mpg-o-editor

Reducing Carbon Emissions and Improving Fuel Economy Through Retrofits

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The Ain’t Fuelin’ project is radical in its simplicity. There are no batteries involved. The technological improvements aren’t glitzy. There’s little visible difference between a modified and unmodified vehicle … unless you know where to look. Most folks will never notice a bit of plastic protruding from a wheel well or a tire sidewall that differs from the original. Inquiring minds never think to check the dipstick in the quest to determine whether that fluid is conventional or synthetic. Folks never crawl under a car to gaze at its bellypan. A small aftermarket gauge nestled on the dashboard is easily overlooked by those more apt to be looking for a port to plug in their smartphone.

Improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions through mindful maintenance, simple bolt-ons and driving technique might not be glamorous or a flight of fancy, but it is common sense. If you could get better gas mileage and spend less at the service station every month, without making a major investment, why wouldn’t you do it?

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Putting the Civic on Temporary Hold

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A funny thing happened on the way to production. It’s not that priorities changed, it’s that economic reality reared its ugly head. I’ve wanted to kick our new fuel-economy focused video series Ain’t Fuelin’ off with a Honda Civic HX Coupe for the longest time. But the fact is that we didn’t raise enough funds to make that happen right off the bat. I set the funding bar just high enough to cover expenses, but not high enough to cover the acquisition of a suitable vehicle. To do this right, we need to start the Civic project with an unmodified vehicle. The original engine, suspension, and lightweight (Enkei) wheels need to be intact.

Our goal is to measure the improvement from stone stock to MPG-modified. Simply put, too many of the HX manual Coupes have been either butchered with questionable parts and hideous mods or the mileage has run around the clock twice. We can’t waste funds returning cars to stock form.

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2013 Ford Escape Titanium Review

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MPG-o-Matic 2013 Ford Escape Review Summary: The 2013 Ford Escape battles it out with a host of worthy competitors in the highly popular small crossover segment, from the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, to the Hyundai Tuscon and Chevy Equinox. While some may lament the exit of the traditional Escape SUV, the new crossover design is a more pleasant vehicle overall and is sold worldwide as the Ford Kuga. The Escape’s torquey EcoBoost engine and tightly designed cabin set it apart from the competition.

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MPG Video Series is a Go

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Thank you kindly for getting us to the starting line! The Kickstarter campaign for Ain’t Fuelin’ hit its funding mark last Friday and it’s taken me a week to recover and gather my thoughts about where it’s going. The three week campaign was a wild ride, and until the closing week, I was unsure whether it would fund. Locking down key sponsorships was crucial, but things didn’t start popping until the clock started ticking.

I’ve had this project on the back burner for more than three years. Over that time, I’ve had the good fortune to speak with a range of automotive professionals, from mechanics and race car drivers, through engineers and top-level executives. The premise of what we seek to prove is sound. The toughest part of this endeavor is producing compelling video on an extremely tight budget. Simply put, this has to be something that you want to watch and share with your friends.

Ain't Fuelin' is funded.

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2013 Hyundai Azera Review

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MPG-o-Matic 2013 Azera Review Summary: The 2013 Hyundai Azera is slotted between the Sonata and Genesis in Hyundai’s line-up. It aims to upset the apple cart, by delivering a whole lot of luxury at a rather remarkable price. Whether you’re in the market for a large Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Buick, or Lincoln, you’d do well to cross-shop the Azera. While it’s not as thrifty with fuel as a Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, or Volkswagen Passat TDI, the Azera’s comparatively low acquisition costs and 100,000 mile warranty make it a compelling choice for budget-minded folks shopping for a large luxury sedan.

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