Gas Mileage Stock VS. Tuned VS Mods
#26
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2008 A8L, 2002 996TT X50, 2009 X5
OP: get a tune for the power potential, throttle responsiveness, torque gains, etc.
However, don't get it because you're convinced it makes any sort of fiscal sense due to an MPG improvement. Let's say a tune is $800, and your average post-tune MPG goes up by 2 from 20 to 22. While a nice bump to be sure, the actual fuel savings is less than 2 cents per mile, assuming $4.00 gas. Spending $800 and then saving less than 2c per mile... you'll have to drive 44,000 miles before you recoup the cost of the tune in fuel savings.
I think a few domestic auto manufacturers actually do exactly that (shut down half the cylinders while cruising). It's a great idea.
However, don't get it because you're convinced it makes any sort of fiscal sense due to an MPG improvement. Let's say a tune is $800, and your average post-tune MPG goes up by 2 from 20 to 22. While a nice bump to be sure, the actual fuel savings is less than 2 cents per mile, assuming $4.00 gas. Spending $800 and then saving less than 2c per mile... you'll have to drive 44,000 miles before you recoup the cost of the tune in fuel savings.
I saved gas in my SRT-10 by unplugging 5 of the fuel injectors. the V-10 is actually 2 inline 5 CYL engines and it runs balanced and smooth with 1/2 a motor. 12mpg hwy on 10, and 21 mpg on 5. the problem is, it's slow as a turd like that. Someone really needs to build an aftermarket cylinder kill computer that can be programmed to kill cylinders in a sequence that allows the motor to run smooth and balance the killed cylinders evenly. that would be super.
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#28
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OP: get a tune for the power potential, throttle responsiveness, torque gains, etc.
However, don't get it because you're convinced it makes any sort of fiscal sense due to an MPG improvement. Let's say a tune is $800, and your average post-tune MPG goes up by 2 from 20 to 22. While a nice bump to be sure, the actual fuel savings is less than 2 cents per mile, assuming $4.00 gas. Spending $800 and then saving less than 2c per mile... you'll have to drive 44,000 miles before you recoup the cost of the tune in fuel savings.
I think a few domestic auto manufacturers actually do exactly that (shut down half the cylinders while cruising). It's a great idea.
However, don't get it because you're convinced it makes any sort of fiscal sense due to an MPG improvement. Let's say a tune is $800, and your average post-tune MPG goes up by 2 from 20 to 22. While a nice bump to be sure, the actual fuel savings is less than 2 cents per mile, assuming $4.00 gas. Spending $800 and then saving less than 2c per mile... you'll have to drive 44,000 miles before you recoup the cost of the tune in fuel savings.
I think a few domestic auto manufacturers actually do exactly that (shut down half the cylinders while cruising). It's a great idea.
#29
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I think its about time for me to post my findings since the Powerchip Tune.
For perspective, a little about my driving situation:
I average between 19.5 to 20.5mpg on a tank and if I was to set my cruise to 65 on a flat freeway I top 26mpg. All figures were taken while running on stock 225F/245R Continental Tires
![](http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/Mr_Special/C55%20AMG/c0e9a65a.jpg)
![](http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/Mr_Special/C55%20AMG/69f826fa.jpg)
![](http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/Mr_Special/C55%20AMG/8e73359c.jpg)
My "before tune" tank MPG never breached 18mpg [under similar driving situations] and doing the same 65mph freeway test never yielded over 24mpg. Of course there is more to the tune than the MPG, but I will stay on topic this this thread.
But lets all be honost and say we've all had one of these MPG moments as well![Stick Out Tongue](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
For perspective, a little about my driving situation:
- My commute to work Mon-Fri is ~26 miles round trip[22 freeway 4 street]
- Unfortunately living in Orange County, 20 of those miles are spent in bad stop-and-go traffic & I my A/C is running throught the commute
- On the rare occasion where the freeway is moving, or on weekends, I cruise at 75-80mph
I average between 19.5 to 20.5mpg on a tank and if I was to set my cruise to 65 on a flat freeway I top 26mpg. All figures were taken while running on stock 225F/245R Continental Tires
![](http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/Mr_Special/C55%20AMG/c0e9a65a.jpg)
![](http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/Mr_Special/C55%20AMG/69f826fa.jpg)
![](http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/Mr_Special/C55%20AMG/8e73359c.jpg)
My "before tune" tank MPG never breached 18mpg [under similar driving situations] and doing the same 65mph freeway test never yielded over 24mpg. Of course there is more to the tune than the MPG, but I will stay on topic this this thread.
