Thread: Vacation to Canada

Im going to Canada right arround the first of the mounth and I was wondering a few things.
Since gas is going to be arround 4$ a gallon(or so I hear) up there I would like to try and make my car more fuel efficiant/just all arround ready for a 2k round trip.
what Im thinking about doing but could use a little help indirections with is I think it is time to change my fuel filter. its an 03 and since it seems like no matenence has been done to the car prior to me it is probbly due(i think not sure)
other things that I am going to do right before I leave is check tire pressure and clean air filter
as well as take stuff out of the car that I dont need. Im even considering taking out my subs(dont think I want to though since my 6x9 amp is tied into it)
are there other things that you guys recommend me doing that I haven't thought of? I'm trying to do as many of the cheaper things that I can to try and save a little money without spending a bunch. thanks guys

Make sure you wax the hell out of it. Over the last 4 or 5 trips I've made from FL to NC I checked my MPG's under the same driving conditions.
My averages over the entire trip were:

Super dirty car-28.5MPG
Drive thru car wash -29.5MPG
Washed, with a quick wax-29.5MPG
Washed, Clay barred, and waxed-35MPG(trip back was 34MPG)

All trips were around the same temp (75-80) and same cruise speed 80MPH

So wax the hell outa it, clean the air filter, make sure your tires are aired up and balanced, and drop back about 5mph, and you'll be gold.

also I was watching this site cause he has some funny stuff but I stumbled accrost this to.. is assatone or however you spell it really effective in our cars ?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHAUsGlfbx8

Yeah, I wouldn't put that in my car.....there are some chemicals that can boost octane, but just stick with plain old gasoline. The other thing you could do is change out your spark plugs, that'll typically help a little.

You could also Seafoam the car, that helped me some, and doesnt take much time.

I dont add anything to my oil, even though a few people swear by it.

I used 1/2 the bottle in my intake, and 1/2 in the gas.(It cleans the injectors when added to the fuel, and cleans out the intake when added to your vacuum line)

Originally Posted by matt5112

Run good gas, make sure the car is tuned up.

Perhaps invest in a new primary O2 sensor.

So new O2, new plugs (iridiums are fine), new wires, new air filter (consider making a FWI/Short ram intake), check the PCV valve, change the oil, drop the tranny pan and fill it with Dex VI.

That should take care of that.

Where exactly in canada are you going?

Oh and leave the subs in, what will make most of the difference is maintaining your speed and not slowing down or accelerating as much. Try to maintain a constant speed as much as possible.

hwo do i check the pcv? do i just put in plugs or do i have to worry about gap? I am going to wabagoon lake next to dryden ca

are you taking about the first o2 in each bank or what do you mean by primary o2?

is fuel filter going to help mileage? if so how do I release pressure so i can put the new one in

Originally Posted by matt5112

Meh, still hours away from me lol.

pop off the MAP sensor and there should be the PCV valve, just take it out and shake it. If it rattles, its good.

gap the plugs at 0.060" IIRC.

our cars only have two O2's. a primary and secondary.

The primary dictates fuel economy and the second makes sure your cat is working. change the first one.

see my last truck an 96 s10 had four o2's so I was confused

if it won't kill you, drive the speed limit. I'm one of those drivers that goes 5 over all the time, but just for fun i compared fuel mileage. at 70, i got 28 mpg, at 65, I got 32.

any other advise as to getting that filter out of that line? i've read of people having trouble getting it off or ruing the fuel line and I want no part of that

Originally Posted by ZR1Vette09

if it won't kill you, drive the speed limit. I'm one of those drivers that goes 5 over all the time, but just for fun i compared fuel mileage. at 70, i got 28 mpg, at 65, I got 32.

hahaaha your funny......no I undersand what you are saying but idk if I will be able to talk myself into that. how much longer would it take me to drive 1400 miles if i drove 55 instead of 60 anyhow? just courious

Originally Posted by matt5112

Run good gas, make sure the car is tuned up.

Perhaps invest in a new primary O2 sensor.

So new O2, new plugs (iridiums are fine), new wires, new air filter (consider making a FWI/Short ram intake), check the PCV valve, change the oil, drop the tranny pan and fill it with Dex VI.

That should take care of that.

Where exactly in canada are you going?

Oh and leave the subs in, what will make most of the difference is maintaining your speed and not slowing down or accelerating as much. Try to maintain a constant speed as much as possible.

what do you mean by a short ram intake?

unbolt the bracket for the filter, bend it so you can spin the filter instead of the fitting if the fitting is seized on the line. Undo the quick disconnect side first.



Short ram like that.

I do 75 MPH because thats the fastest I can go without the cops bugging me around here.

You get the best fuel efficiency at 80 km/h or 50 mph.... But have fun doing that on a long trip and being passed like you're an idiot.

Ok so what do you do with the little sensor that is inline with the filter. I could probably find it somewhere but I dont know what that sensor is called or what it does so I figured I'd just ask

Originally Posted by kjohnson

Ok so what do you do with the little sensor that is inline with the filter. I could probably find it somewhere but I dont know what that sensor is called or what it does so I figured I'd just ask

IAT sensor. See the How-To on the fenderwell intake and you'll see some talk about that. Oh, and it'll take about 2 hours longer at 55 vs. 60. But you'll save 7.75 gallons (according to my numbers) and at 4 bucks a gallon that's 31 bucks. Figure then that you make 15 bucks an hour to save that difference.