
#6
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Taken from my WRX owners manual (page 8-2):
This type of stuff should be true for any car...
. Select the proper gear position for the speed and road conditions.
. Avoid sudden acceleration or deceleration. Always accelerate gentrly until you reach the desired speed. Then try to maintain that speed for as long as possible.
. Do not pump the accelerator and avoid racing the engine.
. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
. Keep the engine properly tuned.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct pressure shown on the tire placard, which is located under the door latch on the drivers side. Low pressure will increase tire wear and fuel consumption.
. Use the air conditioner only when necessary.
. Keep the front and rear wheels in proper alignment.
. Avoid carrying unecessary luggage or cargo.
. Avoid sudden acceleration or deceleration. Always accelerate gentrly until you reach the desired speed. Then try to maintain that speed for as long as possible.
. Do not pump the accelerator and avoid racing the engine.
. Avoid unnecessary engine idling.
. Keep the engine properly tuned.
. Keep the tires inflated to the correct pressure shown on the tire placard, which is located under the door latch on the drivers side. Low pressure will increase tire wear and fuel consumption.
. Use the air conditioner only when necessary.
. Keep the front and rear wheels in proper alignment.
. Avoid carrying unecessary luggage or cargo.
03-23-2003, 05:17 PM
#8
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another thing you could do is change to a better flowing exhuast (but, don't let it give you a heavier foot for the noise). possibly pullies and a light flywheel would help. i think that the easier you make it for your engine to do it's job the better milage you'll get.
03-24-2003, 06:17 PM
#11
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I'm not that new and I do know the basic stuff like keeping your RPS's low and not accelerating too fast...and most of the stuff in the manual.thanx for all the replies!
(i just like the monkey-no damn reason for it)
(i just like the monkey-no damn reason for it)
03-24-2003, 11:23 PM
#12
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Originally posted by Wingless Wonder
[B]Originally posted by awns729
I don't know much about cars and i was wondering what you could replace in the WRX to impove the gas mileage. Thanx
(no disrespect to bensonwrx)
[B]Originally posted by awns729
I don't know much about cars and i was wondering what you could replace in the WRX to impove the gas mileage. Thanx
(no disrespect to bensonwrx)
Like I said before it's a theory, and that means always there are exceptions.-Benson
03-25-2003, 08:38 AM
#14
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What exactly does a boost monkey do?
Doesn't it keep you from boosting until you press the pedal down a certain distance?
Then couldn't you use this to increase your gas mileage by keeping your turbo from burning up more fuel by keeping from boosting?
i dunno anything... enlighten me.
=0 )
Doesn't it keep you from boosting until you press the pedal down a certain distance?
Then couldn't you use this to increase your gas mileage by keeping your turbo from burning up more fuel by keeping from boosting?
i dunno anything... enlighten me.
=0 )
03-25-2003, 02:50 PM
#15
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This is a total guess but doesn't the turbo help gas mileage because the engine has to compress the air less? Or does it cause more restriction because of the exhaust gases that have to pass through the turbo?
What would a hyper ground system do? This ad says it helps throttle response, mileage, etc...
Thanx for all the replies!
What would a hyper ground system do? This ad says it helps throttle response, mileage, etc...Thanx for all the replies!