What can i do to make my VL more economical?

[202lx]

I got an auto VL wagon with just a standard 6 in it. What can i do to make it use less fuel?

[Panama]

pump up your tyres and take all the useless crap out of it. don't hoon. thats about all i can think of

[202lx]

I was thinking of more what engine mods i could do. I have bashed out cats and highflow muffler. I think a pod filter would help a little bit. If i advanced the timing a little bit would that make much difference?

[Boonz]

turbo it, usually makes it use less fuel....

[redcv6]

buy a scooter

[Tree cutter]

Extractors will help a little with fuel economy. Make sure your oxygen sensor is working properly because it will drink fuel if the oxy sensor doesn't work. Make sure your temp sensor is working properly and your thermostat closes off when the engine is cold so the engine warms up quickly. Give it a tune up so it is running nice and smoothe and change the fuel filter.

[BLOWN R8]

leave it in the shed!

[nasty1]

get gas put on it lol

[202lx]

thanks for the real reply tree cutter. How do i check if my oxy sensor to see if its working properly?
Also, i have heard from my mate who is a qualified mechanic that by putting a hotter thermostat in the engine (thermostat that opens up later) it will use less fuel by tricking the computer into thinking that its running lean or something. Is that right?

[savage1987]

Don't bother with the thermostat crap, if you want it running lean get it tuned lean. That's what I did in my VN and it uses a fair bit less fuel now.

Also, honestly, bashed out catalytic converter? Why? There is no reason for this, you're just spewing all sorts of toxic **** out your exhaust pipe.

[Bax]

Not worth the hassle with the thermo.

Keep it serviced as well. Good clean plugs, good oil, clean filters etc will help.

Even running premium will help.

And agreed with the above. Replace your cat, if it's just an n/a put a standard cat on there, wouldn't even worry about the hiflow.

[202lx]

why isnt it worth the hassle with the thermostat? it will make it use less fuel right? after all, its only two bolts...

[202lx]

also, how do i check my oxy sensor?

[padrickz88]

check your manual, it should say in there

-do a service 1st...
-replace your cat because its not doing anything besides spitting out fumes that should be filtered (will stop your car sounding tinny aswell)
-CAI
-tune?

and exactly how many km's are you getting to a tank? so people can tell you if thats normal or crap

[202lx]

i dont know what the km are exactly but i think it would around 250 - 300km from a wagon tank (62 liters i think)

[savage1987]

lol that's crap
definitely get checking those sensors... look it up, there's a few how-tos for VL sensors around here and the SC forum.

Sam

[VL Berlina 5speed]

i was getting avg 600km a tank in my berlina, and a few times over 600

it was manual, i drive like a granny
full exhaust, high flow cat, extractor etc
CAI under the guard, k&n panel filter, custom intake piping
every sensor was new, temp sensor, o2 sensor, CAS always made sure no errors on comp
timing was on mark, not advanced, 95 ron fuel
new leads, plugs and service every 5000km
.
thats bassically how i had my econemy so good, but i was changing gears at 1200rpm lol this is my normal driving style but when didnt cause any labouring on the motor
on flat cruisng at 50km/h in 5th

[HARVZ-6]

i was getting 450-600km from a tank.. this was country driving but still driving it fairly hard

5 speed manual
extractors, straight into single muffler
19degrees advanced timing
CAI (under guard to bumper)

you CAN adjust fuel/air mixture yourself, remove the kick panel to reveal the computer and start the engine... the led's should flash together.. if not on the AFM theres a small round cap near the plug, pry it out and turn the screw inside say 1/8turn at a time until the leds flash together...

[VL Berlina 5speed]

or you set it to factory

multi meter, prod in plug cable 6 and 1
engine off and read ohms, adjust it till it reads 362ohm (think thats factory)

[HARVZ-6]

either way its all in the workshop manual :P

[202lx]

took the passenger kick panel off and the LEDs just both stay on all the time and dont flash. What does this mean? (one was red and one was green btw)

[JoshSvc]

As everyone has said.. Service it check all your sensors and drive with a lighter right foot. I am getting 150km out of 17 litres in my VC with a standard 202 with local driving and thats as good as my old gemini.

[nermal]

i dont know what the km are exactly but i think it would around 250 - 300km from a wagon tank (62 liters i think)

lol thats almost as bad as what mine was getting to a tank but mine had serious issues at cold start and black smoke out the exhaust but i re tuned the airflow meter and it running alot better but saying that i only tuned it till it sounded right i still got to do it properly with a multimeter and that was after i changed all the sensors.

[Goon]

As everyone has said.. Service it check all your sensors and drive with a lighter right foot. I am getting 150km out of 17 litres in my VC with a standard 202 with local driving and thats as good as my old gemini.

I use to get 280-300k "probley even a little more" out of 20 liters with my old vc, rebuilding the carby plus timing helps with a good service to the engine including "auto" gearbox.

[Goon]

I can get 400k easy on half a tank "VL" from a trip to cairns to townsville, giving me a quater to go when i get there.. be shes running rich atm, but thats about to be fixed!

I did over 800k or around that mark with a full tank "While running rich" from mackay to cairns" thats with hills too!!!