Fuel Economy Mods?

[extreme]

I have a 2006 Grand Prix with the 3800 n/a. I was wondering if someone can point me in the direction of getting a bit better fuel economy out of it? It has just shy of 80k miles on it right now and its our daily driver. I was curious what things I could do to help increase the fuel economy if anything?

[coolone]

Good maintenance, fluids, wires, filters n plugs. Headers and a tune!

: )

Want better than that? You'll have to shave weight from the vehicle, lol...

[Sandman]

The biggest improvement will be changing your driving style. Other stuff is just maintenance and some bolt on mods. If you're really feeling adventurous you can get into aero mods which can make improvements for highway driving.

[REDCRAPGP]

Weight reduction and swap a ecotec engine in it.



but really make sure maintenance is up to par and change your driving style.

[BlackGT97]

Headers, HV3 intake insert..maybe some rockers. anything to help the motor breath easier and let more exhaust out will help economy..most important is probably a tune. Make a CAI also

[h0wl0ngcanitbe]

Ive noticed a significant improvement with my HAI and Cat Back from ZZP, but thats on a GTP so it might be different for you NA guys. Im certain once I plug in my Headers also from ZZP I will see another jump in MPGs and then the tune should solidify all that goodness.

Basically what these guys said ^^^

[ramairetransam]

headers, intake , tune , hv3 , new plugs , new wires , good air pressure

[REDCRAPGP]

Plog/downpipe..he's n/a headers aren't needed and will cause loss of low end torque. Check your upstream o2 sensor as well. Check tire pressure also.

[NegativeOne13]

This....

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

I hate when people start throwing out what mods to do when the OP didnt ask about them.

Clearly its his/her daily driver car, normal maintence and a proper tune up is all the person needs to do to help their chances at increasing the cars fuel economy.

[SlowNA06]

Big 3 electrical upgrade might help a bit.
Replacing the intake air box with a 9" cone filter might help.
A new tune might actually be the biggest improvement in fuel economy.

As always, low tire pressure's probably one of the biggest mileage killers. As is having knobby heavy tires.

[camopaint0707]

Lighter right foot.

[Sandman]

I hate when people start throwing out what mods to do when the OP didnt ask about them.

Clearly its his/her daily driver car, normal maintence and a proper tune up is all the person needs to do to help their chances at increasing the cars fuel economy.

I was curious what things I could do to help increase the fuel economy if anything?

I think he did

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

I read the title as mpgs, I skim alot. So meh.

In reality spending all that money wont really net him anything, just a regular tune up is needed.

He might gain 1-2 mpg from all of it, but changing your driving style can do that.


I should also mention if the car is just a straight up daily for a work car, the car is likely always just bumming along and there is no need for exhaust mods when the engine is hardly working to maintain a certain speed.

[coolone]

I tend not to respond to others posts, but feel I want to here...

Unless towing or racing, the SLIGHT loss of low end torque would be offset by the flow gains in the use of headers. A plog is half a header and a waste IMO. Secondly, the N/A doesn't need headers argument is off base, as then any of other engines out there without S/C or turbo are not benefitting from headers? Come on... we all know these engines, both the 3.8 and 3.1 suffer from flow restrictions... Anything done to open or smooth the flow will benefit efficiency.

The right answer would be, does the cost/gain mph seem justified? But if you gain let's say 2 mpg and take the avg 12,000 miles driven, at 20 mpg (avg) you consume 600 gallons of gas. Let's assume at 18 mpg without headers and you'll consume an additional 67 gallons for the year. 67x$4 (+\-) = $268... Pretty much covering the cost of those cheapo headers in just one year, this is without changing driving style. *** I know and allow for a lot of assumptions, but just want to make an example.

Sometimes, it's just a matter of sense ($.02), lol, pun intended.

And the tune would dial in the PCM to his specific engine, alt, temp, etc, making it a little better than stock. Although with this one, I'm not sure the cost could be covered by the gains... Unless the tuning is already a able so no cost.

Otherwise, yes, the OP did ask if there was ANYTHING that could be done to make it a BIT better...

: )

[REDCRAPGP]

I threw plog/downpipe out there because he may not want to lose any low end torque and due to the recent issues with SD I didn't want to go in depth about any potential issues he may have plus the install on a downpipe/plog is way easier then headers.


Of course it's up to the OP to figure out what he should do and what route to take but I like giving options

[FordMan77]

At that mileage not including plugs/wires, etc.. I'd clean the MAF and remove the TB and clean it till it shines. If it isn't giving you issue yet, it will. The TB blade likes to carbon up on the backside and cause strange issues. Cleaning the MAF will ensure it is getting the most accurate reading possible.