First tank of gas milage

[Mr 2011 Insight]

What kind of tire pressure do you guys recommend for the best MPG? I am new to the Insight and have been playing around with different driving styles trying to get the best MPG, but my problem is a short drive to work each day (if you want to call it a problem) 5 miles each way. I seen to "lose" about 2.5 MPG on the gauge in the morning drive to work with a few steep hills and "gain" back about 2.8 MPG on the way home. I do a lot better on mileage on the weekends when I can drive many more miles. I used to keep my tire pressure at 40 lbs on my old Toyota Echo with a 5 speed and was able to get 49 MPG on the highway. Thoughts or hints to increase my MPG?


2011 Insight Base, Crimson Pearl

[Moviemike]

Originally Posted by Mr 2011 Insight

What kind of tire pressure do you guys recommend for the best MPG?

There are several long and detailed threads on this. Generally the higher the better. Some go to the max pressure on the side wall. Some even higher. Many are at 40 psi. I have decreased to 38 psi because I like to quickly and easily change lanes on the freeway when needed in the 65 -75 mph range. With the tires at 40 the steering was so light I was in continual fear of over steering and rolling the car over. Secondly with 25+ mph cross winds it became too much effort to hold the car in a straight line. With the reduction to 38 psi the above problems went away.

Originally Posted by Mr 2011 Insight

I am new to the Insight and have been playing around with different driving styles trying to get the best MPG, but my problem is a short drive to work each day (if you want to call it a problem) 5 miles each way. I seen to "lose" about 2.5 MPG on the gauge in the morning drive to work with a few steep hills and "gain" back about 2.8 MPG on the way home. I do a lot better on mileage on the weekends when I can drive many more miles. I used to keep my tire pressure at 40 lbs on my old Toyota Echo with a 5 speed and was able to get 49 MPG on the highway. Thoughts or hints to increase my MPG?

In general I've had the same experience as you describe above. Recommended tire pressures are 33 psi (all around). I put 36 all around my 3rd day of ownership and got 46 mpg with my first tankfull. I've done alot of reading here as well as my own experimentation. 55.3 mpg is my best tank full. 66.9 mpg (on the MID) is a personal best for around 60 miles of dedicated top mpg effort. 50.1 is my overall mpg for nearly two years of operation in this hilly and often wet, windy, chilly coastal climate.

[Mr 2011 Insight]

Wow, 55 MPG for a tank is great! I will start off at 36-37 psi and see how that helps the mileage and see if it affects the ride very much. I hope to at least average 50 MPG after I get used to driving the car. I did noticed the mileage is greatly affected by cold temps as well, can not wait till it gets warm and stays there here in upstate NY.

[Purplegate]

Originally Posted by Mr 2011 Insight

... I hope to at least average 50 MPG after I get used to driving the car...

Not that I want to make it tough on you right up-front, but it might require some good hypermiling techniques to be in the 50's with your commute. One problem amongst other is the engine temperature. The I2 engine needs to be hot to creep up mpgs. The temp light (the blue one in your dashboard) will turn off at 125F, but still, the engine will not deliver high mpgs before it reach around 160F (measured with a SGII). It’s operating temps is between 178 and 184F. You need roughly a mile to get it to 160F. So one fifth of your commute is done with the engine “cold”. I don’t say it will be impossible for you to be in the 50’s, but you might need to work a bit harder with hypermiling techniques to get there.

To give you an idea, I have to go to 2 offices for my work. The first one is about 7 miles and I get about 50-51 mpg . It’s city driving (lights and 40mph roads). The second office is 28 miles away, highway driving. I get 60mpg in summer (53-54 in winter). I did recently changed the roads I take to get there, falling back on a long 45mph speed limit road with timed light. I believe I’ll creep out some more mpgs.

So my advice, for high mpgs, look for roads without traffic lights and use some pulse and glide techniques.

Oh…. Also, my tires are at 48psi.

Good luck and keep us posted on progress

[Moviemike]

Originally Posted by Mr 2011 Insight

,,,I did noticed the mileage is greatly affected by cold temps as well.....

When the cold light is on, sometimes I'l accelerate from a standing start in "S", at a max. of 2300 rpm, to a speed of nearly 30 mph then shift to "D". Seems to warm the engine a little faster.

When sitting at a traffic light with the cold light on and the engine at fast idle, I've noticed that the mpg gauge goes down at a slower rate if the shifter is in "N".

If I can get the timeing right, I've noticed I can pick up a little speed on a slight down grade with the cold light on, engine at fast idle, foot off of the gas pedal, and mpg gauge at 100! It only lasts till the engine warms, but it does get the mpg gauge off to a great start for the day.....this is more fun then max-ing out the corners on a winding road

You might consider posting your mpg at Fuelly | Share and Compare Real World MPG . I've detailed my experiences and experiments in the "Notes" at Blue Bird (Honda Insight) | Fuelly

[Mr 2011 Insight]

Thanks MovieMike and Purplegate for the great tips, I am looking forward to playing around with the car as the weather warms up to get the best possible mileage. I will add air to my tires this weekend but not sure about going to 48 PSI. That seems a bit high. How is the ride with the pressure that high? I did notice as you said as the engine gets warm it makes a big difference in the mileage. I did sign up at fuelly and will start tracking my mileage there so people can compare to what they are getting.