how can I retrofit my gasoline car to get more mileage?

Answer 1

Easy answers:

BUT stay within your state laws, and the very very first thing is a tuneup and timing. Here are a bunch of other things you can try - I've tried a few and its working out on my 93 Jeep Wrangler. I'm seeing around 16.5mpg, which isn't much, but its a 1.5mpg improvement. I'll * the things I've done.

1. Get a K&N or other reusable high flow air filter*. Around $45 bucks for my Jeep. Will save $ in the long run. Or, get a cold air intake, increases horsepower, which if used properly will give you better mileage. www.knfilters.com is a good source.

2. Use a full synthetic motor oil*, of the proper viscosity for your car.

3. Your car might benefit from a higher flow intake manifold, or throttle body, to go along with your cold air intake or high flow filter. I've never actually heard from someone who has seen a mileage improvement from a "tornado" but I have heard people talk about improved power and mileage from a Throttle Body Spacer. I cleaned my throttle body*, that helps too.

4. A better flowing exhaust*, with mandrel bent pipes (no crimps) and a high performance catalytic converter. Don't remove the cat! A car actually runs better with it, its built that way.

5. If you've got over 100k miles, replace your oxygen sensor*(s). You can probably do it yourself, but you'll need a special sensor wrench ($12). Any bad sensor can kill your mileage, but these wear out and need replacing.

6. Seafoam (its a product) your intake, and gas*, and if you think its sludged up, your oil (change it after 50 miles). A can in the tank, 1/2 a can in the oil, and some in the intake manifold through a vacuum line. Search off-road.com's message board for people talking about this. Read the directions carefully.

7. Keep your tires inflated properly!*

8. Highway speeds, use the AC. City, open the windows.*

9. Wash and wax never hurt.

10. Install a higher power ignition system (coil, wires and plugs), or at the very least, good wires* and plugs*. Check your rotor and distributor or what your particular car uses to deliver a spark to the engine.

11. Get the tranny tuned up.

12. Remove excess weight from the car. Junk in the trunk? Toss it.

13. Slow down brotha!

Hope that helps, this is something I've been looking into for awhile.

Answer 2

Put a hole in the floorboard so you can put your feet down and run real fast.
I'm sure you already know what you are doing and how to maintain a car. Some people get a chip to put in their electronic module, some put a tornado (a product name) in their air flow system attached to their intake manifold. The truth is, when you modify your car, and if it is in a state where smog is controlled, and you have to have a smog certificate; any modification to your car that is not factory or epa approved will result in you not getting a certificate. There's always something.
Make your own fuel is one way to beat the system. I've always thought, that if a person made all the spark plug cables the same length that it would help a little, because of the time it takes to travel down the wire at almost the speed of light. Or place a control module for spark at each cylinder. How could that be done? easy by using the existing spark plug cable, you could plug it into the device at each cylinder where the voltage from the spark wire coming from the original source would only be for triggering purposes. easy circuit could be a neon bulb(like is used in an electric blanket control) where the bulb is attached to a light sensor and that triggers the module. The neon bulb and light sensor are covered so other light does not affect it. The bulb will light up when it comes in close proximity with the spark plug cable, becuse it takes about 90 volts to ignite the neon gas in the bulb. There is certainly alot more than that available. This has not been proven yet, at least by me, since it is my idea. Not much is to gain by it, gas mileage wise I dont suppose. Oh it would work though.
You are only going to get so much bang out of the proper mix of air and gas, unless you you can force more of the same mix in the cylinder at one time, gives me an idea? If you could have an onboard air compressor you could blow gas into each cylinder with a proper amount of air. Remove the fuel injectors and retrofit this new device,give me credit, since i dont have time to build this, maybe i will>and replace it with a new device. The device works like this: the same fuel injection control wires are the control for the device. the compressor hose is attached to each cylinder device which fits into the same hole as the fuel injectors. When the device is triggered by the original system it powers a blast of compressed gas and air into the cylinder, even the blast of air will cause the cylinder to move better. Oh I forgot the extra power draw on the engine to power the compressor, which will cause more gas comsumption.I give up!

Answer 3

The kind of oil you use really does not matter, they have done studies with new york cabs and it is all the same, no matter what they promise you.

But there are a few things you can do besides maintenance

buy the turbonator, it will give you better mileage and more power.

When driving keep your windows rolled up, less friction.

Dont use the AC, it burns a lot of gas.

So in otherwords when its 100 degrees out keep your windows up and AC off and bake like a chicken at KFC for a few lost dollars.

Answer 4

Perform routine maintanence. That's probably the singlest best way to get the greatest mileage out of your car. There really is very few ways of getting better gas mileage outside of things like pulling out your catalytic converter. Of course, those things are in there for a good reason! So don't. I'm not even sure if that would increase your mileage anyhow.

Answer 5

Changing the air filter more frequently is often worth the cost, and time, for improved mileage. It is usually the best value in cost to mileage we've found in our 94 Subaru legacy.

Same goes with oil, especially a low friction oil like Castrol Syntec, AMSoil, or Lucas. AMSoil usually gets the best break down of costs to longevity... We haven't tried Lucas, though many truck drivers recommend it.

Castrol Syntec (full synthetic) gives the best mileage, but breaks down faster than AMSoil (full synthetic). Like I said though, for total cost of oil and mileage over a given period, we usually do best with AMSoil.

Answer 6

you could get a routine maintenance checkup to make sure your air filter is in good condition (as well as tire pressure and oil). You can also be slower and smoother when you accelerate from a stop and don't go much faster than 55-60 MPH on the highway.

Answer 7

Convert to battery electric.
acutally quite simple, get rid of all the bits like radiator, fuel system, exaust etc,

Elctric motors are far better for traction, eg maximum torque at zero rpm, simple transmission, recovery of energy when braking

and the driving experince is far better, quiet, smooth, smell free.
You can go as fast and far as you want/can afford.
for examples see tango (as driven by George Clooney) and tZero that out acceleates a ferrari & >200miles per charge
and look out for forthcomming film "who killed the electric car"
Refuel at home or work.

Answer 8

Attach your pushbike to it with a rope. Make sure you have the bike in pull mode and not drag mode.
Even better, swap your car for a bike.

Answer 9

get 2 eggs and tape one on the gas pedal, and one to the brake pedal, then don't brake em'. make sure the car is tuned up well. buy a hybird. better yet, take the bus

Answer 10

you can save money by not filling up your tank all the way when you buy gas(about 3/5 way is probably good). this makes the car lighter and it doesnt use as much gas.