improving mpg's with led taillights?

[jakobnev]

There are LED DRL-kits sold that meet the legal requirement, RL is the code IIRC.

Here is my car with such a kit installed where the ((to me) useless) fog lights used to be:


Only uses ~8 watts instead of the ~130 watts i needed before. (For Sweden, Finland etc. Biltema sells relatively cheap kits)

Update: Just searched, and it seems they don't sell them anymore.

[Daschicken]

Shortly after I got my car, I pulled the fuse to disable the DRLs. Didn’t notice any obvious mileage improvement, although I bet having those DRLs on was keeping the alternator charging all the time. I sort of recently figured out that my car has a smart alternator that trickle charges during no-load conditions and charges during load or deceleration. Honda switched from incandescent to LED tail lights for the 2006+ accords among other things. No difference noted in the EPA ratings, but they sure do look cool!

You would be hard pressed to justify LED taillights on a return on investment scale.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by jakobnev

There are LED DRL-kits sold that meet the legal requirement, RL is the code IIRC.

Here is my car with such a kit installed where the ((to me) useless) fog lights used to be:


Only uses ~8 watts instead of the ~130 watts i needed before. (For Sweden, Finland etc. Biltema sells relatively cheap kits)

Update: Just searched, and it seems they don't sell them anymore.

The problem I can see with those is getting pulled over for having your fog lights on (depending on local laws).

I used Phillips DRL8's previously cut into the bumper vents of a Mercedes van looked OEM and took ten years off the vans appearance.

[stovie]

I got a bunch of leds off of eBay for about $5-10 for 10 each!! I don't see much point in getting leds unless you plan on eliminating the alternator which would increase battery life significantly!!

[Shortie771]

So, I've thought of doing this as well. I already have about 90% of my interior lights switched over to LEDs and I plan to install LEDs for all of my exterior lights. This thread was started in 2009... Does anybody know if they have made LED headlights that are actually bright enough for headlights yet? If not, I plan to switch to HID projectors. Yes, expensive and won't do much (if anything for FE) but it's a safety thing for me. My housings just do not provide enough focused light even with good quality bulbs.

Also is there any way of changing to a smaller, more efficient alternator (I don't like the idea of not having one) or clutched one?

[stovie]

Originally Posted by Shortie771

So, I've thought of doing this as well. I already have about 90% of my interior lights switched over to LEDs and I plan to install LEDs for all of my exterior lights. This thread was started in 2009... Does anybody know if they have made LED headlights that are actually bright enough for headlights yet? If not, I plan to switch to HID projectors, my housings just do not provide enough light even with good quality bulbs.

I found some headlight replacements on eBay for about $35 a pair that I'm going to test out in a week or two if your willing to wait and see how it goes??

[Stubby79]

Yes, they make LED headlights that are bright enough...they're just not the cheap cheap ones. Stovie's price is about right for a starting point. Look for the ones with the braided "ribbon" heatsinks at that price point. A user on another forum showed a regular bulb in one headlight vs said LED against a wall at a distance, and the LED was a bit (but noticeable) brighter.

Remember that's internet advice. YMMV. ;-)

[Shortie771]

Originally Posted by stovie

I found some headlight replacements on eBay for about $35 a pair that I'm going to test out in a week or two if your willing to wait and see how it goes??

Awesome, I can't wait to find out the results. Although I must warn you, eBay is not the best source for LEDs, in my experience. I changed all of my gauge cluster with eBay LEDs and they burned out in a few weeks. Replaced them with some quality ones from SuperBrightLEDs (more expensive) and they have been going strong for 2 years.My LED dome light from eBay lasted about 10 months and is now dead. Still need to replace that one.

[oil pan 4]

I use LED tail lights for 2 reasons.
They are brighter.
As part of an overall vehicle power consumption reduction plan.

[pete c]

I just don't see a ROI for tail lights other than they are brighter which has a safety/bling benefit. I will probably change the tail lights on my RV over simply because the old stock ones are notoriously weak.