Trip to BC 1400KM

[befarrer]

Just got back from a road trip to Blue River, BC, with a stop in Jasper, AB. I'll post some pics later, but it is very fun driving on nice windy mountain roads .

I took my 86 Fiero with the Quad 4 HO, and upgraded suspension. All in all, I did 1385KM round trip, and averaged about 39MPG with a passenger and full trunk, best mileage was 44MPG, worst was 37.5MPG both on the same stretch, just going different directions. At one point I was at 5100' above sea level by Blue River, and wow, a vehicle is gutless at that altitude, seemed like I was hardly accelerating from 90KM/h, and I was in 4th gear and about 1/2 throttle too!!

The only problem I had was right before I got home, the stupid metal sunroof latch cover came loose. It is the thing that is held on by 1 screw, I went to close my sunroof when I got home and felt it just hanging there, so the screw must have fell off since I got gas last becuase I opened my sunroof then, and it was all good then.

[The Dark Side of Will]

That's fantastic gas mileage. Hooray for high compression 4 cylinders. I've been wondering what a 13+:1 NA/DI Ecotec could do for gas mileage...

(Wait, that's not using those F#@$ing Canadian gallons, is it?)

I drove the 3.6 PFI Cadillac CTS to the top of Sandia Crest in Albuquerque, NM (~10K ft). WOT in 2nd gear would barely get the car up the hill.

[befarrer]

That is using Canadian Gallons.

[Aaron]

It's amazing altitude does. No one believes it, until they have experienced it. Try living at 7,000ft every day! I take road trips to the mountains, where 10-12k isn't uncommon, and talk about a power loss! At 7,000 it's about a 21% loss.

[Blue Shift]

Steven and I both notice climbing the grade at 4000Ft to Tehachapi. 7 or 10K must be brutal.

Hey Befarrer, I have the same engine with 5 speed (but 94') awaiting inspection/install in my other car... How are you measuring MPG? Km/L? I was lining up a replacement for my worn out duke when I realized 1.) I couldn't put another duke in 2.) the Q4, even the HO, got more mileage than the duke in the same chassis as factory installed, though at twice the output.

[The Dark Side of Will]

Q4's high compression really does it.

When I was out in Albuquerque this June, I drove up the back side of Sandia Crest. It's only 10K feet or so, but the poor CTS I drove definitely felt it. It had the standard 3.6 with 260 HP. That was ok on the highways in town, but near the top of the mountain, I was flat footed in 2nd gear and barely accelerating... maybe 20 seconds to go from 40 to 70 (uphill).

Hehe... when I got to the top, the brakes were hot enough to smell.

[befarrer]

Steven and I both notice climbing the grade at 4000Ft to Tehachapi. 7 or 10K must be brutal.

Hey Befarrer, I have the same engine with 5 speed (but 94') awaiting inspection/install in my other car... How are you measuring MPG? Km/L? I was lining up a replacement for my worn out duke when I realized 1.) I couldn't put another duke in 2.) the Q4, even the HO, got more mileage than the duke in the same chassis as factory installed, though at twice the output.

I can hit 40MPG (Canadian) with mine on the highway doing 70MPH. On the trip above I averaged 39MPG going there and back, with my best and worst mileage of 36 and 42MPG. The HO Quad 4 does reccomend running on 91 octane. It will run on 87, but performance and economy is reduced, it also pops though the exhaust alot more, especially when cold. It is a good engine, I run mid to low 15's in the quarter mile at Edmonton altitude at 89-91MPH, with no weight reduction or anything other than lower air pressure on the rear tires (30PSI), and the jack and spare removed.