Team Honda Thread

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by darcane

I am getting so I can keep it from dropping out of Lean Burn even while shifting.

Interesting - the Insight always drops lean burn whenever the clutch is pressed. It usually comes back fairly fast after a gear change, but sometimes I have to coax it (lift/play the throttle).

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by Weather Spotter

I was tossing around ideas, and came up with boat tails an more. All are welcome to join if you think you have a well modded car you can join us. I leave "enough" mods up to you.

With all due appreciation for Weather Spotter's efforts at building a team, I don't see this thread as a place to recruit members for it.

My suggestion: Start a thread for the Boat Tails and More team. Make it interesting so it attracts people to the team. I won't come over to recruit people for Team Honda in that thread.

[pletby]

Hey guys, looks like you've been busy while I was away. I'll have to catch up on reading shortly.

Just wanted to post that I've joined the lofty ranks of the grill block guys. I made a temporary one out of cardboard (what else?) and while doing that I came up with a thought on mounting one made of coroplast (what else?) flush to the bumper. I'll discretely screw several small wooden blocks around the inside of the opening set back just the thickness of one sheet of coroplast then screw the coroplast sheet to them. Sound clear as mud? I have a can of colour matching spray paint or I can paint it flat black. I'm thinking the black will look better.

That just leaves the top to brainstorm about.

It's getting colder here as fall deepens and I'm already noticing that good fuel economy equals a very slow warm up in the morning.

[Jakins]

Originally Posted by pletby

Hey guys, looks like you've been busy while I was away. I'll have to catch up on reading shortly.

Just wanted to post that I've joined the lofty ranks of the grill block guys. I made a temporary one out of cardboard (what else?) and while doing that I came up with a thought on mounting one made of coroplast (what else?) flush to the bumper. I'll discretely screw several small wooden blocks around the inside of the opening set back just the thickness of one sheet of coroplast then screw the coroplast sheet to them. Sound clear as mud? I have a can of colour matching spray paint or I can paint it flat black. I'm thinking the black will look better.

That just leaves the top to brainstorm about.

It's getting colder here as fall deepens and I'm already noticing that good fuel economy equals a very slow warm up in the morning.

That's the exact idea I had and did! It works great! But I went with the lightly less fuel efficient way of mounting it deeper in just because I like how it looks better. I'm thinking of a way to make rear fender skirts like that though that are quick release so I can take them off.

[pletby]

Hey guys. Posted what will probably be my best fill until spring: 52.58 mpg. I'm pulling down the team! Holy cow we're the best group running gas with four wheels! Rock on guys.

On the grille block front I'm liking how quickly the car warms up now. Defrost is meaningful fairly quickly. Next is getting the block heater cord repaired.

[MetroMPG]

Good news for Team Honda, bad news for Team Metro:

I'm probably going to live on the west coast for a couple of months this winter - not driving out. So I won't put the Firefly (Metro) on the road at all this year.

Still one fill-up to do in the Insight before I park it. Mid-90's MPG likely.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by pletby

Hey guys. Posted what will probably be my best fill until spring: 52.58 mpg. I'm pulling down the team! Holy cow we're the best group running gas with four wheels! Rock on guys.

On the grille block front I'm liking how quickly the car warms up now. Defrost is meaningful fairly quickly. Next is getting the block heater cord repaired.

Grill block:

My own 90-day avg mpg is also below the team score now. We picked up some high-scoring members over the past few months so that shifted my position within the team, probably did the same for you. Plus we have the seasonal effect, of course. Just the way it goes, that's all.

[pletby]

Spent the day on the car today. Oil change and coroplast grille block installed. It's pink for the month of October in recognition of Breast Cancer awareness (and that's the colour of the election sign I took!) After October it gets painted black. Will post pics when I get some daylight around here.

I also connected the block heater and 2Amp battery charger with a Y harness so I only have one plug to plug in. Sneaky place to put it: in the front bumper. There's a hole in the bottom of the front passenger side I can pull it out of to plug in, then stow in back in there for driving. Will post pics when I get some daylight around here. Stayed secure for 200km and a full on emergency stop and swerve as some idiot turned left in front of me and cut me right the heck off. His passengers were freaked out as I stopped inches from their door. Grrr. Woulda been ticked if they messed up that work I did today.

[brucepick]

Glad that turned out with no damage or injuries.
Hopefully a lesson learned.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by pletby

...on emergency stop and swerve as some idiot turned left in front of me and cut me right the heck off. His passengers were freaked out as I stopped inches from their door.

I would take odds that ecomodders/hypermilers are involved in fewer accidents, and less severe accidents, because speed and inattention to traffic are two of the biggest causes of accidents and we drive more slowly and with greater attention fixed on the road ahead (and behind!).

They were not paying attention and were perhaps in a hurry, whereas you saved their butts by paying closer attention and moving at a safer speed.