MS CAi and Gas mileage

[marashka]

The difference in mpg, from intake will be very minimal. If your driving habits remain exactly the same - theoretically it should increase, but most people i know tend to drive car just a little harder after installing modifications.
On the other note how do you guys get such an incredible mileage of 27 ...28 etc? I get 23 mpg on my trip computer (which in real world translates to 20-21 i guess) and that's with 60-70% freeway driving. Gotta work on my self control with that gas pedal...

 

[FORZDA 1]

The difference in mpg, from intake will be very minimal. If your driving habits remain exactly the same - theoretically it should increase, but most people i know tend to drive car just a little harder after installing modifications......

In the "old" days of carburators and early fuel injected cars this was indeed true. More air into the engine would lean it out slightly which does make more power and consequently less fuel for a given power out. In newer (read Speed3/6 series) cars, the air is measured precisely and fuel added accordingly to maintain the stoic or target AFR. The CAI, if it is doing what it is intended to provide cooler (ie denser) air, will theoretically result in LESS mpg with all other variables constant... If you're getting better mpg, you're likely driving "softer" because you can hear the intake sucking.

 

[happy and angry]

True to a point, but the stock air box is incredibly restrictive. Less energy is spent pulling air into the motor, which means an overall more efficient engine. This is probably the major reason why people see better fuel economy. ~1 mpg is a normal gain.

 

[camrycev6]

The difference in mpg, from intake will be very minimal. If your driving habits remain exactly the same - theoretically it should increase, but most people i know tend to drive car just a little harder after installing modifications.
On the other note how do you guys get such an incredible mileage of 27 ...28 etc? I get 23 mpg on my trip computer (which in real world translates to 20-21 i guess) and that's with 60-70% freeway driving. Gotta work on my self control with that gas pedal...

I just finished a recent post comparing actual verus trip computer mileage. After over 900 miles of about 60 HW / 40 City, I was getting 24.1 MPG, so really I am not that far from you. I don't get above 25 MPG unless I am driving a lot of HWs and for long periods of time. (And close to the speed limit...)

 

[marashka]

I just finished a recent post comparing actual verus trip computer mileage. After over 900 miles of about 60 HW / 40 City, I was getting 24.1 MPG, so really I am not that far from you. I don't get above 25 MPG unless I am driving a lot of HWs and for long periods of time. (And close to the speed limit...)

good info!
Close to the speed limit is the key for better mileage.

 

[assman]

I get about 6MPG better with my CP-E. Lovin-It!!!

 

[happy and angry]

I can pretty much guarantee that you do not get a 20-25% increase in fuel economy with your CP-E intake.

 

[marashka]

I can pretty much guarantee that you do not get a 20-25% increase in fuel economy with your CP-E intake.

what he said.

 

[assman]

I went from about 10L/100km I think 23mpg ish to 8L/100km 29 mpg. My car was a pig when I first bought it.

 

[FrequentFlyer]

I have not noticed an increase in mpg with my Cobb SRI.

 

[camrycev6]

I went from about 10L/100km I think 23mpg ish to 8L/100km 29 mpg. My car was a pig when I first bought it.

I am not making any accusations here assman. (Boy that sounds strange saying that...)

Anyway, I would like to see some more data on this compared to others. We need a lot more than a tank or two's worth of data. Frankly, I have a hard time (from a physics standpoint) believing that adding a CAI not only adds 20+ HP, but it also gives you 4-5 better MPG! That sounds a little too good to be true. I got the HP, but my mileage has essentially remained the same, or dropped slightly from time to time. I have data for well over 1000 miles of driving with and without the CAI.

 

[happy and angry]

I have no problem saying it's too good to be true. It simply is too good to be true. There is another explanation for what he is seeing. His ECU getting smarter, getting through break in, a change in driving habits, etc etc etc. He is not getting a 20 - 25% increase in fuel economy from an intake alone.

 

[assman]

1. Ok so here it is, is the fact that my mileage was uber bad before at 23mpg not believable?

2. Or is it inconceivable that I get 29mpg now? Is this higher then normal on the board? I think not.

I dont have the data with me, or maybe even at all. I have been recording my mileage and amount of gas put in into a notepad in my car for a while now but Im not sure how old it is or when exactly I had put on my intake, since its been on so long.

All I know is this. My mileage calculator in the car has always read about 1L/100km higher then normal. Before it used to say 11 avg now its closer to 9. But as said its real life #'s are closer to 8 and 10.


I have no reason to make any of this up. I just posted in this thread simply to give the data the member requested although my intake is CPE rather then MS.

So in conclusion, I dont expect I will defend myself anymore or try and find some data which you would probably say I faked anyways. I had a car from the factory that got absofuckinglutly bad gas mileage. It got a bit better after an ECU flash but was still aweful. Now its great.

That is all.

 

[camrycev6]

1. Ok so here it is, is the fact that my mileage was uber bad before at 23mpg not believable?

2. Or is it inconceivable that I get 29mpg now? Is this higher then normal on the board? I think not.

I dont have the data with me, or maybe even at all. I have been recording my mileage and amount of gas put in into a notepad in my car for a while now but Im not sure how old it is or when exactly I had put on my intake, since its been on so long.

All I know is this. My mileage calculator in the car has always read about 1L/100km higher then normal. Before it used to say 11 avg now its closer to 9. But as said its real life #'s are closer to 8 and 10.


I have no reason to make any of this up. I just posted in this thread simply to give the data the member requested although my intake is CPE rather then MS.

So in conclusion, I dont expect I will defend myself anymore or try and find some data which you would probably say I faked anyways. I had a car from the factory that got absofuckinglutly bad gas mileage. It got a bit better after an ECU flash but was still aweful. Now its great.

That is all.

(Sigh)... Relax Assman. No need to go on the defensive. This is the response I was trying to avoid. I am simply saying if you wouldn't mind providing some more data in the future, that would be great. If you don't feel like it, no problem.

However, I must point out one premise that is incorrect from the start. In your statement #2, you point out that averaging 29 MPG in not higher than normal on the board. Sorry sir, but that is incorrect. If you do a thorough search of posts relating to gas mileage, the vast majority of MS3 users are getting between 23-26 MPG on a consistent basis. 29 is by no means close to the majority.

 

[happy and angry]

I'm not saying your mileage calculations/numbers are wrong, I'm saying that much of an improvement can't be attributed to a CAI alone.

 

[strytnyne]

most mileage can be gained from driving habits

 

[Rotus8]

most mileage can be gained from driving habits

+1
My normal milage has been 22-23 for the last year or so. When gas went through the roof, I miraculously started getting 25-26. On a road trip last weekend I got 30.5! (That last one was 95% freeway and my wife was in the car. Makes a huge difference.)

 

[Russm]

Control of or Lack There Of!

Control of or Lack There Of!

 

[camrycev6]

+1
My normal milage has been 22-23 for the last year or so. When gas went through the roof, I miraculously started getting 25-26. On a road trip last weekend I got 30.5! (That last one was 95% freeway and my wife was in the car. Makes a huge difference.)

Sure Rotus8, I hear you. I once got 31 MPG driving 50 mpg in sixth gear for over 70 miles towards Ocean City. Getting that kind of mileage is the exception not the rule. I noticed your normal mileage is exactly in line with what I was saying 23-26.