EcoModder's 20 most popular topics/threads of 2020! - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

MetroMPG · 01-19-2021, 03:06 PM

It's time for another re-cap!

Note: As with previous years, the query to find these threads was expanded to include ones that were started in Nov & Dec of the previous year, so as not to exclude hot topics that got started late in the year.

Notable this year:

It seems like modding activity was generally down in 2020. (I'm guilty of that -- sidelined by non-automotive projects.)
More than a few longtime members have become YouTube creators, and dropped by to share/promote their ecomodding-related videos.
2020 was the first year that a build thread was so active that it appeared on two years' lists! (M_a_t_t's Mercury Tracer project)

See also:

Without further ado...

1) What did you do to/with your vehicle today?

This isn't strictly an ecomodding thread, but a catch-all for any of the various things people are doing to & with their vehicles.

15299 views ... 314 replies ... latest post
Started May 6, 2020, by California98Civic in Success Stories

2) California to ban selling new gas-powered cars by 2035

You can question the likelihood of this actually coming to pass, but there's no arguing this type of decision is a growing trend.

6415 views ... 311 replies ... latest post
Started Sep 24, 2020, by mpg_numbers_guy in The Lounge

3) A better alternator delete

Daox shows off his latest version of this MPG-boosting modification.

10243 views ... 140 replies ... latest post
Started Oct 22, 2019, by Daox in EcoModding Central

4) I just bought Canada's cheapest 3-cylinder Mitsubishi Mirage. EcoMods now in progress...

The 2014+ Mirage is the spiritual successor to the Chevy Metro: affordable, lightweight, with an efficient 3-cylinder engine. MetroMPG jumped at the chance to snap up this cheap 2014 scratch-n-dent special.

He's since sold it and bought yet another one.

8362 views ... 98 replies ... latest post
Started Nov 14, 2019, by MetroMPG in General Efficiency

5) I want to build a 100-mpg car (and I want it to look vintage)

Can you succesfully combine old school looks with new school efficiency?

6104 views ... 196 replies ... latest post
Started Oct 1, 2020, by sgtlethargic in Aerodynamics

6) Friendly Wager: 60 mpg 95 Mercury Tracer

Just how far can you push a Tracer with an automatic transmission?

13110 views ... 185 replies ... latest post
Started Oct 15, 2019, by M_a_t_t in EcoModding Central

7) Engineering Explained: Why Teslas Are Bad at Towing

Many factors to consider here for all EV's, not just Teslas. Better trailer design could go a long way to solving the problem

5565 views ... 180 replies ... latest post
Started Jan 4, 2020, by aerohead in Fossil Fuel Free

8) White Lightning (Nissan Leaf) Build Thread

Flakbadger is aeromodding a Nissan leaf to squeeze out ever more miles per kilowatt hour.

6425 views ... 95 replies ... latest post
Started Feb 20, 2020, by Flakbadger in Fossil Fuel Free

9) My Green Skoda Fabia (VW Polo) R3 CRTDI - finally smashed the 3L / 80MPG barrier

GreenTDI documents the MPG optimization of a very versatile & efficient car.

8009 views ... 147 replies ... latest post
Started Apr 24, 2020, by GreenTDI in Success Stories

10) Eco off-road on a budget? Or destroying a Prius, you decide.

What would you do if you want a light off-roader for camping adventures, but you also want great fuel economy?

6118 views ... 80 replies ... latest post
Started May 19, 2020, by bobo333 in EcoModding Central

11) My new way of measuring on-road drag

The ongoing challenge of DIY aero mods is how to measure their effect. Here's another approach.

5207 views ... 134 replies ... latest post
Started Apr 28, 2020, by JulianEdgar in Aerodynamics

12) Shifting question: First second then fifth, or use every gear?

An eco-driving question: what's the best way to go through the gears while accelerating? Is the answer different for different vehicles?

