Getting Better Gas Mileage
- Thread starter Redfire 05
- Start date
stangdude2000
Founding Member
The question about the effect of lowering the car on gas mileage is very difficult to answer, especially without running simulations. I think it would have such a small effect that it wouldn't be possible to notice the difference anyway.
With aerodynamic drag, one of the big factors you are looking at is frontal area. Lowering springs would reduce this ever so slightly - which is good - since less of the tires would be exposed. However, lowering the car does remove the space for the air to flow underneath the car. The air that the vehicle displaces obviously has to travel around the vehicle. Reducing this space under the car would likely – but not definitely – cause more restriction which would reduce your gas mileage.
While this piece shouldn’t affect gas mileage, the smaller space should also cause the air to move faster. The faster a fluid (yes, air is a fluid) moves, the less pressure it exerts, meaning lowering the car provides more downforce on the vehicle.
With aerodynamic drag, one of the big factors you are looking at is frontal area. Lowering springs would reduce this ever so slightly - which is good - since less of the tires would be exposed. However, lowering the car does remove the space for the air to flow underneath the car. The air that the vehicle displaces obviously has to travel around the vehicle. Reducing this space under the car would likely – but not definitely – cause more restriction which would reduce your gas mileage.
While this piece shouldn’t affect gas mileage, the smaller space should also cause the air to move faster. The faster a fluid (yes, air is a fluid) moves, the less pressure it exerts, meaning lowering the car provides more downforce on the vehicle.
Believe it or not, gas for different stations comes off the SAME TAP. The additives are the difference. Most people refuse to believe this, but my buddy at the refinery swears it to be true. they just clean out the lines for the different octanes.Wow.. woah.. I need some cliff notes!
I purchased, and bought my MUSTANG GT(with a V8) as a performance car.. I didn't buy it expecting Honda-like mileage.
Unfortunately, my car takes premium, and gas is pricey.. so I do my best to get better MPG.. Here's what I do:
Have the odometer portion of the guage set to MPG or ECONOMY.. I basically watch that little gauge and let off the gas when it goes down too far..
I do drive 80.. (with all of the other cars.. only the Priuses belong to the 55/slow-lane club around here
(lemmings))
I am careful not to use the AC.. and, as they proved on Mythbusters, use the AC at HWY speeds, versus having the windows down..
Try to avoid wasted trips around town..
Use synthetic oil.. (ok, that probably makes no difference)..
USE GOOD GAS!!! I avoid certain stations because of their cr@ppy gas.
With all of the above combined, I do manage about 20-22 per gallon! Works for me!
Sparty92
Member
Ok...
So in the Detroit 'burbs...87 octane is $3.35/gallon. I have 3.55s and a 5-speed (of course).
I find that driving around town at about 2K rpm gets me low 19.X mpg. I shift usually under 3K, but sometimes...well....you just gotta shift around 4.5K.
These days, most of my driving is city, and I consistently get 18-19 mpg average for a tank. I rarely use 5th gear around town, and I'm going about 50+mph...again, about 2.2K rpm...4th gear.
I have filled up before, reset the 'puter, and jumped on the highway. For short jaunts, I've seen 28+mpg at 70mph....no cruise.
If I had to, I would eat less, to find gas money to drive.
So in the Detroit 'burbs...87 octane is $3.35/gallon. I have 3.55s and a 5-speed (of course).
I find that driving around town at about 2K rpm gets me low 19.X mpg. I shift usually under 3K, but sometimes...well....you just gotta shift around 4.5K.
These days, most of my driving is city, and I consistently get 18-19 mpg average for a tank. I rarely use 5th gear around town, and I'm going about 50+mph...again, about 2.2K rpm...4th gear.
I have filled up before, reset the 'puter, and jumped on the highway. For short jaunts, I've seen 28+mpg at 70mph....no cruise.
If I had to, I would eat less, to find gas money to drive.
This may be what I was thinking. I remember getting into 5th relatively soon with my car without the 4.10's and without the Twin Screw. Probably was just passing 30mph though since most of the speed limits around here are 35mph (and yes, I am in 5th at 35)
It depends. If a station runs out of gas and needs it they will buy from any source.
Ok...
So in the Detroit 'burbs...87 octane is $3.35/gallon. I have 3.55s and a 5-speed (of course).
I find that driving around town at about 2K rpm gets me low 19.X mpg. I shift usually under 3K, but sometimes...well....you just gotta shift around 4.5K.
These days, most of my driving is city, and I consistently get 18-19 mpg average for a tank. I rarely use 5th gear around town, and I'm going about 50+mph...again, about 2.2K rpm...4th gear.
To be shifting at those rpms and getting that gas mileage either you have a factory freak or your city driving is way different than mine. My route to work (which is where I took my city mpg from) consists of a 5 mile drive with speeds of 30mph for about 1 mile (4 stop signs), 40mph for 3 miles (5 stop lights), 30mph for 0.25 miles (1 stop light) and 20mph for 0.75 miles (1 stop sign).
It is a real challenge to get 19mpg. If I had some stretches of road with no stops for a few miles it would be very helpful mpg wise. And yeah, I totally agree sometimes you have to shift way north of 2k rpms. I've seen 40+ mpg going downhill at 110mph.
