Saving Gas in a C3
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 5
From: Granbury, TX
Saving Gas in a C3
Ok, I made all my mileage improvements
Action / Savings
Inflate tires to max pressure 15%
Lower speed on the highway 20%
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30%
Tune engine 25%
Reduce idling 10%
Reduce excess weight in vehicle 8%
This is a total savings of 108%. Now I have to siphon out 5 gals/ week to avoid overflowing the tank!
Action / Savings
Inflate tires to max pressure 15%
Lower speed on the highway 20%
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30%
Tune engine 25%
Reduce idling 10%
Reduce excess weight in vehicle 8%
This is a total savings of 108%. Now I have to siphon out 5 gals/ week to avoid overflowing the tank!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 354
From: Madison Alabama
Action / Results
Lower speed on the highway 20% savings = 100% reduction in fun factor
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30% savings = 100% reduction in fun factor
That's a 200% reduction in the fun factor...gas prices ain't that bad - what's next, pull two plug wires and run on six cylinders
Just busting on ya, we've got to do something. I don't think most cars are getting better than 15~20 MPG - econo boxes at that. The way gas mileage is factored for these new cars is nothing but 
marketing.
I drove the SUV to work today - seats 8 - I was by myself
so I'm NOT doing my part. I work in a Research Park - Tech area, came around a corner and almost ran over some geek riding a bicycle pulling a rubber maid box of a briefcase that he had mounted on a golf bag caddy thingy (the two wheeled doohickey - I don't play golf). Again, gas ain't that bad
Lower speed on the highway 20% savings = 100% reduction in fun factor
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30% savings = 100% reduction in fun factor
That's a 200% reduction in the fun factor...gas prices ain't that bad - what's next, pull two plug wires and run on six cylinders
Just busting on ya,
we've got to do something. I don't think most cars are getting better than 15~20 MPG - econo boxes at that. The way gas mileage is factored for these new cars is nothing but marketing.I drove the SUV to work today - seats 8 - I was by myself
so I'm NOT doing my part. I work in a Research Park - Tech area, came around a corner and almost ran over some geek riding a bicycle pulling a rubber maid box of a briefcase that he had mounted on a golf bag caddy thingy (the two wheeled doohickey - I don't play golf). Again, gas ain't that bad
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 5
From: Granbury, TX
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Don't drive anywhere near me. Inflate to recommended, not max. 
JK, I was poking fun at all the claims for increased mileage and what would happen if you added them up. I actually get about 15 -16 in town, ~14 with the AC on but It's hotter than crap down here!
My best ever was 23 on the road with a tail wind, cool weather, no ac, windows up.
Last edited by Clint's C3; Jul 21, 2006 at 04:22 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
I have worked on something similar with Horsepower Ratings. If you add up all the supposedly horsepower gains for each modification, you can get a 500HP engine without any major changes.
I think what really happens is that each item will interact with another, and you cannot add them up accumutively. There is a Root Mean Square or RMS factor that would apply.
15squared + 20squared + 30squared +25squared +10squared + 8squared then take the square root of the answer will be 47% increase.
Which is a significant gain if it can be achieved. That will bring a 10mpg car up to 14.7mpg. Theoretical of course
kdf
I think what really happens is that each item will interact with another, and you cannot add them up accumutively. There is a Root Mean Square or RMS factor that would apply.
15squared + 20squared + 30squared +25squared +10squared + 8squared then take the square root of the answer will be 47% increase.
Which is a significant gain if it can be achieved. That will bring a 10mpg car up to 14.7mpg. Theoretical of course
kdf
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still drive her everyday....have to factor in the smiles per mile
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
I don't use 2nd gear and lots of times skip 3rd. I've been able to get 19mpg with mixed city/hiway driving.
Biggest tip, leave lots of distance between you and the car in front of you so you don't have to brake very often.
Biggest tip, leave lots of distance between you and the car in front of you so you don't have to brake very often.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
Ok, I made all my mileage improvements
Action / Savings
Inflate tires to max pressure 15% = absolutely
Lower speed on the highway 20% = No Fun
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30% = No Fun
Tune engine 25% = absolutely
Reduce idling 10% = just OK
Reduce excess weight in vehicle 8% = absolutely
This is a total savings of 108% and = Fun factor gone
Action / Savings
Inflate tires to max pressure 15% = absolutely
Lower speed on the highway 20% = No Fun
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30% = No Fun
Tune engine 25% = absolutely
Reduce idling 10% = just OK
Reduce excess weight in vehicle 8% = absolutely
This is a total savings of 108% and = Fun factor gone
Last edited by luerja; Jul 21, 2006 at 09:07 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Man,if I want to get gas mileage I take the everyday driver.I drive this car for fun and if I get decent mileage while I'm at it,all the better.If I can't enjoy it for fear of gas mileage whats the point of owning it.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,782
Likes: 0
From: Some Beautiful Place Sunny and Amazing One
Originally Posted by ESC3
Man,if I want to get gas mileage I take the everyday driver.I drive this car for fun and if I get decent mileage while I'm at it,all the better.If I can't enjoy it for fear of gas mileage whats the point of owning it.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Corz
1 solution
overdrive
overdrive
i have that, but around town my right foot in conjunction with the 750 speed demon,and xe268 cam pisses away any savings from my OD gear
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Clint's C3
Ok, I made all my mileage improvements
Action / Savings
Inflate tires to max pressure 15%
Lower speed on the highway 20%
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30%
Tune engine 25%
Reduce idling 10%
Reduce excess weight in vehicle 8%
This is a total savings of 108%. Now I have to siphon out 5 gals/ week to avoid overflowing the tank!
Action / Savings
Inflate tires to max pressure 15%
Lower speed on the highway 20%
Avoid hard acceleration and decelleration 30%
Tune engine 25%
Reduce idling 10%
Reduce excess weight in vehicle 8%
This is a total savings of 108%. Now I have to siphon out 5 gals/ week to avoid overflowing the tank!