Hello from France !
Hi !
I live in Toulouse, France. I'm not actually an "ecomodder" as I'm not into modifying my cars. However I am into hypermiling driving, so let's say I'm ecomodding my driving technique. :) My rides : - 2007 2.0L Mazda MX5 (6-speed manual). Average around 8.6L/100km (27 USmpg) (including a few track days), but these days, with warm weather and less traffic due to holidays I am around 7.5L/100 (31 USmpg) - 2007 1.3L (87 hp) Toyota Yaris (5-speed manual). It's mainly driven by my girlfriend so I can't get good tank mpg. :D Our average for this car is 6.8L/100km (34 USmpg). These days I'm driving the car ; its computer tells me I'm doing 5.6L/100 which is probably close to a real 6L/100 (39 USmpg) - 2004 0.7L Turbo Smart Roadster (6-speed robotised gearbox). Average 5.75L/100 (almost 41mpg), but my last tank was only 5.1L/100 ! (46mpg). I equipped this one with a Scangauge II. Except in August when everybody is on vacation, I cannot do real good mpg because my commute is mainly stop and go trafic. But still, hypermiling techniques do improve mileage even in bad conditions ! :) I have always been into smooth driving and anticipation, but I learned many things reading this forum. For instance, the pulse and glide (even though I don't switch engine off), and more widely the general idea that coasting in neutral is more efficient than in gear, even with fuel cut-off. So thank you ! :thumbup: Last but not least, I'm in the process of buying a 2000 Honda Insight to replace the Smart ! :cool: However, they are not available in France, and very rare and expensive in Germany ; so I had my brother who lives in UK buy one for me. Steering wheel on the wrong side, but this should not affect mileage. :p So my brother is now driving a 2000 blue Insight, with only 80 000 miles but original battery. Problem is, now that he is driving it, he does not want to give it to me anymore. :D So I might get the Insight in a few months, I am not in a hurry, I like the Smart. :) |
Welcome to the site. Nice little fleet you have there.
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Bonjour, Toulouse! Bienvenue.
I agree - quite a fun collection of vehicles. You are going to have a blast with the Insight -- and there are a few modifications you can make to improve its efficiency that are directly tied to driving (engine kill switch/"Forced Auto Stop" mod; clutch switch IMA-inhibit mod). Keep us posted! |
Welcome!!!!
pump up the psi to 40+!!! |
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My brother was afraid about being bored driving the Insight, and now he has so much fun he wants to keep it ! So I think it will be fun. Concerning the mods, I won't do them, but my brother is really thinking about it, and he is much better at modifying cars than I am. I read about the clutch switch, I know what an engine kill switch is, but what is the "forced auto stop" mod ? Considering the engine kill switch, I'm worried about safety, mainly considering power brakes. Quote:
(I suppose that I'm thinking too much, for the kill switch and the tire pressure. :p ) But yes I should also put some extra pressure in the other cars too. :) |
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Cool ! Then it sounds really interesting.
Thanks, I'll try to convince my brother. ;) I will dig into InsightCentral forum to find out how to perform this mod :) |
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News with the Smart :
According to Scangauge I'm currently on a 4.5L/100km tank ! (52 US mpg) :) First tanks were around 5.8L/100km (40mpg), last one was 5.0L (47mpg) Changes between those tanks : - warmer weather :cool: (but not much, this summer is really bad in France ; maybe 10°C more today than in April when I bought the car) - new oil & oil filter (5W30); - new air filter (old one was really dirty !); - tire pressure from 2bars to 2.2 then 2.4bars (29 to 32 and 35 psi); - smoother driving, slower acceleration, lower rpm gearchange :snail:; and probably the most important: - "summer traffic", MUCH less traffic during July and August compared to rest of the year. I didn't measure every improvement separately ; I will see in September if I go back to 5.8L/100 with traffic jams... :( The really smooth accelerations and low-rpm gearchange do not seem to make that much difference, according to Scangauge : last week I had one commute when I was in a hurry, and had something to hold in hand (I know, it's bad :o ), so I push a little harder and used the "auto" gearbox mode, which shifts around 3500rpm. Still did 4.2L/100km (56mpg) on that commute ! The new oil & filters did not change my highway fuel economy either : 5.9L/100 (40mpg) on 80% highway tanks, both before and after the oil and filter changes. The car has short gears (its half sports car/half city car, definitely not a highway car) and quite bad aerodynamics, despite very small front area. Plus, I'm driving at 130km/h (81mph) (I know, this is bad also :o)... I have the "roadster" version (blue one on the picture below) ; the "roadster coupé" (grey one) has a better shape, basically it has a factory kammback added. :) . According to Wikipedia, Cd value is 0.41 for the Roadster, and 0.38 for the Roadster Coupé ! EDIT: I found the CdA also ! 6.41 sq ft = 0.596 m2 for the Roadster Coupé; 6.94 sq ft = 0.645 m2 for the Roadster. http://bestartcarz.com/data_images/g...r-coupe-11.jpg |
What is the factory-specified oil, 5W30 or 5W20? If possible, use the lightest weight oil that does not cause "smoking" from exhaust pipe...and, preferrably, 100%-synthetic oil.
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Don't remember exactly, but there is a table of different viscosity depending on external temperature, so basically you can choose between pretty much any viscosity, at least in South of France weather (usually from -5°C to +35°C).
It is also supposed to respect a specific Mercedes-Benz norm. I think it is more commercial than technical, but I found one with the MB norm, not more expensive than the others. I chose the cheapest 100% synthesis from a big brand ; it was 5W30. Also, these very small and quite high-revving engines are not specially known for their durability, they tend to wear. And there is no oil thermometer but it seems that oil runs quite hot. Si I did not want something too light. Is there a risk that a too thin oil would be too liquid to be efficient ? And lead to premature engine wear ? |
Back to the increase of mpg, one more change occured with the Smart : the A/C broke down, so not using it increases mpg !
But as it's a convertible I didn't use it that much. |
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