Fuel Consumption on the 4 cyl

[npspears]

Dang Shameem, when it comes to cars you know your stuff. What do you do for a living?

[shameem]

I am a poor grad student

[npspears]

How do you know so much about cars and what are you studying in Grad school if you mind me asking?

[shameem]

Well i learned about cars by tinkering with my cars since i dont like to go to mechanics. Also i research a lot on the internet and read a lot of automotive books. I have 2 Engineering degrees and right now i am a grad student in Industrial Engineering. I guess i have been in school forever....

[Ryan]

I got a spontanious 36mpg on this tank.
No idea why its 4mpg better all of a sudden.
If I figure out what seafoam is and where to put it, I think I'll do that

[SuperK]

I've read our cars don't do well in cold weather?

It seems my milage is drastically different since it's got hotter.

[Ryan]

Me engine is at its peak operating temp after about 2km or 3 mins of idling. Cold air combusts better, no?

Thats my thinking, at least. It hasn't been cold really, 10 - 20ºC. Or do most of you call that cold?

[npspears]

So if cold air combusts better than warm air, shouldn't cars be capable of getting better gas mileage in cold weather?

just trying to figure this thing out

[Ryan]

What if I used propane instead of air? Propane is really cheap....

Just take out my fuel tank and hook up a 20lb propane tank to my fuel line. A pressure regulator, and bingo.

[fowljesse]

There was a guy a couple years ago that converted his to propane.

Cold air is more dense, so more oxygen fits into the chamber.

[inferno94]

So if cold air combusts better than warm air, shouldn't cars be capable of getting better gas mileage in cold weather?

just trying to figure this thing out

More oxygen/Litre of air when its cold. Therefore more gas consumed per litre or air and since your can consumes the same volume of air under all conditions (unless boosted) it acts like a larger displacement engine in the cold weather with respect to fuel consumption. Meaning more gas but more zoom, the cold weather also makes the engine less efficient heat wise as a cold motor uses more fuel than a hot one.

I too was once a poor student commuter shameem, I learned about cars the same way you did, saves a bit of coin eh?

[stigler]

Our little 1992 SOHC that my wife drives to work, 12 miles one way lots of hills.. she managed 35.4pmg last tank. She usually averages 32mpg at the posted 65mph speed limit. She decided to put the clutch down going down hills and ease up to speed this last tank and managed the 35.4. She says she is shooting for 37mpg this next tank. The Mx-3 has almos 168,000 miles on it too.. oh yes and she does this with the A/C on! haha

[Mi|<E]

Getting 35 MPG on my rebuilt BP doing silly engine break-in driving in the city.
It pulls great, lots of pep.

Thats gonna go down some soon as it gets turbo'd though

[stigler]

Last tank.. 90% hwy 10% cty. 38.5mpg.

[dinux]

My 1992 SOHC (manual)
My statistic from 2008 04 13
4511 km
358 l
it costs 393 EUR
7,93 l/100km