Eco challnenge for 5000km with new 9th gen Civic
 

Hello, next week I will take part in unheard 5000 km eco trip. Throught Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Norway (Nordkapp), and donwards through Finland, Estonia, Latvia to Lithuania.

http://www.ekspedicija.eu/files/lit_map.jpg

At same time there will be 7 teams using 7 pcs Honda Civic gen 9th. But saddly all of them it will have automatic tranny. Engine 1,8. Power: 104kw/142hp/6500 rpm, torque: 174nm /4300 rpm. 5 speed gearbox with paddles on steering wheels. I never tried to hypermile wit AT, but i think that paddles will help to brake with engine.

Maybe you can advice or tell tips regarding automatic transmision?

You do not want engine braking. The trick with Honda automatics is to shift to neutral whenever you can. Put it in gear when you need power, but any other time you want neutral for longer rolling distance. Of course, when you NEED braking like down a mountain, use it. I expect you will see some mountains on that route.

Yes there will be mountains, roller coasters. But doesn't it harm to put in neutral, it is abo****ely new cars with 6000 miles on clock

Nice.

How many days is the planned schedule for the whole event?
Will you drive the whole race?

7 days. We will drive with my collegue

Some automatic transmissions with paddle shifters can be made to upshift sooner (manually) than the default programming when left in "Drive". That is definitely worth investigating.

by the way, is it worth to shutdown petrol engine on traffic lights?

Every hybrid does it. On non-hybrids, engine start-stop systems are becoming increasingly common as fuel saving devices.

Neutral takes away propulsion and possibly engine braking, not traction.

And if you need drive or engine braking, shift!

No. Engine revs have nothing to do with traction.

Neutral takes away engine braking and delays available forward power but cannot affect traction.

I disagree that a car in neutral is necessarily "out of control". If I need power or engine braking, I shift. I don't see the problem. I remain in control.

I'm not 100% sure where that old "neutral = out of control" warning came from. I come across it once in a while.

I suspect it dates back to the days when vehicles had relatively poor friction brakes and applying (riding) them during a long descent while in neutral (ie. minus engine braking) could have led to braking loss due to fade or boiling the brake fluid.

So tommorow will be start. Each day we will post blogs in our site. Please vote for our team "8000 RPM" - Honda Civic ekspedicija - 8000 RPM.
I will try to translate short review in English language + add photos to my blog.
Thanks for support!

Do you know already at which day you will be driving through Finland and do you have a night pause somewhere in Finland?

I believe its Sunday?

Anyway good luck and keep us posted. Do you have a link to your blog?

12.05.2012 Naantali, Matkailijantie 2, Naantali Spa Suite Hotel. We should be at 22:00, but I don't know if we will have time. Nex day start will be very early in the morning. Helsinki Lansisadama Check in 9:00. Meanwhile we are third ;[ 4.5/100km. Others are seriuosly winddrafting behind trucks ...

Good luck with the rally, Arturasz.



It's not really an issue for an experienced driver, it's just on the long or steep downhill sections that you must make sure to get in gear.

Older cars felt itchy when going through corners in neutral.
Modern cars on moders tyres feel OK in those conditions.

Vekke here is link woth our locations
SeeMe embedded
Päev 5
Soome:Ivalo – Rovaniemi – Kemi

Päev 6
Soome: Kemi – Oulu – Kokkola – Vaasa – Pori – Naantali

today on hilly distance 780 km, made average of 4.2/100 km

I think I will come at least to länsisatama, but maybe even naantali at the morning.

Wow! A trip to the Arctic circle for some midnight sun. Bring some bug spray.

vekke, in Nantali we will start very early in the morning, so be aware...

Thanks Vekke for short support yesterday. It is a pity that we hadn't time to agree how we will drive and who will show way. I was hurry to checkpoint so made few mistakes (actually these are only ones during whole 5000 km). It is also nice to meet you, but again we needed to go on board of ferry. It was nice to talk with you more.

By the way, I tried to tailgaite you, but Scangauge showed no gains tailgaiting your modified Lupo :thumbup: