You know you're an ecomodder if/when...

[Fat Charlie]

YKYAEM if the Storm Of The Century Of The Week pisses you off because you have to fill up before your tank is done.

[WesternStarSCR]

... when your wife has to remind you to switch the dash display back to temp gauge from MPG gauge. Every time.

... when same wife asks why you keep moving the hedgehog (stuffed animal) off the dash board. And your answer is, "so you can see the temp gauge".

... when your 6 year old daughter knows what a grill block is, and asks if she can hand me the zip ties and hold the flashlight on the next project too.

... when same daughter notices that the fast cool looking car that went by is now next to us at the red light. And you look at it as a 'teaching' moment more than a 'cool car' moment.

[ferventheat]

when you consider helium as a cost effective mod for tire inflation.
when you toy with the idea of running without headlights at night.
when you wish the car in front would slow down, you're anoyed its not there for YOU.
When you run out of gas on purpose (hey, controlled experiments RULE)
Your reserve light on fuel gauge is either burnt out or disabled.
you see a slow moving truck and see pound signs
when your the only guy in the line happy to be stuck behind a Tesco truck(they do a constant 45mph here in UK )
you wish you were shorter- more aero on bike.
you start to appreciate Sunday afternoon drivers.

[bobo333]

When you see photos of the floods in the USA at the moment and wonder if any forum members have started ecomodding boats yet...

[JacobAziza]

Originally Posted by ferventheat

when your the only guy in the line happy to be stuck behind a Tesco truck(they do a constant 45mph here in UK )

when you read this line and are very jealous (where I live its 65min)

when you mention aloud to your girlfriend that Tesco trucks drive 45mph on the highway in the UK, and she instantly recognizes the significance without any further explanation or context

[ferventheat]

Originally Posted by Kodak

Good one. I'm always thinking in terms of getting all errands done in one shot, and then planning the most efficient route.


YKYAEM when you have actually wondered if there would be a way to convert human energy (lifting, pulling, pushing etc.) into stored energy for your vehicle...AND the idea doesn't entirely bother you much.

--I've got this little emergency radio for power outages. It has a knob that can be spun - very similar to the reel on a fishing rod - that creates energy to power the radio. It made me wonder if a similar device could be added to a car to reduce the load on an engine. Even if it only added a few HP, it could cover A/C or simply assist the engine.

Hehe, imagine getting in your car and the first thing you do before turning the key is turn this reel-like contraption a few times.

I expect its been covered in the forum, but didn't ALL cars and vehicles used to be part human powered- HAND CRANK STARTING?
Would love to see a comeback... that would but out all the hassle of disconnecting your alternator and adding solar...

YKYAEM when you engine cut at the traffic lights and can't start again as you left the bike lights on too long,and have to push the m.bike home, worrying/laughing that its going to affect your mpg! Silly me :-D
YKYAEM when you can smell burnt coroplast from your exhaust system
YKYAEM When you can get a similar tank figure to a small car from your motorbike
YKYAEM when cops pull you over because they are interested in your vehicle and not for bad reasons..

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by ferventheat

didn't ALL cars and vehicles used to be part human powered- HAND CRANK STARTING?

Handcranking may be the worst example
It meant you had to be outside the vehicle, so you can't drive off right away.
Somehow I don't see internal cranks catching on

But our cars used to be part human-powered :
- hand cranking windows
- manual seat adjustments
- manual wheel adjustments
- manual boots (and doors)
- manual steering
- manual (footual ? ) brakes

It's all taken over by electrical or otherwise assisted systems.

[JacobAziza]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Handcranking may be the worst example
But our cars used to be part human-powered :
- hand cranking windows
- manual seat adjustments
- manual wheel adjustments
- manual boots (and doors)
- manual steering
- manual (footual ? ) brakes

used to be?

my truck is all of those except the wheel adjustment - there is none, manual or otherwise.

I guess that means I know I'm a ecomodder

[Piwoslaw]

YKYAEM when...
... Most of your brake use is during the first few kilometers of a trip, to get rid of the rust that has had time to grow on the rotors. Then it's just smooth sailin'

[HyperMileQC]

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

YKYAEM when...
... Most of your brake use is during the first few kilometers of a trip, to get rid of the rust that has had time to grow on the rotors. Then it's just smooth sailin'

I second this one!