Newby-Need Advise 2002 GT
09-06-2011, 04:55 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Kansas
Posts: 3
Newby-Need Advise 2002 GT
Recently purchased a 02 GT. One of the previous owners install a larger exhaust, a cold air intake, larger throttle body and a “chip” to increase fuel. Runs good, but bad gas mileage. Would like to purchase software/cable or performance tuner to check out performance. (air fuel ratio) What is the best route to go. I may consider removing some of the performance parts as my son drives it, and it is a little too much for a 15 year old. Just want to do it right, and improve Gas Mileage. Thanks in advance
... Get the car tuned by a Mustang tuner!
09-07-2011, 10:21 PM
#5
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: NC
Posts: 1,481
Welcome!
Hmmm... detuning isn't what most of us do, so responses may be interesting.
The mods you listed don't necessarily increase fuel consumption. Many performance mods increase efficiency (exhaust, intake mods for example). As suggested, take the car to a local tuner and tell them what you want from the car and they can make a custom tune that shouldn't use more fuel than a stock GT.
Is the car a manual or auto trans? If auto, you could probably have them set shift parameters that reduce the agressiveness under full throttle.
Personally, I would not try to reduce the performance of the car, I would take my son out to a few autoX events and allow him to improve his driving ability and show him a good outlet for the desire to test the limits of himself and the car.
By participating in autoX events as a late teen, I greatly increased my driving skills and quickly learned that controlled environments are the place for agressive driving.
Hmmm... detuning isn't what most of us do, so responses may be interesting.
The mods you listed don't necessarily increase fuel consumption. Many performance mods increase efficiency (exhaust, intake mods for example). As suggested, take the car to a local tuner and tell them what you want from the car and they can make a custom tune that shouldn't use more fuel than a stock GT.
Is the car a manual or auto trans? If auto, you could probably have them set shift parameters that reduce the agressiveness under full throttle.
Personally, I would not try to reduce the performance of the car, I would take my son out to a few autoX events and allow him to improve his driving ability and show him a good outlet for the desire to test the limits of himself and the car.
By participating in autoX events as a late teen, I greatly increased my driving skills and quickly learned that controlled environments are the place for agressive driving.
09-08-2011, 12:55 PM
#9
TECH SAVANT
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Saint Augustine, FL
Posts: 10,938
Best fuel economy is achieved by optimising engine efficiency, not by "de-tuning"¹.
Installing nearly any email or canned "87 octane" tune will do that, as the OEM tune is hobbled by less than aggressive ignition timing and in that it runs pig-rich in open loop mode.
Bumping the Spark Borderline table settings by +1.5° at higher loads (70%+) and across the rpm range, and making the open loop mix leaner at higher loads in the Stabilised Open Loop Fuel table both increase engine output--because they make the engine operate more efficiently.
Higher efficiency operation = improved fuel economy.
OP, as another asked, what sort of fuel economy are you getting now, what are your expectations. What sort of driving will be done, in-town/highway/mixed?
The EPA estimates for the 2002 GT were 18/26 for the 5-speed, and 18/25 for the auto--as we all know they are a bit optimistic as compared to real life (the "highway" test in 2002 was 10 miles at and average of 48 mph with a top speed of 60).
For a well tuned new-edge GT I would expect 16/23 to be more realistic. In my normal commute which is 8 miles suburban/rural at 45-55, 30 miles interstate at 75-80, I get 21.5 mpg regular as clockwork...
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¹-The weight of the driver's right foot has a profound (perhaps more profound) affect on fuel economy as well.
Installing nearly any email or canned "87 octane" tune will do that, as the OEM tune is hobbled by less than aggressive ignition timing and in that it runs pig-rich in open loop mode.
Bumping the Spark Borderline table settings by +1.5° at higher loads (70%+) and across the rpm range, and making the open loop mix leaner at higher loads in the Stabilised Open Loop Fuel table both increase engine output--because they make the engine operate more efficiently.
Higher efficiency operation = improved fuel economy.
OP, as another asked, what sort of fuel economy are you getting now, what are your expectations. What sort of driving will be done, in-town/highway/mixed?
The EPA estimates for the 2002 GT were 18/26 for the 5-speed, and 18/25 for the auto--as we all know they are a bit optimistic as compared to real life (the "highway" test in 2002 was 10 miles at and average of 48 mph with a top speed of 60).
For a well tuned new-edge GT I would expect 16/23 to be more realistic. In my normal commute which is 8 miles suburban/rural at 45-55, 30 miles interstate at 75-80, I get 21.5 mpg regular as clockwork...
-----------------------------------------------------
¹-The weight of the driver's right foot has a profound (perhaps more profound) affect on fuel economy as well.
Last edited by cliffyk; 09-08-2011 at 12:58 PM.
09-08-2011, 02:50 PM
#10
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 566
Welcome!
As others have stated generally performance parts will increase engine efficiency and therefore improve mpg.
Not to be rude or anything but if you wanted fuel economy you should have bought a Honda.
As others have stated generally performance parts will increase engine efficiency and therefore improve mpg.
Not to be rude or anything but if you wanted fuel economy you should have bought a Honda.