ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Performance / Modify => Topic started by: Sparky on December 12, 2010, 06:54:43 PM

Title: Question...
Post by: Sparky on December 12, 2010, 06:54:43 PM
Well first off id just like to say hi to everyone, ive been a member for a little while now but just havent poted or commented on posts.

I've always loves trackers/sidekicks/sami's and right now im on my 4th tracker (still wish i kept my soft top sami tho)

Anyway Im going to ask for advice/help on a subject that has been discussed multiple times but im still stuck and not sure what kind of things i can do to help it besides the usual. Im experiencing HORRIBLE mileage in my 98 4dr tracker, its a 1.6 16v auto 4spd btw, and i no its probly due for a tune up but does 15-16mpg sound right with only a set of 235's?

Im only going to be driving it for the remainder of the winter season and then its going to be torn down and rebuilt with hopefully a nice lift and all the goodies. I do have my eye on a 97 parts rig identical to mine but its standard and since mine is auto, would i be better off swapping the 5spd into it? just wondering if il notice any difference in mpg.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: wildgoody on December 13, 2010, 12:33:38 AM
You should see 20-23 MPG depending on your driving habbits.
Probably want to do your filters and tune-up and might check
the O2 sensor

Wild
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Zukipilot on December 13, 2010, 04:19:11 AM
Something I have noticed since buying my stock 2000 4 door.... my right foot has a lot to do with mileage.... If I run 75-80 on the interstate my mileage varies form 18-20 mpg but if I slow down to 60-65 it jumps dramatically up to around 25-27 mpg... 10-15 extra MPH puts a lot more strain on these little motors...

Zig
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Drone637 on December 13, 2010, 12:27:09 PM
Something I have noticed since buying my stock 2000 4 door.... my right foot has a lot to do with mileage.... If I run 75-80 on the interstate my mileage varies form 18-20 mpg but if I slow down to 60-65 it jumps dramatically up to around 25-27 mpg... 10-15 extra MPH puts a lot more strain on these little motors...

Zig

Not to mention the aerodynamics.  Not exactly the greatest example of slip stream design.  :D
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Sparky on December 13, 2010, 12:58:42 PM
Yeah im pretty easy on it actually, i do roughly 50-55mph on the way to school in the morn and thats about all the high speed it sees. Probly going to do a 1.9tdi swap in the summer so hopefully it will have better fuel mileage along with the power increase. The vehicle im going to use for the motor is a 99 jetta tdi, runs perfect just some mileage, but for $350 i cant go wrong.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: bentparts on December 14, 2010, 05:13:35 AM
Actually is is possible to " go wrong" with desiel swap. Just check the forums for threads re this subject. IMO, your better off getting yours tuned corecctly and leaving it stock, or minimum a good aftermarket K+N airfilter and simple exhaust upgrade to get the fuel econemy that rig is designed for. By the time you get everything swapped and working you could have bought a LOT of gas for the money, with not much gain in fuel economy.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Jluck on December 14, 2010, 10:23:18 AM
take it from me....keep the gasses unless you just have a affinity for diesels. i did the 1.9 vw turbo diesel and the conversion should pay me back in the middle of 2097 the way I have had to throw money at it. see my build thread and deeprecon1's also.

MY .02 ~jluck
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Sparky on December 14, 2010, 12:11:40 PM
yeah after further research ive come to the conclusion that it might be more pain than gain. If i were to keep the 16v'er in it id like to do a complete rebuild with aftermarket cam from alteredego, and most deffinately a k&n drop in, maybe even a full exhaust. Id like to do as much as i could do to that little engine without going turbo or anything like that, even tho it would be kinda fun  :P
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: MadMaxZuki on December 14, 2010, 02:03:09 PM
Something I have noticed since buying my stock 2000 4 door.... my right foot has a lot to do with mileage.... If I run 75-80 on the interstate my mileage varies form 18-20 mpg but if I slow down to 60-65 it jumps dramatically up to around 25-27 mpg... 10-15 extra MPH puts a lot more strain on these little motors...

