Project "Save the Flea!" Winter beater: 2007 Civic 1.8L, 5-speed

[xavi]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Received this message from another Civic 1.8 owner...

I'm honestly not sure. How can I tell?

according to wiki USA and Canada is R18A1:
Honda R engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
If it is be aware of some cracking engine blocks issues made in usa.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Correct.

I'll admit I'm not familiar with the eco mode of this engine, though mine also supposedly has it.

If it's true that pumping losses are dramatically reduced, then there should be less benefit to using high load/low RPM acceleration techniques compared to a typical gasoline engine.

that's what I think too. to keep the eco cam in use it's easy to stay at 2-2.500 rpms low load.

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

We'd need to see a BSFC map (brake specific fuel consumption) for this engine to be able to say for sure, but it's likely that at low speeds P&G would still win (it does even in Honda's lean-burn cars).

my daily comute is very short, just like my glides... still, can bring best FE...

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm not sure, but that would be excellent. It may also be possible to program the SG2 to display when the eco-cam is active, but I'm not sure that info is communicated to the OBD-II port.

It's possible, I had it already in my car, but the wire was from out of the car, next weekend will put it nicely from the engine bay to the cabin...
there is a diy on a 8th generation civic forum that explain very well...
I already have a SGII
doesn't have the logg feature though, but for what I can see when entering i-vtec eco cam, the MAP get's low (sure cause the drive by wire opens wide to reduce pumping loses minimizing pressure), the mpg high, and my favorite way to confirm is the IGN get's very high (retarded ignition=best fuel economy)... TPS and LOD must be low, thats a condition to happen, also in my 6MT just works in 3, 4, 5 and 6 gear... In your 5MT must be 3,4 and 5. also the engine must be warm (1 or 2 miles is enough) and if you are off the gas pedal it's off. on coast you don't need it right?
still, looking to a number in SG isn't so visual has a small led lighting next to the SG...

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

More info... time to do some reading...

it says from 1000 rpms, but is only above 1500 rpms...

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Technical Overview of Honda's new R18 i-VTEC Implementation

[MetroMPG]

EcoModder thread with information about wiring a light to indicate R18 i-vtec (eco-cam) operation:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ator-7820.html

[xavi]

I had it connected to the solenoid, but I will try to connected the ECM side of the same wire that goes to the solenoide, cause the solenoid is attched to the engine block so it suffer from vibrations... and if I connect it to the ECM it stays still...
must be a 3-4v led so it doesn't suck all the volts...
check it out:
i-vtec solenoid wiring help - Page 2 - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum

[MetroMPG]

When you had it connected, did it work for you?

[MetroMPG]

So, as with other load-sensitive engine efficiency modes (like lean burn or cylinder deactivation), modifying the car to reduce rolling & aero drag expands the eco-cam "window of operation" and overall fuel economy: LRR tires, tire pressure and aero mods for example.

More than it would with "normal" engines.

[xavi]

the light works for me...
also when it turns off, passing from the eco cam profile to the normal output cam we notice a little bump in acelaration...
when entering in eco cam I can feel a thing, but out it's noticeable...

[xavi]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

So, as with other load-sensitive engine efficiency modes (like lean burn or cylinder deactivation), modifying the car to reduce rolling & aero drag expands the eco-cam "window of operation": LRR tires, tire pressure and aero mods for example.

never tought of that like that, but yes, any mod that makes low load more steady you can maintain eco cam longer and get better FE...

but it is much more easy to keep it in eco cam by going higher in rpm (more hp/torq available)
so this mode is "made for" cruising at high speeds, only after 3.500 rpms it turns off...

under 2k rpm any hill will make you go off eco cam, cause need more load, that will disengage it...

[MetroMPG]

It might be easier to keep it on the eco cam at lower RPM by using a "throttle smoothing" modification as was done in the 1st generation Insight:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tor-25641.html

[xavi]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

It might be easier to keep it on the eco cam at lower RPM by using a "throttle smoothing" modification as was done in the 1st generation Insight:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tor-25641.html

have watched a "3 drive throttle controller" just yesterday:
Throttle Controller "3-drive Series" 3-drive · COMPACT | PIVOT

you can see some vids with civics on youtube...

it connects to the drive by wire sensor in the gas pedal, and has the sport and eco feature that gives fast or slow response from the gas pedal...
that "compact" in the link is more eco, cause top eco mode, never goes above 80% throttle even with the pedal full apllied..

I only lost my hope on it, first because it seems to expensive, second because you also have to connect it to obd port, wich I have already in use with SG...

[MetroMPG]

Cool beans! I just saw the economy cam profile in action.

The electrical connector for the economy VTEC actuator is easily accessible behind the right side of the valve cover. So I connected my voltmeter to the connector's black wire with white stripe (positive) and to ground and went out for a short drive.

Observations:

• The eco cam profile is only active in 3rd, 4th & 5th gears
• Coolant temp must be over 145 F (edit added Nov. 23)
• It remains active through gear changes (upshifts)
• I saw it working as low as 1000 RPM
• It de-activates under deceleration fuel cut-off (DFCO)
• It stays active up to relatively high engine load -- with gradual throttle application -- up to ~65% load, according to the ScanGauge.
• This VTEC transition is much more subtle than the lean burn transition in my 2000 Insight. I played a little game where, without looking at the voltmeter/indicator, I tried to guess whether I could feel the in/out transitions and missed a bunch of them.
• I wasn't able to see the MPG difference on / off the eco cam lobes, because I wasn't driving on a flat road. Maybe a subject for a future test.

I may just have to dig up an LED and make myself an eco light.