How Fuel efficient is your car?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:26 am

yeah,
no issues related to carburetors on steep hills, no ignition system to fail, not as explosive a fuel.......and, "alternate fuel" capable.

I've got a turbo 5 cyl for the project....just gotta attach it to the Chevy truck 4 speed it has in it (I took the chevy 350 out)

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:43 am

can't sit still wrote:" diesel in a '94 Mustang"
IN being the operative word. The engine is so long that the back of the head would be at the cigarette lighter.

Spoken like a true expert who's apparently never seen a Duramax 6.6 V8 diesel! It fits just fine, right where it's supposed to be. Look at the car.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 7:51 am

Is there an adapter for that?

Check out the richmond for the wide ratio gearing.
There are some unusual adapters for those around.

http://www.transmissionadapters.com/Mer ... diesel.htm

You probably have been on this forum already.
http://www.dieselbombers.com/archive/in ... f-145.html

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:00 am

yeah, there's a local 4x4 company making one.

http://4x4labs.com/oldsite/productspecs/dieselFAQ.html

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:05 am

Maybe I should think about a diesel for a hypermiler project.
Some successful sports cars have been done, including a Lotus racer.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:23 am

the Mercedes diesel, is, IMHO, the best for that sort of project.

My SDL, with a turbo, gets around 30 mpg highway, and is a very heavy car.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:46 am

Would it be easier to use a Benz transmission and just make a crossmember and custom driveshaft? Or is the transfer case a married unit that would make more issues?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:01 am

the auto trans. pushes everything back, and, although a "divorced" transfer is available, it pushes it even further back, owing to also needing a "jack shaft" (no, Simon, no.....!!), so, I'd think with the small lift I have, the rear shaft angle would be pretty severe, even if tilting the rear end......(you heard me, S!!)

I have a cj with a ford 6 cyl and c-4 auto, that, we put in.....and, it's really tough on the driveline, and, it has the married transfer.

plus, this cj has 5:28 gears, so, the manual and the diesel engine will be great for using the torque, especially in "compound low"......

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:03 pm

Yeah, a short-wheelbase 4x4 is always hardest to swap transmissions in.
I'm unfamiliar with Benz motors; where does the starter mount? Does it have a separate bellhousing? Will you have to adapt the Chevy-pattern trans to the Benz bellhousing, or the Chevy bellhousing to the Benz block? How about the input shaft slines vs. clutches that will fit the Benz flywheel?
Every time I've bought a trans adapter plate I always looked at it and said to myself "damn I could make this without much trouble"... but, those were always Buick-Olds-Pontiac to Chevy adapters, and the alignment pins between those two are already correct. Since you need it to be PERFECTLY aligned I'd try real hard to find a commercially-available adapter, or use a different engine that does have a trans/transfer case that you can graft in.
But maybe (Probably!) you're a better machinist than I am!

DancesWithElves · Post by **DancesWithElves** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:47 pm

I don't know if everybody loves me, but I love my (2000, not the new one) Honda Insight - needless to say, some of the best gas mileage, plus it's different enough in looks to be quite the conversation piece! (Oh darn, such a problem, since I'm so quite and shy.

)

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:32 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:Yeah, a short-wheelbase 4x4 is always hardest to swap transmissions in.
I'm unfamiliar with Benz motors; where does the starter mount? Does it have a separate bellhousing? Will you have to adapt the Chevy-pattern trans to the Benz bellhousing, or the Chevy bellhousing to the Benz block? How about the input shaft slines vs. clutches that will fit the Benz flywheel?
Every time I've bought a trans adapter plate I always looked at it and said to myself "damn I could make this without much trouble"... but, those were always Buick-Olds-Pontiac to Chevy adapters, and the alignment pins between those two are already correct. Since you need it to be PERFECTLY aligned I'd try real hard to find a commercially-available adapter, or use a different engine that does have a trans/transfer case that you can graft in.
But maybe (Probably!) you're a better machinist than I am!

IIRC, it's Chevy bellhousing/starter to MBZ engine. Chevy clutch/pressure plate.
just an adapter plate and pilot bushing for input.

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:49 pm

Yes, DancesWithElves,,, everybody loves you. But, why should we obey you?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 6:55 pm

can't sit still wrote:Yes, DancesWithElves,,, everybody loves you. But, why should we obey you?

Well, I saw the outline of fairy wings stuck in the grille of that car.
Looked like they'd been there awhile too.

DancesWithElves · Post by **DancesWithElves** » Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:03 pm

And the damn glitter on those things clogs up the air filter - takes that mileage down a notch or two, ya know!

Oh, I was answering the first question - (Yes, DancesWithElves,,, everybody loves you. But, why should we obey you?) - Well, I suppose it's because my whole life has been leading up to this year's theme, as follows:

SHE who must be obeyed! ...SHE who must be loved! ...SHE who must be possessed! ...Quotes: Maj. Horace Holly: All my life I've dreamed of finding a city such as this. But now that I have, I'd like to see it destroyed and all it stands for...
[/quote]

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:03 pm

This isn't a car but, they do mention that it runs on a mix of petrol and water. It's an amazing machine;

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:02 am

I am going to be buying a Prius early this year. Any suggestions?