But lets all be honost and say we've all had one of these MPG moments as well
![Stick Out Tongue](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![](http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/Mr_Special/Other/3681acde.jpg)
#30
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02 C32 AMG, 06 C230 Sport (Gone)
I would post my post tune mileage numbers but they are no bueno. Its hard to tell it if is my happy feet that are to blame or the fact that I now live two stop lights away from work. Turn car on sit at light, drive two more lights turn car off...since I live in the Tysons area you may feel free to insert lots of traffic at any time of the day.... 13 mpg is my average over the past 500 miles :/
#32
Do you mean increase your MPG since it starts out in second gear?? I use C in the local portion of my driving and haven't seen any difference and I am pretty modded. Also C does not alleviate the "bump" but does help you feel it less.
#33
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2004 Audi S4
The reason I asked that is because it seems like my MPG is around 2 less when I use it (which is rather infrequently). I do enjoy driving in it because it is rather smooth and I can mellow out, but I'm afraid to use it because the thing already eats gas.
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C55 AMG, BMW 535i, Mazda Cx-7, Nissan 240sx
Sorry guys I haven't been on. To answer the question about how I get good mileage I'll list the things I've done.
I have a Renntech Airbox with k&ns
I have my second cats and res deleted, with 2.5 or 3 inch pipes, with the x-pipe all the way up front, the material used to do this was stainless steel and I polished the insides myself
I run 255 in the rear and 225 upfront, summer tires.
I weight only 140 lbs most of the time, I gain weight when I don't do my jujitsu
Spare and tools have been taken out, and my car weighs around 3320 pounds with the spare in the back.
Tire pressure is 32-33 psi in front 34-36 psi in the back (can't remember how much but around there)
I'll be taking a trip to Ohio so hopefully if I remember I'll take a pic
My Mazda cx-7 will also be driven so it would be interesting to see the different directly
I have a Renntech Airbox with k&ns
I have my second cats and res deleted, with 2.5 or 3 inch pipes, with the x-pipe all the way up front, the material used to do this was stainless steel and I polished the insides myself
I run 255 in the rear and 225 upfront, summer tires.
I weight only 140 lbs most of the time, I gain weight when I don't do my jujitsu
Spare and tools have been taken out, and my car weighs around 3320 pounds with the spare in the back.
Tire pressure is 32-33 psi in front 34-36 psi in the back (can't remember how much but around there)
I'll be taking a trip to Ohio so hopefully if I remember I'll take a pic
My Mazda cx-7 will also be driven so it would be interesting to see the different directly
#35
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2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
So since gas has been so pricey recently I wanted to see how having a tune and modifications on your vehicle affect your gas mileage. I was talking to Chris, who recently had his car tuned by Eurocharged, and he told me that his gas mileage increased with a bump in horsepower to boot. For some reason I thought a tune would decrease gas mileage.
What I want to know is how does a tune, mods, or both affects our gas mileage? I was trying to convince my wife that we both need tunes to improve our gas mileage, but she knew what I was really trying to do.
What I want to know is how does a tune, mods, or both affects our gas mileage? I was trying to convince my wife that we both need tunes to improve our gas mileage, but she knew what I was really trying to do.
To be fair, the Sprintbooster may have had more than a little something to do with this because it makes the car a LOT more responsive now, so I can take advantage of more throttle in day to day driving. But I still seriously doubt you're going to pick up any gas mileage. Still, close to the same mileage with noticably more power is a feat, IMHO.
#36
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C55 AMG, BMW 535i, Mazda Cx-7, Nissan 240sx
I recently put the EC tune, 185mm pulley, heat exchanger, coolant separator kit, and Sprintbooster on my car. I monitored it closely aftewards and lost about 1 MPG on average. Not bad for the claimed 40 RWHP, but the tune didn't improve mileage like some said it would.
