Howsci Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 I just bought a 96 legacy wagon, I want to get as good of gas mileage as possible out of it, does anyone have any suggestions how i might go about doing this? I'm planning on putting on an open element air filter and doing a tune up. Anyone have suggestions for mud flaps? like to get some but not sure where they have them or if i'm gonna need to make them. This seems like a pretty good board BTW -Mitch- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vwbuge Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 Just keep it in a good state of tune and you'll be fine. Try your local dealer for the mudflaps. If not maybe e-bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger83 Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 I just bought a 96 legacy wagon, I want to get as good of gas mileage as possible out of it, does anyone have any suggestions how i might go about doing this? Accelerate gently, drive slowly, and keep your tires pumped up. I'm planning on putting on an open element air filter and doing a tune up. Why? But if you do, drive the car for a while we a clean paper filter and record mileage and acceleration figures. Most people who buy them seem to accept the sales claims at face value and don't do objective before-and-after comparison tests. My experience from racing is that any change you make to a car (especially if it costs money or is not easily unistalled) makes the car "feel" faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howsci Posted March 2, 2004 Author Share Posted March 2, 2004 I'm gonna get the open air filter (10 bucks @autozone) because it's almost as cheap as a paper replacement and i know of people who have documented that they got slightly better gas mileage. Otherwise i would never buy one because of the "riceboy" image attached to them. I'm not really sure what you mean by any change you make to a car (especially if it costs money or is not easily unistalled) makes the car "feel" faster if you're talking about complete gimmicks like the Tornado or Z-Max then yeah i agree, but not with things like Intake manifolds, Heads, Headers etc. Those mods do give gains in HP and torque. But that's just me rambling -Mitch- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 2, 2004 Share Posted March 2, 2004 pretend there is an egg on top of the accelerator that must not be cracked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger83 Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 I'm not really sure what you mean by quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- any change you make to a car (especially if it costs money or is not easily unistalled) makes the car "feel" faster -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- if you're talking about complete gimmicks like the Tornado or Z-Max then yeah i agree, but not with things like Intake manifolds, Heads, Headers etc. Those mods do give gains in HP and torque. But that's just me rambling What I mean is I've never once seen someone post here empirical tests that prove the sales claims of aftermarket air filters. The changes I made were changes reputed to improve performance of a relatively stock car (a 1979 VW Scirocco) in road racing at what was then Bryar Motorsports Park in Loudon, NH. I was looking for improved acceleration at speeds of between 30-80 mph. One of the first tests I did was to remove the air cleaner completely. If there was an imprvement in acceleration, it wasn't measurable. Look, I don't have a dog in this fight. I use OEM paper filters because I'm more concerned about silicate buildup shown by oil analysis than the claims of increased horsepower. By all means, post the before and after mpg or performance gains shown by your buddies in making this change. Or anyone else has done such tests. But most people seem to do what you are planning to do - start making multiple changes without first establishing baseline performance data with which to compare it. For example, I had to make two trips to Maine - Baxter State Park - and back. 350 miles one way. So the first round trip I put our Yakima RocketBox on top. Second trip left it off. Set the cruise at 75 mph for both, and drove the speed limit on local roads. The difference in mpg with was 1.1 mpg, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nug Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Richmonder! AAAAAHHGH! HEy there, what's up? I'm in lakeside. Monitor your tire pressures, keep a clean air filter in it, throw some NGK spark plugs at it, run a low-weight synthetic oil , drive it sanely, and oh yea, replace o2 sensor if it hasn't been done recently. Not much else, I guess. The driving sanely part is the most effective, and the hardest to do, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myles Posted March 3, 2004 Share Posted March 3, 2004 Originally posted by snotrocket Richmonder! AAAAAHHGH! HEy there, what's up? I'm in lakeside. Monitor your tire pressures, keep a clean air filter in it, throw some NGK spark plugs at it, run a low-weight synthetic oil , drive it sanely, and oh yea, replace o2 sensor if it hasn't been done recently. Not much else, I guess. The driving sanely part is the most effective, and the hardest to do, IMO. That beetle must go like stink with the EJ22 in her. How's she handle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subyroo Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Originally posted by Howsci I just bought a 96 legacy wagon, I want to get as good of gas mileage as possible out of it, does anyone have any suggestions how i might go about doing this? I'm planning on putting on an open element air filter and doing a tune up. Anyone have suggestions for mud flaps? like to get some but not sure where they have them or if i'm gonna need to make them. This seems like a pretty good board BTW -Mitch- Howsci Drive the car around town as you normally would and record the MPG, then do a long trip and record the MPG, you now have a database to work from and see what the diffrences are each time you make an alteration to the car. Tyre pressures can make a difference, running 98 RON fuel can make a difference too, Synthetic Oils etc and all without making any mods to the system at all. Do that first and then go with any other mods if your not happy with the performance or MPG achieved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nug Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 The front brakes are too good, the front tires will lock up and sliiiide. It's quick though. Howsci, Open element air filters can transmit intake air noise, so it makes the engine louder. Psychologically speaking, more noise=more power. As long as you keep a fresh air filter in it, I don't think you'll notice much. I think you can drill a bunch of holes in the bottom of the airbox for increased airflow. On some cars, cone filter=power. On others, cone filter=more noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagelpage Posted March 4, 2004 Share Posted March 4, 2004 Originally posted by Ranger83 For example, I had to make two trips to Maine - Baxter State Park - and back. 350 miles one way. So the first round trip I put our Yakima RocketBox on top. Second trip left it off. Set the cruise at 75 mph for both, and drove the speed limit on local roads. The difference in mpg with was 1.1 mpg, btw. That's it? Pretty good. I have the Rocketbox and have wondered about this. I think that it really takes a toll much above 75. Below 75 I think that it takes less of a toll. Of course my observations are merely anecdotal and not empirical. On a just completed trip to Wyoming I measured between 21 and 25 with the box, and the cruise set at 80. The difference seemed to be wind, and upslope downslope. I would have thought the difference to be slightly greater than 1.1. I think another useful test would be to measure mileage difference with the box mounted extreme forward, and extreme back. My hypothesis would be that extreme back will provide better mileage. nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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