Originally Posted By: cmhj
Originally Posted By: cmhj
Originally Posted By: cmhj
Originally Posted By: cmhj
Over the years I've used a variety of TC-W3 oils at about 400:1 in some of my vehicles that had mega miles on them.
We have run our vehicles thru many EPA inspections with no issues. However, I do skip pre-mixing a tank and run a fuel additive treatment thru before hitting the sniffer. If that makes any difference I'm unsure.
I've never seen a big fuel mileage change. However, I never tracked it that close but will be soon in my 07 Cobalt. This will be a good car to try and see if anything can be done in regards to mileage as it gets run over the same course very day. The mileage the wife gets is very consistent as well. After a couple months of playing, while not telling her what I'm doing, we'll see if there's a seen difference on the DIC.
Also, in some cases the fuel pumps are quieter when using the mix.
Have been doing my little experiment on the Cobalt, which the wife drives every day. Started with a 400:1 premix.
My first impressions were, very little change was felt or heard. It seemed to idle a bit quieter but nothing else. This engine has been a sweetheart from day one so my expectations were low per any improvement on sound or drivability, which have seemed slight.
The wife did ask what I did to the car. She knew I was tinkering thus she asked. I asked why and her reply was it idles quieter and seems smoother at low speeds. ???????????
Mileage has improved. After 2 tanks the DIC has went up .6 MPG or about 2%. Now the next 2 tanks won't be treated. We'll see if the mileage drops.
Meanwhile she's still in the dark as to what, if anything I've done to hopefully not change her driving habits.
After 2 tanks with the premix, 2 without and now 2 tanks with the mix again I have some preliminary results.
On average using a 400:1 mix the mileage results per the DIC were 2% better.
Now I'll play a bit with the mixture. Will vary from 400:1 to 600:1. This will take several months to conclude.
Just a fast update on the 07 Cobalt 2.2 W/Auto.
All of my recent experiments with running a TCW-3 mix at 400:1 and down to 700:1 have all shown a mileage increase of 1 - 2% over using no mix. Lower effects were seen with the 600:1 & 700:1 mixtures.
Did try one tank at 200:1 and no further increase was seen.
While only one tank was run "rich" @ 200:1 the initial findings suggest 400:1 or slightly less maybe 500:1 is the optimum amount.
It could be said 2% is hard to prove. However, this has now been documented on the same car with the same driver while the driver has been unaware of what I've been doing over 12 fillups and being fueled at the same pump.
2% will not in the big picture be a major cost savings issue at the pump. Even if no fuel savings were seen the other possible benefits should outweigh any minor costs with the mixture.
This experiment is now being done on a 06.5 Kia Optima I4 with 5 speed auto that sees mostly Interstate driving. The car has 20K miles and good base line has been set. See ya' in a couple months after a good road trip.
Just finished a 3,000 mile trip with the Kia. Overall I ran a 576:1 ratio. 640:1 seems to be the falling off point per any mileage gains.
Overall mileage had little change from the last trip both on my scan gauge and manual recordings. Weather and driving conditions were similar. However, the last trip had little or no ethanol involved where as on this trip all pumps were posted "up to 10%" ethanol.
10% ethanol should drop mileage about 3-4%. The 2% or so gain with the mixture would account for the little "overall" change from the last trip.
More as this experiment continues.
