Has anyone ever done any modifications to the 2.3l geared specifically for fuel mileage? Today I stretched the mare's legs a bit for the first time in four years and clocked 311 miles at exactly 10 gals of fuel.......hey, thats 31.1 mpg!
I know, check your tires, fresh plugs and filters, keep it lined up and all that, but are there any modifications out there for fuel mileage? Gaining a little power wouldnt hurt, but at the prices of gas these days, I am going for the mileage.
Almost any performance upgrade will increase your gas mileage if you do not utilize the newfound power.
Based on your 31mpg, am I to assume you have a 5-speed in there?
Well, driving style has the largest impact on fuel economy. Learn to coast. Play a little game when you're driving (safely of course). Try to drive as much as you can without touching the brakes. OF course, you will need to use them, but coast as much as possible.
I used to be able to time it so that I could coast up a hill and slow to a stop RIGHT at the stop sign. Fuel saved: Not a lot. But, do that all over the place and you'll be surprised as to how well it works.
Another thing: Gears. When I had my 2.3l Auto, I believe it hung around 2400rpms at 65mph. Lower gears would drop the rpm, but your engine would work harder to attain that speed. That, and your acceleration would be terrible.
Weight reduction: This might sound ricy, but gut it. Gut that car for everything you don't use. If you can cut, say, 100lbs out... You'll probably scavenge about 2-3 more mpg.
My mother had a mini-van and a 75 mile commute every morning for a year. She removed the second and third-row seats for the commute. That little amount of weight made a tremendous difference over the course of a week!
The basic bolt-ons that make your engine more efficient will get you better gas mileage IF YOU DO NOT use the newfound performance.
Underdrive pulleys
Intake
Plenum
TB (a clean TB helps too)
Since you have a 2.3l, you could probably get away with 1-cat emissions-wise. Go talk to a ma+pa exhaust shop and see if they can fabricate something for you. You'll save a bit there too.
There are many, many things you can do to increase your gas mileage. But, most of them result in more performance if you need it.
A bone stock 2.3 automatic, properly tuned, running at highway speeds will NOT get 31.1 mpg. (A 5.0 with the 271 rearend running on relatively level ground will).
The 2.3 gets good mileage around town, but due to the gearing, highway mileage is only fair.
A bone stock 2.3 automatic, properly tuned, running at highway speeds will NOT get 31.1 mpg. (A 5.0 with the 271 rearend running on relatively level ground will).
The 2.3 gets good mileage around town, but due to the gearing, highway mileage is only fair.
Sounds like a little "creative math" to me.
yea i think 31mpg is pushing it. id get about that much on a full take with my 5sp. My estimate was about 28-29 mpg. i figured that when i got about 330 miles a tank...when i ran it right, but i was driving at 70-75 mpg flooring it up mtns.
underdrive pulleys are basically like different gears for the engine. it basically makes it easier for the engine to turn everything it turns.
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As you may have guessed- I'm a young gun with dreams of pimpin' my baby 2.3n/a into a fire-breathin Shadow Runner.
so far:
1987 hatchback mustang
2.3L, replaced to a '89
Air silencer removed
t-5 all the way
1400 watt sound system w/ twin 12" chrome subs
-The shadow runner was a legendary chinese horse that could outrun its own shadow[/size]
Well, let's see, the trip odometer, that I reset it upon fueling the car before leaving on the trip, read 311 point something miles when I filled up again and the gas pump read 10 point oh something gallons at the click....I dunno......I didnt pay much attention to it because Mom and Dad's old 91 Buick gets 32mpg.
Will stretch her legs again the day after Christmas on a trip to Birmingham. I will check it again and if it dont match, I will certainly post about it.
But, right now, it's my story and I'm stickin to it!
Well, let's see, the trip odometer, that I reset it upon fueling the car before leaving on the trip, read 311 point something miles when I filled up again and the gas pump read 10 point oh something gallons at the click....I dunno......I didnt pay much attention to it because Mom and Dad's old 91 Buick gets 32mpg.
Will stretch her legs again the day after Christmas on a trip to Birmingham. I will check it again and if it dont match, I will certainly post about it.
But, right now, it's my story and I'm stickin to it!
I think I have made a terrible mistake here.
I got the thinking about my last post and got out the road atlas and physically counted the miles the best I could. I filled up in Ringold, GA, headed south to Panola Mtn State Park SW of Atl, turned around and drove back up 75 to Chattanooga, hit 24 west and filled up in Kimbal, TN before heading up the mountain. I count around 265-275 miles. I know the trip odometer said 311. Could be it didnt reset all the way but as I said, I am checking it real close next time.
A 2.3 car can get 30mpg on the highway with a conservative driver; been there done that in a 1988 Mustang LX 2.3/automatic convertible. All at 65mph with the cruise control on, 3.73:1 geared car, this was on the mostly-flat stretch of Interstate 35 between Temple and Waco Texas. My 5.0/auto GT convertible could get 29mpg with 2.73 gears, and even after switching to 3.55s got 27 on the same run, so 31mpg out of a 2.3 car would've been believable to me even if I hadn't come damn close myself.
