New car, what to do with it?

[shocky123]

I just got a 'new' car, its a 2000 mitsubishi mirage ls with a HUGE 1.8L(4g93) engine that will hopefully net me 35+ mpg :-)

My question is what can I do to the car to give it better mileage without sacrificing what little power it already has and without making it sound ricey, I dont want a performance(HP) car, and knew that going into it.

My brother says a new intake system will increase power and mileage, and I think I found a cold air intake system for the car that ranges from $65-110 depending on where you get it.

thanks

[mechmike0034]

That Mirage would probably dissolve before you'd make the intake purchase back in gas savings.

Run 5w30 synthetic oil, keep the tires at manufacturer's recommended pressure, and work on your driving technique. Those three things will do you more good mileage-wise than any bolt-ons...

[shocky123]

Car already runs great, its in top shape with very low miles, and I have driven conservatively for a long time, so was sorta wondering what options I had other than the basics I guess.

guess it might not be worth it :-)

[DarkFury]

That Mirage would probably dissolve before you'd make the intake purchase back in gas savings.

Run 5w30 synthetic oil, keep the tires at manufacturer's recommended pressure, and work on your driving technique. Those three things will do you more good mileage-wise than any bolt-ons...
or better yet... run 0W30 synthetic oil (even better in the Winter)

https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/tso.aspx ;)

But otherwise, I agree with MM34... most "bolt on" solutions are CRAP in my own experience. Just a bunch of empty promises of miraculous magical "gas savings". :2far:

[mechmike0034]

... most "bolt on" solutions are CRAP in my own experience. Just a bunch of empty promises of miraculous magical "gas savings". :2far:

<highfive>Thank you, sir - very nicely put.</highfive>

[mechmike0034]

If this were Fark, this'd get the "Obvious" tag (http://jalopnik.com/cars/and-you-will-know-us-by-the-trail-of-parts/gas-saving-tips-for-flummoxed-drivers-261618.php), but I'll throw it out anyway...

[thresher]

Not all bolt-ons are crap if you call a good after-cat exhaust a bolt-on. Remember, that motor is basically just an air pump, so BREATHING is important. However, with that little teeny tiny motor, you've probably got enough air going in without wasting money on an intake. That said, changing your air filter every six months (cheap, factory paper filter) is going to help. Also, a less restrictive muffler will help a little. But, the points about air pressure in your tires, good synthetics in your transmission and rear-end, whoops, front-end :) will really help the longevity and decrease friction thus helping mileage and performance. My GTO had a 7.5 litre motor. My roadster has a "tiny" 5.4 litre motor. cool conversion link: http://www.metric-conversions.org/cgi-bin/util/convert.cgi

[DarkFury]

Not all bolt-ons are crap if you call a good after-cat exhaust a bolt-on. Remember, that motor is basically just an air pump, so BREATHING is important. However, with that little teeny tiny motor, you've probably got enough air going in without wasting money on an intake. That said, changing your air filter every six months (cheap, factory paper filter) is going to help. Also, a less restrictive muffler will help a little. But, the points about air pressure in your tires, good synthetics in your transmission and rear-end, whoops, front-end :) will really help the longevity and decrease friction thus helping mileage and performance. My GTO had a 7.5 litre motor. My roadster has a "tiny" 5.4 litre motor. cool conversion link: http://www.metric-conversions.org/cgi-bin/util/convert.cgi

As far as the vast promises of "improved gas mileage" (which we were referring to...) they are CRAP. Sure, they do give you more horsepower in many cases, but MPG just doesn't magically rise like many of these products claim. We weren't calling the bolt ons "crap" in general... just their claims of improving MPG are crap.

The engine BREATHING is not the problem here... as most "well designed" engines breathe just fine as is. Changing the intake and the muffler sure makes the vehicle SOUND better (who doesn't love that throaty growl when you step on the go pedal?) but as far as gas mileage improvement goes... it is still NEGLIGIBLE with most aftermarket bolt on gadgets.

I've personally have tried to do many of these things before and I usually end up no better off than if I had just left it alone as far as MPG goes. But hey.. YMMV. ;)