This is the old red car that the whole thread has been about, I started at 44 MPG and I am now just over 60 MPG. I won't be posting any of the work I do on the new car in this thread, sorry for the confusion.
That is pretty amazing because the battery is completely shot, full boost for even 3 seconds will shut down the DC to DC converter.
Had a decent breakthrough today, I changed the spark plugs and I found as others have that they had almost backed out entirely. Two of them barely required the wrench and the last one was finger tight. After replacing the spark plugs and appling the correct torque I fired up the engine. Let me tell you it is so much quieter now. It had some of the sewing machine sound before, I even adjuested the valves thinking that was the issue but as it turns out it was a really loose spark plug. I think it will also help my milage because when I pulled the loose plug I could smell gas so my compresion was suffering.
I noticed a significant reduction in noise when I replace my plugs on car #1. I was quite surprised with this side effect. Prior to replacement there was a weird rattle in exhaust, which is now all but gone.
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Insight #1 - Silver '00 Manual with 182,000
Best Tank - 77 MPG over 700 miles
Insight #2 - Blue '01 Manual with 342,000
Best Tank - Just Bought
I have only driven 35 miles since the plug swap so the jury is still out but since I have got just over 70 MPG. The loose plugs must have been hurting my compression. 10 MPG from the plugs...
With the better battery on its way I have to say after that I am done, I brought the car from 44 MPG to over 70.
interestedguy thank you for starting and continuing with this thread. I don't know if anyone looks at this thread any more but I'll try to find other newer threads to talk on. I just wanted to thank you and also keep asking the questions about little tweeks that we can do to the insight to get it up to 70 + mpg. I'm in Minnesota and it is very cold right now so I'm not expecting the best, but I figure if I can get consistent 60 mpg in these temperatures I will be doing great in the summer, thoughts?
Welcome, Scott! You are correct about the mileage extrapolation; working hard to get the best mileage you can in cold weather will pay big dividends in warmer weather. Don't forget that on top of making sure your vehicle is in good repair/tune/working order, technique makes a big difference.
It was -12F here in the cities yesterday morning (I'm a bit south of you in Coon Rapids with a job in the outskirts of Minneapolis) and my drive to the office (on the highway by the way) rang in at 70.5mpg over 12.7mi. The trip back (after the car sat cold soaking in the parking lot for 8.5hrs) was at 1F and came in at 74.0mpg. Technique matters and if you want to see it first hand we can make that happen. For anyone in the area and interested I offer free driving clinics — just shoot me a private message.
Glad to help, the colder weather cost some MPG but summer over over 70 shouldn't be a problem if you handle all the little things that could be holding you back, good luck.
interestedguy thank you for starting and continuing with this thread. I don't know if anyone looks at this thread any more but I'll try to find other newer threads to talk on. I just wanted to thank you and also keep asking the questions about little tweeks that we can do to the insight to get it up to 70 + mpg. I'm in Minnesota and it is very cold right now so I'm not expecting the best, but I figure if I can get consistent 60 mpg in these temperatures I will be doing great in the summer, thoughts?
Yes, you shouldn't have any issues getting 70+ in the summer if you are getting 60mpg now. I'm on a 60mpg tank now and my summer tanks were usually in the mid 70's. I took a highway trip to Detroit Michigan and back, about 750 miles each direction(with a stop in Madison, WI on the way back to meet up with a friend) and before I left Detroit I filled up just shy of 10 gallons, when I got home, same thing. 1500 miles for under 20 gallons. I wasn't at the full speed limit the entire time, I did allow hills to slow me down to stay in lean-burn when it was reasonable and generally drove at whatever speed lean-burn would let me drive. I drove in one shot for each direction outside of bathroom, food stops, and an hour in Madison. I did the same thing to St Louis and back. ...just to give you an idea of what to expect if you are willing to sacrifice a small amount of speed to drive a longer distance and avoid the time and extra cash it takes to fill up along the way when traveling from the Minneapolis area.
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Originally Posted by Right Lane Cruiser
Technique matters and if you want to see it first hand we can make that happen. For anyone in the area and interested I offer free driving clinics — just shoot me a private message.
I strongly recommend that you do what Right Lane Cruiser is offering, even if you aren't willing to use all of the techniques, you can carry away a good deal of tricks to really improve economy. Right Lane Cruiser showed me plenty of tricks and I've managed 100mpg on my highway commute using all of them in the summer. Usually I aim for 80mpg though for the sanity factor and my desired travel speed during the summer. Tanks are almost always 70+mpg for me in the summer, usually mid 70's.
It's all technique which includes avoiding regen as much as possible, which means avoiding assist to avoid the need for regen. Making sure you are properly loading the engine and coasting with the engine off to a heavy extent being the most important and also the hardest thing to get into the habit of.
Okay so I don't think I know how to do a private message, but I really want to talk to people in Minnesota, especially Right Lane Cruiser!! So here is my plea for a private message. I have been reading and reading and want to strike up the lean burn as much as possible but 1) don't know if my car has it, I assume it does 2) don't know how to stay in it while keeping my speed. I have said on here before that I think I have the perfect cruise to work each day to optimize my amazing driving machine we all call the insight! I just need to keep learning which I am, and I think (jury is out still) the better battery is helping!
Okay so I don't think I know how to do a private message, but I really want to talk to people in Minnesota, especially Right Lane Cruiser!! So here is my plea for a private message. I have been reading and reading and want to strike up the lean burn as much as possible but 1) don't know if my car has it, I assume it does 2) don't know how to stay in it while keeping my speed. I have said on here before that I think I have the perfect cruise to work each day to optimize my amazing driving machine we all call the insight! I just need to keep learning which I am, and I think (jury is out still) the better battery is helping!
To send a private message, click on his name and it will be one of the options. Then private messages are listed in the upper right area and I always forget to look for them, but I guess he is expecting them. you'll have to watch there for a reply.
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Red 2000 MT #1498
MIMA 137P; Matiz Springs, Genesis One Overnight Grid Charger, OBDIIC&C gauge (wow you guys have been a lot of help)
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