Sparkle the EP3 - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

compdrag · 10-03-2016, 11:57 PM

Alright got some plastic dip I ran out from other projects. Makes it pop a bit more, and I'm glad I got the nose down a little more without having to lower it yet. That is coming soon I hope.

Before the dip

After

compdrag · 10-03-2016, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ecky

Although it won't improve your fuel economy, there's an easy way to clean up your headlights.

I had a bottle of the lens clarifying compound in this kit:

https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-T-...fying+compound

What I did was sand my headlights with 1000, then 2000 grit to get the old yellowed clearcoat off, then put some of the polishing compound onto the back of a wet dish sponge and got them nice and transparent. If you don't put some sort of coating on them, they'll yellow again rapidly. I originally tried diluted spar urethane, and then later a non-yellowing spraypaint clear coat, but neither worked very well. I ended up buying a tube of opti-lens which worked great and has stayed crystal clear:

https://www.amazon.com/OPT-OPT-OLC10...ords=opti-lens

Original headlights:

Cleaned up:

You could, of course, buy new headlights, but my Insight doesn't have any aftermarket options, and new OE units would be ~$4-500.

Thanks I'll look into that. Mine are looking pretty bad.

Joggernot · 10-04-2016, 08:58 AM

I now use 303 to coat the lens. We'll see how that works over time. It's a sunscreen and dries clear.

Ecky · 10-04-2016, 09:03 AM

^ I used Meguiar's headlight protectant for a while, which is basically a sunscreen. The opti-lens is a bit different though, it chemically reacts and bonds with the plastic to form an extremely hard oxidation-resistant shell.

compdrag · 10-04-2016, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ecky

^ I used Meguiar's headlight protectant for a while, which is basically a sunscreen. The opti-lens is a bit different though, it chemically reacts and bonds with the plastic to form an extremely hard oxidation-resistant shell.

How long have you had it on. Reading some of the reviews from amazon it isn't lasting as long as they say.

elhigh · 10-04-2016, 02:20 PM

I'm liking your ride, Comp. That new lip on the dam looks sharp.

You ain't the first guy to do that license plate trick, I chuckle every time I see one - it's a convenient little push in the right direction provided by the government. I just don't get the chance - no front plates in TN.

Ecky · 10-04-2016, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compdrag

How long have you had it on. Reading some of the reviews from amazon it isn't lasting as long as they say.

Probably about a year and a half now? The spar urethane clouded up in a few months, but I was still living in Florida at the time. There's not as much sunlight in Vermont.

EDIT: The tube is probably good for 20-30 applications though, so if/when it clouds up again, I'll hit it with some 2000 grit, polish, and recoat it. I expect it would probably take about 20 minutes if I don't let it go too far.

compdrag · 10-04-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elhigh

I'm liking your ride, Comp. That new lip on the dam looks sharp.

You ain't the first guy to do that license plate trick, I chuckle every time I see one - it's a convenient little push in the right direction provided by the government. I just don't get the chance - no front plates in TN.

Thanks,
Next step is to get the whole car squatted down a bit. Thinking of doing a 2.5 inch drop I know it says three is preferred, but there is less involved with a 2.5. Plus I'll get that extra half inch in clearance for all the speed bumps I have on base.

compdrag · 10-17-2016, 09:47 PM

Ok 2nd tank since the Holes in the rear bumper, and got 30.3MPG. The weather is getting a lot colder, and I didn't drive a lot of fully warmed up trips. Most trips were just to work which is a mile away. So she really never got to warm up and be efficient. Tomorrow I have to travel 160 miles to take a swim test so I will get really good highway MPG numbers with doing 320+ miles tomorrow. Best without the holes on a trip to Montana this summer was 32. I plan on blowing that out of the water.

compdrag · 10-18-2016, 05:24 PM

Well I finally scored the piece I have been trying to get for the passenger side mirror. I'll be doing a DIY soon on it for the EP3. Anyways after about a month and a half of searching for either a trashed side mirror or the piece it bolts up to I got one. Now to wait for it to show up so I can get to work on deleting it.