Ok little back story first, im a Lexus mechanic who knows what and what not to "neglect" maintenance wise on my cars. My thermostat was stuck open since i got it from my grandma. So it never really got to closed loop. Commute to work is 40 miles round trip and i usually use 1/8th a tank per round trip.
Edmonds rates the car 26 city 30 highway 28 combined mpg
Test subject: 97 Geo Prizm 98,000 miles stuck open thermostat prohibiting closed loop
Test 1: full tank of gas until needle is below E line calculate miles÷tank capacity= mpg
Result 1: drove 302 miles needle well below E line. 302÷13=23mpg (not bad) filled tank 11 gallons almost exactly. (Wait i had 2 gallons left) rounded down to 20mpg per gallon and re calculated. 302÷13=26mpg. (Now we're talkin"
Current test: same vehicle with new thermostat allowing vehicle to enter closed loop
Stay tuned for end results.
I know it should improve mpg since open loop keeps the fuel system pumping more gas than it really needs too. So im curious to see under my normal driving conditions if just replacing the thermostat makes a difference
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