But seriously, to get an accurate estimate you should drive the same route as a round trip. That way the uphill/downhill grade is evened out because you travel it both ways. Believe me there is a gradient even if you don't see it.
stangdude2000
Founding Member
You should also make the round trip a long one if you are trying to get an accurate estimate of mpg. On the highway, that factors out gradient (although sometimes the two lanes do have different gradients), but it also helps to make things like wind gusts have less of an effect.
I have gotten as good as 28 mpg (and 26.5 on the return trip several days later) on a 280-mile one way highway excursion doing 75-80 the whole way.
I have gotten as good as 28 mpg (and 26.5 on the return trip several days later) on a 280-mile one way highway excursion doing 75-80 the whole way.
I agree the longer the trip the better. I did get 30mpg on a 115mile trip one time doing 75-80, but the wind pushing me along the whole way. I guess that would count as cheating.
Adverse2Change
New Member
I find it rather humorous that you skip over the most obvious solution. Don't drive a f'ing GT if you want good gas mileage, or any V8 for that matter. That's pretty common sense. No one buys a GT for its superb mpg. 
I find it rather humorous that you skip over the most obvious solution. Don't drive a f'ing GT if you want good gas mileage, or any V8 for that matter. That's pretty common sense. No one buys a GT for its superb mpg.
It's funny that you say that, because I did mention it. I also said that driving 4 cylinders isn't any fun. Here it is because obviously you missed it.
But if you don't want better gas mileage, that's fine with me.
Here is an article I found in popular mechanics in which they tested some of the gadgets promising better gas mileage.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/1802932.html?page=1
Summary:
Fuel Optimizer $22 (magnet)
No hp or mpg change
Intake Twister $20
Reduced hp and mpg
TornadoFuelSaver $70
Reduced hp and mpg.
Electronic Engine Ionizer Fuel Saver $80:
Reduced hp and caught on fire!
Fuel Atomizer 2000 $200:
No hp or mpg change
Aquatune $300: (Water injection)
Reduced hp and mpg
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/1802932.html?page=1
Summary:
Fuel Optimizer $22 (magnet)
No hp or mpg change
Intake Twister $20
Reduced hp and mpg
TornadoFuelSaver $70
Reduced hp and mpg.
Electronic Engine Ionizer Fuel Saver $80:
Reduced hp and caught on fire!
Fuel Atomizer 2000 $200:
No hp or mpg change
Aquatune $300: (Water injection)
Reduced hp and mpg
I'm pretty sure nothings wrong. I get better than the EPA ratings. The EPA rates the 4.6 at 15mpg city/ 23mpg highway. I get far better than that and I easily get 17 city when I'm not behaving. But every car is a little different and every driving route is different so not everyone will report the same mileage. If I drive routes that include highway miles I easily get 20-21mpg, but I would not consider that strictly city driving. That is why I chose the route that included only stop and go traffic. That is what I consider city miles. Maybe your city driving includes less stops than mine? An accurate comparison of one person's gas mileage to another is impossible unless they drive the same route.
Here are the estimates.
Supposedly from the US Department of Energy and EPA
http://mustangs.about.com/od/2005/a/2005-mileage.htm
Fords Vehicle Manufacturers Specifications Sheet for 2005 lists it at:
17mpg city and 25 highway for the 4.6L V8
19mpg city and 28 highway for the 4.0L V6
Also supposedly from the EPA. These numbers are also on my window sticker.
Either way my mileage is better.
Supposedly from the US Department of Energy and EPA
http://mustangs.about.com/od/2005/a/2005-mileage.htm
Fords Vehicle Manufacturers Specifications Sheet for 2005 lists it at:
17mpg city and 25 highway for the 4.6L V8
19mpg city and 28 highway for the 4.0L V6
Also supposedly from the EPA. These numbers are also on my window sticker.
Either way my mileage is better.
SlideWRX
Member
Technically lugging is heavy throttle at rpms below the torque peak. The issue is low rpms with a lot of heat, which can damage the engine over long stretches, since your putting in more heat than the cooling system can take out at that engine speed. Running below the idle speed isn't a big deal, if it's light throttle.
On a side note, in the snow with blizzacks, at 25mph only fifth wouldn't spin the tires.
I love low end torque.As for the mileage, the 15/23 are the new ratings, which were adjusted down to match real world conditions better. They changed in either '07 or '08.
Tom
Milage
The change is new for 08. This of course was something that my wife looked at first and has almost completely ruled out a stang for me (not to mention the need for putting my 11 yr old in the back seat). I've told her that I could add some things to it, CAI/tune and UDP's to help with MPG...but that likely won't be enough. I know...whipped , but I have to pick my battles.
I'm curious though, how a convertible would effect MPG. I would think it might have less drag, top down, than a coupe with it's windows open at highway speeds, but would it really? Maybe some sort of tonnau (sp?) cover that closes up the back seat area would help..but how much. Anyway, it's just one of the things I've wondered about.
The change is new for 08. This of course was something that my wife looked at first and has almost completely ruled out a stang for me (not to mention the need for putting my 11 yr old in the back seat). I've told her that I could add some things to it, CAI/tune and UDP's to help with MPG...but that likely won't be enough. I know...whipped
, but I have to pick my battles.I'm curious though, how a convertible would effect MPG. I would think it might have less drag, top down, than a coupe with it's windows open at highway speeds, but would it really? Maybe some sort of tonnau (sp?) cover that closes up the back seat area would help..but how much. Anyway, it's just one of the things I've wondered about.
