Best fill up for my Insight

[Natalya]

599 miles driven, 9.15 gallons put into the tank -- translates to 65 mpg or 3.59 l/100km. Or just look at my trip log.

I'm driving without the Insight rims, so there's an aero penalty, and my tires aren't LRR. I also have close to no usage of the IMA. So, even with all those things going against me I was able to beat the EPA estimate of the car.

Going for me:
- Hot weather
- Allowing more variation in speed
- Underbody aero
- Removed radio antenna
- 40 PSI in the tires
- Removed DRL fuse

Still to come:
- Elegant Forced Auto Stop
- Grill blocks (got a SG now so I can do them safely)

I think the main thing I did though was I have been allowing for much more variation in my speed as I drive. Like, I've just been commuting, not trying to go long distance, so on downhills I accelerate but on uphills I let myself take a 20kmh hit in speed just to keep the revs down as I climb the hill.

Also, The donkey CRX posted in his build thread that he tries to avoid 4th gear whenever possible. I've tried doing the same -- get up to speed in 3rd then skip to 5th in situations where it's feasible.

[cowmeat]

Nice job!

Also, The donkey CRX posted in his build thread that he tries to avoid 4th gear whenever possible. I've tried doing the same -- get up to speed in 3rd then skip to 5th in situations where it's feasible.

Lol, I thought I was the only one who does that. If I'm going to be cruising at 55 mph I never use 4th, I jump straight from 3rd to 5th. I only use it to get on the freeway where I need to merge at around 70 mph

Your gas tank will hold around ten gallons, so you should be able to do close to 650 miles on your next tank. I don't even think about getting gas until I've been at one bar for a while, I've driven 20 miles on zero bars before

[NoD~]

Looks like improvement! Bravo!

I don't have LRR tires either (sadly), but I found that by getting them between 50-60psi, they really shine (compared to 30-50psi that is). Wonder if yours would be any happier with the extra pressure as well?

[Daox]

Congrats, nice tank. Can't wait to get mine on the road!

[elhigh]

Man, I have got to get me an Insight...

[pgfpro]

Nice work!!!

[Ecky]

I recently had my best-ever fillup too - 82mpg, and I'm currently about 500 miles into a tank with ~86 reading on the display.

Earlier today I went to get some groceries, and pulled in with this:




What I've found to work is to keep rev's under ~2200 even while accelerating, and to stay in lean burn whenever possible, even if it means bleeding some speed on inclines. I've also experimented with using lean-burn in 4th gear to accelerate (to keep revs up between 1700 and 2000rpm where peak BSFC is), rather than normal burn in 5th, but haven't come to any firm conclusions yet.

Mostly I cruise at ~50mph, with some coasting in neutral and some coasting in gear, depending on what the situation calls for. If the hill is steep enough that I gain speed, I usually coast in gear to keep the battery up, using my regen switch as needed. If the hill is not too steep, and not too long, I keep the engine on and coast which still cuts pumping losses a little (and if you're over ~51mph, it also starts to regen too), and if the incline is long enough I kill the engine. I avoid killing the engine for any but the biggest hills, because lean burn doesn't reengage for maybe 10-15 seconds after restarting the engine.

[Natalya]

Originally Posted by NoD~

Looks like improvement! Bravo!

I don't have LRR tires either (sadly), but I found that by getting them between 50-60psi, they really shine (compared to 30-50psi that is). Wonder if yours would be any happier with the extra pressure as well?

My sidewalls say 36. I have them at 42~ right now. I'm concerned something will happen if I take them higher. I think I'd like to go to around 48, but they're made in China and I don't know how much I trust them.

Also, one of them slowly leaks air sporadically, like one day 3 months ago it was completely flat in the morning. I heard of some kind of gunk to put in them, any recommendations or is it all the same?

[Xist]

Have tire repaired by a tire professional within 3 days or 100 miles, whichever comes first.

http://www.fixaflat.com/uploads/inst...xaflat-pro.pdf

Fix-a-flat is not designed for long-term use. Also, it contains R-143a, which is supposed to be properly removed from an AC system, but they would not be able to do that with a tire. Oil Pan actually put R-143a in a tire. I just asked if he noticed any damage.

This is from a tire shop, so understand they may be biased, but they say they cannot guarantee Fix-a-flat did not damage a tire, so they insist on replacement, and it can damage the rim. Flat Tire Repair With Fix-a-Flat | Tire Puncture Repair | Tire Repair

This guy does not like it: Fix-A-Flat for Tires: Miracle or Nightmare?

Also, people say it can damage Tire Pressure Systems, even though the can says it is safe. More negativity here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cartalk/com...t_ruin_a_tire/

[JRMichler]

Sporadic mostly slow leaks are usually a nail or something embedded in the tire. When the vehicle is parked with the nail in the flexed part of the tire, the leak is much faster.

Take it to a tire place. Do not use the goop, it makes a mess inside the tire and the tire person will hate you.