Zig

FYI its more because of the wind resistance. Any car, any engine will have the same effect.  55mph is the optimal fuel economy speed, anything above mpg decreases. In Ct the speed limit used to be 55mph, the state said it was to save lives but really it was put into affect because of the gas crisis years ago.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: bentparts on December 14, 2010, 02:06:36 PM
Keep the 16V, do your rebuild, fit a header, K+N, 2" exhaust all the way including a freer flowing cat and turbo muffler. You'll like it!  ;)
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Skyhiranger on December 14, 2010, 05:39:02 PM
Well first off id just like to say hi to everyone, ive been a member for a little while now but just havent poted or commented on posts.

I've always loves trackers/sidekicks/sami's and right now im on my 4th tracker (still wish i kept my soft top sami tho)

Anyway Im going to ask for advice/help on a subject that has been discussed multiple times but im still stuck and not sure what kind of things i can do to help it besides the usual. Im experiencing HORRIBLE mileage in my 98 4dr tracker, its a 1.6 16v auto 4spd btw, and i no its probly due for a tune up but does 15-16mpg sound right with only a set of 235's?

Im only going to be driving it for the remainder of the winter season and then its going to be torn down and rebuilt with hopefully a nice lift and all the goodies. I do have my eye on a 97 parts rig identical to mine but its standard and since mine is auto, would i be better off swapping the 5spd into it? just wondering if il notice any difference in mpg.

You should get 25ish at least, even with the auto and bigger tires.  Are you adjusting your miles traveled accordingly?   With taller than stock tires, you are actually travelling farther than what your odometer is saying you are.  If you have access to a GPS, use it to figure actual miles traveled for a few tanks and figure MPG.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: wildgoody on December 14, 2010, 09:36:29 PM
I'm just going to jump in and say put a turbo on with that turbo muffler
the power gain is well worth the work, you keep your truck Pure Suzuki
and the mileage isn't much different than stock, except the power is
really the bonus, that and tons of fun to drive

Wild
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: bentparts on December 15, 2010, 04:34:54 AM
I'm just going to jump in and say put a turbo on with that turbo muffler
the power gain is well worth the work, you keep your truck Pure Suzuki
and the mileage isn't much different than stock, except the power is
really the bonus, that and tons of fun to drive

Wild
Well yeah, no doubt! But I think he's just looking to get his economy back.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: wildgoody on December 15, 2010, 07:33:51 AM
Ya, I know, but I was thinking that with it running around 15 MPG, adding
a turbo would clean up the exhaust and add power to what is being wasted,
this would improve the volumetric efficiency of the engine and raise the fuel
mileage too, I bet he picks up 5 + MPG and fun power to boot

Wild
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Sparky on December 15, 2010, 02:18:17 PM
Well just like everyone else, I'd like to have my economy and my power, but i think a turbo set up is more then im willing to spend. I'd be happy with a rebuild and mild cam, and if i could get a COMPLETE turbo set up somewhere for cheap (and not ebay) then i would think about it. I still have lots to do to the tracker and im just rockin it the way it is right now for a few months and then im tearing it down.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: bentparts on December 15, 2010, 04:24:40 PM
IMO, no such thing as a " cheap" turbo setup, unless you include those one size almost fits nothing crappy Chinese knockoffs of Garrett and their tubing kits.  It's only  "cheaper" if you can build some of it yourself.  ;)
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Medford on December 15, 2010, 05:59:20 PM
Bent; On the subject of power you mention 2" exhaust all the way back.  I get it for letting the little thing breath and top end help, but what effect does that change do on torque?  I would hate to lose any of that neck snapping torque I have on my stock green beast that only dreams of getting a turbo and joining the bigs.
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: Jluck on December 15, 2010, 06:16:24 PM
here's some food for thought sparky. buy that TDI for 350 turn it for 2000.00 or more and build your Gasser the way you want. the TDI  motors fetch good money. but there a b!tch to wire. and the best mileage I saw with my 1.9 AAZ turbo diesel was low 20's, hoping it gets better with the rehash. 8)
Title: Re: Question...
Post by: bentparts on December 16, 2010, 05:32:40 AM
Bent; On the subject of power you mention 2" exhaust all the way back.  I get it for letting the little thing breath and top end help, but what effect does that change do on torque?  I would hate to lose any of that neck snapping torque I have on my stock green beast that only dreams of getting a turbo and joining the bigs.
2" seems to be optimum with a good cat and freer flowing ( turbo style cheapie ) muffler with a good drop in filter for simple performance gains. You could always add a header too, but the power benefits are debatable, weight savings is huge though and they look cool. Helps everywhere not just top end.