Did a little maintenance...Increased MPG?
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 886
Likes: 2
From: Ann Arbor, MI
Did a little maintenance...Increased MPG?
Hello everyone,
I regularly track my gas mileage using an app on my phone. For about 1.5 months I had noticed a steady decline in MPG from ~28-27 MPG to ~25.5-26 MPG. I fill up at least once a week, 95% of the time at the same pump at the same station, so I'm fairly confident in the accuracy of the decline in mileage. Then a couple weeks ago, I did some routine maintenance - I replaced my coolant, oil and oil filter. I also traded my 3" Berk single (with the test pipe option) for a Tanabe Concept G cat-back. After making these changes, my MPG immediately increased to it's original 27-28 MPG. Again, filling at the same pump, I've recorded 27+ MPG for the past 3 tanks since the maintenance/exhaust swap. Out of curiosity, anyone have any theories on which change had the greatest impact?
Some notes:
- Since my Berk exhaust had the TP option, it's likely my o2 sensor was reading inaccurately, especially considering I never threw a CEL.
- I think my coolant was probably overdue for a change, but the car never overheated (saw over the usual number of temp bars on the instrument cluster).
- Oil/filter were actually changed a little earlier than my typical interval with my usual oil - Castrol Edge, so I think the oil change can be ruled out.
I regularly track my gas mileage using an app on my phone. For about 1.5 months I had noticed a steady decline in MPG from ~28-27 MPG to ~25.5-26 MPG. I fill up at least once a week, 95% of the time at the same pump at the same station, so I'm fairly confident in the accuracy of the decline in mileage. Then a couple weeks ago, I did some routine maintenance - I replaced my coolant, oil and oil filter. I also traded my 3" Berk single (with the test pipe option) for a Tanabe Concept G cat-back. After making these changes, my MPG immediately increased to it's original 27-28 MPG. Again, filling at the same pump, I've recorded 27+ MPG for the past 3 tanks since the maintenance/exhaust swap. Out of curiosity, anyone have any theories on which change had the greatest impact?
Some notes:
- Since my Berk exhaust had the TP option, it's likely my o2 sensor was reading inaccurately, especially considering I never threw a CEL.
- I think my coolant was probably overdue for a change, but the car never overheated (saw over the usual number of temp bars on the instrument cluster).
- Oil/filter were actually changed a little earlier than my typical interval with my usual oil - Castrol Edge, so I think the oil change can be ruled out.
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Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 886
Likes: 2
From: Ann Arbor, MI
