Fuel Economy Test #1: who needs those side mirrors?

[HostileHST]

Curious if your car is auto or manual transmission cause we have the 1997 Geo with automatic transmission and get around 32 mpg. Totally sucks compared to the pre 90's models. I think they should have put a 4 speed in the auto, that would have help for highway use big time.

[landongendur]

@HostileHST - it was a 5 speed manual

[itsmejana1964]

Try bypassing the EGR valve or backing off the exhaust cam (if you have dual cam and your exhaust cam is late to close). You should also reroute your PCV valve out of the intake manifold.

[HostileHST]

@itsmejana1964 EGR has been bypassed due to the computer saying it was faulty. Despite the EGR actually working, I decided to block it's passage very professional like. I'll look into the PCV reroute. Wife said one time she got 380 miles from a tank of gas, making it 38 mpg, so hard to say if the car has issues, or my wife does, I'm leaning towards the wife part, hehe.

[HostileHST]

When you say back off the exhaust cam, do you mean the timing?

[uglybob6666]

I have one of those, sort of, but mine says chevy sprint on it, same car though. I kind of wish it hadn't crapped out since my little s10 truck only gets around 19 MPG. that sucks.

[WBarts]

48mpg 2000 Saturn SL You will need a brain to get 48mpg but nothing more. Others have been up in the 60s and 70s with a SL.

[mgza2007]

not me im gettin 12mpg in my 99 sl2. Don't ask..

[boltysan]

got to around 2 mins before losing the will to live, Had to turn it off as I have a family to think about

[kokozay]

fuel economy is great but this is neither practical nor safe. Great stuff btw keep up the good work.

[gecho82ss]

did he say regina or vagina? hehe

[landongendur]

Oh yes... Regina is often referred to as the Vag.

[carpstick]

I don't think vagina is in this guy's mind at all.  He has dicks dancing around up there.

[Trevpod]

I think the experiment worked quite well, but would like to see the mpg figures at 50mph, here in the uk, fuel costs (can)$12 a gallon, and the speed limit has been 70mph for the last 30 years, we have learned the hard way, just because you can drive at 70, doesen't mean you should, if you just cruise at 50-55mph you will see a huge difference in economy, check your tires are properly inflated to the correct pressure, dont just guess it, these things all add up to big savings.

[landongendur]

I agree.... lots of people have seen my videos can't believe the fuel mileage I was getting in my geo, but that's because of the slow speeds.

[talleyho12]

@Trevpod 12$ holy shit! why so high? do they inflate it on purpose you think?

[ehsan6600]

Is this a joke dumpass?

[landongendur]

Nope. I drove for almost a year without exterior mirrors.

Desperate times call for desperate measure though; I'm now riding a bicycle and saving $550/month by not owning a car :)

[ehsan6600]

first of all your gay i know that.

second how would you drive without mirrors?

[landongendur]

Thanks for pointing out the obvious about homosexuality. And what does it matter?

Driving without exterior mirrors isn't difficult. Simply look around whenever changing lanes (the rear-view mirror still works for looking behind).

[cdltpx]

You have a point geo metro is a small car a 6 ft tall man can see all around the car easily.

I have to make a correction I believed it was Carter that reduced the national speed limit to 55 mph but watching the history channel I just learned that it was Nixon that did this.

[Galaxino]

hi, im interested to know what kind of device you're using for measuring fuel?

It's good to have people like you to test fuel economy WITHOUT the EPA or government test...

But is the result of fuel consumption accurate? Is it expensive?

[nuclearthreat545]

You need those fucking mirrors to change lanes idiot. WOW I hope you fucking wreck your car while video taping and changing lanes while your fucking on your cell phone you piece of shit bad fucking driver fucking up the roads. FUCK!

[landongendur]

That's why I bought a wide angle mirror for the interior to see all around.

And how do you think bicycle change lanes on the road without a mirror? Just look where you're going! :P And the police didn't mind either so it wasn't illegal.

[oisiaa]

Who trusts their mirrors to change lanes? That is how accidents happen, you should always look over your shoulder.

[nuclearthreat545]

Why is it so hard to do both!? Its the law to have those mirrors

[jbvcw71]

Well that's $88 dollars a year. I just couldn't find the practically in removing my rear mirrors on my 98 s10. I back up ALOT. How much did that miliage computer cost? Thank you.

