We loaded up the Ex with all of the tools, spares, 3 people, etc, for a race weekend (24 Hours of LeMons, Southern Discomfort) and drove about 1300 miles round trip pulling a heavy, wide open trailer with the race car. Loaded trailer is probably 4000-4500 lbs and the tools and spares inside weighed a considerable amount, too. Motor is absolutely stock, I believe (but I've only had it for 5 months).

The temps were mostly in the teens and 20s, and there was some bad snow and rain on the trip down. Philly to Carolina Motorsports Park on both legs we averaged 14 mpg in the Ex. I was hoping for a minimum of 15-16, but we had to stop for fuel both ways. We kept the speeds between 65-70 for the open parts of the journey and less during the nasty bits, so we never went over 70 for any stretch. We did notice that the turbo whistle was coming on at around 1800 rpm, so I suspect we were into boost earlier and sucking more fuel as a result. Where is the right RPM for the turbo to spool up? I had thought closer to 2000-2100.

I will say that the mileage was only down about 2-3 from regular, shorter trips with no trailer and only supplies for the 5 of us for a weekend get-away. But usually those trips are 70-75 mph, so I thought keeping the speeds down during this trip would yield more.

Any thoughts? Sometime during this year I'm looking at a 4" exhaust and a DP Tuner chip. And I need to figure out what to do with the intake side, too. K&N or just do the 6637 filter.

 

Nobody? Should I just go for my proposed upgrades and hope that the mileage goes up some?