mpg way up after mods - CEG Archives

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I installed headers and a cold air intake on my svt. I used to get 19 mpg city and 21 highway. I now get 25 city and 29 highway!! A total of about $500 was spent but i can already see the money coming back due to the better mpg.

Did anyone else see a big increase in mpg?

It's always good to save fuel. :thumb:

Based on $3/gal for gas, your payback period is around 13,000 miles after which the mods will have paid for themselves in fuel savings, assuming you maintain those improved mileage numbers.

Steve

Originally posted by BlackE1:
I installed headers and a cold air intake on my svt. I used to get 19 mpg city and 21 highway. I now get 25 city and 29 highway!! A total of about $500 was spent but i can already see the money coming back due to the better mpg.

Did anyone else see a big increase in mpg?

When I had my car, it had been a bit neglected for a few years before I got into it.

I did some cleaning, added an intake (not CA), plugs and wires, etc. and noticed a marked mpg increase!

Congrats! It's cool when you see an investment pay off!

Is this the common experience? I have been trying not to sink money into the car, but if this is a long term saving then I may just have to do it. And the added performance would just be a side benefit

.

Black E1, did you do all the work yourself? Where did you get the headers? MSDS headers look like they run at around $600 new.
I don't have a covered garage or tools, so I would have to have a shop fit this stuff. Anyone know what sort of time/$ a shop would charge for these installs?

Thanks

Originally posted by SVTC1136:

Black E1, did you do all the work yourself? Where did you get the headers? MSDS headers look like they run at around $600 new.
I don't have a covered garage or tools, so I would have to have a shop fit this stuff. Anyone know what sort of time/$ a shop would charge for these installs?

Thanks

I installed weapon r headers not MSDS. The weapon R headers were (not in production anymore) about $375. My dad and I did the install, we had all the tools and a covered garage with a lift.

Maybe if you want to do the install a fellow CEG would be willing to help you.

MSDS headers can be had for as little as $200 bare un coated headers plus shipping. Do a search for "grassroots" in the group buy section.

For a shop to install the headers I am not sure so some one chime in if my numbers are off but I think I read 4-6 hr. and anywhere from $200 to $400 for the install.

Sure, your mods unchoked the engine and let it run more efficiently. If you can keep your foot out of it that is.

If you don't mind a louder exhaust get rid of your resonator too!

Originally posted by dbateman:
Sure, your mods unchoked the engine and let it run more efficiently. If you can keep your foot out of it that is.

I experimented and drove it hard for a whole tank with the a/c on all the time and 23.8 mpg was the lowest it went.

my mileage seemed to drop a mpg or two with the headers

Might be because I can't keep my foot out of it though.

My mileage on the hwy. hovers between 28-32mpg. 28 if I have to get out of cruise a lot, and Ive managed 32 on quite a few occasions with the cruise pegged at 80mph. Usually stays somewhere in between. I have no idea what kind of mileage I was getting before the mods.

Gotta love cross country driving when you can set the cruise and forget about it until you have to stop for gas!

If your pre-cats were clogged, you could have just restored that lost power and efficiency. 19-21mpg is a bit lower than factory, so my guess is that you had bar precatalysts.

Mark

Originally posted by Y2KSVT:
If your pre-cats were clogged, you could have just restored that lost power and efficiency. 19-21mpg is a bit lower than factory, so my guess is that you had bar precatalysts.

Mark

It could have also been low because you did not drive the car much previously so the gas had a chance to degrade over the months the car was sitting. Now that you drive it daily it might help the car run most effieciently. Mine averages 26 MPG city and 29 highway with no A/C. thats with bad cats and a CEL on, plus i don;t drive it softly....

Originally posted by Y2KSVT:
If your pre-cats were clogged, you could have just restored that lost power and efficiency. 19-21mpg is a bit lower than factory, so my guess is that you had bar precatalysts.

Mark

Pre cats had 32k on them donâ�?��?�t think them being clogged was a factor.

Originally posted by TravisN1:

It could have also been low because you did not drive the car much previously so the gas had a chance to degrade over the months the car was sitting. Now that you drive it daily it might help the car run most efficiently. Mine averages 26 MPG city and 29 highway with no A/C. thatâ�?��?�s with bad cats and a CEL on, plus I donâ�?��?�t drive it softly....

I drove it regularly going through about a tank of gas every week and a half and I still only got 19ish mpg. When it sat while at school it got worse like 17ish mpg.