Maxing out Fuel Efficiency

[Prafeston]

I'm guessing you've done all the weight reduction things you can, but that's my suggestion. Remove all seats and seat belts/motors (except for the drivers of course), trim, spare tire, speakers, radio, AC, headliner, find lighter wheels, look into purchasing a fiber glass hood from junspeed. http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...iberglass+hood

There may be other things that can be removed for weight reduction. I think some guys are running a smaller lawn mower battery which probably reduces some weight. I don't recall the exact battery they are using, but you could probably do some searching...or someone might chime in.

[Movin]

miata mgm battery, has 84 month warranty, 6 months for motorcycle batteries. You may have east coast brands for longer but the disparity is crazy.

The biggest boost is free fuel, converting macburger boxes and other bio waste into hydrogen and methane, a blend that can almost replace petroleum fuel .That probably is not acceptable in the crowd you are competing with.

[mikeyjd]

I'd agree with the swap to 155/80-13s via Metro/Swift/Firefly rims to improve mileage but not the suggestion to switch to propane. Propane has considerably fewer BTUs (ie less inherent energy) per gallon than gasoline. People only switched to that stuff because it was clean and was much cheaper at one time. Make sure you use non-ethanol blend fuel (In Canada only Premium is ethanol-free) when you're doing runs; ethanol also has fewer BTUs per unit volume.

I agree on those fronts.

What it all really depends on is how much you're willing to spend. A high quality economy camshaft regrind would do wonders towards this goal as would increased engine compression, but those modifications don't come cheap. It's worth starting out ensuring that you do have a well-functioning motor with good compression, excellent recent tune-up parts, and the necessary pre-requisites to having good fuel economy. As Rocketman states, we've got the aerodynamics of a brick... so there's plenty of room for improvement in that regard worth examining.

Know someone or have a recommendation or where to look to get a cam shaft regrind done?

Alternator cut out/delete. I've heard of significant gains with this modification.
A 100% duty cycle 50A solenoid, knock off arduino and a little electrical/programming know how could net a few MPG.
I read somewhere this system was used in the xfi metro. The micro controller would monitor a few things likebattery voltage, load on the system and engine rpm to decide when to suck power from the crankshaft.

I have been seriously considering a cut out or delete for a while. The biggest issue is driving range with the delete, and the cut out is more complicated.

Haha, memory serves!

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?27805-Matts-B3-build-step-1-N-A

Cliff notes: 11:1, stock bottom end including pistons, shaved head, and over-sized valves.

impressive numbers! what's that cost for parts/parts installed?

[mikeyjd]

You could always do the Kammback idea...it's kind of like the Aerocivic, but not so severe. Someone on the forum did it with theirs for awhile. I think the cardboard was just duct taped on...

Here's a Geo that did it.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/project-making-permanent-metro-kammback-extension-3518.html

Found the Festiva that had done it. Rear skirts for the wheel wells and the Kammback for the back.
http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...light=Kammback

yeah Darin's geo is quite famous and I would use his thread as a guide if I go Kamm-back. I still haven't decided if I'm going full boat tail or Kamm-back yet though

[sketchman]

Not sure on his prices installed. He does regrinds for our cams, but more performance oriented. I'm sure he could do a MPG grind, though if you asked.

[Movin]

Is waste biomass a possibility? it is extremely effective and cheap.

A cummins 3/4 ton has averaged 50 plus mpg on a hour commute with this.

[mikeyjd]

Is waste biomass a possibility? it is extremely effective and cheap.

A cummins 3/4 ton has averaged 50 plus mpg on a hour commute with this.

well.. I have a 3/4 ton 5.9L dodge cummins turbo diesel that gets 28mpg, so any efforts with alternative fuels are already low hanging fruit for the truck. I'd rather put efforts into maximizing what I have since I can't realistically do a diesel swap for it. If it were easy, I would do it but it sounds like to inconvenient for a daily driver vehicle.

[mikeyjd]

Not sure on his prices installed. He does regrinds for our cams, but more performance oriented. I'm sure he could do a MPG grind, though if you asked.

