I've been hearing that there are certain mods that will improve fuel economy on the Cobalt. I'm very interested in this. So:

• What type of modifications are available?
• Where can they be purchased?
• Generally, how much will they cost to purchase and have installed?
• How effective are they?
• To what degree will they hinder performance?

 

Lower the car - increase both fuel economy and performance.

 

Intakes, exhausts, lighter weight wheels, and getting tuned!

Now these mods do improve gas milage and performance, the problem comes is it's so much fun with these mods most people won't see the milage improvements becauset they are having fun with it!

 

anything that improves airflow will improge mileage, if you are easy on the right foot.

 

Put a block under the gas pedal.

 

low rolling resistance tires....

 

Removing the highrise spoiler.

 

there are the standard ways to save gas, drive slower, keep your speed (stop less), check your PSI in your tires, remove the "junk in the trunk", don't run A/C unless you HAVE to, keep windows up or crack them when driving, etc. etc. Then there are the "frog hairs" and extremes, getting a thinner oil, narrow tires, replace glass, carbon fiber bits, lighter wheels, lowering, tape the joints of the car/make it slicker, keep the car clean and smooth, ECU work, intake and exhaust, etc. etc.

 

Underbody lights! and debadge!









Yes i'm kidding! lol

 

reduce pumping loss, reduce friction

done

 

Make sure your tires are properly inflated.... I checked mine a few weeks ago, added some air and it made a bit of a difference.

Troof.

 

Take a poop before driving. Good for 1 MPG.

 

pretty much any after market bolt on mod is gonna increase your MPG

but like said in a previous post just dont step on it when you get your mod or you wont notice the difference

and you can also go with lighter wheels

does lowering the car really help the MPG??

 

in theory, not sure how effective it is in real life

 

I am a classic example of this, In the City I cant get better then 24MPG and on the highway I get 36.7 at 90KM/H for 3 hours and 35.2 at 110KM/H for 3 hours

2.4L G5 GT

 

Weight reduction, in any car regardless of displacement size reducing weight can have big gains as far as MPG

Lowering the car should improve aerodynamics but how much without a wind tunnel you really cant be sure. On SS/SCs getting rid of the foot high ricer wing seems to help also

Im getting 37.6 at 70-80mph and I could still get lighter wheels further tuning and exhaust as well as lowering so theres room for further gain

 

The most cost efficient modification is your right foot. Stay between 2.5-3k on the RPMs and avoid putting gas pedal more than 70% to the floor.

 

true ^

 

I disagree. I drive on base all the time at about...25mph and usually stay in that range, and I've noticed that my actual gas milage is crappy. I believe the best milage is just about 3k, of course, on the high way though.

 

Well, naturally your best mileage is going to be in high gear. You'll never get very good mileage at 25mph. Probably the optimal speed is in the 50 to 60mph range. I was on vacation in the Adirondacks last week and went about 300 miles at around 55 to 60mph. Based on mileage and how much gas I put in the tank at the next fill-up, I got 44mpg.

 

lowest engine speed in highest gear w/o lugging engine = best MPG (in most all cases)

 

Last weekend I went from Houston,Tx. to Baton Rouge, La. at about 65mph and got 40mpg. No real mods, just inflated tires to sidewall pressure. Oh, and I don't have cruise control either. Going to put underbody panels on and block front upper grill, and see how that does since I have to go back again , this weekend or next.
Also currently looking into other Fuel economy forums to get ideas for better mpg.

 

take off outside mirrors and replace with tall vette style mirros, take off windshield wipers, tape up foglight holes, get rid of wing on back, lower car, lightweight everything, do all bolt ons, and get a great tune, light weight fully synthetic oil. then learn how to drive easy youll get over 40mpg in the city and closer to 50mpg on the highway.

i am stock weight stock height with bigger injectors than stock and a bunch of boltons i get 36mpg in the city and 41 highway my avg from ct to boston. but i am easy on the gas

 

huh so in theory going stage 2 would bump up my MPG? Right now im at stage 1 and drive as crazy as before (maybe a lil less) and im getting a good 4mpg higher on bad days

 

On a SC, stay out of boost!