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Like I have said - get the crawford Z plenum and up that by 3-4 mpg - I get about 28 on the hiway.
Also you aren't bnroken in until about 15k ..people are finding improvements are coming in big surprising doses well after a year of ownership.
A plenium getting 3-4MPG improvement is pure snake oil. No one with a lick os sense is going to buy that... A car cruising on the highway has the throttle at high restriction anyways, so less restriction in the intake obviously isn't going to help.
I'm not sure how much the stick shift is going to help MPG, but if you're interested in a sports sedan, this is obviously what you're going to choose. Otherwise, save your money and buy a buick.
To quote the ednumds test:
"We're also unsure as to the fuel economy outlook with the all-wheel-drive system, as our test vehicle averaged only 15.4 miles per gallon while in our care."
"and I get 440 miles on 1 tank not going below E."
The g35 has a 20 gallon tank. 440/20=22MPG. So that means you get maybe 23MPG? You're still doing better than other people i know. My 7+ year old BMW with a 17 gallon tank has gotten over 550 miles on a tank.
dave
Proof is right here in terms of power increases anyway.
Try again with real math. Since I wont brave using the 5 gallon reserve I fill up at E on the nose. Let's be conservative and say that there are 4 of 20 gallons left so 440/16=27.5. Pretty good and obviously there is better math with a fillup for actual gallons.
The stock plenum is choking the front bank of cylinders for air. A less restrictive plenum doesn't allow for more air it allows the SAME air to work more efficently by more equally sharing the airflow and distribution of that airflow. Lots of people doubt this snakeoil plenum adds any power either and thats why enthusiasts race and test and race and test and the rest of the daisy drivers wonder and live with things the way they are.
I didn't get from 15 to 14.2 in the quarter mile with twin turbos - a pulley and a plenum is all it takes. $750 total
dave
Putting new design plenum on G35....$390
Consulting with several memebers of dedicated website for 12 months and running dynos to verify results while consulting with engineer....$200
Airmchair racing and armchair engineering that conclude diddly: PRICELESS
Since you already inadvertantly admitted getting ~22mpg in your buick(autotranny) g35, i don't know why you're getting so excited about this.
My A4 gives me the best of both worlds though. I get fast reflexes and 26 mpg. Couldn't be happier.
"The non awd gets about 22 until broken in then about 23-25 on hiway. Not much better and the awd system is very effivcient and maybe another 180 pounds looking at the weights online (6 mos ago anyway). "
Your reading comprehension must be better than you allude with your argument. 23-25 is not bad and the math works out if you get out your calculator and concentrate.
Anyone who understands how engines work would recognize the value of having all 6 cylinders get equal airflow. You may not believe it but most used car buyers wishing they could even keep up with the last generation camary are not worth convincing.
Horsepower added at higher rpm's is a sypmtom of the greater efficency. If you believe the plenum helps HP then what is your explanation for why hotshot? Whatever your answer it can be applied to the fuel efficiency argument so you must believe two contradicting things...not worth the time anymore but fun during a meeting that is over...come back if you get a real car and want to learn something
By the way, if by getting our calculator out and concentrating you conclude that 440/20 = 23-25, then i see why we're having problems communicating.
dave
When I need a manual I can always turn to the real speed demon the zx-11 ninja. If you need schooled on shifing I can teach you, but I'd have to charge.
And while you're at take some classes on engine design. Bolt ons are one thing...fundametally changing the intake is another. You babble about throttle positioning...who cares...what matters is the SAME AIR (please dont repsond until you get this) is more evenly distributed. Stop choking the front 2 cylinders and you dont need to open the throttle as much whether there's a vacuum or not.
I'd be jealous of G owners too - we are having alot of fun. Save up and you can have 300hp someday too.
pgill - EPA AWD figures are 17/24. 20 mpg doesn't seem all that bad at 75-80 mph. There's no way you can expect to get 24 mpg at that speed, given the way the EPA comes up with their figures.
dave
I wouldn't be so adamant about things you know little about in real world context unless you like abuse. Reality speaks volumes and theorizing is a waste of the modders time.
