MPGs run, Aspire SE

[TominMO]

i see long meaningfull conversations with your spark plugs in the future. i'd stock up on several sets for said experimentation, as color and arc location are good indicators of combustion events/timing.

Normally I just go with indexed Nippondenso V-Powers, but currently I am running E3s, installed shortly after I got the car. They have a nice grey/brown color and seem to work fine, as the MPGs attest. I'll be keeping an eye on them with the injector/FPR/cam changes tho.

[mikeyjd]

Instantanious Feedback Capability

Tom I really think you should consider getting a MPGuino for all your testing purposes.

[TominMO]

Re post #106, I meant NGK V-Power plugs.

Mikey, that's an interesting idea. Looks pretty easy to wire up, esp. the kind that uses an RJ-11 phone jack plugin. That way I could have real-time MPG figures, if I understand it right.

Not sure what we would use for the VSS (vehicle speed) signal tho....

[zoom zoom]

What was your mpgs before any aero mods or engine work before all this began with your b6 Festiva? Just stock b6 electronics.

[TominMO]

What was your mpgs before any aero mods or engine work before all this began with your b6 Festiva? Just stock b6 electronics.

On two separate tests I got 41.9 MPG each time. No engine work has been done to the B6 except a CAI (it has had the CAI since I've owned it), which won't really affect a 60-MPH type test; only a front airdam added, raising MPG to 45.0.

Eventually I will have the injectors balanced and a better cam made by Matt, like a Stage 2. It does need some head work too. This won't be an MPG car.

[TominMO]

Just installed my new Dickmeyer-cleaned-and-balanced injectors. It's gonna be pretty hot this week, so I'll wait until the weekend or Monday for an MPG run on these.

[mikeyjd]

Just installed my new Dickmeyer-cleaned-and-balanced injectors. It's gonna be pretty hot this week, so I'll wait until the weekend or Monday for an MPG run on these.

I can't wait

[mikeyjd]

Re post #106, I meant NGK V-Power plugs.

Mikey, that's an interesting idea. Looks pretty easy to wire up, esp. the kind that uses an RJ-11 phone jack plugin. That way I could have real-time MPG figures, if I understand it right.

Not sure what we would use for the VSS (vehicle speed) signal tho....

I don't know what you use for the vss but this is the link for where to ask http://ecomodder.com/forum/opengauge...-computer.html

[zoom zoom]

You could try the kia Rio vss, might be able to find the wiring schematics on the kia tech site..or Google. I know it swaps with a g series tranny, its worth a shot. If you get serious about it I can pull the one out of the 02 Rio tranny and see if it works in a Festiva 5 speed before you spend $$ on it. (Festy and aspire speedo gears swap manual to manual auto to auto)

[TominMO]

You could try the kia Rio vss, might be able to find the wiring schematics on the kia tech site..or Google. I know it swaps with a g series tranny, its worth a shot. If you get serious about it I can pull the one out of the 02 Rio tranny and see if it works in a Festiva 5 speed before you spend $$ on it. (Festy and aspire speedo gears swap manual to manual auto to auto)

I'm not super-serious about MPGuino. The MPG runs are all I really want, so people can get an idea of what mods do what for gas mileage; then I'll probably keep a log of fuel used vs. miles traveled over the long term.

[TominMO]

OK sports fans, as promised here is my test with the cleaned and balanced injectors. These were not the injectors that were in my car BTW, they came from a JY 95 Aspire. I drove 220 miles @ 60 MPH and refilled with 4.3 gallons of gas, giving a MPG figure of 51.2 MPG. Very disappointing. I was expecting more like 56. But now that I look at my previous tests, I see that the best result was 54.0 MPG (forget that 59.7 figure), with side skirting and rear wheel arch skirting, and mirrors and wipers removed. So looking at that, maybe getting 54 with the improved injectors would be expectable, but it didn't happen.

