Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Hey everybody! Check out my Corolla 'Insight'! Any tips, comments, or suggestions?

AaronMartinSole · 11-09-2012, 08:56 PM

So you can click under my user name and find my Corolla 'Insight'. I just finished these mods today. I had cardboard template testers, but it rained yesterday. Went through a few versions, improving every time. I got my hands on some coroplast, spray painted them, and put them on. The horrendous cardboard front air dam was just for testing today, and I've already taken it off after getting an mpg reading at the gas station. I'm going to be testing without the air dam for now. I took it off also because I wanted suggestions on how to properly make a front air dam. I was also wondering if there are any tips to keep in mind when making rear wheel skirts. My front smooth caps aren't flush, and air I think can get through. Will that make a difference? Maybe I'll just fill the cracks with some black electric tape.

This last trip was 37.62 mpg. Probably an improvement of about 5-6 mpg. An improvement of 11-12 mpg over EPA city! There is nothing like the anticipation and the joy of a gas station pump reading. We're weird people, aren't we?

This is all in my car profile, but I'll put it here too:

Description: I drive 90% city miles with normal traffic. I'll go on the highway maybe 20 miles a week. Short 5 mile commutes to and from everyday makes up for the bulk of my driving, with about a dozen traffic lights. A few times a year I might make a long trip, a couple hundred miles on the highway. I might just take a trip to a lake or something just to test out highway miles sometime.

Current Mods: =Current cardboard air dam is just for testing! I know it's hideous. I will have a black coroplast final air dam if I decide to.

-90% Tape Grill Block (for winter)
-Rear Wheel Skirts
-Front Wheel Smooth Caps
-Disabled Daylight Running Lights (DRL)

+Tires 40psi (I want to up them to 45, for winter?)
+0W-20 Synthetic AMSOIL

>Maybe I'll turn the engine off at red lights. I'm toying with the idea.

Planned Mods:
-Lowering the car an inch or so with new springs and struts (debating this because of the cost. Probably won't do to be honest but I really want to. Hopefully in the distant future.)
-Front Air Dam (planning on using zip-ties)
-Front Wheel Skirts
-Duct Tape Cardboard Kammback (I want to test this. If it works, maybe a permanent one with clear plastic, but I don't want to do anything invasive. How do you do a Kammback on a sedan?)

============================

EDIT: 1/2/12 - Version 2.0 completed. Just need to install front wheel deflectors. Not sure what to go for next. Maybe front wheel skirts eventually, but that's a big ask.

Tips, comments, advice, suggestions welcome.

11-09-2012, 08:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
AaronMartinSole Your car looks ridiculous Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 96 The Fantastic Festiva - '90 Ford Festiva L 90 day: 43.16 mpg (US) A Civic Duty - '96 Honda Civic LX 90 day: 34.9 mpg (US) Ranger Danger - '96 Ford Ranger XL 90 day: 17.42 mpg (US) Thanks: 23 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Hey everybody! Check out my Corolla 'Insight'! Any tips, comments, or suggestions? So you can click under my user name and find my Corolla 'Insight'. I just finished these mods today. I had cardboard template testers, but it rained yesterday. Went through a few versions, improving every time. I got my hands on some coroplast, spray painted them, and put them on. The horrendous cardboard front air dam was just for testing today, and I've already taken it off after getting an mpg reading at the gas station. I'm going to be testing without the air dam for now. I took it off also because I wanted suggestions on how to properly make a front air dam. I was also wondering if there are any tips to keep in mind when making rear wheel skirts. My front smooth caps aren't flush, and air I think can get through. Will that make a difference? Maybe I'll just fill the cracks with some black electric tape. This last trip was 37.62 mpg. Probably an improvement of about 5-6 mpg. An improvement of 11-12 mpg over EPA city! There is nothing like the anticipation and the joy of a gas station pump reading. We're weird people, aren't we? This is all in my car profile, but I'll put it here too: Description: I drive 90% city miles with normal traffic. I'll go on the highway maybe 20 miles a week. Short 5 mile commutes to and from everyday makes up for the bulk of my driving, with about a dozen traffic lights. A few times a year I might make a long trip, a couple hundred miles on the highway. I might just take a trip to a lake or something just to test out highway miles sometime. Current Mods: =Current cardboard air dam is just for testing! I know it's hideous. I will have a black coroplast final air dam if I decide to. -90% Tape Grill Block (for winter) -Rear Wheel Skirts -Front Wheel Smooth Caps -Disabled Daylight Running Lights (DRL) +Tires 40psi (I want to up them to 45, for winter?) +0W-20 Synthetic AMSOIL >Maybe I'll turn the engine off at red lights. I'm toying with the idea. Planned Mods: -Lowering the car an inch or so with new springs and struts (debating this because of the cost. Probably won't do to be honest but I really want to. Hopefully in the distant future.) -Front Air Dam (planning on using zip-ties) -Front Wheel Skirts -Duct Tape Cardboard Kammback (I want to test this. If it works, maybe a permanent one with clear plastic, but I don't want to do anything invasive. How do you do a Kammback on a sedan?) ============================ EDIT: 1/2/12 - Version 2.0 completed. Just need to install front wheel deflectors. Not sure what to go for next. Maybe front wheel skirts eventually, but that's a big ask. Tips, comments, advice, suggestions welcome. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by AaronMartinSole; 01-02-2013 at 08:03 PM..