Swapping a TDI engine into a 1st gen Insight

[ciderbarrel]

Originally Posted by Flakbadger

Maybe I'm missing something, but you said on your website that the Insight was returning 60something MPG as it stands now, with no hypermiling.
Why destroy it to put in a diesel engine? Is it really going to be that much more efficient? With driving style alone you could put a manual-trans Insight into the 70MPG range without much difficulty. Is the hassle of installing a TDI engine really going to return that much more impressive MPG?

Moving from 60 MPG to 70 MPG doesn't save that much fuel

60 MPG = 1.666666(repeating) G/100M
70 MPG = 1.428571(repeating) G/100M
That saves 0.238095(repeating) gallons per 100 miles

That is the same savings as moving from 20 MPG to 21 MPG
20 MPG = 5 G/100M
21 MPG = 4.761904(repeating) G/100M
Difference of 0.238095(repeating)

[pete c]

It will be quick and efficient, but, the ALH lump probably weighs a good bit more than the original engine, so it just might handle like crap.

Good to hear you are utilizing the original driveline as it would be a shame to chop up a functioning insight, just for this project.

[gtmotor]

Originally Posted by pete c

It will be quick and efficient, but, the ALH lump probably weighs a good bit more than the original engine, so it just might handle like crap.

Good to hear you are utilizing the original driveline as it would be a shame to chop up a functioning insight, just for this project.

Yeah, the VW components weigh almost 400 lbs more than the Honda ones they are replacing. It'll likely never handle as well as a stock Insight no matter how much I re-engineer the suspension geometry and mess around with adjusting it.

If I want handling... I can go to my other lightweight car that wears my screen name as it's license plate

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Even with a weight balance not so favorable as it would be with a 3-cyl, a Diesel into an aerodynamic and light body is always at least interesting to see

[brucepick]

The Insight's aerodynamics are a significant improvement over the Beetle's and will help a lot, especially when in go-fast mode.

[jakobnev]

Why not challenge yourself and install the TDI into the rear end of the car?

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by ciderbarrel

Moving from 60 MPG to 70 MPG doesn't save that much fuel

60 MPG = 1.666666(repeating) G/100M
70 MPG = 1.428571(repeating) G/100M
That saves 0.238095(repeating) gallons per 100 miles

That is the same savings as moving from 20 MPG to 21 MPG
20 MPG = 5 G/100M
21 MPG = 4.761904(repeating) G/100M
Difference of 0.238095(repeating)

You're right, why bother trying to hypermile at all, right?


EDIT: It just doesn't add up to enough savings to justify it...?

[RiderofBikes]

I would think, even if you were to put the TDI into the insight, its still interesting. Also just with the drag decrease from the beetle>insight change, you could possibly have a mpg increase larger than just 10mpg, weather its really Worth the effort or not... Its all in good fun.

Or better yet, TDI>Lotus with gear mods and possibly get 40+mpg while retaining Sport functionality(Im pretty sure i have seen this lotus on another forum before when i looked up Rear diffussers for inspiration)

Or turn the beetle into a sleeper street car, and do some aeromods

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by jakobnev

Why not challenge yourself and install the TDI into the rear end of the car?

I'll second that. A mid-engined RWD Insight with the TDI could be a nice sleeper

[ciderbarrel]

Originally Posted by Flakbadger

You're right, why bother trying to hypermile at all, right?


EDIT: It just doesn't add up to enough savings to justify it...?

The figure for the national average for regular gas that I found says it is $3.642.

A difference of 0.23805(repeating) gallons/100M means if you drive x miles, you have a fuel savings of:
5000 miles a year: 11.90261(repeating) gallons, saving $43.35 a year
10000 miles a year: 23.80523(repeating) gallons, saving $86.70 a year
15000 miles a year: 35.70785(repeating) gallons, saving $130.05 a year

The point of my math lesson was that not all MPGs are equal. It is a measurement of distance travelled over a set volume of fuel. A linear measurement of fuel consumption is gallons per 100 miles, a measurement of fuel used over a set distance.

I have taken my Mustang from 20.5 MPG (4.8780(repeating) G/100M) to 23.5 MPG (4.2553 G/100M) (In my most recent tanks after removing the CAI). My 3 MPG savings, (about 0.6227 G/100M) is actually 2.6 times more of a fuel savings of someone gaining 10 MPG from 60 to 70. I drive it about 6000 miles a year, so I am going to save $136.07 if I can keep that average up for a year. Since I'm getting over 23 MPG in winter, I feel like I can do it. Maybe hit 25 MPG (4.0 G/100M) this summer.

Why am I obsessed with G/100M? I thought about trading in my Mustang for a new Dart Aero (1.4L Turbo) , and my monthly payments (vs what I still owe on the Mustang) would increase a greater amount that I would save in fuel. I don't try to hypermile to save the world, just my wallet.

After I own the Mustang free and clear, that'll be a different story...