World's only Diesel Honda Insight

[SVOboy]

Insight driver's often report better mileage with the IMA shut off, but they also report that the car is painfully slow in that configuration. So I imagine having the hybrid system out with the reduced weight would also yield better mileage. I plan to test this on the CRX when I get the insight stuff going, by doing some comparison with the stuff in, completely out, and in but disabled. We'll see!

[bluetwo]

Auto stop/start makes a huge difference I'm sure. I'm not saying that's the sole culprit but the 5 speed Insights get far better mileage than the CVT models, which don't have that function.

I was sitting at a stop light the other day when this hit chick pulls up in a Mercedes E-class coupe and of course I tried not to stare but still ended up paying more attention to the blonde than the car. That was before the turning lane arrow came on. I had my windows cracked a little and I heard this gnarly cluttering sound for a second then the turbo spools up and off they went as I was just like woah!! Ha ha, I mean it was obvious it was an auto stop/start function but I had to see it in real life to even know about it, which is rare for an auto enthusiast right?

The point is even Mercedes is taking note of how much efficiency they can get out of that concept and have already put it into their cars. Diesels nonetheless and with a little reading I found out that they might even put auto stop/start into some V6 or V8 models, to which I say rock on Mercedes. And why the hell haven't all automakers been doing this for decades now!!?

[jpstaub]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

Could you give us a quick rundown of the specs on the TDI you put in? Will be interesting to see how the mileage does in the winter.

Good job, and welcome to ecomodder

The VW 1.2L TDI that we used from the project came from a VW Lupo 3L. The Lupo 3L was only offered in the European market (of course). As far as specs on the engine go:
Engine code - ANY
Type - 3-cylinder inline
Displacement - 1191 cm3
Bore / stroke - 76.5 mm / 86.7 mm
Compression ratio - 19.5:1
Firing order - 1-2-3
Engine management - Bosch EDC 15 P
Fuel - Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel
Exhaust gas aftertreatment - Exhaust gas recirculation and oxidation catalytic converter
Exhaust emission standard - Conforms to exhaust emission level D4.

[tmessenger]

Any issues running the not so low sulphur diesel found in the US?

Originally Posted by jpstaub

The VW 1.2L TDI that we used from the project came from a VW Lupo 3L. The Lupo 3L was only offered in the European market (of course). As far as specs on the engine go:
Engine code - ANY
Type - 3-cylinder inline
Displacement - 1191 cm3
Bore / stroke - 76.5 mm / 86.7 mm
Compression ratio - 19.5:1
Firing order - 1-2-3
Engine management - Bosch EDC 15 P
Fuel - Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel
Exhaust gas aftertreatment - Exhaust gas recirculation and oxidation catalytic converter
Exhaust emission standard - Conforms to exhaust emission level D4.

[bluetwo]

Originally Posted by tmessenger

Any issues running the not so low sulphur diesel found in the US?

It would be bad because, from what I've read, extra carbon can build up in just about anything on the exhaust side and cause things to fail. I'm being very vague here because I don't want somebody to come along and say "that 1.2 doesn't have that part" and because I admit I don't know that much about that particular engine as well. I know for sure that using anything other than ultra low sulfur diesel in a variable turbo diesel application that calls for it will start to clog up the moving parts on the variable volume turbo causing it to fail. I'm sure people use the wrong diesel in some applications and get away with it because I've read there are already laws saying you have to use what your vehicle calls for, presumably because people were using "farm equipment diesel" in their passenger vehicles to save a few bucks. It's been a long time since I looked at the particulars of oil burning but there are several good forums you can go on. Here's one:

Diesel Vehicles Currently Available in U.S. — Diesel Technology Forum

[Sulfuric]

Originally Posted by dcb

I believe a good (and patient) driver can outperform the hybrid systems, just by anticipating obstructions and not putting him/her self in a position requiring much braking, and accelerating efficiently.

But a big part of the xprize is businessy stuff so the electronics allow you to compensate for a "bad" (typical) driver and leave the engine off and recover some braking power and play well with others in certain traffic conditions, at the cost of conversion losses and weight (and cost and complexity).

Regenerative braking is something I wish I had in my car. If my super awesome P&G gets cut early, regen and then using that off the start for my next pulse would be great.

[wagonman76]

I thought all diesel in the US had to be ULSD starting a year or 2 ago? Maybe I'm mistaken.

Great work on the swap!

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by wagonman76

I thought all diesel in the US had to be ULSD starting a year or 2 ago? Maybe I'm mistaken.

Great work on the swap!

...it was mandated in October 2006.

[jpstaub]

Originally Posted by tmessenger

Any issues running the not so low sulphur diesel found in the US?

We're running Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (less than 15ppm). According to Wikipedia (Ultra-low sulfur diesel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) the Euro IV emissions standard in effect since 2005 required a sulfur level of 50 ppm. So, our ULSD fuel in the States would appear more than sufficient for the 1.2L given that is was meant for a 2000 VW Lupo 3L sold to the European market.

Best wishes,
Jake

[bluetwo]

For anyone that still curious, NO, all diesel is definitely not of the ultra low sulphur variety. I took this picture just over a year ago (as reflected by the prices). It was up in the mountains of N. GA where time kinda slows down a little. Some of these guys were sharpshooting my use of the word dirty diesel too but I didn't mean that agriculture diesel was actually dirtier. Maybe I should've said sulpherier. I say stop sharpshooting people on the way they word things, especially if you don't know what you're talking about.

Two types of diesel fuel sold in Georgia: Off Road, On Road - ToyotaDiesel.com