hypermiling in the Honda Insight

[bkboy747]

so gay

[smbstressfest]

@bkboy747 It's easy to talk tough when you know we'll probably never meet huh?!

[Tappedurassout]

what is your MPG difference using your a/c?

[MrBry329]

if you had a diesel engine i think that will be so much higher because diesel burn slower

[smbstressfest]

@MrBry329 Fuel economy might be higher in a diesel electric hybrid, but not because of the rate of combustion.  It's because a gallon of diesel contains more stored energy than a gallon of petrol.

[DirkME1022]

Impressive ;-))

[danielcoig]

dispense with the complaining. Good job with the mileage.

[35906]

I don't know anything about the electric cars, but I know that 95% of the gas ones are optimized for best fuel efficiency at 65 mph. My guess is you would get better millage at 60mph than you would at 44mph.

[smbstressfest]

@35906 No, that's definitely not true of the 1st gen Honda Insight. You can usually maintain close to 70MPG up to about 65mph.  But even at 55MPH, your fuel economy falls off very quickly. Optimum efficiency in the Insight seems to come in 5th gear from about 32-40MPH.

In any car once you're in your final overdrive gear, you'll just be fighting more wind resistance as the speed increases. Just a few mph above that point where you enter top gear is typically the most efficient speed.

[smbstressfest]

@smbstressfest These numbers just apply to steady state speeds. Much higher fuel economy can sometimes be achieved if you can adhere to a strict pulse and glide routine, but often the traffic and terrain is the limiting factor there.

[itr1137]

What brand/model GPS devcice are you using? Also, what kind of mounnt? Looks neat!

[smbstressfest]

@itr1137 It's a Garmin. I don't remember the model # and I don't actually own this particular GPS anymore. Some asshat stole it from me a while back. The mount came from proclipUSA if I'm not mistaken.

[itr1137]

What brand/model GPS device is that? Also, what kind of mount did you use to place it where you did. Looks neat!

[AUSTiNKiNSER]

Awesome! Did you go to the 2010 HybridFest? (Green Drive Expo)? This year was my first year, and a friend and I brought our 2010 Prius Plug-in.

[smbstressfest]

@AUSTiNKiNSER Yeah I was there. I remember you guys, I just couldn't remember your last names until now. I just found you on FB actually.

[AUSTiNKiNSER]

@smbstressfest Cool!

I feel bad because I can't remember you. ):

There were so many Insights haha.

[smbstressfest]

@AUSTiNKiNSER Yeah but mine was the silver one... OH WAIT, that doesn't help either LOL!

[AUSTiNKiNSER]

@smbstressfest Haha!

I know, there was a citrus yellow one there, that was the Hybrid Battery Repair guy, then there was another silver one owned by Travis, then Eric has his red one, Linda had her red one, then Bradlee Fons and his son had one LOL. It was crazy. It was a really good year though, my first year, but it was awesome. I can't believe Chelsea was even there, she even gave me her camera to take pics of her in the EV1. It was exciting lol.

[geonerd]

OCD run amok.

[smbstressfest]

@geonerd Perhaps. But as obsessions go, hypermiling is fairly benign.

[shechshire]

I'm thinking about buying one. Unfortunately I can't find any near Miami fl. I'm thinking that most likely I can't really find any because either people are holding on to these like dear life and or because they didn't make many. I guess I'm just going to have pay one of those vehicle delivery services. Oh well, I think it's worth all the gas money i'm going to be saving! by the way it's funny how you mention that people near those middle of no were towns stair at your car. hahaha

[bjhorton2005]

LOL they were quick to take the blagojavich signs down. Also, it's hillarious, if you come into IL on most interstates there is a noticeable crappiness level to the road. HAHA

I have a new prius with that lane keep assist function, and it hardly works with any of these crappy roads scarred with pot holes, cut lines with their expansion mix in between, and wavey random lines of patch. I just don't understand it. Oh yeah and they hardly ever paint the lines. haha

[mtb416]

The intro is pretty hilarious. 0:03 to 0:07

If car/battery figure out how to use li-ons, hell, li-pos! (way too dangerous) I'll look at a hybrid. The premiums are still a little too high, but most of all the power is lacking, unless you're talking high dollar Lexus or Benz, the latter of which is the only company to produce a li-on hybrid.

70-100 mpg is incredible though, I drive a Jeep V8. haha. It hauls ass though!

[goku1940]

Do you use Cruise Control? I find that it vastly improves your MPG. Do you also coast in the city, maintain 55MPH on the highway, and keep a chart to keep track of your MPG? I do all of these things and have only pulled off 25city to 30highway in my 1994 Dodge Shadow ES automatic 2.2L 4 cylinder hatchback. The EPA says I should get 21city and 27highway so I guess I am doing okay.

[smbstressfest]

The first generation Insight didn't offer cruise even as an option, so no on the cruise. Cruise will only improve your MPG if you are the type of driver who will speed up if they don't use it. Otherwise cruise is a major gas waster. A wise driver knows and anticipates conditions that the cruise cannot account for. If you're beating the EPA you're doing ok, but likely many other improvements can be made to your setup and techniques to shove your FE much higher.

[smbstressfest]

PM me if you're interested in hearing more, but on the right roads with good conditions you should be able to get 40MPG all day with that car.

[plagick]

I'll floor it in my 505 big block 72 chevelle in your honnor.

[smbstressfest]

go for it!

[MotorSportGuru]

that's amazing, i want one of these

[smbstressfest]

What's the leanest A/F ratio you've seen so far while in lean burn? And how rich does it run durning purges?

[grandmutex]

Hey, Kevin here... most incredible, I bow down before the god of fuel economy. How will you top this next year?!?

[smbstressfest]

Cheat maybe! LOL... no next year I'm gonna change up my route a bit to avoid some stoplights when I get close to Chicago. And I'll try to maintain 100MPG on the way home too. It was so friggin hot that I just wanted to get home, so I drove too fast and wound up with only like 96.x MPG

[smbstressfest]

No, I did the video myslef with the Flip Mino video camera. If you buy a Linear Logic Scan Gauge II you can tell when the car's purging... You'll see the ignition advance reduce significantly durning a purge. I'm sure you already know the car runs in lean burn most of the time when you're crusing, and you can feel the surge of power when it exits lean burn for a purge. You can verify this by keeping an eye on the IGN gauge on the SG II.

[smbstressfest]

I use the ScanGauge to monitor inlet air temp (I have a hot air intake), ignition advance (lets me know when the car is purging), water temp (I run varying degrees of radiator blocking materials almost year 'round) and of course throttle position sensor. I'm sure Honda would frown upon the MIMA system for warranty claims, I do know of a fellow who simply removed his for the warranty battery pack replacement though...

[frostysmores]

I have an insight too. I know scangauge II can do a lot of things. What applications do you use it for on your insight? Is your factory battery warranty still valid after MIMA is installed?