Best inexpensive upgrades for 99 Accord 3.0 V6 coupe for performance AND mileage?

Question

Was looking at cold air intake, but it seems that only a true high-dollar, filter outside the engine compartment CAI would be effective. Heard that using a "tornado" insert and a regular K&N air filter would do better for increasing performance and mileage than an under the hood CAI pipe and filter. Also have heard tons about "chip" upgrades. I know I want it all, but I truly want to increase performance, as well as mileage, and DO NOT want to have a grapefruit shooter exhaust. Those things are pathetic. You've got to be able to get performance and mileage some other way. I've done brakes, rotors, starters, plugs, alternators, and other minor stuff on cars (can follow Haynes with no probs), but nothing for performance.

For the record, I'd be extremely happy with 2-6mpg increase and 5-10 horse increase, but don't want to sacrifice one for the other.

Also, best brands info would be nice, as well.

Thanks in advance!

Also hearing NGK Iridium IX plugs will help a bit. Any thoughts???

Lemar is the reason I was looking at the NGK Iridium, after much reading. Didn't know about Iridium til I read his answer.

Answer 1

From personal experience, I can tell you that a K&N filter will give you some improved gas mileage. I don't know if you'll see 2-6 mpg, but a dirty K&N flows better than a brand new paper filter.

The tornado is useless! (also from personal experience). The tornado works well on carborated engines or engines that are not OBDII controlled. Don't waste your money on a chip (also relatively worthless).

I would also change over to synthetic lubricants, i.e. fully synthetic oil and tranny fluid if they are available.

Change over to iridium spark plugs too if they are available for the 99 Accord. I use them in my Saturn. Never had a problem starting and I get better than average gas mileage with them.

I've done everything I've mentioned. EPA estimates for my Saturn are 23 and 28 MPG. Most folks actually get 20 and 25 MPG. In winter I get 25 to 31 MPG and in summer I get 23 to 29 MPG.

I'd put carbon metallic pads on the front, and slotted rotors. I wouldn't touch the exhaust. anything else is going to cost bookoo $$$ and isn't worth it in the long run.

Answer 2

Not much you can do to a car to improve its mpg, other then keeping up the maintenance and tire pressure. One key is to reduce weight, some people take the spare tire and jack equipment out of their trunks. However, even that won't give you more then .2 mpg improvement. If you want better mpg the best way is to buy a car with better ratings for fuel economy.
A performance item not mentioned so far is the Unorthodox underdrive pulley, that will allow your engine to rev faster making it seem like you have more HP since it is now easier to access.

Answer 3

Real quick...

If you install a racing chip, you can get improved gas mileage and about 5 more BHP. A Honda 2000 racing chip, made by Motorola of all companies, goes for about $200...

What many people don't realise is that you have to re-tune your engine to synch with the newer chip. The better the tune up, the better your experience with a racing chip will be.

Might want to look into a different fuel injector too.

Answer 4

Most weight reductions are free. Like someone said earlier, you can strip the interior (and lose some weight yourself if applicable) in order to slightly improve the car's power-to-weight ratio. Take out whatever you can comfortably live without. Also remember that unsprung weight (heavy component's in the drivetrain of the car) has a larger impact than anywhere else in the car. A quick solution to this is to buy lightweight, forged wheels that are barely large enough to clear your brake calipers. This will take out a lot of the rotational momentum around the axles and should increase the low-end acceleration of the car. Performance modifications to the engine will not come cheap; if they were, manufacturers probably would have put them on the car to begin with. No offense to Honda owners (I own one myself), the money could be placed elsewhere and still have a larger impact on the performance of the vehicle. Good luck with your car!

Answer 5

tornado's suck in fact its leveling off my washing machine right now... intakes are intakes its the filter that makes the improvement along with intake size if your looking cheap build one you self they re not too hard and if your just looking to do something new with your car like i was.. this will do just fine for you

Answer 6

humm..