4030 views ... 47 replies ... latest post
Started Nov 29, 2019, by Spaghetti Man in Hypermiling / EcoDriver's Ed

13) CNBC Says only racing enthusiasts buy manuals, let’s correct them

New vehicles with manual transmissions are rapidly going extinct in North America, and declining elsewhere. The media usually get the reasons wrong.

And here's a related thread that busts the myth that modern automatics are the more efficient choice:

Shift points: EPA testing of manual transmissions (why beating MT ratings is easier)

2241 views ... 98 replies ... latest post
Started Jul 28, 2020, by rmay635703 in The Lounge

14) The Dutch 100MPG(?) Peugeot 106

"For a major Dutch magazine, we're investigating how much more efficient a current petrol car can be when we do some compromises to design and comfort."

Some really well-done modifications here!

3446 views ... 23 replies ... latest post
Started Jan 3, 2020, by Dizono in Introductions

15) Aero Crosstour- Squeezing blood from a stone

Chonk Master set a relatively modest ecomodding goal of increasing MPG by 16% to increase his Honda Crosstour V6 from 21 to 25 MPG US.

3502 views ... 66 replies ... latest post
Started Apr 7, 2020, by Chonk_Master in Aerodynamics

16) CVT's (non-hybrid) = fewer opportunities for fuel-cut mode (DFCO) when coasting?

More and more automatic transmissions are CVT's. Here's one difference that affects eco-driving tactics.

3081 views ... 51 replies ... latest post
Started Feb 28, 2020, by MetroMPG in Hypermiling / EcoDriver's Ed

17) Box van rear end mod

What would be your first step to improve the aerodynamic of a delivery van?

2616 views ... 72 replies ... latest post
Started Jun 18, 2020, by Engeu1 in Aerodynamics

18) General auto repair questions answered

Andy (me and my metro) is a life long professional mechanic and is generously offering advice on auto and truck repair issues to EcoModder members in this thread.

Thanks, Andy!!

3055 views ... 70 replies ... latest post
Started Mar 17, 2020, by me and my metro in DIY / How-to

19) My 40 MPG Corvette is going well but I need help

Video: Alex (legitstreetcars) has built a 40 MPG C5 Corvette that "sacrifices nothing."

2734 views ... 36 replies ... latest post
Started Nov 11, 2019, by legitstreetcars in EcoModding Central

20) The Impsight: My mischievous little devil of a car. ('00 Insight fixing and modifying)

Stubby79 picked up a new project eco-car and is documenting its revival: a dirt cheap 2000 Honda Insight

919 views ... 64 replies ... latest post
Started Oct 25, 2020, by Stubby79 in Hybrids

Bonus 21) 212cc $99 engine swap gives a new life to an old Honda Insight.

Lastly, and just for fun, a video that answers the question: what kind of fuel economy could you expect from swapping a tiny engine into one of the lightest & most aerodynamic mass production car bodies?

3067 views ... 59 replies ... latest post
Started Oct 6, 2020, by fujioko in EcoModding Central

Cd · 01-19-2021, 04:14 PM

Is there a way to search for images in a thread ?
I know there is the "Recent posts / pics ", but can you search a single thread for images ?

Stubby79 · 01-19-2021, 04:36 PM

Oh dear. I got on the list again...I must talk too much.

freebeard · 01-19-2021, 05:27 PM

Quote:

...can you search a single thread for images

Conversely, can you extract the text from a multi-page thread automagically?

MetroMPG · 01-19-2021, 07:56 PM

There's no built-in way to find images in a thread.

But you can search for text within any individual thread via Search this Thread at the top of each thread page.

freebeard · 01-19-2021, 09:26 PM

You search and find word matches, at least as Google allows. Can you scrap text less the headers and footers and user's flair, without visiting each page and concatenating them?

MetroMPG · 01-19-2021, 10:21 PM

FYI: there are 2 distinct search options on the site: Google (what you get when you type something into the search box at the top left of each page) and vBulletin.

If you use the Advanced or Search this Thread links, it's a direct vBulletin query on the DB.

M_a_t_t · 01-21-2021, 12:01 PM

I suppose that means I should change the title underneath my username to "Legend"

.