what kind of mileage are you getting?

[spidron]

i never thought i'd worry about it. 10 years ago, it was 89 cents per gallon?

i have an 02 grand vitara JLX/6cyl
44 mi commute to work per day. 60% 55-65mph, rest are local roads/traffic
full tank gives me about 280 miles
i put this at 20-21mpg average.
on long 300+ mile trips (cruise control set at 65-70 mph), i see 26mpg.
are these numbers bad?

what kind of mileage are you getting?

[IndyIan]

Lately I'm getting 29 mpg doing mostly highway around 55mph. These vehicles are not aerodynamic and have high final drive ratios so keeping the speed down is the easiest way to good mileage. You can check out my fuel log at Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com in the garage, my car is listed under Parachute
I have a 2003 4 door 4x4 with the 2.0L engine and a manual transmission, no AC.
I am considering getting manual front hubs to save on gas and save the right front seal from wearing more, it leaks already...
Ian

[flynnworx]

I have a 98 esteem wagon that i commute 70 miles/ day and get 36mpg when i am lucky and 30 when i am not

[tangomar]

I have a 2000 GV 2.0L automatic (4 gears).
I get ~22 mpgs during the summer and 20 during winter.

Has anyone tried P&G in neutral? Can it be dangerous with an automatic transmission car?

To improve mileage I would like to:
- reduce front grid air dispersion for better aerodinamics (maybe not in the summer)
- autoRX next oil change / autoCERM the one after
- add fuel heater / add fuel vaporizer (brightgreen)
- acetone/xylene/5w40 mix (tried already, no results without EFIE)
- hho (don't know about this, it seems still a little dangerous)

[L.Turner]

It would be a good idea to do a little search before starting a new thread about an old topic. There's a very long discussion right over here...

http://www.suzuki-forums.com/1g-1999...nk-thread.html

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted by tangomar

I have a 2000 GV 2.0L automatic (4 gears).
I get ~22 mpgs during the summer and 20 during winter.

Has anyone tried P&G in neutral? Can it be dangerous with an automatic transmission car?

To improve mileage I would like to:
- reduce front grid air dispersion for better aerodinamics (maybe not in the summer)
- autoRX next oil change / autoCERM the one after
- add fuel heater / add fuel vaporizer (brightgreen)
- acetone/xylene/5w40 mix (tried already, no results without EFIE)
- hho (don't know about this, it seems still a little dangerous)

Its your money, but everything you've listed except improving aerodynamics probably won't have any measurable effect on your mileage. If there were cheap simple gizmos that did anything they would come on the car already.
Save your money and get a scangauge instead, then you can improve your driving habits and routes, this alone gave me around a 20% improvement.
Pump up your tires a bit more, I run 36 psi, get taller thinner tires next time you buy them.
Switching to synthetic oils in the difs, transfer case and engine helps a little, you need to lengthen your change times to make up for the extra cost.
Coasting in neutral with the engine running is ok for an automatic, just becareful how it goes back into gear, if it lurches or make bad noises then I wouldn't do it.
Drive 55 or 60 mph.
I think your tranny has a taller 4th gear than my 5th gear so you should be able to get better mileage on the highway at least.
Remove roof racks when you don't use them.
There are 100 tips at Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com so try them out before you buy a fuel heater...
Ian

[tangomar]

Thanks Indy.

My tires are always at 40 psi. What kind of aeromod are easy to do on the GV?
Blocking the grille? Skirt?
I was thinking about the ScanGauge but I bought (for now) this:
more info obd2
Pretty cheap, just need the right software now.
Maybe I'll build one of these (more fun no?): MPGuino: Open-source, DIY Fuel Economy Instrumentation for under $50 | Hypermiling, Fuel Economy, and EcoModding News - EcoModder.com

I'll start from tuning the car.

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted by tangomar

Thanks Indy.

My tires are always at 40 psi. What kind of aeromod are easy to do on the GV?
Blocking the grille? Skirt?
I was thinking about the ScanGauge but I bought (for now) this:
more info obd2
Pretty cheap, just need the right software now.
Maybe I'll build one of these (more fun no?): MPGuino: Open-source, DIY Fuel Economy Instrumentation for under $50 | Hypermiling, Fuel Economy, and EcoModding News - EcoModder.com

I'll start from tuning the car.

Looks like you've been to the ecomodder site, so your on the right track. I'm interested to hear what you find with the OBDII software. I've heard its hard to actually figure out your fuel consumption and store it but maybe someone has written some software to do that.
I haven't done any aeromods to my cars yet, just driver habits and tire pressures and route planning. My wife isn't too interested in an "unusual" looking car.
Ian

[murcod]

Tangomar, you should have bought an Elm 327 V1.2a - I bought one off Ebay recently for AUS $33 delivered. It actually looks the same as this one: more info obd2 There's also a new Elm chip coming out soon with faster data rates, I think it's the Elm 327 V1.3?

For software, try downloading the evaluation version of OBD2007 from OBD 2007 - it has a "dash" type display that gives you your fuel economy figures. The evalutaion version is free for 7 days.

Most of the free OBDII software I've tried is fairly lame.