How to get better fuel economy?

[red_dog007]

Find a VTEC motor and drop that in there.

Its hard to really increase economy noticably. Even with a 5-speed / r200 swap, fuel economy might go up 1 or 2 mpg.

Though doing everything you can, fine tunning you car, dropping weight, I think that you might, just might gain 1mpg.

Just drive good. That will be your biggest benefit. I can pull 30mpg on the free way in my S10 going 65mpg all the time, but once I start going 70+ I can only get 25mpg tops. Then driving around town, depending on how rough I drive I can get as low as 22mpg and as high as 25mpg if I am a good boy. Though mostly it is around 23 to 24mpg average.

[Sailor Bob]

Hey Darrel

The one horse power rig is cheaper to operate but has terrible exhuast in the cockpit problems!

[TomoHawk]

Will,ls

The emergency kit I have in my car only weighs about 2 Lbs. You might be mistaking of somebody else's version for mine.

Remember, I did a LOT of backpacking in Scouting, so I was very good at only taking esentials. My backcountry emergency kit fits in a 35mm film can!

thx

[zhead240]

i woulda thunk a 5 speed would make a big difference.

[Sailor Bob]

Ya, I'm surprised with the feedback on that, I read a thread with some info from Carl and it seemed to indicate a performance tradeoff for fuel economy by doing the 5 spd upgrade. I don't know the actual numbers though.

[KDMatt]

I actually noticed a bit of a difference when I added a "cold-air kit" ... it wasn't huge but every little bit helps.

[rickl750]

Unfortunately I'm only getting about 11 to 12MPG. I have a 1978 280Z (f/I stock engine)with a four speed and not sure what the problem is. Any thoughts?

Rick

[bobs77]

Switching to a 5 speed to improve mileage came up before. Problem is the first 4 gears in a 5 speed are exactly the same as in a 4 speed; the 5 speed only adds an overdrive. If you don't do much freeway driving you won't see any benefit.

[zhead240]

Unfortunately I'm only getting about 11 to 12MPG. I have a 1978 280Z (f/I stock engine)with a four speed and not sure what the problem is. Any thoughts?

Rick

12 mpg!! sounds like u got a hole in your gas tank. that's hummer mileage.

[DeesZ]

I thought about cutting out unnecessary trips in my '72.... But then I realized that all of the trips in that car are unnecessary..... I have this car for enjoyment, so I guess I'll just pay more for my thrills. All of us in the USA are likely soon going to be paying more for gas in the future, so we may as well get used to it I guess. Last time I was in Europe (2005) they were paying about $7.15 / gallon, about three times what we were paying at the time... feel that pain. What are some of the priced on the world market now? Not that this makes anything any 'better', but it does put things into perspective. (Heck, my first tank of gas was about $0.18 / gallon.... That was when we had "off-brand" gas, and the "name-brand" was IIRC about $0.30. )

On topic: Really, I think keeping the car in good repair, well tuned, and proper tire pressure will provide the mechanical means to maximize economy, then the driving style and habits are the next set of issues to deal with.

[Go240Zags]

I thought about cutting out unnecessary trips in my '72.... But then I realized that all of the trips in that car are unnecessary..... I have this car for enjoyment, so I guess I'll just pay more for my thrills. All of us in the USA are likely soon going to be paying more for gas in the future, so we may as well get used to it I guess. Last time I was in Europe (2005) they were paying about $7.15 / gallon, about three times what we were paying at the time... feel that pain. What are some of the priced on the world market now? Not that this makes anything any 'better', but it does put things into perspective. (Heck, my first tank of gas was about $0.18 / gallon.... That was when we had "off-brand" gas, and the "name-brand" was IIRC about $0.30. )

On topic: Really, I think keeping the car in good repair, well tuned, and proper tire pressure will provide the mechanical means to maximize economy, then the driving style and habits are the next set of issues to deal with.

Unfortunately, higher fuel prices are going to hit us in a lot more ways than at the pump. Everything that is shipped is going to increase - food, goods, everything. I think we are just at the beginning of feeling the pain. We need an alternative energy policy starting yesterday. Then, those that want to drive their classics may have to pay a little more for the privalege, but for commuting to work and on vacation I'll drive whatever reasonable alternative they come up with -- as long as I can fit my 6'6" frame inside (and the dog of course). Maybe if we all drive electro/hydrogen/flux capacitor or whatever cars, then the demand and the price of oil will go down and we can afford to do our pleasure driving in our Zs. I'm lucky enough to live in a county in Wash. State with like the second or third lowest electricity costs in the nation.

If I could plug in a car that got 150 miles or so on a charge, I think I could do nearly all my daily driving. If it wasn't so far between my town and the county seat I wouldn't even need that much. Most of the times I drive about a quarter of that per day. Anyway I'm preaching now.

We also have some of the highest gas prices in the state. We were a bit lower than most towns in our county because the stations were competing for Canadian customers just north of us. However, with their dollar's increase and the fact that their gas is so high in price, the stations don't even try to compete with each other anymore and we have higher prices than the rest of the county. The west side of the state still has the lowest prices, but the difference between what they pay there and we pay here just can't be justified. Another benefit of living in 'God's Country' at 'the end of the world' I guess.

[bigoak]

As an odd reference point, I just hired a Brit to join my company and he can't wait to by a truck with a monster engine because fuel in North America is so "bloody" cheap...

All things are relative...so fill up the Z's and get out there...things could be worse fuel could much, much higher and you could be stuck in a snow bank...darn...