Ecomodder's "strange-looking car" Makes the News - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Joggernot · 05-13-2016, 04:22 PM

Got one of our ecomodders in the news. This link from my son who lives out there.

The story behind a strange-looking car named Dino - WTOP

Quote:

The black 1994 Honda Civic has what looks like white teeth in the front and a funny-looking plastic wing or tail in the back. But the owner has his reasons for his car's odd appearance.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/em-fuel-l...vehicleid=8671

MetroMPG · 05-13-2016, 08:59 PM

Cool! Going to read it now...

Decent write-up!

fusion210 · 05-13-2016, 09:34 PM

One of the kindest and informed articles about ecomodding.

Fat Charlie · 05-14-2016, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Decent write-up!

Until you click through to the Consumer Reports article they link to.

But yeah, an outstanding effort from a local... radio station? Hopefully this Michelle Basch ends up going places: any journalist who can do a writeup on an ecomodded car without playing it as a sideshow freak needs to move up.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 05-14-2016, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

any journalist who can do a writeup on an ecomodded car without playing it as a sideshow freak needs to move up

Ecomodding and hypermiling are still often pointed out as some neo-hippie/tree-hugger deal while it's actually supported even by some conservative/far-right folks aiming to decrease the profits of the terrorism-sponsor OPEC mafia.

Vman455 · 05-14-2016, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Until you click through to the Consumer Reports article they link to.

It gets even better on the AAA website they link to, where you can find these gems:

"Myth#8: Hypermiling can improve your gas mileage.
False: The goals of hypermiling are positive, such as eliminating aggressive driving and saving energy, notes AAA. Unfortunately, some motorists have taken their desire to improve fuel economy to extremes with techniques that put themselves, as well as their fellow motorists, in danger. Examples of dangerous hypermiling techniques include: cutting off the vehicle's engine or putting it in neutral to coast on a roadway, tailgating or drafting larger vehicles, rolling through stop signs and driving at erratic and unsafe speeds. These practices, notes AAA, can put motorists in a treacherous situation, especially in the Washington metro area, where the congestion and gridlock are the country's very worst. You could lose power steering and brakes or be unable to react to quickly changing traffic conditions, putting you into harm's way in the region's notoriously mind-numbing stop-and-go traffic.

Myth #9: Over-inflating tires or replacing compressed air with nitrogen in tires will improve fuel efficiency.
False: Over-inflating tires does not improve fuel efficiency, tire makers and highway safety experts, including AAA, say. It merely results in tires wearing more quickly and having less traction on the road. Replacing compressed air with nitrogen will keep tire pressure more stable over the long term, but does not improve efficiency. Improve fuel economy by maintaining the recommended pressure."

mcrews · 05-15-2016, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vman455

It gets even better on the AAA website they link to, where you can find these gems:

Replacing compressed air with nitrogen will keep tire pressure more stable over the long term, but does not improve efficiency. Improve fuel economy by maintaining the recommended pressure."

wow......so nitrogen 'keeps tire pressure more stable over time. (and that's a bad thing......??????)
but a consumer should 'maintain the recommended pressure'
(because everyone knows that normal compressed air alone WILL NOT stay at recommended pressure)

freebeard · 05-16-2016, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

....neo-hippie/tree-hugger deal....

You say neo-hippie/tree-hugger like it's a bad thing.

It' nice to know that others are coming around.

cRiPpLe_rOoStEr · 05-17-2016, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freebeard

You say neo-hippie/tree-hugger like it's a bad thing.

I'm somewhat conservative-minded. I like guns, eating barbecue at least once a week, I am even moderately racist sometimes, you know, my motivations toward fuel-efficiency are not the same as a neo-hippie/tree-hugger's, and it does bother me being mistaken for "them".

Fat Charlie · 05-17-2016, 09:55 AM

A gun is a physical thing, not a place on any political spectrum.

Enjoying making a tough shot is the same as enjoying geting good mpg- it's operating machinery well under difficult circumstances. Simply enjoying blazing away is childish- the automotive equivalent is a riceboy racing to a stop sign.