CRX HF EcoTurbo?

[office888]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

I know Daox is right about the financial cost of the turbo charger. It wouldn't pay for itself for a prohibitively long time, if ever. I just looked up the prices on these units. Not any cheaper than others I have causally researched. $2K - $3K is a lot to pay for a little more FE. Your earlier response raises questions too. You say you normally drive in the 1800-3500 RPM range. An HF has taller final drive gearing than the VX and so you might be driving at some high speeds to make 3500 rpms on the freeway. Not all that great for FE. Still, I don't think anyone would dispute that there would be some gains, with modest driving technique changes, and that you would also have access to the power you seem to want. If costs are not part of how you value the mod, go to it. And please post a build thread with testing of results. I know I'd like to read it.

I'm looking at:
$20 for the TD04-13G from a friend
~$40 in steel and bolts to fab up the adapter and exhaust flange (I weld)
~$100 in exhaust tubing between the downpipe and compressor-to-throttle-body pipe
~$80 in plumbing and adapters for the oil, plus welding a nipple to the pan
~Free chipsocket (Nothing my Weller WES51 can't handle)
~Free tuning (BRE)
~Keeping 240cc injectors, since the boost pressure is low

In short, there aren't a lot of expenses.

No fancy tuning needed.
No blowoff due to the low boost pressure.
No intercooler needed due to the high efficiency, and I don't care if I lose 15 hp due to heat soak
No whinebro fuel pump needed .


In short, for under $500, my car would actually be able to merge onto the highway.

Highway, I need to remember to pay attention to my RPM. I just know my fuel economy starts to drop off at about 68 mph. I think that's about 2500 rpm or so.

I have gotten 55 mpg with this car before. That won't be possible again until next summer though. Back to the snow tires.

Welcome to Michigan.

That reminds me, I need to do a block heater.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by office888

In short, for under $500, my car would actually be able to merge onto the highway.

That is an amazingly cheap set up. If you do this, contribute some real data to these discussions with some good testing, please? Could you get yourself a rigorously recorded baseline of mileage for a while before you install the turbo and then with the turbo installed? Drive it under similar conditions for a few weeks, before and after? I'd like to see what you get.

Originally Posted by office888

Highway, I need to remember to pay attention to my RPM. I just know my fuel economy starts to drop off at about 68 mph. I think that's about 2500 rpm or so.

That sounds about right, man. With your taller gearing, assuming that CRX engine is otherwise similar. On my car, with your gearing, I might expect the line to be at 2500 rpms.

Originally Posted by office888

I have gotten 55 mpg with this car before. That won't be possible again until next summer though. Back to the snow tires.

Welcome to Michigan.

That reminds me, I need to do a block heater.

I'd buy the turbo but do the block heater first. The block heater is certain to improve FE: http://www.metrompg.com/posts/warm-up-idling.htm.

[hondaguy72]

I say do it. Not only could you get better FE, especially highway, but the car would be more fun to drive. BTW are you sure you have 240cc injectors and not 190cc's???

[office888]

Originally Posted by California98Civic

That is an amazingly cheap set up. If you do this, contribute some real data to these discussions with some good testing, please? Could you get yourself a rigorously recorded baseline of mileage for a while before you install the turbo and then with the turbo installed? Drive it under similar conditions for a few weeks, before and after? I'd like to see what you get.

It shall be done. My results will be a little skewed though, I average about -5 mpg with snow tires.

Originally Posted by hondaguy72

I say do it. Not only could you get better FE, especially highway, but the car would be more fun to drive. BTW are you sure you have 240cc injectors and not 190cc's???

All 88-91 Civic/CRX to my knowledge are 240cc.