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1976 Ford Mustang II Ghia: 302 with a 600cfm Edelbrock carb, Edelbrock Performer 289 intake, Dynomax Blackjack headers, 2.5" exhaust with Flowmaster Super 44s. RJS 11-gallon fuel cell, C4 tranny, chrome 16" pony wheels, fuzzy dice, brown vinyl half-top, and painted in the tackiest color ever (harvest gold, that's why I call it "The Goldenrod").
Also have a 2003 Dodge Ram (lightly modded daily driver/tow rig/office/dining room/home away from home/workshop... I call it "The Big Blue Dawg".)
As you may have guessed- I'm a young gun with dreams of pimpin' my baby 2.3n/a into a fire-breathin Shadow Runner.
so far:
1987 hatchback mustang
2.3L, replaced to a '89
Air silencer removed
t-5 all the way
1400 watt sound system w/ twin 12" chrome subs
-The shadow runner was a legendary chinese horse that could outrun its own shadow[/size]
As you may have guessed- I'm a young gun with dreams of pimpin' my baby 2.3n/a into a fire-breathin Shadow Runner.
so far:
1987 hatchback mustang
2.3L, replaced to a '89
Air silencer removed
t-5 all the way
1400 watt sound system w/ twin 12" chrome subs
-The shadow runner was a legendary chinese horse that could outrun its own shadow[/size]
I have a similar question, not exactly mods but things to do for improving the gas mileage. I have a '79 Mustang 2.3L No Turbo. The guy we bought it from about 2 years ago said that (making long story short) it had been in storage for about 15 years or so, so that's the reason for the low miles (Bought it with about 83K, about to hit 87K). The gas is terrible. I go about 100-120 miles and go to fill up (Almost 9 gallons), so that makes it what? Some 11 miles per gallon. Changed out the fuel tank so to get rid of all of the gunk that dried up in there. Changed fuel pump, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires. At times when I start the car when it's cold it starts up at high RPM's which is normal for the car? And then tap the gas, drops to around 500RPM. Car seems shaky, so my dad turns these two bolts or something on/near the carb. and it raises the rpm and gets rid of the shaking (feels like it's going to die when it's shaking like that at a low rpm). This affects the amount of air coming in? Or something like that? I'd assume that will affect the gas mileage, right? What else can I try to get better gas mileage, because at the price of gas, and 11mpg..that is no good. Thanks for any info.
Stops the oil from being introduced into the intake and burned
Those tornado things wont work, think about it, the TB kinda cuts the swirl effect and blocks it with a plate.
Quote:
I have a similar question, not exactly mods but things to do for improving the gas mileage. I have a '79 Mustang 2.3L No Turbo. The guy we bought it from about 2 years ago said that (making long story short) it had been in storage for about 15 years or so, so that's the reason for the low miles (Bought it with about 83K, about to hit 87K). The gas is terrible. I go about 100-120 miles and go to fill up (Almost 9 gallons), so that makes it what? Some 11 miles per gallon. Changed out the fuel tank so to get rid of all of the gunk that dried up in there. Changed fuel pump, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, spark plug wires. At times when I start the car when it's cold it starts up at high RPM's which is normal for the car? And then tap the gas, drops to around 500RPM. Car seems shaky, so my dad turns these two bolts or something on/near the carb. and it raises the rpm and gets rid of the shaking (feels like it's going to die when it's shaking like that at a low rpm). This affects the amount of air coming in? Or something like that? I'd assume that will affect the gas mileage, right? What else can I try to get better gas mileage, because at the price of gas, and 11mpg..that is no good. Thanks for any info.
Its the carb, get it rebuilt or swap over to EFI. Also a non OD transmission doesn't help either in the MPG department
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The sad thing is, with 15 PSI, straight back exhaust, and a bobs log, it still feels slow...
Maybe 20PSI, new computer, new 3" VAM, and some porting will make it faster
I have a 2.3 1993 mustang, @194,000 miles rebuilt the engine it is now a 2.5.. very strong the mileage now is 234,000 my wife got it as a grad gift in 1993 and her and i have put every mile on it
now to the post...
The more you can make the engine breath the better the more sucking and blowing it can do the better mpg you will get where i live no emission issue with the state hint hint.. the less the engine has to work the better mpg.
d*** i feel kinda dumb now... but then it 'might' work at WOT then...
....wonder if i could get it in after the tb....... would be an intresting idea for the custom intake ill need when i turbo it...
__________________
As you may have guessed- I'm a young gun with dreams of pimpin' my baby 2.3n/a into a fire-breathin Shadow Runner.
so far:
1987 hatchback mustang
2.3L, replaced to a '89
Air silencer removed
t-5 all the way
1400 watt sound system w/ twin 12" chrome subs
-The shadow runner was a legendary chinese horse that could outrun its own shadow[/size]
Mods for fuel mileage 
Play a little game when you're driving (safely of course). Try to drive as much as you can without touching the brakes. OF course, you will need to use them, but coast as much as possible.
