[dfiore]

Hi all! I've moved from Florida to North Carolina and I'm ready to refresh my mileage. What parts, I can replace affect the mileage the most? Some things I already know, but a quick list may be helpful to others as well.
so far I have:

12 volt battery
spark plugs
air filter
egr valve
air in tires
oil

feel free to copy and add
Have a great day!

 

[Dougie]

Assuming that the car is running properly, changing the plugs, battery, or egr valve won't help. It might help to change the air cleaner; frequently the need for changing them gets overlooked. New oil is always good, and you can re-verify that you're using the correct 0W-20 weight oil--which is now available again at WalMart.

The most important things, as far as I know, are

- tire pressure
- drive more carefully
- choose the optimum route

 

[dfiore]

got covered

Got those covered. I'll have to check the air filter again, it's been a month.[/quote]

 

[Resist]

You shouldn't have the replace the air filter if its only been a month since the last time it was replaced.

If all the items you listed are new or have just been replaced or in good working order then I think the tire air pressure is the most important thing to effect gas mileage. It's the only thing you really can improve on, go from the rated pressure to 50 psi and see if you don't agree.

 

[shewb]

We have to add A/F sensor to the list. Look at all the problems Aaron Cake had on this thread:
http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2429

- Jim

 

[gomarlins3]

My vote is for the nut behind the wheel.

 

[jonnoshore]

The parts which effects fuel consumption most are...

...the throttle pedal...

...closely followed by the brake pedal...

...and of course the ignition key...

 

[figgy]

Warm air mods

You don't live in a chilly climate, but I would still recommend some form of warm air mod to help you warm up on short trips.

I live up on the top of a hill (about 800 ft altitude change over a mile road) and notice a big hit on my short trips when the engine is idling on the way down the hill vs. off because it is already warm.

Even having the ecopod in the garage and at a cool 50s temperature is enough to make the engine burn for a while down the hill. If I have the warm air blocker at the lower vent and either the regular warm air mod (pulling air from behind the cat) or the turbo (which gets hotter air from back there as well) then on the way down the hill I am not buring gas for so long. The car is still cool inside from being out of the sun, but the engine gets warmed up fast enough to not have to idle.

Nothing is more depressing that going down the hill and seeing the engine burning up gas just to warm up a bit!

p.s. I have NEVER had a problem with over heating with the warm air mods even if it is hot. I have also never had a problem with the turbo and over heaating. I usually remove the lower air dam block at least partially in hot summer days, but when I forget, I still have never had a problem. We burn so little gas, I don't know if you could overheat as long as you are moving at all.