Engine mods for MPG save?

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Old 02-07-2008 | 08:30 AM
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evan03CL's Avatar
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Engine mods for MPG save?

I am looking to start modifying my CL, and I was wondering what mods will help me save miles per gallon?

I know that an air intake will, is there one that anyone suggests? Will the generic ebay ones work just as well as long as there is a good filter on the end of them?

Does exhuast or headers help MPG at all? noticeable or even worth it?

I know pullies give some horse power back to the engine from a/c, alternator, etc. but do they help MPG at all?
Old 02-07-2008 | 09:41 AM
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Your better off not modding & just driving easy. Some mods say you'll get better mileage, but since your foot will be more into the gas any savings will be lost.

If your really concerned with saving gas...

1 - drive less
2 - stay at/under 55
3 - no hard driving

These 3 will save your more then anything else

Old 02-07-2008 | 09:43 AM
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The only mod that will end up saving you any gas is gluing a 2 inch block of wood to the back of your gas pedal. Any I/H/E mod increases the amount of air flowing through the engine and the engine in turn increases the amount of fuel so that ratio stays correct.
Old 02-07-2008 | 10:00 AM
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If all you are looking for is to save money on gas, don't buy mods and use that money towards your next fill-up(s).
And what fuzzy said.
Old 02-07-2008 | 10:20 AM
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You could..... Gut your car completely, drop it to the ground, flat the undercarrige, remove your mirrors, and cover your wheels, areo and weight make a huge difference on MPG.
On a serious note, I am led to believe that if you get an ebay inake, and a good K&N cone filter for it, you can save about $150 and get around the same performance. A 3" aluminum pipe is a 3" aluminum pipe. You can pay $250 for it or pay $50 for it, (the air traveling through it won't know the difference...)
Old 02-08-2008 | 01:38 PM
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Maybe a K&N filter? I picked up a mpg or two when I installed mine. Have gotten as high as 37mpg on road trips doing a pretty constant 80-85mph.
Old 02-08-2008 | 02:57 PM
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?? 80-85 & 37MPG?? That's unheard of.
That's like civic mileage. At 65 or under I could believe that, but not 80-85. The engine is at 3K RPM at that speed.
You must have a freak car there.
Old 02-08-2008 | 03:11 PM
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I did the math (or rather the US gov's fuel site did) a couple times. It was last spring on a trip from Madison to Milwaukee.
Old 02-08-2008 | 03:12 PM
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In theory anything that helps your car breath easier (intake/exaust) should help a little on MPG simply because the engine doesn't have to do as much work to pull in air and push out exaust.

I noticed a small increase in gas millage with intake and headers (2-3%).

Since exaust doesn't add any noticable power it likely won't effect mpg either.

An underdrive pully will also help with millage - again because the engine won't have to work as hard powering your accesories - but I don't know if it'll be noticable.

Lighter wheels could help in that department as well.

And don't forget to keep your tires properly inflated - being down a few psi can really work against you.
Old 02-08-2008 | 06:09 PM
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Before I attempt to answer this, I'm going to try and understand your plans...
You want to spend around a grand to save a couple cents in between fill-ups? I'm thinking you want to mod your car and are looking for some mods that help, but really the 2-3% isn't that noticeable. Either mod your car or don't, you're not going to notice much (if any) better gas mileage, only possibly worse.
Old 02-08-2008 | 06:37 PM
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I don't see why everyone is giving this guy such a hard time ...

Most of us here get the mod itch ... you don't do it because its a good use of money. So, now - assume you're going to mod your car anyways, and you're going to spend the money regardless, why not try to get the car running a little bit more effenciently?

I personally like that fact that I've added 20+ hp and I get slightly better gas millage. And since my car is my daily driver I'd avoid mods that make the car burn through more gas under normal driving conditions.


