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Upping Vitara fuel economy

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Offline Gecko

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Upping Vitara fuel economy
« on: August 19, 2004, 08:06:22 PM »
Hi

I'm trying to figure out whats going to be the easiest/ most cost effective way of quenching my Vitara's thirst.

It's been mentioned to me that an aftermarket carb from Weber might do the trick, but I think they're a bit thirstier than stock when out on highway speeds?  :P

I'm willing to look at all options --- tyres, exhaust, etc but I'm not sure where to start looking!  :-[

I'm running a stock 1600 JLX engine on 255/60/15's.. any pointers/ suggestions will be most welcome  :)

(CZ, your truck looks good man! But how much space do you have between tyre & pipes?)


Cheers
« Last Edit: August 19, 2004, 08:06:59 PM by Gecko »
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Offline jerryp58

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Re: Upping Vitara fuel economy
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2004, 10:29:51 PM »
Lower (number) ratio gears and a light foot.

What kind of trans do you have?
« Last Edit: August 19, 2004, 11:24:14 PM by jerryp58 »
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Jerry
1990 Geo Tracker,  2-Door Hard Top
1.6L 8v, 4x4 Automatic, 0" lift
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Crabzuki

Re: Upping Vitara fuel economy
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2004, 12:39:11 AM »
Quote

(CZ, your truck looks good man! But how much space do you have between tyre & pipes?)
Cheers

The pipes are between the frame rails then corner out just above the petrol tank to the sides of the rear bumper.
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Offline chrisvitarasport94

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Re: Upping Vitara fuel economy
« Reply #3 on: August 20, 2004, 05:50:41 AM »
I've had my 3dr soft top 7 years. In stock form with road tyres I used to get 25 mpg(british) and after adding free wheeling hubs (an easy mod - if you can change a tyre you can swap the hubs) I got 28 mpg.

Mud tyre soon put paid to that though!

I guess I'll need to change my diff ratios some day
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'94 3dr s/top Sport, roof bars, roof lights, Calmini bumper, SuperwinchEP9, CB & handheld, GPS, 2" body lift, skid plates, 2.5" susp lift, & hi-lift. Safari Snorkel. R Lockright
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Offline INGERSOL

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Re: Upping Vitara fuel economy
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2004, 08:37:18 AM »
Maybe I'm naive (so my wife says) but I bet if you changed your air filter and plugs and did some general tune up kinda things, you would see an improvement.  

Funny to read a posting about a thirsty vitara.  I always go to the car show up here in Toronto, and you know, the GV is always listed as the most fuel efficient vehicles in the country.  Maybe it was the most fuel efficient 4x4 or something, but it was certainly up there, although Im sure that hybrid Prius takes the crown now for most overall fuel efficient vehicle.  

I think that the real problem is not the engines efficiency, but the fact that the body is essentially a box...not aerodynamic at all.  Therefore my solution is o bolt on one of these or one of these and the incredible reduction in your coefficient of drag should just about outweigh all that extra fiberglass you just bolted on.  Good Luck! ;D!
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2003 Chevy Tracker
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Suzisport Headers
K&N Air Filter
Calmini Grill Guard / Tube Bumpers UK Factory Sunvisor RRO Coil Spacers Bridgestone Dueler Revo 235/75-15's
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: Upping Vitara fuel economy
« Reply #5 on: August 20, 2004, 04:28:18 PM »
Now it's a box with a bigger frontal
area, if keeping air out from under
the truck makes it get better milage,
would a full belly pan help too ??

I'm afraid a front air dam would not
help me much, just get crushed on the
rocks  ;D

Wild
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Offline Gecko

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Re: Upping Vitara fuel economy
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2004, 11:31:58 AM »
Quote

What kind of trans do you have?


no idea, whatever came with the Vitara as standard.

thing is, its not just the fuel economy. Sometimes she just feels a bit..tired.... when I hit 60 mph. I'm thinking of getting a higher tyre, maybe swap out the 255/60/15's for something along the lines of a 225/75/15? that should up the mpg & give me a better top end too, right ?

btw if i sound like a noob it's because i am one. Only had bikes up to now!  :P


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Offline jerryp58

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Re: Upping Vitara fuel economy
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2004, 02:35:22 PM »
Quote


no idea, whatever came with the Vitara as standard.

thing is, its not just the fuel economy. Sometimes she just feels a bit..tired.... when I hit 60 mph. I'm thinking of getting a higher tyre, maybe swap out the 255/60/15's for something along the lines of a 225/75/15? that should up the mpg & give me a better top end too, right ?

btw if i sound like a noob it's because i am one. Only had bikes up to now!  :P




Maybe I missed it somwhere, but I was asking whether it was standard or auto.  Is your current MPG lower than advertised?  Amazingly, I typically get around the 24 MPG that is quoted for my '90 auto.

That's my impression of what a taller tire will do, but I think most here will say they experience the opposite.  I still haven't figured that out ???

I think I'm gonna look for a cheap set of used 235/75s or 30x9.5s to replace my 205/75s and see what happens.

I like this site for comparing tire sizes... http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
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Jerry
1990 Geo Tracker,  2-Door Hard Top
1.6L 8v, 4x4 Automatic, 0" lift
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