Introducing Hermann - no really... - Page 18 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Arragonis · 12-09-2013, 04:55 AM

If I was going alone then I could sleep in the car as is and carry everything I would need in the space remaining.

I can dream...

freebeard · 12-09-2013, 05:24 PM

Quote:

I can dream...

The last thing I just told my neighbor: "If we didn't laugh we'd be crying".

I was thinking primarily about the improvement in fuel mileage, and casting about for a secondary usage. Signage? A kennel?

If I made that run, I'd want to do it in something like this:

/kidding.

Arragonis · 12-13-2013, 05:00 AM

Dammit - dipped beam headlight bulb gone. It has HIDs so they are spendy bulbs ~£30-50 each or £56 for a pair as a kit.

freebeard · 12-13-2013, 12:59 PM

I thought those were long-lived. Are you sure it's not the ballast?

As a point of comparison my 1971 VW, over 1905 miles in 2012 and 2200 so far this year, averaged 33mpg. Non-Imperial. It doesn't ride as nice though.

Arragonis · 12-13-2013, 01:55 PM

They could be the originals and they are on all the time (daylight lights - not LED DRLs) - ordered a pair of bulbs to try which should be here tomorrow - I have to remove half of the front of the car to get at them though...

EDIT - Decent figures for a carb fed air coolled VW above.

freebeard · 12-13-2013, 10:45 PM

Thanks. It's stock except for the lower [stiff!] front McPherson struts, the cryogenically-tempered brake parts and an electronic ignition that is a billet aluminum housing full of Ford parts.

It's sneaking up on 100,000 miles. Over 40 years that's 2500 miles/yr since new. I'm running at 80% of that.

nemo · 12-14-2013, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arragonis

They could be the originals and they are on all the time (daylight lights - not LED DRLs) - ordered a pair of bulbs to try which should be here tomorrow - I have to remove half of the front of the car to get at them though...

Be sure to check the owners manual. Thought I needed to the same on my car, instead you loosen one bolt and the headlights slide forward.

Joggernot · 12-14-2013, 09:56 AM

Remember to use alcohol to wipe them down before installation and latex gloves when doing the install. I've watched auto store employees take them out of the box while holding the bulb with their fingers to show me they were good. That's when I started wiping them down thoroughly before installation.

Arragonis · 12-15-2013, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemo

Be sure to check the owners manual. Thought I needed to the same on my car, instead you loosen one bolt and the headlights slide forward.

Thanks - The owners manual says

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audi

Go to dealer, spend lots of money

However the internet is wise and there are instructions on how to do it. There is one US guy who has done it (PDF) on a 3.2 Petrol V6 model (mine is the 2.7 V6 TDI) which is quite extensive and I only needed to vary slightly from his plans. The only real changes were the lack of a fuel pipe on the left side of the engine bay (looking in) and the addition of an extra clip to the air filter box.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joggernot

Remember to use alcohol to wipe them down before installation and latex gloves when doing the install. I've watched auto store employees take them out of the box while holding the bulb with their fingers to show me they were good. That's when I started wiping them down thoroughly before installation.

Thanks too - I used rubber gloves myself but there isn't a whole lot of need to touch the bulb glass area at all even if I hadn't. The PDF linked above suggests using them due to the voltage used to power the HIDs.

I would suggest the store guys were muppets and ask them to start again with a fresh pair and not touch them this time.

Arragonis · 12-23-2013, 06:30 AM

Right need to do some modding! One issue with Hermann is the time he takes to get warm - not surprising as its a big, Diesel engine. So want to help him get warmer quicker. A heater will be pondered later in the year, for now I'm going for the lower cost option of grill blocking. This is the "Goatee" at the front.

Pretty much all of the fuzz area is open which is a lot. Blocking is going to have to be from the front as there is zero access behind without removing loads of stuff. Plan would be to block the upper section (above the place) first and then the lower one - leaving a gap for the CAI which is just above the OOOOs in the slam panel.

I'm thinking either Correx (Coroplast here) and gaffer tape or something clear and some neat use of zip ties.

Or indeed any other ideas ?

EDIT - One other idea already pondered is pipe insulation in the openings of the grill ?