Old 02-08-2008 | 07:19 PM
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From what I got from the OP post was he was looking for mods to increase his mileage. Not mod for performance.
Old 02-09-2008 | 11:43 AM
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increased efficiency, driven in the exact same conditions will give better gas mileage.

first mod would be the UR underdrive pulley since it makes the engine drive less A/C, alternator and power steering. i noticed a big difference after installing it, the engine feels much lighter in its work.

i don't log my fillups for mileage and i only drive 4.5 miles to work.
Old 02-09-2008 | 12:00 PM
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Bump up your tire pressures to 34 psi and use a lighter weight oil (0w-20). Cheap and effective.
Old 02-12-2008 | 11:33 AM
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The only engine mod I have on mine is the Comptech ICEBOX, which was installed over 4 years ago. My '03 Type-S is a DD, and is just about to hit the 169K mark on the odometer. I never, ever get less than 30 mpg a tankful, but this car travels 67 miles to/form work each way - all freeway miles - and I normally keep the cruise at 68mph. The other "mods" I've done are basically suspension related (Comptech/Eibach springs wrapped around Neuspeed/Koni yellows, Comptech sways, RonJon Servos wearing 235/40/18 rubber) to improve handling/asthetics. Any association of engine mods and fuel economy are mutually exclusive thoughts, because in order to enjoy the benefits of one, you have to suffer at the expense of the other.
Old 02-12-2008 | 12:36 PM
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if you do A LOT of freeway driving with minimal stop and go, an upgrade intake system can help but that's assuming like others have said that you won't be hard on the gas.

After I installed my Comptech CAI, and i go on long trips I can easily attain 32+mpg on the freeway in my 6spd.
Old 02-12-2008 | 12:54 PM
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intake and def changing ur oil on time u will be amazed by the mpg after a fresh oil change
Old 02-12-2008 | 01:46 PM
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I don't see the oil making a difference in the CL. The standard interval is 7250 miles.
I highly doubt you'll see any MPG difference.
Old 02-12-2008 | 03:42 PM
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have changed my oil every 7500 miles on the number since new, per manufacturers recommendation. has no bearing on mpg.
Old 02-12-2008 | 04:58 PM
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eh
 
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Originally Posted by fuzzy02CLS
I don't see the oil making a difference in the CL. The standard interval is 7250 miles.
I highly doubt you'll see any MPG difference.
Agreed.

Now slightly off topic - is your oil change interval really every 7250 miles?

Acura Canada recommends changing the oil every 6000km ... which is basically half that.
Old 02-12-2008 | 05:04 PM
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I was changing my oil ever 3,750 miles but that was because I was doing a lot of stop and go driving here in so cal.
Old 02-12-2008 | 05:20 PM
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I change it every 5K miles. I have a lot of mods & am a bit hard on my car so. However I did follow the 7250 interval when I had my unmodded auto CLS. Never a problem.
Old 02-12-2008 | 05:46 PM
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I haven't read any part of the thread but all engine mods will save gas including intake/pullies/headers

The biggest saver is a AFC NEO, you can tune the car to run leaner throughout the band resulting in gas savings even at a higher rpm. From the factory the car runs super rich, tuning it will save some gas.

But than again, with the cost of all these mods it would take you a while to pay them off with the money you save from using less gas.
Old 02-13-2008 | 09:03 AM
  #24  
evan03CL's Avatar
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To answer all of your questions, I want to start modding my car but if I could make it more fuel efficient at the same time it would be like killing two birds with one stone. That's mainly the angle I was going for.
Old 02-13-2008 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by fuzzy02CLS
I don't see the oil making a difference in the CL. The standard interval is 7250 miles.
I highly doubt you'll see any MPG difference.
Wrong, every time i get my oil changed I always, always get way better miles per tank. I dont know why you guys are sayin a fresh oil change would not effect a bettter mpg. Doesnt it make sense a cleaner engine with fresh oil would put less stress on the block im just statin the facts of a clean runnin engine my friends and the facts of what I have seen on my CL argue the fact all u want, go talk to a factory tech and ask them and I will guarantee they also will agree
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