VZ 190 (Adventra) - Tuning for economy - what mods ?

[who_me_?]

Done 40,000kms in the Adventra (12 months) and after a few minor issues, all has been going well now for some time. Given the depressed market for used cars, I don't think I will be selling it for a while.

Just wondering, to save some $ over the next year or so (given my increasing fuel bills), I was wondering if there is anything worthwhile to do that will increase fuel economy ? From day 1, including town and country running it has averaged 12.2l/100kms. I was thinking the car may also be easier to sell in the future if it was more fuel efficient anyway !

Exhaust/Tune - who from ?

BTW. LPG is out...

Thx !

[planetdavo]

Like many people who jump on the panic button and have gas fitted when they don't do enough km's, you might find that the cost of a custom tune takes too many km's to repay itself with this line of thinking.

[warlobo]

sell the 6 and buy the 5.7L, I've had em for few years and with edit exhaust and intake modified fuel economy torque and power eat up the 6, they're too heavy for the 6 I reckon, especially if you tow..

[VX2VESS]

tune.

remove the AWDriveline and swap it with someone for RWD who wants awd in a sedan

[who_me_?]

1. I want and need the AWD drivetrain.

2. I want ESP and that is (together with the clunker auto box) why I didn't get a V8 anyway.

3. I don't tow.

4. I like the car as it is, all I was wondering was if there was any easy(ish) way to improve economy. Simple question ? Just wondering if changing the exhaust helps and so on. Better performance would be a benefit too...

5. Not sure these can be tuned - who does this ?

[Swordie]

From day 1, including town and country running it has averaged 12.2l/100kms

I would of thought this is quite acceptable economy. What average speed is this been achieved at? Would running a higher octane fuel give better results? As you are probably aware the Adventra is heavier than a sedan, it has a wagon body and 4WD subsystem. I wounder if it runs a higher diff ratio compared to the 190Kw sedan? I think the V8 version does.

I would have a look at American Cadillac sites as the STS has the same motor, there may be tips there.

[andrewdisco]

Yeah 12.2 sounds fine to me for that car...

Only other thing I can suggest is going for longer drives, only driving down hill and not stopping for traffic lights.

I was going to mention removing the AWD system.. but that gag's already been done :p

[who_me_?]

Yeah 12.2 sounds fine to me for that car...

Only other thing I can suggest is going for longer drives, only driving down hill and not stopping for traffic lights.

I was going to mention removing the AWD system.. but that gag's already been done :p


I think if you read my post again you can see that I am not complaining about the economy, just wondering if there was anything that would easily improve it. :thumbsup:

If it was a V8 I would have had it edited but I understand that isn't quite as easy with the more advanced ECU of the V6.

[emg]

sell it and get a subaru liberty wagon

[Swordie]

I think if you read my post again you can see that I am not complaining about the economy, just wondering if there was anything that would easily improve it. :thumbsup:

If it was a V8 I would have had it edited but I understand that isn't quite as easy with the more advanced ECU of the V6.

Drive it like a pussy is one suggestion and running it on PULP. There maybe someone who has expertise in tuning the 3.6’s that could help. The factory settings on the ECU may be changed for improved economy. That’s as far as my knowledge goes.

[who_me_?]

sell it and get a subaru liberty wagon

Your first post was to add that comment ?

If you have nothing useful to add, don't bother responding...

[steen]

If it was a V8 I would have had it edited but I understand that isn't quite as easy with the more advanced ECU of the V6.
AFAIK, there is no aftermarket edit/tune capability for the Motronic ME9 ECM on HFV6 - yet. The HFV6 first appeared in 2004 Cadillac & Buick models, so doesn't have enough market penetration for the modders. The US public is looking to the Aussie market to provide tuning tools due to our broader use of this engine. A couple of organisations here have been playing with FIT, but I don't think anything's been officially released. There are a couple of turboed VZs around, though.

P.S. There is an Alloytec 190 motor project at StreetCommodores you may wish to check out.

[Rustle]

Just saying, if you want economy the liberty is a great car and economical..

[who_me_?]

Just saying, if you want economy the liberty is a great car and economical..

So is a VW Polo diesel but that doesn't mean I want to drive one...

Go back and read the second sentence in the first post of this thread !

[SSV8pilot]

This thread seems to have attracted a number of wayward comments.

