Sat Jan 30, 2016 4:16 am by Sebesseg
@Koolkei: Wait VVL? You mean VVT, right, because I'd be all over VVL. I don't think I'm getting a VVL option when I do it (I'll have to check again)
Also...I started typing and thinking a lot about getting fuel econ up and you guys beat me to it (I need to refresh more) but I wrote this up:
It involves stuff you’re probably already familiar with, but maybe to extremes you may not be comfortable with, which was the biggest headache for me when trying to get my sedan to make the cut.
I guess first things first is check out your engines efficiency and horsepower. Power is the tradeoff for efficiency so if it’s too powerful it’s not going to be remarkably efficient. A HP range of 50-80 (with 50 being low power high efficiency and 80 being high power low efficiency) is probably where you’ll be. A lower cam profile will hurt HP output but will save on efficiency, around 30 is probably best. Also consider making the exhaust smaller, again it will kill HP but the efficiency will go up. You can also up the quality sliders on the fuel injector or compression ratio tabs to eek out some more efficiency.
You will probably have a low power engine. You can produce a more powerful engine (although for general efficiency the 70-80 HP range is probably pushing it for this challenge given the constraints so shoot for 50-70), but then it comes down to weight. Make sure your engine isn’t too large. Anything under 1.5L can be made to work, assuming its 4 or 6 cylinders (though 6 is heavier, generally), but it can be difficult and since making the engine out of aluminum is probably out of the question you have to make it smaller in order to not be too heavy.
Which leads to the second part of weight. If the car weighs too much the powerful engine while being strong enough to push it around will find its fuel economy lacking. Now you can try to push the gearing past the estimated top speed which does have the effect of increasing the fuel economy, but only to a point. Once you reach that then you just have to strip things out. Remove seats, remove the radio, a less intricate safety package, choose a lighter front and rear suspension set-up, choose lighter brake pad options, use standard suspension springs. If you do all that and you’ve not hit the range then begin to lower quality sliders, I’d begin with seats. Lower that slider all the weigh down (-15). Then move onto removing the undertray (or if Full switch to semi, and if not enough then remove, this will effect fuel economy too). Then return to the very first model tab and lower the slider there to reduce weight. Read the sliders to make sure it lowers weight, if it doesn’t specifically say “lower weight” don’t touch it, it probably won’t help. You can also lower tire width (say 165mm instead of 175mm).
So a more itemized list:
-Increase engine efficiency: roughly 30 cam profile, small exhaust, increase fuel tab sliders [last]),
-Manage weight: remove extra seats (then lower sliders), remove the radio, lower safety (then lower sliders), lower sliders on first model tab, make a smaller engine, use lighter suspension, and choose lighter springs
Be careful with upping sliders b/c that will increase production units, which are something to keep an eye on in this comp.
To get my sedan to work I had a lot of -15 quality sliders. I probably missed some, but that should be a lot of things to consider…
edit: fixed the hp range
