Tips For Improving Fuel Economy?

[polyarkos]

I figured Stageas to be heavier on fuel, around the same or slightly more than a turbo Subbie, but at 430km from 64L at mostly motorway/cruising speeds I suspect there is something a miss.....

I'm after some friendly advice to help try to improve things. I've started with new sparkplugs (PLFR5A-11), and have noticed the tailpipe is very sooty (500ish km since it was cleaned)

Thanks in advance,

JP

[GH05T]

BCPR6ES for plugs

nistune, get it tweaked up. check your tires even get an allignment, fuel filter, new oils and a service.

[M35woah]

This is for the PNM35 right?

The plugs he has used are the correct plugs for the VQ35, probably could have gone for LFR5A-11's rather than the platinum to save coin but doesn't matter.

I recently did around 400km to half a tank in my PNM35 and that was majority highway driving and I'm going to go up north again soon.

[Ben C34]

New O2 sensor.

Check for boost leaks.

[Hertz Donut]

PNM35 = no boost.

FWIW I get over 600km before the fuel light in mine if I'm doing open road driving, and that's with zero regard for fuel economy in a country riddled with mountains.

Edited August 5, 2014 by Hertz Donut

[Dan_J]

if its unboosted widen the spark plug gap from 1.1 to 1.5

[Ben C34]

if its unboosted widen the spark plug gap from 1.1 to 1.5

How much difference does that make?

[Dan_J]

ment to make a difference but i havent gotten round to it yet, although considering his is NA it cant hurt, so just regap and report back figures

[MrStabby]

More tyre pressure? What do you guys run anyhow? My placard says 30 front 34 rear, but i run 34 front 36 rear. Tyre wear seems normal.

Dont run anything heavier than a ?W-40 weight oil.

Replace o2 sensor if its stuffed, or if you don't know and want to try it. With consult on an RB its easy to tell, no idea about the more modern (P)NM stuff.

[M35woah]

vq35 has 4 o2 sensors, very expensive to replace.

[scotty nm35]

Only 2 do the main ecu tuning work though, and all can be easily tested on the Consult 3.

[PN-Mad]

Yeah, some "it's easy on my C34" answers here

I don't know what your freeways are like, but I drove mine sydney to melb and back twice in a week. AC on, two people and bags, cursing at about 120 indicated (110) and returned about 10.5/100kms.

The best thing you can do is make sure everything is serviced with correct fluids and filters. Secondly, check tyre pressure, and raise it to 35-37ish. You can take then plenum off and clean it out, they attract a fair bit of blow by oil, and it's good to give it a clean out.

Get it on the freeway with a laptop, and check the O2 sensors are auto correcting the mixture when it's on closed loop.

What fuel you guys have over there? What are you using?

[polyarkos]

This is for the PNM35 right?

The plugs he has used are the correct plugs for the VQ35, probably could have gone for LFR5A-11's rather than the platinum to save coin but doesn't matter.

I recently did around 400km to half a tank in my PNM35 and that was majority highway driving and I'm going to go up north again soon.

I got the plugs for $8 each from a 350z owner who sold his car before installing

PNM35 = no boost.

FWIW I get over 600km before the fuel light in mine if I'm doing open road driving, and that's with zero regard for fuel economy in a country riddled with mountains.

Geez, you must look after you car well

More tyre pressure? What do you guys run anyhow? My placard says 30 front 34 rear, but i run 34 front 36 rear. Tyre wear seems normal.

Dont run anything heavier than a ?W-40 weight oil.

Replace o2 sensor if its stuffed, or if you don't know and want to try it. With consult on an RB its easy to tell, no idea about the more modern (P)NM stuff.

I'm on Dunlop EnaSaves running about 40psi (49psi is max as stated on the tire)

Yeah, some "it's easy on my C34" answers here

I don't know what your freeways are like, but I drove mine sydney to melb and back twice in a week. AC on, two people and bags, cursing at about 120 indicated (110) and returned about 10.5/100kms.

The best thing you can do is make sure everything is serviced with correct fluids and filters. Secondly, check tyre pressure, and raise it to 35-37ish. You can take then plenum off and clean it out, they attract a fair bit of blow by oil, and it's good to give it a clean out.

Get it on the freeway with a laptop, and check the O2 sensors are auto correcting the mixture when it's on closed loop.

What fuel you guys have over there? What are you using?

I'm running BP98. I've cleaned the TB - it was really gunked up. I should really look at changing the diff oils, and add a transcooler, VB, and trans flush.

Could you point me in the dirrection of cables and software needed to connect a laptop?

Any Kiwis know where to source the 02 sensors for a good price?

Thanks,

JP

[polyarkos]

if its unboosted widen the spark plug gap from 1.1 to 1.5

Plugs came with a big warning about not widening the gap due to the tips breaking(?)

[Hertz Donut]

Geez, you must look after you car well

...

I'm on Dunlop EnaSaves running about 40psi (49psi is max as stated on the tire)

I have a strict policy of changing the oil in our beater Commodore every 80,000km or 8 years, whichever comes last. I'm doing the Stagea every 5,000km/3 months, I don't think it'll handle the same regimen. Other than that I've done nothing with it but it was a mint example when I got it (i.e. before the kids started smearing food and mud into everything and my mother-in-law started parking by Braille).

I'm running Enasaves too, 30-32psi all round and they seem to wear evenly. They're a 55 profile so shouldn't need higher pressures like a 35-40 profile.

[polyarkos]

OK, I might have to look at lowering the pressure then

[stock stagea]

It might be different with your car but I get about 100km less out of a tank when using BP than when I use Shell 98

The best way to reduce the amount of fuel you use is put the best in the garage and by a smart kar. The joys of haveing such a nice car (stagea not the smart) also has some draw backs.

[PN-Mad]

If your TB was gummed up, then the rest of the intake will have suffered the same fate. Removal and cleaning of the intake plenum should provide a cleaner intake environment.

I use uprev to do my logging and diagnosis, but they stopped selling just the diagnosis package. Series 2 cars are obdII compliant, so I think you have a fair few options, including some of the android apps and stuff. Somebody might chime in here with what they are using.

Defiantly don't play with the plug gap. This isn't a RB. It's not relevant.

[polyarkos]

It might be different with your car but I get about 100km less out of a tank when using BP than when I use Shell 98

The best way to reduce the amount of fuel you use is put the best in the garage and by a smart kar. The joys of haveing such a nice car (stagea not the smart) also has some draw backs.

Unfortunately only BP sells 98 in NZ (at least in Christchurch), otherwise its 95 or 91.

I'm not looking for smart-car figures but i'd like to get a little less than 15L/100km (6.8km/L), especially when other stageas are.

[polyarkos]

If your TB was gummed up, then the rest of the intake will have suffered the same fate. Removal and cleaning of the intake plenum should provide a cleaner intake environment.

Any ideas on how to stop this from happening again once cleaned?