You didn't pay G prices for a 328 did you? Hopefully you just didn't update your profile and you have a 540. Then you'd be able to hang!
Still, it's flattering you've declared that you're done talking to me three times already.
And, yes, i only have dreams of being able to hang someday.
No crawford doesn't sell based on milage - it more for HP - he quoted 15hp did he not? You pretty much abuse the notion that the thing helps fuel effeciency what is your explanation for 15 HP?
You know I could care less about mileage - just reporting about my results _ i was surprised too. I bought it and am happy primarily from a power/repsonsiveness standpoint which is evident on the video. I think people looking for good info have proof in my video pudding. You again are left wanting with unproven theory or a desire to be heard.
Maybe you would theorize I get better milage becasue I floor it all the time...? Maybe the plenum sucks and the 500 or so people on G driver.com really got better gas mileage from the break in.
You come up with something more concrete than your proclomations of baseless never been there theory and I will listen and learn...as I always do when giving my baby the best I can. Again your argument whether focused on power or fuel economies is pretty much been "it doesn't work that way". Look at the video...thats all plenum and it rocks whether you can deal with it or not.
" You pretty much abuse the notion that the thing helps fuel efficiency what is your explanation for 15 HP?"
I already explained that. Plenum restriction does have an impact for high RPM wide-open throttle operation. This is normal and expected. There are lots of dyno graphs that illustrate this--often airflow enhancement hurts power at lower RPM's. Counterintuitive, but that's how it works.
I found some interesting g35 dyno charts with the crawford plenum, but unfortunately i can't link to them due to town hall rules. According to them, even 15hp is optimistic. But i'm not arguing about power, just the idea that increasing airflow is going to incrase economy. It just doesn't work that way. Your engine is *SUPPOSED* to be starved when cruising on the highway. That's the point of a throttle.
A lot of people seem to assume that increasing one aspect of efficiency ( power ) is going to positively impact another aspect ( fuel economy ). They're often different issues--but not always of course--reducing internal friction would improve both. But thinking that anything that increases power is going to increase fuel economy is like thinking that anything that helps me run faster is also going to help me bench more. Not necessarily, or even often, the case.
dave
In any case, knock off the personal digs.
Thank you.
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Edmunds.com
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Anyone who understands thermodynamics, gear ratios and aerodynamics won't be especially surprised by what's happening with the 3.5 litre Nissan engine.
On May 24th I posted the following. It may still be relevant:
"Well, it's interesting to see that there's yet another board in which the laws of physics and thermodynamics have been repealed.
Is the premise here that some bolt-on outfit has figured out something that the Nissan engineers either: a) were too stupid to see, or b) found, but didn't want to use, because they didn't want the engine that they use in 90% of their vehicles to have more power and/or fuel economy?
It's a conspiracy, I tell you! Isn't "big oil" involved somehow?
P. T. Barnum lives!"
Chrisboth, if you're getting 440 miles on a full tank of gas, you're averaging 22 mpg, which does not indicate a gas mileage improvement for the plenum.
btw does anyone know where to get the v-kool in the WA area for my car's windows?
I know they use v-kool for office windows sometimes in uS, but here in US i havent heard of anyone using it in their cars, while a lot of people use it for their cars in Asia and Europe.
Like most I do not go into the 5 gallon reserve. I get filled up on E and typically my fill up is about 14-15 gallons - NOT the 20 in your denominator. The plenum theory is certainly unproven but the mileage results are facts for many people. I agree with the vacuum thing and all the other talk about highway airflow needs not being great enough miss the point regarding inefficient cylinders. Starved for air is one thing...never getting what the others have ever is another. Hi rmp whatever...im always in high rmp - maybe thats why my results go against all the proposed theory. In any case Im running a faster car than a magnum 300c or a 540i...that's what I bought it for. Power and repsonse. All the mods I have performed have given me better gas mileage in incremental and distinct blips right along with additional power. Perhaps Dhahnley is right and the break in is responsible for my 47% improvement in fuel economy. Anything is possible but for those laws of physics seem to be working in my favor.