Aspire SE mileage testing synopsis
(All tests done at 60 MPH except the first one)
MPG.......Description
45.0.......stock; 185/70x13 tires; 55 MPH; approx 250 miles
55.0.......small front air dam, same tires; 100 miles
52.7.......larger air dam, side/rear wheel skirting, 165/80x15 front tires on steelies; 155/80x13 snows on rear; 100 miles
59.7.......larger air dam, side/rear wheel skirting, 185/70x13s on front, 155/80x13 snows on rear; 100 miles
51.3.......larger air dam, side/rear wheel skirting, 155/80x13 snows all around; 100 miles
54.0.......as above but with new 155/80x13 Kumhos @44PSI, removed wipers and mirrors; 243 miles
53.3.......Kumho tires, reinstalled wipers/mirrors, removed all side skirting and added kammback; 176 miles
51.2.......back to front airdam only, cleaned and balanced injectors

My next test will be the cam. I was going to save that for last, after the header, but I realized that the most bang-for-buck should be the cam, and not everyone will want to shell out for the header. After the cam I will test the header. Either before or after the header I will test the fuel pressure regulator, which I will set at 32 PSI.

[sketchman]

Good stuff.

[zoom zoom]

If the front air dam really adds 3-5 mpg (your showing 10 so I'm deducting some because I know all aeromodders lie about mpgs like I do about fish) I think I could probably live with myself and deal with people making fun of the lawn edging screwed to my front bumper. Would you say that has been the most signifigant improvement so far?

[TominMO]

If the front air dam really adds 3-5 mpg (your showing 10 so I'm deducting some because I know all aeromodders lie about mpgs like I do about fish) I think I could probably live with myself and deal with people making fun of the lawn edging screwed to my front bumper. Would you say that has been the most signifigant improvement so far?

Yes, the front airdam was the most important mod so far. I would say up to 8 MPG, because when I tested the car originally on a road trip (with no airdam), I was driving 55 and got 45 MPG. A little apples-and-oranges estimation here; i.e. maybe at 60 instead of 55 I would have gotten 43 or so.

See below. I am now discounting tests B and D as unreliable. Tests F and G interest me because they have the best results. But many people won't want to remove wipers and mirrors, or have a dorky kammback juryrigged to their car. Understandably.

Aspire SE mileage testing synopsis
(All tests done at 60 MPH except the first one)
....MPG.......Description
A. 45.0.......stock; 185/70x13 tires; 55 MPH; approx 250 miles
B. 55.0.......small front air dam, same tires; 100 miles
C. 52.7.......larger air dam, side/rear wheel skirting, 165/80x15 front tires on steelies; 155/80x13 snows on rear; 100 miles
D. 59.7.......larger air dam, side/rear wheel skirting, 185/70x13s on front, 155/80x13 snows on rear; 100 miles
E. 51.3.......larger air dam, side/rear wheel skirting, 155/80x13 snows all around; 100 miles
F. 54.0.......as above but with new 155/80x13 Kumhos @44PSI, removed wipers and mirrors; 243 miles
G. 53.3.......Kumho tires, reinstalled wipers/mirrors, removed all side skirting and added kammback; 176 miles
H. 51.2.......kammback removed, back to front airdam only, cleaned and balanced injectors; 220 miles

Some further thoughts:
1. Matt's Festy customer who reported a 2-3 MPG gain with the cleaned injectors may not have done a rigorous before-and-after test. I strongly suspect this. He may have unconsciously cooked the results by driving with a lighter foot, knowing he was testing the injectors.
2. It may be that the real benefit to injector cleaning is for high-performance motors at higher RPMs. Our little stock motors, driven over a long distance at 2600ish RPM, do not in my experience seem to show any improvement. That being said, I am still glad I did it because inquiring minds want to know, mine included, and will still do it for my B6 Festy, which I will have Matt do some work on in the future--for HP gains, not MPGs.

I would like input on these thoughts from experienced engine guys, especially Matt.

[jason_]

I can't see any reason there'd be no gain with balanced injectors not from a few tanks, but several tanks.

having a crankshaft fight a load evenly millions of times in synch with other injectors, there's a gain, small I'm sure, so measurable over a much more tremendous amount.

look how much a dead plug whacks power? a v8 is bearable, but on a 4 banger easily cuts torque in half.

having everything equal, and as equal can be, can only be a plus.



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