2006 Honda Insight MT Build Thread

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Originally Posted by Ecky

What was your target speed for your trip down to WV?

Target speed was 55 MPH. Depending on elevation I did spend some time between 60 and 65 MPH, but only if my MPG was at 90+. On some places where the highway wasn't busy, the speed limit was 65, and the hills necessitated it, I allowed myself to get down to 50 MPH.

Through the mountains I generally followed semi trucks. They slow down to 40s going up the super steep inclines, so I followed suit. Usually was between 40 and 55 MPG going up the mountains, and 100+ down. A few hills I had to almost floor it in 3rd (30 MPG) to get up. No IMA. For comparison:

Mountain passes:
Insight: 40-55 MPG
Prius: 20-30 MPG
Sienna: 15-20 MPG

Super steep mountain passes:
Insight: 30-35 MPG
Prius: 15-20 MPG
Sienna: 10-15 MPG

Speed got down to ~45 MPH near the crest of the mountains, and as high as [insert incriminating speed] MPH going downhill.

Originally Posted by 19bonestock88

Why do you want a six speed? I mean you can look and see if the Fit was ever offered with a six speed, but the final drive is gonna be short...

Of course you could swap in a K20 and six speed, still get decent mileage(for a 12-13 sec car)

A 6 speed would give me more linear, closer gears for driving, plus a taller 6th gear. The Insight's final drive would have to swap into the transmission in order for me to consider it.

K-swap, not a consideration. Too much money, and, well, if I wanted a fast car I would've gotten something different (no disrespect to you Ecky!!).

A HCH1's 1.3L is a consideration, maybe, if I get tired of the Insight's speed, or lack thereof. But if I can drive through the mountains on the tiny 1.0L and get 73.7 MPG, I don't see why.

The transmission swap would be for more linear gearing + better FE. My thinking is, the more gears, the closer the spacing, the less wear on the clutch, the easier to drive, and the better the fuel economy if the final drive is tall.

CRZ's gearing:
1: 3.143
2: 1.870
3: 1.303
4: 1.054
5: 0.854
6: 0.689
FD: 4.294

With the Insight's final drive (3.21 I think?) RPMs will be reduced by 25%. The Insight's 5th gear of 0.71 will be replaced by a 6th gear of 0.689, which is slightly smaller (60 RPMs lower at my normal highway speeds)

2015 Fit's 6th gear is too short (0.727). 2.0L Civic's 6th gear is 0.686, so it's a consideration, but it seems like that would be more expensive and require more fabrication.

I mean, this is all more "dreaming" at this point.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

^^ One thing I forgot to mention on my earlier post, Ecky. I'm still running RE92s @ 60 PSI, so that probably helped FE compared to the Nokians I'm assuming you're running? I think you said you usually run them at 47 PSI?

--------------------

Ordering some goodies for the Insight here soon.

LED brake lights, CK-safe or whatever: https://www.amazon.com/Alla-Lighting-Extremely-7443-Replacement/dp/B07D9TDWS7/

LED running lights for up front: https://www.amazon.com/VehiCode-Super-Bright-Lumens-Yellow/dp/B07F2PY3ST/

Reason: Brighter output + lower voltage, helpful in EOC.

12V battery voltage & temperature monitor: https://www.amazon.com/DROK-180037-Temperature-Multimeter-Thermometer/dp/B00SXZAI4W/

Reason: Not much driving + cold temps + IMA disabled = good to keep tabs on my 12V status. It's a new battery (replaced < 1 month ago) but I want to be sure all is well.

Really appreciated the view out my panoramic mirror during the drive down here. Will be replacing my tacky driver's side mirror with a flat coroplast piece like the passenger side has, and will then attach a smaller mirror to it, something like this one: https://www.amazon.com/SEIKOSANGYO-CO-EW-69-Side-View-Adjustable-x/dp/B01CODEIKS/. That won't be until spring break though since I don't have access to my coroplast sheet, and it really isn't practical to have one on campus..

Currently averaging 33.1 MPG over 12.0 miles, all on campus driving with cold engine trips < 3 miles, plus about 10 minutes of idling to help jumpstart friends' cars. So my driving is about 40-ish MPG....not too bad considering most cars would be 15-20 MPG under the same driving, Prius maybe 25 MPG.

