The GF's 2002 Ford Escort

Alright, so some of you know my car is down and I'm pulling the engine out. In the mean time, my gf is in college and doesn't use her car, so she gave it to me to DD. Basically, I'm going to make a fuel efficiency build of this little N/A monster.

I don't really have pictures. Pictures don't do it justice. This car, was, is, and always will be the epitome of sleek, subtle, and stylish automobile design



^That's what it looks like. Not the actual car mind. That's a picture of a picture, it's the only way the internet could contain so much glory.

Engine: Stock CVH SPI2000, SOHC I4, 110 hp (82 kW) @ 5000 rpm, 125 ft·lbf (169 N·m) @ 3750 rpm, redline 5500 rpm Sedan and Wagon
Curb Weight: 2,468lbs
EPA projected fuel economy: 23 city, 32 highway, 26 combined.
My Fuel economy so far: 24.7 combined.

Plans:
Find a decent, low friction synthetic oil.
Higher quality oil filter(there's a fram on it! eek!)
New air filter. CAI, SRI? (SRI = warmer air = better fuel economy...)
Inspect and update exhaust if necessary. (Haven't really check to see if it's got a crappy log style manifold on it)
Inflate tires to higher PSI (worse ride, better mpg)

Also, this car shakes like a chihuahua when it's stopped. Needs a new engine mount, so I'll be doing that too.

The nice thing is parts are cheap as f*ck for this thing. It's also got a MAF sensor, so I can actually log and compare airflow rates as well as air temps between the stock housing and any after market I may pick up. I'll be trying to set up my data logger to auto upload my recordings. Will probably log once a minute or so, that way the logs won't take up too much screen real estate. Lastly I have to calibrate my logger's fuel economy function. It predicts that I'd be around 32mpg the way I've been driving, a bit of a discrepancy. Pics of the car eventually. It'll get a good bath and interior cleaning, exterior wax and polish. New hood too, as there was an incident with a truck when the GF first got the car(she calls it a laugh line).

wait I use fram, it's the only one with the grip texture for when I have to reach behind my engine block to unscrew the thing with my bare hands because honda hates SH owners and doesnt believe in making a large enough space for a filter wrench.

good luck and remember, number one rule of fuel consumption is not to drive like your from massachusetts

Fram filters = absolute CRAP. The filter clogs almost immediately and the bypass stays open for the rest of it's existence.

Whoa, filled the tank tonight and calculated the mileage... 29.7mpgs!!! All it took was an air filter change? lol who knows. I'm going to start my logging soon. Not sure what I'll do with the gas receipts and real-world mileage proof...