[V8] guarenteed mileage booster

[dsaad at icehouse.net]

I improved my mileage as indicated on the trip computer by no less than 3 MPG in
around town driving.

How?

No - it is not cow magnets.
Not a "air swirler" doo dad
Not an in-effective air filter.
Not even fancy $10 a quart oil.

So What?

Simple. I fixed the binding rear brake caliper and stuck brake cable, and a fuel
leak at the filter.

I am completely amazed. The filter was replaced by me last summer so no idea
when it started to leak but the brakes I think may have been dragging for years
judging by the pad wear. The outer pad looked almost 100% while the inner was
nearly to the metal.
The root cause seems to have been a torn caliper pin boot.
On the other side, both pads were worn evenly at about 40% remaining.
Oddly, the rotor does not seem to be damaged.

I have always had a sensation that this car did not roll very easy but I never
investigated it. I did foolishly accept the word of the tire shop monkees when
they said the brakes were fine. I always specifically asked them to inspect them
and word always came back "about 50%". (this over a 5 year period - I shoulda
been more suspicious) Obviously, they only look at the outer pad of one wheel
and call that an inspection.

So at the moment, I am indicating about 19.4 MPG around town, and the trip
computer is usually about 1MPG high so I am getting around 18 MPG worst case.
And ths on 89 octane fuel.
If I could not drive like a meathead (impossible :-) I could bring that up
another 2 MPG.

Dave