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Blackwing mpg drop?

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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 06:17 AM
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Default Blackwing mpg drop?

I put a Blackwing on my '99 couple a couple of months ago and it seems I have lost ~2-3 mpg highway. Does this make sense or is it the cold rotten weather we are having. I would expect a slight increase in milage if anything
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 07:54 AM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (mikej1957)

I put a Blackwing on my '99 couple a couple of months ago and it seems I have lost ~2-3 mpg highway. Does this make sense or is it the cold rotten weather we are having. I would expect a slight increase in milage if anything
You are correct, you should have better milage. Your tires are less sticky in the cold, the air is denser, and an opened intake shouldn't affect MPG while cruising (though it would drop your MPG slightly during hard acceleration.)

Edit: Denser air would cause a drop in MPG, come to think of it, during acceleration. I'm not sure if the computer leans out the mix during cruise or not.


[Modified by Scissors, 9:26 AM 12/11/2002]
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 08:14 AM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (Scissors)

Any idea what could be causing it or what I can do?
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 08:21 AM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (mikej1957)

Dunno for sure, but I always get worse mileage in colder weather. I think the air mix is colder, thus denser, thus more fuel and air are used. Could also be related to the Blackwing's better flow characteristics: when first installed, mix tends to be lean (since air flows easier), then PCM adjusts to richen mix, then there's more mix available. So, you could use a little more fuel, especially if you drive more enthusiastically now! :cool:
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 08:22 AM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (mikej1957)

I know that here in the Dallas area, I can tell whenever the oil companies are selling the so-called reformulated gas. My mileage drops from 15-17 mpg to 13 on my truck. Same things on my wife's vehicle.

My Blackwing on my '02 has caused no variance in my mileage, still 20-21 mpg average since I bought it early this year.
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 09:25 AM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (gnosys)

I'm with Gnosys. That sounds probable.
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 09:56 AM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (RWhite)

I bet it's crappy winter gas. :yesnod:
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 01:24 PM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (mikej1957)

Thats funny. I thought it was my mods that caused my gas mileage to go from 16 to 13.5 in the city and 27 to 25 on the highway!

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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 02:54 PM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (mikej1957)

The colder an engine runs, the less efficient it is but produces more power. The hotter it runs (within reason), the more efficient it is, but produces less power. And probably colder air being more dense increases your drag at highway speed. My $.02.
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 03:32 PM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (mikej1957)

When I put the Blackwing on my car my mileage dropped also. After a few months it came back. The same thing to a lesser degree happened when I put on the LS6 intake. Just as my mileage was returning to normal, I put on a H/C package and my mileage dropped again. Now, after only about a month it's starting to come back. My only explaination is I think as the newness of the mods wear off my driving style returns to normal from more aggressive.
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Old Dec 11, 2002 | 06:09 PM
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Default Re: Blackwing mpg drop? (mikej1957)

I posted the same problem a couple of months ago with my 01 coupe. I went from average 19.4 21.3 to 18.2 to 18.8 and it has never came back up. Thats almost 2mpg on average. I was told by various posts that my driving style changed, that I was driving harder and so on but I have not really changed my driving style. I figured after the relearn by the computor it would go back up but its been 3-4k since the install. I even rechecked my work to make sure everything was done right and that I had no leaks, all ok.
I figure that more air in requires more fuel?? Does this make sence? If you can figure this out e-mail me cause I can't and I have never got a good answer to this one. I basically just accepted it as the nature of the beast.
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