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Old 08-27-2014, 05:01 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Smile 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. 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 !

Last but not least, I'm in the process of buying a 2000 Honda Insight to replace the Smart !
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.
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.
So I might get the Insight in a few months, I am not in a hurry, I like the Smart.


Last edited by Kara; 08-27-2014 at 05:13 AM..
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Old 08-27-2014, 08:49 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Welcome to the site. Nice little fleet you have there.
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Old 08-27-2014, 11:56 AM   #3 (permalink)
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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!
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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Old 08-27-2014, 01:22 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Welcome!!!!

pump up the psi to 40+!!!
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MetroMPG: "Get the MPG gauge - it turns driving into a fuel & money saving game."

ECO MODS PERFORMED:
First: ScangaugeII
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...eii-23306.html

Second: Grille Block
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...e-10912-2.html

Third: Full underbelly pan
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...q45-11402.html

Fourth: rear skirts and 30.4mpg on trip!
http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post247938
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Old 08-27-2014, 04:10 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
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!
Thanks !

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:
Originally Posted by mcrews View Post
Welcome!!!!

pump up the psi to 40+!!!
I already tried 35 on the Smart instead of 29 ; but for more, I'm still afraid about a loss of grip...
(I suppose that I'm thinking too much, for the kill switch and the tire pressure. )
But yes I should also put some extra pressure in the other cars too.
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Old 08-27-2014, 04:13 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kara View Post
Considering the engine kill switch, I'm worried about safety, mainly considering power brakes.
That's the beauty of the mod: it retains the safety/functionality of the factory "autostop" feature. It will automatically restart the engine if the brake vacuum becomes gets low. Power steering is retained also.

Quote:
And particularly the kill switch will gain you more MPG than anything else. When you finally install it, you'll kick yourself for not having done it sooner. It preserves the car's Autostop logic/functionality, so the electric power steering remains active and the engine automatically restarts (quietly, via the IMA motor) simply by: 1) putting the shifter into any gear; 2) depleting brake vacuum; 3) pressing the accelerator. It's all very slick.
From this thread, today: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post442549
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



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www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
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Old 08-28-2014, 02:29 AM   #7 (permalink)
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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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Old 08-28-2014, 06:45 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Quote:
I will dig into InsightCentral forum to find out how to perform this mod
If you find it please post it here! I looked around on InsightCentral but didn't immediately see it and gave up . . . .
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Old 09-01-2014, 04:09 AM   #9 (permalink)
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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 (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 ;
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 ), 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 )...

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.


Last edited by Kara; 09-01-2014 at 04:23 AM..
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Old 09-01-2014, 01:36 PM   #10 (permalink)
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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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