Coppenhead - watch the video and then take some physics classes at your local communinty college bud. 14.2 seconds wont be attributed to my driving skills or light weight. Oh right it's the break in. .)
I believe auto manufacturers intentionally sandbag cars so they can easily incrementally improve them.
I believe auto engineers are people and can make mistakes.
I believe that some enterprising and ethical after market engineers can boost vehicle performance.
I believe in ghosts but not aliens.
But if there were aliens they would be our intellectual superiors. They would drive G35 because they kick [non-permissible content removed]. Especially with a Crawford plenum. Yoda would insist that his white G35 be suitably plenumed. "To hades with the warranty" he'd say as he laid down 6 inch longer strips of burnt rubber with the massive 10 pony power increase. Yoda would stop by Chewy's house and they would cruise down to Roswell, New Mexico for a class reunion getting a hefty 2 mpg increase over stock.
Darth would definitely show up in a black BMW 330 talking lots of smack to Luke about coming to the dark side. "Zeh gerrrmans haf wayz of making carrrrzz, Luke" Leah's skimpy outfit would interupt the conversation only because she doesn't look so good in it any more. And so the social posturing would continue, the grog would flow, and eventually light sabres would be drawn.
Cut to chase scene involving the big bad BMW getting smoked by Crawfordized "Using the Force" G35. Good guys win. Bad guys end up being your father. And I need to lay off the sauce so early in the morning.
And Han's STi can cook all of them. She may not be pretty but she's got it where it counts.
Porsche is great for this.
Stop belittling yourself with the "lay off the sauce" crack. Creative writing is a good thing. It's one of the best aspects of the net and not enough people appreciate this. Nice job.
The power of the dark side is luring me to chip my 1.8T, but I will resist.
i tried 330d when i went to aachen to visit a relative, its a great ride, doesnt feel like a diesel, but otoh its slow and underpowered.
If someone other than VW made a diesel for CA, I'd own one right now.
You call that degradation? Here, try this one out
Beavis: Hey Butthead, what’s a BMW?
Butthead: I don’t know Beavis, but I heard it sucks u-huh I hate things that suck u-huh.
Can’t help but wonder which car brand has the highest percentage of Beavis & Butthead fans. Can’t you just see them coming back someday, “mature” and riding around in a Z4?
;-)
They were all quiet and got 35 - 40 mpg (all conversions done carefully) through Austria & Switzerland (serious mountain passes) and Germany (cruising at 90 - 110 mph).
Given how well the 1.9 powered the A4 & Passat, a 3 litre would be that much better. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
Easy one, Chevy.
"How did this conversation degrade from plenums to Star Wars?"
Like it could have gotten any worse. That's like saying we were already at the bottom of the well and kept diggin'
More diesels would be a good thing in the U.S. They get good hole shot because of the torque. Dogs up high though which has always made me wonder why the Germans like 'em. Guess for fuel econ.
Heard Jeeb Liberty is coming with with a diesel. Doesn't really help entry level lux sedan though. Mercedes should definitely get on the stick with diesel in U.S. VW too.
By then we'll have the v-10 M5, the GTR, the m45/35, a 6.0 litre hemi or something in a souped up 300C (next year i think), the audi rs6 redesign and the 3 series with a turbo or v-8 (kd?). Then we'll have to rehash all this again!
And we better start drillin in Alaska - these things are gonna suck fuel like I drink Sierra Nevada...
Are you sure you're holding 5 gallons in reserve? Because then you're averaging nearly 30 mpg?!!
That's pretty unbelievable mileage out of the VQ, which is a pretty thirsty engine.
Saw a new G35 coupe billboard on the NJ turnpike... very simple... shows it in full profile. The headline said simply "Pure". Indeed it is. Some guy in the building where I work has one. I always find myself ogling it. Needless to say, the look has grown on me. It's just so smooth and looks bolted to the road. Wish the front end looked meaner though... kind of looks like a droopy-eyed smiley face. And the headlamps sort of resemble witches' fingernails. Think I could live with this although I wish these car manufacturers would nail things down from head to toe.