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A couple of weeks ago I posted that I had gotten a Wester tune at Brian Koontz's place in Dallas (search using "Wester" on this board). I also mentioned that although the throttle response and smooooothness of the engine had improved a lot as a result, I could not do fuel mileage checking as the weather here in Austin has been VERY hot and VERY humid. Well, the weather has subsided a bit, and so I got a chance yesterday to do sokme formal testing, and the results are GREAT!
I did the fuel mileage testing using the same precise methodology as I have used on all previous fuel mileage testing. THat procedure involves multiple 3-mile segments in two opposing directions on divided rolling highway, to ensure accuracy and real world applicability. To get the details on that procedure, do a search earlier threads using "fuel mileage" and "gas mileage".
To refresh everyone quickly on the history of my 04 SSR:
With stock gearing, it was getting 22.8 mpg at 60 mph.
In February 2005, with 4.56 gearing, it was getting 21.1, a loss of 7.4% due to the gearing change.
In testing on 5-27-05, after instalaltion of the Supermaxx headers and true dual exhaust and Rush filter, and dyno tuning for best power, it averaged 19.6 mpg.
In testing on 6-02-05, after a PCM reflash by Reese Cox at MTI Racing, that refined A/F ratio and improved throttle response, it delivered 22.6 mpg - basically restoring the original fuel mileage, despite now having both more power AND the stiffer 4.56 gearing.
In August, just before the SSR Homecoming, Reese and his crew at MTI installed the MTI answer to the LS6 cam, Z06 valvetrain, double timing chain, and 25% underdrive engine balancer pulley (to compensate for the 22% stiffer 4.56 gearing that increased engine accessory speeds). Power increase rather dramatically from 273 hp at the rear wheels to 331 hp at the rear wheels. So, now my SSR is delivering 35% more power than stock (it was around 245 before the original Lamar Walden dyno tune follwoing the gear swap), and I probaby should not expect "great" fuel mileage.
But, I am getting it anyway.
My testing yesterday shows an average of 20.8 mpg at 60 mph, under less than ideal early morning Austin conditions that started at 68 degrees / 62 degree Dew Point / 81% humidity, and changed to 79 degrees / 62 degree Dew Point / 58% humidity within an hour.
Now we can speculate all day on how much of the great fuel mileage is due to Reese's tuning done on an actual dyno, and how much is due to Lyndon Wester's remote programming, and I have NOT yet done a mileage test with Reese's tune in there instead of Lyndon's (you can NOT just quickly reflash and re-test - the fuel tables need as much as 200 miles to fully stabilize).
However, Wester's tune made my SSR's engine notably smoother and stronger at lower revs, and we now know that the fuel mileage is impressively good, especially considering the huge increase in power! Some instrumented performance testing done right after the mileage testing shows that the 30 to 90 mph time is now 2.14 seconds quicker than it was with only the gearing change and original dyno tune. (Yes, my 04 SSR is now in total about 3.7 seconds quicker 0 to 90 than it was when stock, even with a "granny" start)
All this conforms for me that a Wester tune is a great idea from every perspective, and so I recommend getting one!
Jim G
I did the fuel mileage testing using the same precise methodology as I have used on all previous fuel mileage testing. THat procedure involves multiple 3-mile segments in two opposing directions on divided rolling highway, to ensure accuracy and real world applicability. To get the details on that procedure, do a search earlier threads using "fuel mileage" and "gas mileage".
To refresh everyone quickly on the history of my 04 SSR:
With stock gearing, it was getting 22.8 mpg at 60 mph.
In February 2005, with 4.56 gearing, it was getting 21.1, a loss of 7.4% due to the gearing change.
In testing on 5-27-05, after instalaltion of the Supermaxx headers and true dual exhaust and Rush filter, and dyno tuning for best power, it averaged 19.6 mpg.
In testing on 6-02-05, after a PCM reflash by Reese Cox at MTI Racing, that refined A/F ratio and improved throttle response, it delivered 22.6 mpg - basically restoring the original fuel mileage, despite now having both more power AND the stiffer 4.56 gearing.
In August, just before the SSR Homecoming, Reese and his crew at MTI installed the MTI answer to the LS6 cam, Z06 valvetrain, double timing chain, and 25% underdrive engine balancer pulley (to compensate for the 22% stiffer 4.56 gearing that increased engine accessory speeds). Power increase rather dramatically from 273 hp at the rear wheels to 331 hp at the rear wheels. So, now my SSR is delivering 35% more power than stock (it was around 245 before the original Lamar Walden dyno tune follwoing the gear swap), and I probaby should not expect "great" fuel mileage.
But, I am getting it anyway.
My testing yesterday shows an average of 20.8 mpg at 60 mph, under less than ideal early morning Austin conditions that started at 68 degrees / 62 degree Dew Point / 81% humidity, and changed to 79 degrees / 62 degree Dew Point / 58% humidity within an hour.
Now we can speculate all day on how much of the great fuel mileage is due to Reese's tuning done on an actual dyno, and how much is due to Lyndon Wester's remote programming, and I have NOT yet done a mileage test with Reese's tune in there instead of Lyndon's (you can NOT just quickly reflash and re-test - the fuel tables need as much as 200 miles to fully stabilize).
However, Wester's tune made my SSR's engine notably smoother and stronger at lower revs, and we now know that the fuel mileage is impressively good, especially considering the huge increase in power! Some instrumented performance testing done right after the mileage testing shows that the 30 to 90 mph time is now 2.14 seconds quicker than it was with only the gearing change and original dyno tune. (Yes, my 04 SSR is now in total about 3.7 seconds quicker 0 to 90 than it was when stock, even with a "granny" start)
All this conforms for me that a Wester tune is a great idea from every perspective, and so I recommend getting one!
Jim G
