OEM Fuel TankFull at 13.2 Gallons = 81.84 lbIf you are looking for the simplest, most economical, way of loosing weight, look no further than the fuel you are pumping in to your car. Fuel, you ask? Yes, fuel! Remember that Physics class you took in school but always seemed to fail? Well if you were fast asleep in the back of class like me, there is a thing called F@#$-if-I-Remember-Because-I-was-Asleep-Theory. Seriously... I don't remember what it's really called but the theory basically explains the relation of weight to liquid mass. Every one gallon of fuel is equivalent to 6.2 lb of mass weight. Of course, depending on the type of fuel-for example, Methanol displays a different buoyancy and will weigh less than pump gas-you use, the weight will be different. But we will concentrate on pump gas for this article. With the standard 13.2-gallon fuel tank top off in a Civic, the total weight of fuel will come out to a whopping 81.84 lb. Hey! Just as much weight as your model chick tacked on over the past year! A general rule for racers is to fill up with only a quarter tank of gas (3.3 gallons = 20.46 lb) and you save a total of 61.38 lb.
Total Weight RemovedTotal weight w/driver + Girlfriend + Full tank of gas = 3170.84 lb3170.84 lb - 180lb (throwing your girlfriend out the door) = 2990.84 lb2990.84 lb -127.42 lb (interior removed) = 2863.42 lb2863.42 lb - 61.38 lb (running on a quarter tank of gas) = 2802.04 lb
Total3170.84 lb - 2802.04 lb = 368.80 lb Saved!
Level 2 * Weight Reductions * Intermediate LevelLevel 2 is for the more experienced mechanics in the automotive world. In order to lighten the load these steps require simple removal of various amenities that you might consider expendable. An example would be the air conditioning. Sure, this creature comfort was one reason why you paid a premium over the sticker price at the dealership, but are you really concerned with having a nice, ice-cold breeze showering your face when temperatures skyrocket in the upper 100 degrees? Of course not! Scrolling through the list, you will come across various aftermarket products that have replaced the OEM components, and dramatically reduced the overall weight of the car.
Power Steering12 lbCallused palms? Perhaps it's a good idea to either stay away from the lotion and Rosie and her five-fingered friend, or better yet, try relaxing that kung-fu grip on the steering wheel-whichever method floats your boat. Power steering is another luxury you can decide you want to eliminate or keep for the future.
Headliner7.5 lbWho needs headliners? They only make your car look presentable, not to mention the only time you'll be staring at it is when you're in the back seat making out with Miss Import model, but since those rear seats are a thing of the past, get rid of the headliner, right?
Air Conditioning32.5 lbAre you willing to endure the hot summer days with no air conditioning? Consider driving in just a pair of chonies (underwear, people!) or better yet, remove the air conditioning unit, including the AC condenser, lines, pump and misc. brackets. Driving with the windows down will ultimately net you a reduction of 32.5 lb.
Door Panels12.9 lb eachUgly as it may appear, removing your side door panels will enable you to scrounge around for those precious weight saving numbers you aim to acquire. Not to mention how cool it will look with all your power window controls dangling by the wires!