That would be very ideal and I'm sure he would be the guy for the job based on his intimate knowledge of the b3. Still waiting for his reply though. I'm sure he's a busy guy and he'll get to me when he has time. In the meantime I'm working on my aero mods. I got my smooth wheel covers done yesterday and I'm doing the rear wheel skirts today. Combined they should add around a 7-8% increase in fuel efficiency. My goal with the car is 100% over epa estimates on my average fillup, which would put the car at 66+ mpg!

[Movin]

well.. I have a 3/4 ton 5.9L dodge cummins turbo diesel that gets 28mpg, so any efforts with alternative fuels are already low hanging fruit for the truck. I'd rather put efforts into maximizing what I have since I can't realistically do a diesel swap for it. If it were easy, I would do it but it sounds like to inconvenient for a daily driver vehicle.

It could be put on a B3. It is very inconvenient but should net a good gain. The computer and fuel system would have to be modded or replaced to accommodate the extra fuel when the system is being used. Basically the fuel comes from any waste bio-mass that is put into the unit. The unit is a sealed box with a lid on top to fill and a trap door on the bottom to dump spent fuel ash. It is mounted around the down pipe. Heat with no or very little oxygen will convert the fuel energy ( BTU ) of bio-waste into a hydrogen and methane blend that is a gas
kind of like propane. As this gas is produced the gasoline has to be reduced a lot to keep the mixture the same.

There are a few more details but really this is simple other than the pain of filling the dang thing. It would be possible to have a net gasoline fuel mileage extraordinarily high. Cardboard from anything, paper, wood scraps, dead limbs broke off trees, saw chips, anything fairly dry. A little steam injection is okay but to balance the fuel produced the raw fuel going in should have less than 10% moisture.

No, I have not built one yet but the guy that did has really done well with the cummins. There is no reason for it not to work for any engine that burns fuel for power.

My time right now is going in to on car methods of cracking hydrogen out of something other than water to push the cost to drive way down. But this is so simple and easy it might be a fun diversion for a bit. The idea of finding the highest BTU waste scraps for free fuel sounds really fun considering how I like to hit the desert or mountains and stay there!!!

Leave to Elk camp and no need to return for fuel at all, in fact leave with 1/2 a tank and return 2 weeks later with not much less! That may be a pipe dream but who knows?

[mikeyjd]

It could be put on a B3. It is very inconvenient but should net a good gain. The computer and fuel system would have to be modded or replaced to accommodate the extra fuel when the system is being used. Basically the fuel comes from any waste bio-mass that is put into the unit. The unit is a sealed box with a lid on top to fill and a trap door on the bottom to dump spent fuel ash. It is mounted around the down pipe. Heat with no or very little oxygen will convert the fuel energy ( BTU ) of bio-waste into a hydrogen and methane blend that is a gas
kind of like propane. As this gas is produced the gasoline has to be reduced a lot to keep the mixture the same.

There are a few more details but really this is simple other than the pain of filling the dang thing. It would be possible to have a net gasoline fuel mileage extraordinarily high. Cardboard from anything, paper, wood scraps, dead limbs broke off trees, saw chips, anything fairly dry. A little steam injection is okay but to balance the fuel produced the raw fuel going in should have less than 10% moisture.

No, I have not built one yet but the guy that did has really done well with the cummins. There is no reason for it not to work for any engine that burns fuel for power.

My time right now is going in to on car methods of cracking hydrogen out of something other than water to push the cost to drive way down. But this is so simple and easy it might be a fun diversion for a bit. The idea of finding the highest BTU waste scraps for free fuel sounds really fun considering how I like to hit the desert or mountains and stay there!!!

Leave to Elk camp and no need to return for fuel at all, in fact leave with 1/2 a tank and return 2 weeks later with not much less! That may be a pipe dream but who knows?

I think a wood gasifier might provide a more consistent fuel source so that it would actually be worth the time to do the mods. Either modification is still slightly beyond my level of expertise at this point, but I am hoping to learn about these things going forward

[sketchman]

Ever get Matt's input on this? I'm still pondering flat tops myself. I'm thinking a more budget friendly way to do it would be to mill the crowns flat on a stock piston(if there's enough material to do that) and then shave the head to compensate. The milling is purely theory though. I don't know how deep the valve reliefs are and if there is enough material between the 1st ringland and the crown face to get it completely flat without compromising the structure.