Should I get it painted green, or would that just cause more pollution?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:00 pm

Depends on what you're looking for.
I hear there are better deals out there.
And hybrids serve no purpose on the freeway at all.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:14 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:I am going to be buying a Prius early this year. Any suggestions?

Should I get it painted green, or would that just cause more pollution?

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Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:36 pm

As long as I can feel that I am a better person than Ygmir.

Shouldn't be that difficult, actually....

Hi, Yg! Happy Solstice!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:03 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:As long as I can feel that I am a better person than Ygmir.

Shouldn't be that difficult, actually....

Hi, Yg! Happy Solstice!

did you mean "better" or "butter", Last Tango in Paris Boy?

Happy Yule, to you, pal Dougly.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:49 am

gyre wrote:Depends on what you're looking for.
I hear there are better deals out there.
And hybrids serve no purpose on the freeway at all.

No purpose? Other than to get from point a to point b?
Better mpg than my truck. What's the mpg on my truck, gyre, by the way? How much do I drive on the freeway?

It's one of the only models offered today as a hatchback, which is one driving factor.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:23 am

ygmir wrote: Happy Yule, to you, pal Dougly.

And a tilt of the mead horn to you, pilgrim.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:15 am

There are many hatchbacks not being imported for whatever reason.

On the freeway, hybrids only weigh more than other cars and trucks.
They only function in stop and go, or perhaps hilly driving.
In theory, the electric drive allows a smaller engine for cruising, by using electric to keep acceleration acceptable.
Make sure the highway power is adequate for the loads you intend to carry.

I suppose you've looked at the bluetec diesels?

I read of one new hatchback being brought in.
I can't remember which one, but seems like it was a high mileage vehicle.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:15 pm

gyre wrote: On the freeway, hybrids only weigh more than other cars and trucks.

I really wish I could understand that. Do they weigh more than other cars and trucks? Is that what you are saying? I don't think that's accurate. Certainly, the weight of a car doesn't change when it goes from surface roads to the freeway. Must be a typo.

From Wikipedia:

The lower weight, cross sectional area, lowest top speed and lowest drag coefficient of a production car in the U.S. market make the Prius a very efficient highway traveler...

City: 51, Hwy: 48 (Source: EPA)
Whatever, it's a hell of a lot better than my PU. And if I need to haul something, it's certainly not every day. I can rent a truck or SUV when I need it.

http://www.hybridcars.com/

Diesels are popular in Europe, because, as I understand it, the governments subsidize diesel prices. Our truckers would love that.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:34 pm

If you're serious and not being sarcastic... the deal is, when comparing different types of cars on a freeway, a hybrid poses no advantage because it's running on it's gasoline engine just like every other gasoline car, and in fact it does weigh more than it would if it weren't carrying hundreds of pounds of "hybrid" shit like batteries, electric motors, etc.

The Wikipedia quote saying "the lower weight" of a Prius is relative... lower than what? Probably not lighter than my Miata. Definitely not as light at the same Prius would be if it wasn't a "hybrid".

The old 3-cylinder Geo Metro from the '90s is really hard to beat for economy. Those things got an honest, real-world 50 MPG. The EPA might claim that for the Prius but no one ever gets the EPA numbers in everyday service.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:42 pm

That Geo is probably easier to repair under the shade tree. Although can you get parts?

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:44 pm

I saw one, as, I was driving home from San Jose, today, through Mountain View............

had a bumper sticker:

I (heart) Dougly.............and, ( "I" inside a circle with a slash across it) not ugly........

edit: it had a little bullseye painted on the trunk......

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:35 pm

It depends on the vehicle. It's estimated that at 60 mph. 50% of fuel is burned for rolling resistance and 50% for wind resistance. Any car with good aerodynamics and high pressure tires will improve cross the threshold at a higher speed. . The original GM electric car had both.
Around -town mileage favors a lighter car and freeway mileage favors an aerodynamic car. All of this is affected by the volumetric efficiency of the engine. So, on any given car, there is going to be a certain speed at which the aerodynamic resistance goes past 50%. Some of the Ferraris and Vettes got really impressive mileage,,,over 30 mpg.
The sub-compacts tend to be pretty boxy with bad aerodynamics. If you put a GEO-Metro engine in an Opel sports car with 60 psi tyres, you could have it all. The ALE' out of Canada gets just under 100 mpg with a Honda engine. Just build it yourself and you'll get what you want.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:40 pm

and, please, don't consider what may happen if you run into my one ton dually.............or M35 army truck........

for, me, some of it is pure safety..........
I drive old mercedes diesels.....cheap, dependable, economical, and, IMHO.....saving lots of environment by recycling, reusing............

gotta go now, we're supposed to get more global warming tonight, and, I gotta wax my shovel..........

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:50 pm

can't sit still wrote:It depends on the vehicle. It's estimated that at 60 mph. 50% of fuel is burned for rolling resistance and 50% for wind resistance. Any car with good aerodynamics and high pressure tires will improve cross the threshold at a higher speed. .

Which car?
And by who?
And what is the significance of the 50% mark?

There is no significance to 55 or 60 mph, propaganda notwithstanding.

And you are forgetting the important part- the point of highest load efficiency on the engine and gearing.

How Fuel efficient is your car?

What is your gas mileage"

Hooray for Honda!