Improved MPG by removing seat

[zenMachine]

I took the passenger seat out last weekend to work on the JBL amp and decided to leave it out for a few more days until I'm finished. Lo and behold, my average MPG shot up from 46 to 52. At first I didn't know why. But it finally dawned on me that the removed seat must have contributed to it, despite the fact that I've added more weight to the car (new amp, SD mats, etc.).

Don't know how much that seat weighs, but it sure makes a huge impact. Reminds me of the story of some Japanese hypermiler who did that to his car. Hmmm.... Wonder if the wife will like this...

[Danny Hamilton]

I've wondered about this a few times. I use my car almost exclusively for commuting alone. I rarely have any need for the passenger or rear seats.

Just how difficult is it to remove the passenger seat and the backs/cushions of the rear seats?

Just how much weight could I drop from the car by doing so?

Anything else nonessential I can leave in my garage?

I probably wouldn't bother removing the seats if it was going to take more than 15 minutes to replace them (for the occasional time when I need to accommodate passengers.

[berylrb]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Jul 25 2007, 04:45 PM) [snapback]485001[/snapback]</div>

...
Don't know how much that seat weighs, but it sure makes a huge impact. Reminds me of the story of some Japanese hypermiler who did that to his car. Hmmm.... Wonder if the wife will like this...
[/b]

Zenmachine, did you notice any increase in the ambient temperature of the car, I wonder if we're talking not just about weight, but a general cooling of the battery compartment through convection (e.g., A/C), hmmm?

[zenMachine]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(berylrb @ Jul 25 2007, 04:50 PM) [snapback]485006[/snapback]</div>

Zenmachine, did you notice any increase in the ambient temperature of the car, I wonder if we're talking not just about weight, but a general cooling of the battery compartment through convection (e.g., A/C), hmmm?
[/b]

Wow, your question went right over my head. I use very little A/C in the car anyway (almost always on Low) so I really can't tell you.

The big noticeable thing for me was that I now hear much more of the right rear speakers, so I have to fade forward and left a few notches to maintain acoustical balance.

[zenMachine]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Danny Hamilton @ Jul 25 2007, 04:49 PM) [snapback]485005[/snapback]</div>

Just how difficult is it to remove the passenger seat and the backs/cushions of the rear seats?

Just how much weight could I drop from the car by doing so?

Anything else nonessential I can leave in my garage?

I probably wouldn't bother removing the seats if it was going to take more than 15 minutes to replace them (for the occasional time when I need to accommodate passengers.
[/b]

The rear seat cushion is a snap to pull out. Less than a minute. But it's very light so I'm not sure you'll save much by doing that.

The front seat is not too bad. Now that I've done it a few times, I can probably take it out in less than 15 minutes, and put it back in less than 10. Removal takes a bit longer because you have to unplug the wiring harnesses. Takes some practice. Snapping those harnesses in is much easier, of course. The trick is to unbolt the four big bolts, tip the seat backward so you have room to work on the wiring harnesses. A small flathead screwdriver is very useful.

Also, if you're cautious like me, you'd want to disconnect the 12V battery in the rear first to prevent accidental activation of the side airbag.

I don't know the exact weight of the front seat, but I know it's not light.

Without the passenger seat, the car feels like a big van. If you have an occasional passenger, I think they'd enjoy sitting in the back with all that leg room! I was thinking of putting a small pillow over the JBL amp so that a passenger can rest his/her feet on there, stretch out, relax, and enjoy my pimped ride.

[Danny Hamilton]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zenMachine @ Jul 25 2007, 05:20 PM) [snapback]485029[/snapback]</div>

The rear seat cushion is a snap to pull out. Less than a minute. But it's very light so I'm not sure you'll save much by doing that.

[/b]

What about the folding seat backs on the rear seats? Easily removable? Light/Heavy?

[zenMachine]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Danny Hamilton @ Jul 25 2007, 05:23 PM) [snapback]485031[/snapback]</div>

What about the folding seat backs on the rear seats? Easily removable? Light/Heavy?
[/b]

Good question. Don't know.

I didn't have to mess with them when doing my amping and damping, so I didn't even look.

[darelldd]

Six mpg gain by removing a seat and adding weight back in? Yikes... you don't REALLY think it is the removed seat causing this gain, do you? Over how many tanks? How are you measuring it?

It would seem that if we all went on a diet and lost a few pounds that we could all gain six mpg. Or even easier, just don't fill the gas tank all the way. Leave it two gallons down and you'll get the same benefit. When I overload my car with four passengers and gear, I lose one or two mpg at most. That's with the addition of maybe 800 pounds over normal. Call me a skeptic... but really, I can't figure out a way to make a seat removal = six mpg.

[Malarkey]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jul 25 2007, 06:38 PM) [snapback]485035[/snapback]</div>

It would seem that if we all went on a diet and lost a few pounds that we could all gain six mpg.
[/b]

I saw a stat about three months ago that listed how many gallons of gas per year were used to transport the extra weight people have. It was a huge number.

[zenMachine]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Jul 25 2007, 05:38 PM) [snapback]485035[/snapback]</div>

Six mpg gain by removing a seat and adding weight back in? Yikes... you don't REALLY think it is the removed seat causing this gain, do you? Over how many tanks? How are you measuring it?

It would seem that if we all went on a diet and lost a few pounds that we could all gain six mpg. Or even easier, just don't fill the gas tank all the way. Leave it two gallons down and you'll get the same benefit. When I overload my car with four passengers and gear, I lose one or two mpg at most. That's with the addition of maybe 800 pounds over normal. Call me a skeptic... but really, I can't figure out a way to make a seat removal = six mpg.
[/b]

For as long as I've been driving this car, I have NEVER been able to hit 50mpg. The best ever for me so far was like 48. So I was quite puzzled at first by this strange phenomenon. I initially thought it was due to the warmer weather. But I don't think that should have this big an effect. I could be wrong.

I plan to keep the seat out at least a few more days to verify that it's not something else. I'm pretty sure the weight differential is pretty significant. The dampening stuff is at most 12lbs so far. The amp is only a few lbs. at most. Whereas the seat is probably around 60lbs (I'm guessing here).