Improving Engine Efficiency & Performance

[IanSzgatti]

in some small way im right, and in another way, your all right... im not a fizisist or anything... i just started this off by adding some little thing i leanred in auto tech school... don't bother trying to clarify anymore with me becuase i am not a smart man. im sorry i spoke up... i am far far to stupid to have even concidered thinking about such complex scientific processes of physics and what-not. i make good over-easy eggs though, and nobody can take that away from me

[lkurek]

OMG....Ian, I am soooo pissing myself right now! Too funny!!!

No problem, that's how we all learn something by being onthese lists.....right? Now, if *I* only knew how to make over easy eggs.....

[CobraCDR]

you guys really need to pick up a physics book, if you want to improve overall fuel economy go get a hybrid or run vegie oil. Otherwise STFU

[lkurek]

In defense of what Ian said.... In a truly perfect world of ignoring friction (fluid, static, etc) then you would get infinite MPG as you would need an initial hit of force to get the vehicle moving....and once you obtain a given velocity....shut off the engine until you have to hit the brakes and accelerate again.

Ahhhh......that's an idea! How about the government comes up with a superconducting ultra low friction highway? Now THAT would be the best way to improve economy....except that we humans would have a tough time living in a vacuum

I'd say this thread should be closed.....enough said

[hklvette]

This thread has gone wayyyy off track...the OP was about ENGINE efficiency. That said, making the engine breath easier (no exhaust or intake restrictions) generally helps quite a bit. It doesn't need to be 100% free-flow, but having a plugged up cat won't help your MPG. The fact is, some engines, no matter their displacement, just get better MPG than others, all other things being equal.

my $.02

[lkurek]

Unless you ignore friction

Agreed on engine efficiency.....the more you can do to minimize pumping loss and to keep heat in the combustion chamber....the better mileage you should get.

Things like using all synthetic fluids, keeping the engine tuned, clean air cleaner, free flowing exhaust, minimal/no overlap, applying ceramic coating to chambers and piston tops, etc all help. Also, do NOT use oxygenated fuels if you can get away from them.... E5, E10, E85 are all less efficient (BTU/lb) than straight gasoline.

[Canyonero]

Looking for better efficiency? Don't use iron heads. And don't drive a truck with the aerodynamics of a shoe box. I'm wondering what kind of mileage I'll get this weekend, mostly highway over rolling hills at 55-65 MPH, with three additional passengers. But also about 40 miles on rough access roads.

I've been looking at getting a Malibu, and would be content with getting near 30 MPG with a 170 HP engine. I've heard up to 38 MPG in some of the smaller cars (http://60degreev6.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40101). For a V6, that sounds pretty darned good.

[IanSzgatti]

I love my Mali.. it's a light car.. i'll be taking some pics throughout my swap tommorow...

[Canyonero]

Swap? Putting a 3400 in it already?

I thought you promised us some before/after pics of the disgusting interior. :P

[IsaacHayes]

Low RPM's help a lot. (about the only thing I like about my 2.97 FDR) As does accurate fueling. Make sure the O2 is reading right etc. A lean burn tune can help too for cruising. And yeah put back on all the performance parts LOL. A hot cam I'm sure hurts MPG though but I don't recall you having one.

[IanSzgatti]

Swap? Putting a 3400 in it already?

I thought you promised us some before/after pics of the disgusting interior. :P

what i do have are some pics of the interior now... and no, not a 3400 swap, just a top-end swap... sooo, yeah.

[onefastV6]

I know over on the DHP boards JerryH was getting close to 40MPG out of a 3800....

I was comparing some of the part numbers of the Chinese built 3400 that is in the equinox & Torrent to the 3500 and the 96+ 3400. What I found was interesting.

Apparently the rocker arms have a different part number and are about $7.00 more than the 3400/3500 rockers. With that being said I am now curious as to if they are the cast rocker arms that GM is putting in every other engine. The Pushrods are the same, and the cam is also different along with the exhaust manifolds.

[Sidewinder]

Would a piece loose in a cat cause a reduction in gas mileage? I ask because my cat rattles like crazy at idle, and I haven't been getting the greatest gas mileage recently.

[sprucegagt]

Jerry was able to get that MPG through a mix of the efficiency of the M90, high cruise timing, dead on MPG tune and being light footed.

[Alxsmt]

maby get your injectors ballanced? i gone some new ones AND sent them in to get ballanced/cleaned and before they were so uneaven compared to how they are now, im guessing that will improve a lot of things. not gonna install them till my engine is done though..