Here's a shift technique that's real subtle, that I didn't catch on to until having driven the car for 10000 miles. For fuel economy:
First, overall, you want to try to max out use of the electric motor upon acceleration in order to max fuel economy.
Second, launching in first gear doesn't always command electric assist, at least, not unless you rev just so and slip the clutch just so. A bit of rev, let out the clutch, and a bit more rev as you're just about to fully let up the clutch pedal, engages assist and keeps it engaged until you shift to second.
Finally - and this is the most important, tricky juncture - moving from second to third. Moving out of second gear, letting up on the throttle, rpms will drop, the FCD will rise, and if you're not too quick to shift to third and if you don't get back on the throttle too quickly or too hard, lean burn will trigger before you shift to third.
Now, if you're light on the throttle once you have it in third gear, you can hold lean burn -- yet with just a little throttle you can also command electric assist and continue accelerating. All this can happen in the same time for a regular, normal shift; there's just some real subtle timing and throttle movement necessary to get both lean burn and assist. It can happen like clockwork though once you have it down...
These are some flat ground, easy acceleration, fuel economy, probably mostly in-city driving shift techniques...
As Artie Johnson said on Laff In, "Velly interesting .............. but [NOT] Sthupid".
I have saved your post and will definitely try this. Tnx for sharing.
I would imagine that a TPS filter would also help. But first I want to experience my Insight absolutely stock to get a base line before I do any mods to it.
That's not what you would see on a Specific fuel consumption curve (sp?). That curve shows a peak at 1900-2000, and then drops off (consumes more fuel).
Isn't that exactly what I stated but with other words?
No because the gasoline engine's max torque happens at ~4500, which is not the most fuel efficient point.
__________________
OWN: 61mpg Insight (greenercars.org score: 57)
both blue and silver,
and a 45mpg BeetleTDI (score: 47).
No because the gasoline engine's max torque happens at ~4500, which is not the most fuel efficient point.
You sir are absolutely correct. I confused the pink and red curves because I am used to seeing peak torque of my CRX at 2000 rpm with it going downhill from there on. [Note to self: use reading glasses next time.]
From what I've read on the forum the Vtec kicks in at ~3500 rpm and that coincides with the torque curve having a kick there. But there is also another slight peak at ~2500 rpm which could be the torque peak without the Vtec.
There's also been a discussion on the forum about the affect of the resonator box and that might be the flattened area above the 2500 tick. So Honda was doing some tweaking and fiddling (good for them).
But I'm still not going to run my car in 1st gear only around town.
VTEC happens around 2500-2800 rpm, the "load" on the engine also has some effect on when it happens.
Based on my observations and testing.
With the OBDIIC&C gauge it shows up.
HTH
Willie
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01 MT "Little Red Rocket"
The first "TURBOCHARGED" Hybrid, Insight G1- (01/2003)
MaxIMA Battery (Serial #2), on 8/25/12 @ 301,520 miles
Use: 320,000 mi. @ 57.8 LMPG
Not sure who "he" is but I didn't know Nissan had a hybrid. Usually I talk about the EV that is experiencing failures.
The last two days I tried an experiment of running-up a mountain at 70mph with WOT in 5th gear (rather than shift down to 3rd like usual). I got the best MPG ever on this cycle (about 3 higher), because there were no throttling losses or wasted energy.
__________________
OWN: 61mpg Insight (greenercars.org score: 57)
both blue and silver,
and a 45mpg BeetleTDI (score: 47).
The last two days I tried an experiment of running-up a mountain at 70mph with WOT in 5th gear (rather than shift down to 3rd like usual). I got the best MPG ever on this cycle (about 3 higher), because there were no throttling losses or wasted energy.
There you go, Lug, Lug, Lug, proven solution for mpg, it also wipes half the oil film from your cylinders on the compression stroke too.
I'm of the persuasion that "lugging" is a highly subjective term as it's definition seems to vary greatly from person to person. Personally, I don't consider it "lugging" until you can't maintain speed and actually start slowing down and/or the car starts bucking and jumping; which would be an extreme example of "lugging" and should be avoided at all costs.
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Silver '00 MT
90.2 LMPG
80+ psi in RE92's for the past 2 years without incident
Calpod switch
Warm air mod
Grill block
EPS fuse removed
FAS/fuel injector interrupt circuit
grid charger
OBDII C&C gauge
I consulted another forum, and the conclusion was "no" it isn't lugging. The engine was spinning about 2500 rpm which provides plenty of oil pressure & lubrication. Plus the engine displayed no shudder/shaking as a lugging engine does. And it was speeding-up not slowing down.
__________________
OWN: 61mpg Insight (greenercars.org score: 57)
both blue and silver,
and a 45mpg BeetleTDI (score: 47).
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