Penny Pinching

[Whelan]

Well with gas at $3.19 and climbing around here I will be doing some things tonight to get some more outta my car. 1) removing the intake. Yes I know its negligible difference. But when you hear the sound you wanna go faster, so no sound means it will be easier for me to keep my foot off the gas )2) Cleaning the TB. I've been meaning to do this but now that Im popping off the tube, I can get in there with a toothbrush quick. 3) Cleaning of the MAF. I gotta lookup the best stuff to use and go get some tonight, again since it will all be apart.I know I know, I drive a 4cyl. AWD econobox but every penny here and there can make a difference. Those who have Bank of America with the "Keep the Change" like me know what I'm talkin about. It adds up. And if I can squeeze another 20 miles out of a tank or get one more round trip to work during the week. I will feel accomplished.P.S. - with intake on I can get 225 out of my tank driving somewhat normally to and from work. Without it on I was averaging 260-280 normal. Def. a worthwhile difference.

[rebbierae]

Man, gas is only $3.19 there? I paid $3.34 last night. First time in a LONG time I didn't just fill it up--I only put $25 in and didn't come close to filling it. Sad.

[Whelan]

Typically costs anwhere from 28-35 to fill depending, but AWD's have a slightly smaller tank to begin with. #3.19 is for 87. If you go 20 miles away to my office it jumps another 10-15 cents. Get a little closer to the city about 15 minutes down the road, it jumps to almost 3.50

[kevera]

I wish it was that price here in Canada.I pay on average $4.38 a gallon.That's for super,but still we here in Canada get hosed at the pump.Plus when you get married,buy a house and have kids you have to start penny pinching,Whelan it's good your starting now.

[joatmon]

You could also get some really mellow music to play in the car, And leave early enough so you can get where you are going without having to hurry.Quote, originally posted by rebbierae »Man, gas is only $3.19 there? I paid $3.34 last night. First time in a LONG time I didn't just fill it up--I only put $25 in and didn't come close to filling it. Sad. Unfortunatley, it seems like the gas you avoided buying last night will cost you more when you do get around to buying it.

[Whelan]

Well leaving early doesnt make a difference. It's not that I hurry cause I'm late, I just like to go a little faster. Not to mention my avg. speed on the morning commute is about 20-30mph. Not counting the dead stops ad 5mph crawls inbetween where my needle does budge past 0mph. Maybe this is a sign that I am getting old.

[rebbierae]

For the record Joat, I was NOT one of those who believed that not buying gas for one day was going to make a huge difference. I didn't buy gas that day because my light wasn't on then!

[kcorona]

4) If you have crossbars, remove them.5) Ditch the spare and the plastic spare cover/ tray compartment (that thing is heavy!). Good for at least 40 lbs. combined. If you can't bear to ditch the spare, at least ditch the cover.

[Whelan]

Well those wont work for me. 1) I cannot bear to wait around for someone to bring me my spare or for a tow truck if I took out the spare. Someone has a Law that says what can go wrong will go wrong.2) I use the plastic cover to hold stuff such as jumper cables (to help others) umbrella, tie down straps, front license plate, flashlight, first aid kit.

[Atomic]

Minor hijack of the thread:I really DO have to wonder why gas is so high here in Canada.I thought I heard somewhere that Canada has the second largest oil reserves in the world, behind only the middle east.If that is truly the case, shouldn't our fuel costs be a least a little cheaper?Back to topic:I usually try and wait until the gas price drops a bit, (usually after the weekend) and hopefully that coincides with my gas light being on.I've gone so far as to wait two days AFTER, and I reset my second trip odo to zero when it comes on. I've gotten as high as 48km past before I stopped for gas.Since mine is just a base, with the slushbox auto, I can get away with the cheapest 87 octane, and (horror of horrors) I haven't even redlined the thing yet. HONEST.The sound and fury of that mighty 1.8litres of engine sounds scary enough at 4000.Maybe if I had the VVTL engine AND a manual I might be inclined to hear that redline whine.

[keithvibe]

well atomic Canada may have one of the largest oil reserves... but how many refinerarys do they have? How many are down right now for repairs? And of course theres always the exchange rate.

[ToolGuy]

FWIW...I clean throtle bodies with TB cleaner found at the auto strore. Clean MAF's with brake cleaner.

[Whelan]

Reinstalled my oem intake minus the extra long U piping that snakes around the battery. I would have to say that I feel as if the car is faster. I missed my high end power while at highway, i.e. from 70-80 or 90. I dont have to mash it to get up to those speeds anymore. Fuel mileage is also up as well. Just topped off today so I will have a new result to confirm this. But I am glad I made the switch.The Ebay intake may be good but the noise is much louder than a name brand like Cosmo or Injen, the power seems no different, if not a little better across the range and I don't think I will be putting the intake back on. Maybe a K&N drop in down the road, but thats it.