Still haven't filled up yet from my trip to college.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

LED brake lights and running lights installed. LED running lights aren't as bright as DRLs, but they're definitely brighter than stock. With stock bulbs I could barely tell they were on. The lens just isn't all that conducive for light output.

LED brake lights installed. Slightly brighter than stock, but not as much as claimed by the ad. However they have lower wattage, so I'm satisfied.

Not buying the 12V meter since the Scanguage will be able to display that.

Still averaging around 40 MPG on campus. Got ~ 60 MPG for the 3 miles to church and the 3 miles back. Cold engine pretty much any time I'm driving. Longest trip is <4 miles, and I only do that once a week. Hilly terrain, unfamiliar routes, this is sad! LMPG is back down to 62.5. Still haven't filled up since my drive down here from Michigan.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Guess what came yesterday!





Thank you again!

Still need to route the cable better; right now it's just draping over the steering wheel.

Not much going on with the car at present here at college. I've been researching and asking questions about the permanent bypass to the IMA (similar to Ecky's setup), but we'll see if I can get to that before spring break.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Update coming whenever I can get them mounted on my RE92s.

A very obvious hint:



Any guesses?

54 MPG average so far at college. I've used less than half a gallon in a month and have had no trips longer than 3.7 miles. Oh, and this probably includes about 20 minutes of idling to help jumpstart friends' vehicles. Oh, and it also includes an hour lesson teaching a friend how to start driving a manual. Not bad I'd say considering the conditions and all.

[samwichse]

You're mounting your re92's on a set of 4 space saver rims.

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by samwichse

You're mounting your re92's on a set of 4 space saver rims.

Yep, the Insight's space savers are alloy, aerodynamic, full size and weigh 4lbs less than the normal rims.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Yep! Was hoping to put in a call to one of the local shops Thursday or Friday to schedule an appointment for Monday or Tuesday to have them mounted, but things came up and I wasn't able to, and both of the more highly reviewed places are closed on the weekend.

Paint ideas? Don't particularly want to keep the gaudy yellow, although I won't be able to paint them until spring break most likely.

Silver would look good, from the pics that The Donkey CRX did on his, but it seems like silver is really easy to mess up?

Gunmetal gray was another color I was considering.

Or I might chicken out and go black. It doesn't look as bad as I thought it would. Painting the OEM rims black would be atrocious IMO.

Here's a pic of a red Insight that someone over on Insight Central mounted space savers on and painted them black: https://www.insightcentral.net/forum...p;d=1508162393

[Ecky]

I had my winter rims powdercoated grey as part of a repair and it looks great (I think). Powdercoating is far more durable, but also more expensive.

I did some rims in silver which came out well but I also did a lot of prep on them.

HX rims before and after paint:





^ After ~2 years the paint is chipping and flaking in places already, but they still look half decent.

Powdercoated grey winter rims:

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Powdercoating would be great, but I don't know if I can justify the expense. Isn't it like $280 for a set of 14" rims generally?

On the other hand, I'm finally starting to figure out how to hypermile through the constantly hilly terrain here in Virginia. Most of my driving is the weekly 3.7 miles to church and back - about 1 mile of highway and 2.7 miles of stop-n-go, with many hills and pretty much nothing flat. Broke over 60 MPG for the first time today on that trip -- 65 MPG on the way there and 64 MPG on the way back. It's pretty much futile to try to get the engine warmed up, so my key is to just not run the engine as much as possible. The entire route is basically either uphill or downhill, so I'm either climbing a hill at 25-50 MPG or coasting down a hill with the engine off. EOC to all lights. Also killing the engine whenever I approach a light to make a turn, and restarting the engine after completing the turn -- always killing the engine before entering the intersection, not in the middle of the intersection. Hoping to break over 70 MPG for that trip when the weather warms and I perfect my driving style for it. Temps were only 33 degrees here for the drive. IMA still disabled.

On my few other drives the Insight is easily maintaining 80-125 MPG on the "flats", depending on whether they're slightly inclined or slightly declined. Apparently flat roads don't exist here.

If I was an extreme die-hard I'd buy a bike to go to and from church in, but considering I've barely used more than a dollar of gas in 5 weeks, I'll give myself the luxury of driving. Plus, it's pretty much just cold, rainy, and wet here, and who wants to bike in that when driving comes down to a meager $0.04/day?