vtec-e/lean burn driving techniques
 

So i'm pretty new to hypermiling a non-hybrid and i would like some info on using honda's vtec-e and lean burn modes to their maximum potential. Right now I try to stay in lean burn cruise as much as possible and try to accelerate right up untill vtec-e engages (usually around 3000 rpm). I also recently added a vacuum guage to help with the DWL technique and it seems to be working.

My Hx came with a shift light but under what conditions should i ignore the upshift?

Any information you guys have would be great

:turtle:


I plan on adding a few gauges to help monitor the engine better.

tps gauge
vtec-e engaged LED
dwell guage for monitoring lean burn
already have a vacuum gauge
oil pressure and temp

From what I've read (never actually drove a lean burn vehicle but talked with many who have them) a steady foot is really the key to driving a lean burn Honda. Anything more than a slight change in throttle position will kick you out of lean burn. Also, if you can slow down on the highway that'll help keep you in lean burn easier. Other than that, I'd still use high load / low rpm acceleration, and like you said, keep yourself under the VTEC engagement point.

Doesn't the HX have an "Eco" that glows green when LB is engaged?

One the Insight to keep it in LB you have to pretty much lock your foot and not run the ac. Any additional load will kick you out.

the Hx's in the US never came with a "Eco" light like some other countries did. I wonder if there is just somewhere you can tap into?

Any update on tapping into the "LB" light?

I haven't found any more info on it but I think easiest thing to do is to just swap the whole gauge cluster for one that has it. Should do the trick

I've also asked about a lean burn indicator.
Message board posts on this site and elsewhere came down pretty strongly saying that no USA-market HX cars had one. Probably no HX's at all had such a display.

Right now I'm using a late-version ScanGauge, the version with X-Gauge included. SG displays 4 digital readouts, all harvested from the car's OBDII computer monitoring system. It will read (nearly) instantaneous MPG, average MPG, gal/hour, engine temp, throttle position, etc. etc. You select four to be displayed at any one time.

X-Gauge lets you determine custom gauges that the SG will display, and one that I use is a lean burn indicator. It's real tough to keep my HX in lean burn in the winter. I don't know if it gets better in warmer weather.

I'am from the Netherlands and just became a owner of a civic 96 vtec-e (ek3) and in Europe the 6th gen. civic vtec-e models do have a green leanburn eco-indicator light.

But about the driving style, I'am also wondering what's the best way.
In 1th and 2th gear the lean-burn modus doesn't activate, so I give it a bit more load so I can shift as soon as possible to 3th gear and reduce pomping losses.

But most off the time I notice that you will slow traffic down, trying to stay in the lean-burn mode will accelerating, so then I give it about 3/4 load.
And up to speed return as quickly as possible to lean-burn.

What I noticed is that when you have to accelerate harder and thus leave the lean-burn, you can actived it sooner (if your on a constant speed again) by lifting the gas and give it gently a bit off throttle again.:thumbup:

What I found interesting is that you can realy notice when my d15z6 (obd2) ecu is testing if the (norraw-band) lambda works by enriching it a small bit and thus it accelerates a bit, without me moving the throttle.

Get an MPguino, you will know if you are in lean burn by virtue of watching the MPG jump up or down. Knoledge is power, it will really help you fine tune your technique.

Thanks that seems indeed the best way.
My car has a Vtec-e with OBD2a ecu, will the scangauge work in my car?
Since the scangauge now available in europe.