My Pontiac Firefly / Chevrolet Metro / Geo Metro / Suzuki Swift
metrompg.com welcomes fuel efficiency nerds everywhere

spacer spacer
Latest fuel economy stats
for my '98 Firefly 1.0L 5-speed
  best: 2.3 125.1 104.2
 worst: 6.4  44.1  36.8
prev.3: 3.3  82.3  68.6
   all: 3.8  73.4  61.1
L/100km | mpg IMP | mpg US
Jul 28/07: more, graph, calc.
spacer spacer

Google

Automotive magazines:

Latest 10 posts:
1. Experiment: how long should a block heater be plugged in?
2. Everything old is new again: Car and Driver magazine modifies an econobox to improve MPG
3. Project Convertible XFi: alfresco efficiency
4. The floor is yours: MetroMPG opens a fuel efficiency forum
5. Fleet update
6. Q: How do you get 116 mpg (US) in a Metro XFi? A: Pulse and glide.
7. International heart transplant: the Blackfly gets an XFi cam
8. Mini-experiment: the wrath of roof racks
9. Interview with Ron DeLong, inventor of the ScanGauge
10. Meet Rick: motorhead, econohead, Metro XFi owner
11 ... 58. Show all posts




spacer spacer
Links: (added Mar. 14/06)

Discuss amongst yourselves

Good MPG forums: I spend a lot of time at Ecomodder.com and have also been known to lurk around cleanmpg.com.

> Lots more Metro links...
spacer spacer

Send me a note:
darin AT metrompg D-O-T com,
or here

letter icon Get MetroMPG.com e-mail updates
(NO spam --- Full details here)

NEW: MetroMPG has opened a fuel economy forum
Read about the project here, or go straight to Ecomodder.com.		 Ecomodder fuel economy forum

Firefly efficiency mods

Posted Friday, September 16/05 in Mods & Tests

wrench

Last updated Dec. 22/06

Tools, additions & modifications in the quest for greater efficiency:

Tools

Intake

Engine & transmission

  • new distributor cap & rotor (Firefly #1)

  • Bosch Platinum 2 spark plugs (untested)

  • synthetic engine oil (5w30 2L + 0w20 1L) - changed to full 0w20, summer 2006 (untested)

  • synthetic transaxle oil (untested)

  • timing advance (+4 degrees) (untested)

  • block heater (on the Blackfly) - Update: April/07 installed additional 850w inline heater

  • Installed transmission with taller final drive

  • XFi camshaft installed March 2007.


Aerodynamics

Other

  • tire pressure 38 psi (front) 36 (rear); boosted to 48/46 Feb/06; again to 52/48 fall/06 (untested)

  • aftermarket cruise control (only used on flat roads)

  • new brake calipers (the old ones were dragging a little (on Firefly #1) - took them apart and cleaned some crud off the pistons, but there was still some corrosion causing them to stick a bit after each brake application)

  • installed a switch on the automatic Daytime Running Lights - so I can turn them off on a divided freeway, where DRL's safety contribution is lowest. (It's highest on undivided highways where there's an oncoming overtaking hazard, and where other cars are approaching your path at right angles - e.g. urban driving).

  • engine kill switch (to keep the ScanGauge alive while coasting with engine off)

Planned mods ...

  • make a permanent version of my partial Kammback ...

  • ... then use it as a platform for a removable boat-tail

  • put in an XFi cam

  • do a lowering experiment, and chop the springs if it shows promise

  • shaped wheel spoilers/wheel boat tails (foam/fiberglass)

  • front wheel skirts

  • quick release wiper arms

  • experiment with increased EGR




Ecomodder fuel economy forum NEW: MetroMPG has opened a fuel economy forum
Read about the project here, or go straight to Ecomodder.com.


darin AT metrompg D-O-T com, or here



stats