Air filter system and MPG

[Shawn Clark]

If this air resonator boxes is anything like the others I've been around it does little more than reduce noise from the intake. When I put air horn set ups in my Nissan and Honda I disconnected the resonators. Gas mileage was unaffected, and power improved. (Of course, making use of the extra power hurt gas mileage, but not during cruise.) Doing this gave the Nissan a more throaty sound but not in an objectionable way--probably because the 2.4L had the same bore & stroke as a V-8. It had a mellow burble after the change. The Honda without air resonator connected had more of a staccato sound at higher rpm when the VTEC kicked in, otherwise it wasn't really noticeable.

FWIW, I suspect disconnecting the air resonator in the Prius with Atkinson compression would be more objectionable sounding than the Accord was.

[echase]

Originally Posted by azsaxguy

BTW - I just guessed about the "package" I have no idea what package I have. How do I find out?

Azsaxguy

Um, just whip it out and measure it.

The package determines what kind of goodies you get to play with.

The best goodies are for guys with 9# packages.

/END JUVINILE DIVERSION

[JimN]

Yes, humidity & air temp are factors. Too cold & the ICE runs just to keep itself & the catalytic converter warm. Too hot or cold & the battery is not as efficient. Humid air is less dense so performance takes a hit. Altitude is also a factor.

My car seems to run best when the temps are in the high 60's to low 70's.

[Old Bald Guy]

Originally Posted by azsaxguy

BTW - does outside temperature and or humidity make any difference?

Saxguy

Yes, outside temperature can make a BIG difference in your mileage ... especially if your car sets out in the sun and cooks for awhile. It's not so much that the heat itself cuts mileage ... but rather it's what the battery pack does when it gets really hot.

I live near Dallas, TX and it can get pretty hot here. My normal MPG on any tank averages around 52 mpg. On a recent fillup, the car had been outside in the sun for hours on a 105 day ... so the car ... and the battery pack got really hot.

For the rest of that day, my mileage was about 44 mpg. I park in a garage and the next couple of days the temp outside was in the 80's. Two days of that much lower temperature and my mileage reading was back to over 52 mpg.

The battery pack is air cooled with the air conditioned air from inside the car ... but when it gets really hot from cooking in the sun, it just doesn't cool down very fast. And when it is really hot, it has a lot less power.

Old Bald Guy
2008 Prius package 2