[MiserThree]

The mileage computer cost about $175 on eBay.

[jbvcw71]

YOU ONLY HAVE TO DRIVE 418 miles to save your first dollar!!! What a deal. Never look back. ha ha.

[MiserThree]

That adds ups pretty quickly. I drove 37,000+ miles in less than 2 years with that car ;)

[GeoMetroMan91]

where can i buy one

[orca110011]

must be on ebay

[GeoMetroMan91]

dude where the hell did u get that scan gauge? and how much?

[landongendur]

look up 'scangauge' on Google. Silly YouTube won't let me post a web address :(

[GeoMetroMan91]

thats gay. but thanks man i got the message.

[83ls]

so it takes 2 fillups to save $4, or $100 a year, on a typical 4cylinder midsize sedan. How much are those cameras?

[landongendur]

Which cameras? Do you mean the one I was using to film? It was $70 at a pawn shop.

[83ls]

I meant the ones you can use instead of the mirrors, on the side. It is very hard to drive without them.

[landongendur]

I never did buy cameras. I just installed diverging mirrors on the inside of the door sills and a big one for rear-view mirror on the windshield. It worked like a charm.

[burns1210]

Yearly savings will offset the inevitable traffic tickets.

[jeremymailcom]

strange man

[cdltpx]

According to Aptera motors just the windshield wipers on most cars has the drag signature of the entire Aptera car. When driving I try to stay a 18 wheeler legnth&1/2 behind a big truck if another truck or car gets behind me my mileage increases to 70 mpg at times at interstate speeds. Get the right truck and tag along you can get there for 2/3 the cost driving the 70mph speed.

[landongendur]

Drafting does have benefits, that's for sure.

[autoseco]

Good day... The price of fuel is increasing daily, why should we pay for that and dont make a profit from it. There is a product which is based in aero space technology which economize the petrol oil from 7% to 14%. So, offer the business opportunity for yourselfes based on the panic of fuel' prices. For more information communicate with me: info @ autoseco . com

[queensplazasouth]

why do you need spot mirrors on a geo metro

[landongendur]

I certainly don't :P

[autoseco]

Καλησπέρα, υπάρχει ένα καινούργιο προϊόν στην ελληνική αγορά το οποίο εξοικονομεί τα καύσιμα.

Γιατί λοιπόν να δυνασχετούμε με την αύξηση των τιμών του πετρελαίου και να μην ασχοληθούμε με προώθηση προϊόντος το οποίο εξοικονομεί το πετρέλαιο?

Το αποτέλεσμα ειναι: οικονομία στη δικιά μας την τσέπη και δυνατότητα να χτίσουμε μια δικιά μας επιχείρηση βασιζόμενοι στον πανικό που επικρατεί?

Επικοινωνήστε μαζί μου στο έξι εννεα εννεα οκτω τεσσερα μηδεν τεσσερα μηδεν εξι ενα ή info @ autoseco . com

[landongendur]

Attempted translation:

Kalispe'ra, exists a new product in the Greek market which economizes fuels. Why therefore dynashetoy'me with the increase of prices of oil and we don't deal with promotion of product which does economize oil? The result they is: economy in our own pocket and possibility of building our own enterprise based on the panic that prevails? Epjkojnwni'ste with me in the 699804061.

[autoseco]

Why did you translate my comment???

[landongendur]

Because I would think that many English speakers wouldn't understand the Greek language.

[cdltpx]

Toyota Prius4 cyl, 1.5 L, Automatic ,48cty/45hy $1061/$21,220

$3.26 gal based on 45% highway driving, 55% city driving,15,000 annual miles and 300K miles. = fuel cost over prius.Then compounded 20years@10% is the final number.Add that to retirement!

