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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / October 2004Is it possible to modify an engine to improve gas mileage
I was wondering if it is possible to modify an engine to improve performance. I don't have the funds for something new, but want to improve the horrible mileage I'm getting. I have already done all the basics, like tire pressure, changing driving habits, etc. I want to make some mods, and wonder if anyone can make recommendations. Specifically, I am considering: Under drive pulleys High flow exhaust Mod chip for computer Performance spark plugs New gears Thanks for your input. >I was wondering if it is possible to modify an engine to improve >performance. I don't have the funds for something new, but want to improve [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Thanks for your input. ======================================== It would help to know what engine you now have in your car ... AND what you really want to accomplish... Go Faster? Stop Faster?. Corner Better? Save on Fuel ?????? Bob Griffiths Thanks for the response, Bob. I have an 01 Nissan Xterra, V6. I mainly want to improve the mileage, which is 16 right now. That is what it was rated at when I purchased it. If I get more HP, better braking, etc. as a by product, then that's great. The truck needs to last me for about 4 more years, so I want to get all the mpg out that I can. >>I was wondering if it is possible to modify an engine to improve >>performance. I don't have the funds for something new, but want to [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Better? Save on Fuel ?????? > Bob Griffiths >Thanks for the response, Bob. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >truck needs to last me for about 4 more years, so I want to get all the mpg >out that I can. Installing a taller set of rear gears (lower numerical number) will help ...the most imho... Since this is a truck like vehicle ... What do you use it for? if you use it mostly as a car..and mostly on the highway ,not hauling much weight ,or pulling a trailer then putting in new gears would make sense.. The downside is that you will really loose the low end power to get the "truck' moving when you have some weight in the thing or a trailer attached .. I am guessing it is an automatic...but you may be able to reprogram the transmissions shift points... to get you in a higher gear faster...again at a loss of low end pickup etc... However in the 4 years you plan to keep the vehicle and driving say 15,000 miles a year getting a 20 percent (unlikely) improvement in gas mileage will only save you about 150 gallons of fuel a year... At 2 bucks a gallon over a 4 year period that is about $1200. factoring in the cost of the gear swap I really do not think it would be worth the effort.... Bob Griffiths Thanks, Bob. I do have a manual, and have started shifting at 2300 rpm. I'm still of the first tank of that experiment, but it's looking like I may get 1 mpg out of it. I don't usually carry anything heavy and never tow anything. I agree with what you said about the gears. I wasn't sure how much mpg one could get out of that, but it would be a stretch for it to be worth the money. I've also heard that trunk mounting the battery can help improve power to the wheels, think there is any value in that? >>Thanks for the response, Bob. >> [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > > Bob Griffiths >I've also heard that trunk mounting the battery can help improve power to >the wheels, think there is any value in that? > >===================== It will not affect the power to the rear wheels BUT it will help by slightly (ever so slightly) increasing traction... simply by adding more weight to the rear wheels...on a rwd car.. Again a simple cost analysis of buying a battery box, new longer cables etc to move the battery to the rear would take decades to reach a break even point... My 68 Chevelle does have the battery mounted in the trunk... BUT I run that car on the drag strip... and NHRA rules dictate that it have an external battery cut off switch ..mounting the switch on the rear bumper is simple...and the extra weight of the battery in the trunk most likely gives me as much as 0.0001 of a second faster ET's if that! Just drive the car with a light foot ... the wear and tear on your Brain ( mental condition) is not worth worrying about an extra mpg Bob G. >I was wondering if it is possible to modify an engine to improve >performance. I don't have the funds for something new, but want to improve [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Thanks for your input. Get a high-flow low restriction, reusable air filter. Like K&N hth, tom ***************** Check Us Out ***************** http://www.CarFleaMarket.com Discover low-cost sell my car ads to the web! > I was wondering if it is possible to modify an engine to improve > performance. I don't have the funds for something new, but want to improve [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Thanks for your input. If you really want to get radical, you might remove the pistons, rods, and valve train from one side of your engine and run on three cylinders. I'm not really sure it would work with a modern vehicle, but I recall reading about it being done with the V-8 guzzlers of the sixties. Another advantage is that the side of your engine you are using is worn out, you can remove the old parts, re-install the parts you removed, and keep driving. Steve | "Mark" <noone@nowhere.com> wrote in message | > it is possible to modify an engine to improve performance Of course, either add e.g. turbo / super charger, or ( cheaper way ) correct the design*flaws, or replace cheapo / inefficient parts. I've found & corrected 5 *, replaced 3 cheapos on my '90 accord, ( 1.3 ton, now average 14.2 km / litre of RON97, if 70% of trip is highway ). | I recall reading about it being done with the V-8 guzzlers Likely 4 out of 8 cylinders can be disabled, but none of 4 cylinders can. |
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