100+ hypermiling / ecodriving tips & tactics

[Fat Charlie]

Would some insulation around the cat help? Lots of folks here block off a lot of openings to help the engine retain heat and fab up belly pans as well. It looks like you're doing really good work monitoring emissions; seeing how they change with some shrouding or actual insulation could turn it into something groundbreaking- seeing if standard aero mods help (or can be tweaked to help) keep emissions where they ought to be.

[hackish]

A 5 second interval is fairly typical for a 5 gas analyzer. I don't think it's adjustable either. When I have the time to play with it I've been thinking of opening the unit up so I can datalog the values directly. Thus far I've been doing it with a video camera then pulling the data from that

For the age of the vehicle, yes it's older but the VX was Honda's high efficiency engine and it does have some features like an onboard wideband and EGR.

More modern engines / management systems do have features to help cat lightoff - noteably the layout. Most transverse engines now have the intake on the front and exhaust on the rear which allows a cat to be placed closer to the engine. GDI engines have special startup modes that pull timing and add extra fuel to help the cat light quicker.

An interesting addition to this study would be to add an EGT probe to the cat so the cooldown time and lightoff could be measured. For sure extra insulation does help. I have many clients who can't pass the Ontario DriveClean because they put a header on their honda. Putting exhaust heat wrap on the header lowers their e-test results significantly. Emissions are very highly related to cat temp. Buying a $59.00 whitebox special cat doesn't help either

[carbloggergr]

nice and very detailed tips that cover almost every aspect of ecodriving. I would like to suggest one more tip that comes from an episode of mythbustes: If you drive on a highway in a hot day is preferable (concerning mpg gain) to have the windows open instead of using the A/C

[Intrigued]

Not according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. :-) At least if you spend most of your time driving at highway speeds... They did a test many years ago that tracked around 25 patrol cars for some 500,000 miles that discovered that above 50 mph the extra turbulence from the open windows overcomes the gains. Oh, and for Mythbusters to actually PROVE that something is a myth or not, they REALLY should go at it for more than ONE test, LOL!!! If it hasn't been repeated elsewhere, (the proof is in the repeatability) then it is just adding to the misinformation...

[PaleMelanesian]

Try using a 1-2" opening on both the driver's window and the right rear. Minimal aero drag, but lots of airflow through the car. If you need more, go to 4" driver and 2" on each rear window. That's how I handle the Texas summer with no AC, so I can assure you that it works.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Try using a 1-2" opening on both the driver's window and the right rear. Minimal aero drag, but lots of airflow through the car. If you need more, go to 4" driver and 2" on each rear window. That's how I handle the Texas summer with no AC, so I can assure you that it works.

Any recommendations on 2-door hatches? I generally try 1-2" on the passenger side to swirl the breeze back to the driver's side -- it can also force more draw on the vents without using the fan motor -- but otherwise, the hidden rear vent doesn't move much air, so the A/C crops-in when it gets close to 80F. But, I wont have to worry about that much longer this year

RH77

[PaleMelanesian]

That's a tough one. I'm not sure there's a good way to handle that without AC or major wind turbulence.

[TXwaterdog]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

That's a tough one. I'm not sure there's a good way to handle that without AC or major wind turbulence.

On my old '00 Civic Si I'd leave the windows up and crack the sunroof. With the AC & recycler off it would still flow air in through the AC vents. It would also heat and cool depending on the temp setting.

[TXwaterdog]

*2 fold eco tip!

*Try packing your Golf clubs, disc golf discs, A bicycle or a fishing pole. When I get stuck in traffic sometimes I pull over and kill an hour doing anything but driving in traffic, hell the pub is a good way to kill an hour. I honestly can stop to fish for an hour and I only show up 20 mins later to the house vs sitting in traffic.

This reduces gas, emissions and stress! Plus you might bring home dinner, improve your swing or work on your health riding your bicycle.

[reb01501]

I've been lurking for a week or so and while these tips are useful, I think compiling 4 separate lists of tips would be more helpful:
non-hybrid manual
non-hybrid automatic/cvt
hybrid manual
hybrid automatic/cvt

Having to wade through so many irrelevant tips to find the ones that are relevant to one's vehicle is both intimidating and time-consuming, not to mention risky as someone could be tempted to try a tip that is not appropriate for the vehicle they are driving. For example:

The auto/cvt lists could be further broken down by flat-towable vs. non-flat-towable so nobody is tempted to ruin their transmissions using the EOC technique, or even coasting in neutral above the speed recommended in the vehicle manual.