Attempt to increase gas mileage (Page 1/3)
fredtoast JUN 08, 06:28 PM
A wing on the back of a car (not a spoiler) creates downforce to improve traction and handling. Formula one cars can create downforce equal to 5 times the weight of the car.

So if I mounted a wing on the top of my car, but flipped it over with the round side on top it would create lift (like on an airplane). Since this would make my car weigh less would that not increase my rate of feul consumption?
Jake_Dragon JUN 08, 06:29 PM
it would cause resistance at best and make you use more gas.
Try putting a brick under the gas peddle
cvxjet JUN 08, 06:57 PM
More or less weight has very little to do with highway fuel mileage....It really only affects city MPG; Due to acceleration MOVING that weight....

The wing will cause more aero drag leading to lower fuel economy....

My 2.8 4 spd originally got 22/28...I swapped in a 3.4 F-body long block + Getrag 5 spd and now get 20 around town but 30 on the highway.

I think the best MPG improvement would be with the 3.9 V6 with active fuel management (Cylinder deactivation).....or, of course, possibly a modern 4 cylinder...
Australian JUN 09, 03:35 AM
Tune cable lengths if you want to see faster 0-60. If it gets the gas right away and the selectors all work you will get faster car. As far as milage goes less gas is slower. Get a better motor if want more power and performance for probably same fuel consumption.

[This message has been edited by Australian (edited 06-09-2023).]

ls3mach JUN 09, 08:19 AM
I don't know if we're talking about the Fiero or the she of the forum anymore. If GM or whomever could add a spoiler and get a noticeable MPG increase they'd already have done it. Rinds me of the "Vornado" thing added to your intake in the 90s.

The Fiero gets **** MPG and always has. It wasn't even good when it was new. Compare it to similar Honda and Toyota and it's 10mpg less. It's an anemic dog of an engine. Both options. I've heard of people with l67s getting better MPGs. I bet the LQ1 would too, but neither my LQ1 or L67 did because I wouldn't keep my foot out of them.

I am glad to see a discussion of this nature again though.

If we're talking about Fieros. Get something else. MPG will never be there. A Corolla or Jetta of almost any year is cheaper, more reliable, more power, better MPG, safer (if newer), better features, more parts, better aftermarket support. Less than 10k bets you 40MPG and you can be in the 13s with a nice daily driver Jetta. I bought one ac decade ago. Got 42MPG regularly and it was plenty peppy with all modern amenities. 15 prior o bought a Prizm with a 1.8 that got.42MPG. It was a doh, but still would outrun any stock Fiero and had modern amenities. I bought it less than 10k also. I have an almost identical one in my garage. If it had the 5 soeed I'd be driving it daily. As it is the 3 speed still gets 30mpg or better.

I've heard skant stories of 40KPG Fieros. My family has owned them since they were new and I've owned virtually every configuration. None of us have ever seen 40MPG.
theogre JUN 09, 04:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by fredtoast:
A wing on the back of a car (not a spoiler) creates downforce to improve traction and handling. Formula one cars can create downforce equal to 5 times the weight of the car.

So if I mounted a wing on the top of my car, but flipped it over with the round side on top it would create lift (like on an airplane). Since this would make my car weigh less would that not increase my rate of feul consumption?

As said above won't work for many reasons...

Worse...
You assume air will hit the car "head on" and/or standing air. Often this won't happen.
The wing can easily flip a car made to lighten them.

Just driving in heavy cross wind can try to push any car w/o any wing spoiler etc.
Anything creates lift makes the problem way more dangerous.

MANY cars will lift driving straight over X Speed and often have little or no warning when it happens. Some cars don't need very high speed to do that. Late 50's (~58?) Chevy w/ "flat wing" side rear quarters the car like to lift driving on highway as is, worse if other wind hits you in bad ways. Chevy Monza and other Fast back and Hatch back often have similar lift problems starting @ only 70-80MPH.
fredtoast JUN 09, 07:24 PM
I started this thread as kind of a half-ass joke. I knew that if it was that simple then automakers would already be doing it.

But I appreciate the members who have taken the time to give well thought-out replies. I have actually learned something.

[This message has been edited by fredtoast (edited 06-09-2023).]

theogre JUN 09, 09:27 PM

quote
Originally posted by fredtoast:
I started this thread as kind of a half-ass joke. I knew that if it was that simple then automakers would already be doing it.

We do that because many post actual believe whatever like Electric "Turbos" sold everywhere for decades that are total scams.
82-T/A [At Work] JUN 13, 07:39 AM

quote
Originally posted by fredtoast:

A wing on the back of a car (not a spoiler) creates downforce to improve traction and handling. Formula one cars can create downforce equal to 5 times the weight of the car.

So if I mounted a wing on the top of my car, but flipped it over with the round side on top it would create lift (like on an airplane). Since this would make my car weigh less would that not increase my rate of feul consumption?




Concur with what CVXJet said. It has more to do with gearing, engine rpm, rolling resistance, and drag co-efficient.

Case in point, I get 28 miles to the gallon in my nearly 6,000 pound 2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX-P74. It has a 4.6 liter SOHC V8 with all kinds of little upgrades, but it has the 2.73:1 unlimited slip differential in the back. It's a very quick car considering it has such low gearing... pulls really hard, but it's amazing on the highway. I don't have a tach, but cruising at 65mph on the highway, the engine is barely 300rpms above idle... which is well within the torque-range.


If you want to improve fuel efficiency, you'd want to focus on those things. The 5-Speed Getrag is decent, but there are also a couple of 6-Speed transmissions that you can swap in (someone will chime in, because I don't remember).

There are also better engines you can put in there as well. I had really good fuel economy with my LD9 Twin Cam engine that I had in my 1997 Pontiac Grand Am SE and also my GT (same year). The engine has more power than the V6 Fiero engine, a significantly higher RPM, and when dropped in the Fiero... will automatically have more horsepower and performance due to the shortened exhaust length and lighter vehicle. Even if you did absolutely nothing to the engine, you can expect mid-30s on the highway with the 4T60E or a 5-Speed manual (or even a 6-speed manual) in there.

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 06-13-2023).]

maryjane JUN 13, 08:53 AM

quote
Originally posted by fredtoast:


So if I mounted a wing on the top of my car, but flipped it over with the round side on top it would create lift (like on an airplane). Since this would make my car weigh less would that not increase my rate of feul consumption?



Ya'll are missing what he actually said....