To be fair, the Sprintbooster may have had more than a little something to do with this because it makes the car a LOT more responsive now, so I can take advantage of more throttle in day to day driving. But I still seriously doubt you're going to pick up any gas mileage. Still, close to the same mileage with noticably more power is a feat, IMHO.
To be fair, the Sprintbooster may have had more than a little something to do with this because it makes the car a LOT more responsive now, so I can take advantage of more throttle in day to day driving. But I still seriously doubt you're going to pick up any gas mileage. Still, close to the same mileage with noticably more power is a feat, IMHO.
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2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
1 MPG isn't a bad sacrifice for this but again, I'm dubious about the idea that gas mileage will improve with mods. Maybe if you just did the tune, but who realistically does that? If gas mileage is the primary concern, or even a concern, a car like the C32 isn't a good choice. Even on its best day, mine barely clears 22 MPG on the highway. Urban/highway mix is more like 16 MPG. My '11 GTI gets 10 MPG better in the same driving cycle, as did my old RSX Type-S.
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C55 AMG, BMW 535i, Mazda Cx-7, Nissan 240sx
The pick up is a lot better to say the least! It's positively explosive now in all driving situations, when it was kind of lazy before unless you really jumped on it.
1 MPG isn't a bad sacrifice for this but again, I'm dubious about the idea that gas mileage will improve with mods. Maybe if you just did the tune, but who realistically does that? If gas mileage is the primary concern, or even a concern, a car like the C32 isn't a good choice. Even on its best day, mine barely clears 22 MPG on the highway. Urban/highway mix is more like 16 MPG. My '11 GTI gets 10 MPG better in the same driving cycle, as did my old RSX Type-S.
1 MPG isn't a bad sacrifice for this but again, I'm dubious about the idea that gas mileage will improve with mods. Maybe if you just did the tune, but who realistically does that? If gas mileage is the primary concern, or even a concern, a car like the C32 isn't a good choice. Even on its best day, mine barely clears 22 MPG on the highway. Urban/highway mix is more like 16 MPG. My '11 GTI gets 10 MPG better in the same driving cycle, as did my old RSX Type-S.
Sorry for going alittle off topic, but how do you like your GTI? I was thinking of getting another car, and it was one of my choices
#39
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2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
I can't say enough good things about the GTI. Excellent powerband. The 2.0 turbo reminds me a lot of the S52 engine in my old E36 M3. Very torquey at all RPMs and you can barely tell it's a turbo. It also feels rock solid and is very comfortable and well built. And if you can do without leather (and why wouldn't you want those plaid seats, LOL!), navigation, sunroof, etc., as I did, you can get into it for considerably less than 25k.
For this type of car I give it 5/5 stars.
#40
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C55 AMG, BMW 535i, Mazda Cx-7, Nissan 240sx
Let me put it to you like this. When I had the C32 and the RSX, the C32 was driven more, by far, despite the major gas mileage penalty. Since I bought the GTI in mid-May, I've put about 200 miles on the C32.
I can't say enough good things about the GTI. Excellent powerband. The 2.0 turbo reminds me a lot of the S52 engine in my old E36 M3. Very torquey at all RPMs and you can barely tell it's a turbo. It also feels rock solid and is very comfortable and well built. And if you can do without leather (and why wouldn't you want those plaid seats, LOL!), navigation, sunroof, etc., as I did, you can get into it for considerably less than 25k.
For this type of car I give it 5/5 stars.
I can't say enough good things about the GTI. Excellent powerband. The 2.0 turbo reminds me a lot of the S52 engine in my old E36 M3. Very torquey at all RPMs and you can barely tell it's a turbo. It also feels rock solid and is very comfortable and well built. And if you can do without leather (and why wouldn't you want those plaid seats, LOL!), navigation, sunroof, etc., as I did, you can get into it for considerably less than 25k.
For this type of car I give it 5/5 stars.
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2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
It's a 6-speed manual, 4-door. The DSG was tempting but I like shifting my own gears where possible. And insurance is roughly the same as the AMG.
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C55 AMG, BMW 535i, Mazda Cx-7, Nissan 240sx
idk which tranny to get I know the DSG is lightning quick, but stick is always fun. Thats for the info man
#43
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I know it has been 1 year on the last post but couldnt pass over without sharing this on my w209 CLK 55... HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL !
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