ScionxB 4cyl, 1.5 L,Automatic,26/31 $1746 $34,920=$13,700/ $92,166

GMC Acadia FWD6 cyl,3.6L, Automatic 6-spd,16/24 $2572 $51,440=$30,220/$203,305

Honda Ridgeline Truck 4WD6 cyl, 3.5 L, Automatic 5-spd,15/20 $2875 $57,500=$36,280/ $244,073

[cdltpx]

The warmer the engine gets the better the efficiency that could be why the efficiency was improving so much too. With that said you should use a sound meter to see how much sound is reduced, The quieter the better that wind noise will tell on it's self and noise is evidence of innefficiency. Also did you travel in the same direction? Did the wind speed or direction change at anytime? Some drivers swerve more than others that can cause resistence too that is why I like your test just you.

[4vermont]

Thanks for opening my eyes to the difference in FE when driving 55 mph compared to 70 mph. I got my scan gauge II last week, been saving gas ever since. Thanks

[landongendur]

Yeah, it's pretty dramatic for sure.

[Mudduckii]

Awesome video. Awesome Expirement. I wish more people would post useful videos like this. Its like the Discovery Channel or Mythbusters or something. Thanks again.

[landongendur]

My pleasure. It was fun.

[hsttom]

you should do more expirments i really like the acetone one. but there were tooo many factors that changed to get a real proper reading.

nice job dude ur my hero lol

[landongendur]

Yeah, I totally want to redo the acetone test again with my dad's car, but I lost my ScanGauge (the MPG reading instrument) last summer so I can't do any more experiments :(

[hsttom]

buy a new one???

i think it would help to redo it because u have to have time in between adding acetone and effects taking place and u added too much its all good tho

[landongendur]

That's just the thing though: I no longer own a car (I'm riding my bicycle now that gas is $5+ a gallon here in Canada) so spending the $170 for the MPG-device doesn't make sense if I'm just going to use it one day on my dad's Intrepid.

[darcam123]

Could you possibly email me some instructions on how to remove the mirrors? And possibly how to install them in the interior like I have seen in some of your other movies? {dcampeau}{@}{gmail}{.}{com}

[landongendur]

if you have a geo meto like mine, open the door, rip off the plastic corner housing where the mirrors are attached, remove the 3 screws holding the mirror to the door, and then slide the mirror out. Easy as pie.

[Waderizer]

I too have a 3 cylinder metro, and have found at 90kph or 55 mph the mpg with one occupant is approx 62mpg, with additional passengers it drops lots, also a 2002 isuzu SUV that last summer got 36.6 mpg at 90kph and 18 mpg at 110k, so go figure, govt raises the speed limit we drive faster, use more gas, they get more tax... makes lots a sense!!

[hartjas]

I had thought the same thing about the speed limit. Most vehicle efficiency is around 55mph to 60mph (US) Now I'm use to driving 70+ and and will be late to work if I drive to save fuel. Oh and why is it most cars only get about 400 miles to a tank?

[hartjas]

don't forget it takes gas to carry gas. ie your car will have less weight mass as you drive on each test run. less weight = less torque required to run @ 70mph. just a thought

[landongendur]

Good point.

[josephdupont]

PLEASE KEEP ME IN THE LOOP ON YOUR EXPERIMENTS. i RAN WITH OUT THE PASSENGER MIRROR AND PUT A MIRROR ON MY PASSENGER VISOR.bUT FOUND IT DANGEROUS. BUT IT IS GOOD TO KNOW. wHAT IS THE BEST SPEED FOR FUEL ECONOMY.. i HAVE A 91 GEO AND I LOVE IT.

[Zlatko2009]

Wtf...only 36 MPG on the 3 cylinder? You sure you dont have the 4 cyl? That sounds awfully high considering that car should get about around 50-55mpg.

[landongendur]

The car can get around 50-55mpg... at 55mph. Keep in mind that 70mph is around 3700 rpm for my engine and it's pretty close to the maximum speed of my car.

I did 85 mph (obviously flooring it) on one trip from Regina To Winnipeg and only got 30mpg at that speed.

[MrLeN76]

Take the wheel nuts off and see if that causes any drag.

[ulrek54321]

no mirrors? i thought that was illeagal?

[landongendur]

Appearantly not in Saskatchewan. I have a mirror on the inside of the driver side window that eliminates the blind spot though.

[uf0t0fu]

Well done, makes me want to get on deleting my passenger mirror.

[landongendur]

Yeah, I really don't miss them.

[kickflipjr]

That was a well done experiment.

[landongendur]

I'll be doing the donut tire experiment soon.