Don't fully understand all this mod stuff - not sure if this link is of any help to you...

http://www.vcm-suite.com.au/products.html

[csv rulz]

My mate put a HYCLONE in his VS and its made a fair bit of difference, i know its a different car and motor but it did help, His dad also put it in his Jackaroo and he reckons it makes a huge difference. It gives a bit more power and better fuel economy.

[Y2kGoofball]

funny though 12.2 and similar readings yet I can swear people were telling us figures of 18ltrs + highway and 20+ city when we were buying our V6 Adventra this time last year.

Even towing 2 tonne uphill its still yet to reach anywhere near 20ltrs. The closest we got was mid 17 litres per 100 k's towing the boat uphill with the foot planted on the accelerator.

BTW whats a Hyclone out of interest??

[WW-VFSSVR]

Wish I could get 12.2 average on my sx6, Traveling from Sydney to Canberra on cruse at 113km/hr my average was 12.8. The average I normaly get is between 13.8 and 14.2 l/100kms, this is with an average speed of between 45 and 55 kms. I still wouldn't swap it for anything at this stage!

[csv rulz]

http://www.hyclone.com.au/

[Y2kGoofball]

really?

Just checked, ours (SX6) is sitting on 1/4 of a tank and its at 11.2litres and its done a week of morning stop start peak hour and afternoon good run @ 110kph which I admit helps even it out a tad. Still though our reading of 11.2 isnt through a good constant highway speed, its had some peak hour traffic thrown in.

Dad said lately the norm has been at about 12.2 to 12.4 when he fills it up.

How many K's is on yours though? Ours is sitting mid 20 000k's now and seems to be coming down in fuel consumption.

[WW-VFSSVR]

I have 23000km on the clock and it is a 10/05 make. I am not too concerned but it seems strange that others seem to be around the 12l/100km and i cannot manage that on a trip, what gives?:demon:

[paul05]

sell the 6 and buy the 5.7L, I've had em for few years and with edit exhaust and intake modified fuel economy torque and power eat up the 6, they're too heavy for the 6 I reckon, especially if you tow..
what a load of shit!!!! i tow a 5m boat and have a average of 11.8/100 whan towing,my brother has a vx ss same size boat same weight he averages 18.3/100. my car is a as you guys would call a shit v6 buick vy my brothers a vx ss 5.7lt.
I also did a oil change today and no oil usage to talk of,we wont discuse the 5.7's oil usage on my brothers car" GULP".

[who_me_?]

I have 23000km on the clock and it is a 10/05 make. I am not too concerned but it seems strange that others seem to be around the 12l/100km and i cannot manage that on a trip, what gives?:demon:

Are you using the car trip computer or real calculations ? The OBC can be somewhat inaccurate. I also find that you can sometimes pump in a extra 5 litres in the tank by slowly filling so that can throw figures out as well.

Tyres at the right pressure ? Do you leave the transmission in "Power" all the time ?

If I do a trip out in the country at a max of 110kms (averaging say 90kms), I see 11ltrs/100kms so something seems wrong there...

[Firebug]

Here's a mod I fitted to my SS. I noticed a drop in performance but fuel savings were great! I'm sure with some thought you could modify to fit Adventura...

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m231/Firebug_01/DSCF1072.jpg

Mods: Sorry about photo size...

[Y2kGoofball]

smart ass!

Tell ya what, come along to the Bathurst cruise and hook it up to Steves 450 Kw Adventra and see if you can make it up mountain straight lol :thumbsup: :driving: :driving: I would offer ours but I'll be in the VX.

[gaz vyss]

I recently did a speed vs economy comparison. Even though its a VYSS, this shows what happens at different speeds:
Run 1. 30k's of slowly rising hills @ 97kph showed 9.2L
Run 2. 50k's of low rising hills and long valleys @ 97kph showed 8.4 - 8.8L
Run 3. 45k's of low falling hills and long valleys @ 97kph showed 7.5 - 8.0L
Run 4. 5k's of almost flat country @ 115kph showed 10.6L
Run 5. 30ks of slowly falling hills @ 103kph showed 8.4L

(the computer was reset prior to commencing each leg)

I was amazed to see the computer show 7.5L per 100k, but this was only for a few K's and slowly rose back up to 8.0L @ 97kph.
From this comparison, fuel economy seems to rise sharply over 100kph even though it is still good economy for an eight.

Just my 5c worth.:cool:

[slowr8]

You can't do anything more than whats already being done for normal V6's....just start with your air intake and work your way through it....

I'm not really sure a bigger exhaust will actualy increase fuel economy...but start with the basics....if you think of it as "just a heavy V6" you should be on the right path...