Calling Vx Owners! Would you trade for first gen Insight? - Page 5 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Ecky · 12-21-2018, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by live4soccer7

Thanks for the input and opinion. I'm use to slow, so I don't care. Who's the guy that turboed his insight? I'd actually be very interested in information on this.

Quite a few over on Insight Central have put on small turbos. It's a stout little engine and will handle low boost for many hundreds of thousands of miles reliably.

live4soccer7 · 12-21-2018, 06:18 PM

This information right here could definitely change my perspective on the car over long term. I'll be diggin in to this. The vx is absolutely stuck where it's at on power. There aren't any real engine modification you can do to help it out much without vastly decreasing efficiency.

turbo with LTO batts in the future could definitely be where I'm headed.

Ecky · 12-21-2018, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by live4soccer7

This information right here could definitely change my perspective on the car over long term. I'll be diggin in to this. The vx is absolutely stuck where it's at on power. There aren't any real engine modification you can do to help it out much without vastly decreasing efficiency.

turbo with LTO batts in the future could definitely be where I'm headed.

Using the stock engine and IMA, my bet is that the car would be downright fast with a small turbo (3-5psi boost), a lithium battery, and gears 1-5 from the Civic Hybrid gearbox (while keeping the Insight's final drive). Probably faster than most cars on the road, and would likely deliver well over 100mpg if you're plugging it in every night.

Of course, that's a lot of modifying.

live4soccer7 · 12-21-2018, 09:40 PM

I'm a bit curious, do you guys get some engine chatter for about 10 seconds when cold starting? It's about 35-40F here right now. It sounds great and quiet after that.

Also, is there no timing belt? I thought I read this somewhere.

Ecky · 12-21-2018, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by live4soccer7

I'm a bit curious, do you guys get some engine chatter for about 10 seconds when cold starting? It's about 35-40F here right now. It sounds great and quiet after that.

Also, is there no timing belt? I thought I read this somewhere.

Mine sounds like a sewing machine until it warms up. Seems to be very normal for these cars. Also, yes, timing chain which really lasts the life of the car, unlike VW timing chains.

live4soccer7 · 12-24-2018, 02:12 PM

Thanks, that's a little comforting. anyone know what specifically it is that makes the noise? Seems like it could be the actual chain. You would think if the valves were that noisy then they would keep making a little noise once it warmed up.

Ecky · 12-24-2018, 02:26 PM

I'm almost certain it's the valves. I couldn't tell you why, but all Insight's I've heard are noisy when cold, especially right after startup. The head is a good deal different than earlier Hondas - all of the valve seats are on roller bearings to reduce friction in the head, and the geometry of it all is different. I checked the adjustment on my valves, even, but they were still dead center of spec after close to 200k miles.

live4soccer7 · 12-24-2018, 02:37 PM

That's good to know. I won't waste my time checking the clearance then. It's only got 96k on it.

mpg_numbers_guy · 12-24-2018, 11:31 PM

I had the lifter valves adjusted for the first time after I bought my Insight just to be on the safe side, and so I could learn how to do it myself from watching. Even after 254K miles the valves were only slightly off spec.

Engine sounded almost the same after adjustment. Only a very slight reduction in "sewing machine" noise with all valves adjusted in spec.