Just a little update
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 254
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Just a little update Well, I still have not gotten to the track with the car yet. I did get a new job that moved me from my 4 mile round trip commute to a 50 mile round trip commute.
On the plus side, my gas mileage has actually improved a great deal (granted, I am not driving like an idiot). I am getting about 300 miles to a tank of gas. This is pretty good I think considering I don't have DoD.
On the downside, I think I have a bent rim
. I keep losing air pressure in my right front tire. I don't see any nails or screws in the tire, but...
My time is kind of limited now with the new job (hopefully i am being moved closer to home again soon), so I need to make some arrangements to have the rim inspected. Until then, that portable air compressor will have to do.
On the plus side, my gas mileage has actually improved a great deal (granted, I am not driving like an idiot). I am getting about 300 miles to a tank of gas. This is pretty good I think considering I don't have DoD.
On the downside, I think I have a bent rim
. I keep losing air pressure in my right front tire. I don't see any nails or screws in the tire, but...My time is kind of limited now with the new job (hopefully i am being moved closer to home again soon), so I need to make some arrangements to have the rim inspected. Until then, that portable air compressor will have to do.
Last edited by nighthand; Jul 25, 2008 at 11:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 254
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Yup, tuned with HP tuners. I have no DoD since I changed the cam. I got to 287 miles on a tank with 30 miles left to empty. So I might actually be getting a little more than 300.
I will have to look at the valve stem.
I will have to look at the valve stem.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,316
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From: Dolla$ , TX
You ever think the engineers have more equipment then you do and see alot more then we do. As in hotspots in the engine temperature readings all over the block more accurate power readings. Not to mention they disassemble the engines and can see wear and test for it on and on and on and the settings chosen is best for a all around engine. Anyone can lean there mixture out but your going to run hotter cylinders. My last trip from indiana to tx i got about 450 miles on 1 tank. but i only got to about 400 cause i filled up when it said 50 miles to E which is usually wrong because it will say 300 miles to E for 100 miles literally just due to the fact the computer is basing its calculation off of a average
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Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 254
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I did not lean it out. My mileage came as a surprise to me really. Mostly it is because I have been able to drive longer distances at a nice steady 60 mph. I used to drive about 2 miles to work and that hurt my mileage a lot.
Modders will always get more out a car, but not because the engineers don't know what they are doing. We get more out because we spend the money to put stuff in. Engineers are limited by the budget assigned to the vehicle. If cost was no object, I can guarantee GM would have made something WAY better than we could.
On the down side though, my odometer is going up way more than it used to.
Which options am I missing?
Modders will always get more out a car, but not because the engineers don't know what they are doing. We get more out because we spend the money to put stuff in. Engineers are limited by the budget assigned to the vehicle. If cost was no object, I can guarantee GM would have made something WAY better than we could.
On the down side though, my odometer is going up way more than it used to
.Which options am I missing?
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I did not lean it out. My mileage came as a surprise to me really. Mostly it is because I have been able to drive longer distances at a nice steady 60 mph. I used to drive about 2 miles to work and that hurt my mileage a lot.
Modders will always get more out a car, but not because the engineers don't know what they are doing. We get more out because we spend the money to put stuff in. Engineers are limited by the budget assigned to the vehicle. If cost was no object, I can guarantee GM would have made something WAY better than we could.
On the down side though, my odometer is going up way more than it used to.
Which options am I missing?
Modders will always get more out a car, but not because the engineers don't know what they are doing. We get more out because we spend the money to put stuff in. Engineers are limited by the budget assigned to the vehicle. If cost was no object, I can guarantee GM would have made something WAY better than we could.
On the down side though, my odometer is going up way more than it used to
.Which options am I missing?
As you say, I expect your mileage increase is due to the change in your commute. Partly due to the engine and transmission never warming up all the way in a 2 mile commute, partly to the increased highway component.
I've noticed that the TCC does not engage until the transmission fluid temperature is >70^F. In the winter, that can take 2-4 miles depending on how cold it got overnight. Cold engine+cold transmission+unlocked torque converter=crappy mileage.
I'm not sure where you live, but around here, it's below freezing at night pretty much from mid October through to sometime in April, so the cold start/short commute thing is a big issue for average mileage around here.
Agree with your comments about the limitations that GM's engineers have to live with, but would add that they have other things to worry about than squeezing every last HP out of an engine. CAFE, reliability/warranty, and emissions all play their part in the decisions that go into designing/building an engine. Interesting little factoid from cruising GM's media site is that our transmission is rated at 303 ft-lb max input torque. Since the stock LS4 is rated at 323 ft-lb, it's hardly surprising that GM didn't look for more engine power.
As far as the highway range reported by Sint3K goes, that sounds about right when DOD is left engaged (27 mpg). I have a trip to Lethbridge (about 340 miles) coming up on Friday. If I keep my foot out of it and just drive the speed limit, there should be about 4.5 US gallons left in the tank when I get there, which implies a highway range to empty of just over 450 miles.
I am not saying they are idiots or that they dont have budget constraints...
None of us have thrown huge money at the car, it isn't like developing the DOD system was cheap? But he gets better mileage that I do with mine engaged... And last time I checked the LS2 cam was a stock part available to the engineers....
None of us have thrown huge money at the car, it isn't like developing the DOD system was cheap? But he gets better mileage that I do with mine engaged... And last time I checked the LS2 cam was a stock part available to the engineers....
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 254
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I do think they cut some corners. Personally, I think the GXP should have had a power passenger seat as well as memory seating. I know more weight, but still, this was supposed to be the top of the line. Same for the SS twins.
Honestly, I am not a huge fan of DoD. I had it on the car for months before I swapped out the cam and I never really saw it give me much.
I put gas in the car the other day with 245 miles on that tank. Trip computer showed me having 85 miles to go before empty.
Honestly, I am very happy with the results. I am looking into the ported TB and intake, so MPG may go way down, at least initially
.
But yeah, if I was in charge, I probably would have recycled a lot of stuff from the GM toolbox (RWD, an LS2, etc). But that's just me
.
Honestly, I am not a huge fan of DoD. I had it on the car for months before I swapped out the cam and I never really saw it give me much.
I put gas in the car the other day with 245 miles on that tank. Trip computer showed me having 85 miles to go before empty.
Honestly, I am very happy with the results. I am looking into the ported TB and intake, so MPG may go way down, at least initially
.But yeah, if I was in charge, I probably would have recycled a lot of stuff from the GM toolbox (RWD, an LS2, etc). But that's just me
.