[kalmar]

I now have an Insight (UK 2000, 5 speed, light blue) to look after. And hopefully, to drive occasionally

Is there a Haynes manual or similar (useful) service manual available?

I'm considering adapting it to run on LPG (which is less than half the price of petrol here). Any advice on that?

Thanks!

[edit] - I just thought of another question - is the MPG reading on the UK car based on UK gallons? I assume it is since the computer claimed 80MPG on the trip home from being bought - on the motorway at 70+. That seems high compared to what I've read here, but UK gallons are 20% bigger than US ones..?

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Re: Woohoo!

The Honda factory Service manual is the _best_. The Electrical troubleshooting manual is also needed for any in depth repairs of the electrics. The both are available on eBay from time to time.

AFAI remember there was some discussion in doing an LPG conversion but it won't be an off-the-shelf kit. Read: expect to pay a premium price for all the custom work needed.

AFAIK the British version in calibrated in Imperial gallons. AFAI remember the difference is 20%.

HTH!

 

[kalmar]

Re: Woohoo!

The Honda factory Service manual is the _best_. The Electrical troubleshooting manual is also needed for any in depth repairs of the electrics. The both are available on eBay from time to time.

AFAI remember there was some discussion in doing an LPG conversion but it won't be an off-the-shelf kit. Read: expect to pay a premium price for all the custom work needed.

Thanks for that.
I found an off the shelf multipoint kit that has a 3-cylinder mode. Can you tell me what's special about the Insight that makes you think it'll need something custom?

 

[b1shmu63]

Sounds like you are way ahead of us regarding these conversions. You may have to put some spacers in the rear suspension to compensate for the extra weight of the tank. Perhaps you can post a link for us regarding the conversion kit so that others who are interested can check it out too.

 

[The Citrus Smoothie]

Congratulations on your fantastic purchase. Presumably you bought the good low mileage Insight that was on eBay (and outbid me!)?

Yes, the display will be set for UK gallons - even so, 80MPG is pretty good going at 70mph! As Insightful Trekker says, there are the occasional Honda (only for mechanics in theory) service manuals available.

I would advise against an LPG conversion - the Insight has a very specialised engine (swirling vortex, low fuel / air mixes etc) and is already as efficient as possible. An LPG tank would add considerable weight as well. Enjoy the Insight as it is intended!

Lastly, would you be able to make the Insight Owners Day on the 5th of August? A Honda engineer will be running the event and you could ask him technical questions about LPG etc. Check out details for the Insight Owners Day here:

http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=3105

Hope you can make it.

 

[kalmar]

Congratulations on your fantastic purchase. Presumably you bought the good low mileage Insight that was on eBay (and outbid me!)?

Yes, the display will be set for UK gallons - even so, 80MPG is pretty good going at 70mph! As Insightful Trekker says, there are the occasional Honda (only for mechanics in theory) service manuals available.

I would advise against an LPG conversion - the Insight has a very specialised engine (swirling vortex, low fuel / air mixes etc) and is already as efficient as possible. An LPG tank would add considerable weight as well. Enjoy the Insight as it is intended!

Lastly, would you be able to make the Insight Owners Day on the 5th of August? A Honda engineer will be running the event and you could ask him technical questions about LPG etc. Check out details for the Insight Owners Day here:

http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/vie ... php?t=3105

Hope you can make it.

Thanks for the info. I'll have a think about the owners day - it'd certainly be interesting to meet all you insight'ers and see what the Honda Academy is about (and ask them why they're not selling Insights any more!), but it's quite a long drive from Fife. Maybe it's an excuse to refine high-mpg driving though

The tank I am thinking of fits in the spare wheel hole, weighs 39kG when full, and holds 30 litres, so should provide a range of 400+ miles. I think the car should be able to carry this without uprating the suspension.

I take your point about the advanced engine. I am a little worried about valve wear as well, especially given the lean burn technique. However, as far as I know, LPG tends to work just as well with designs optimised for petrol efficiency - although since it is injected as a vapour, some of those efforts are not needed. But, the lower fuel cost and promise of lower emissions are tempting.

Does anyone have any info on valve and valve seat wear on high mileage Insights? There must be a few of them by now

PS, no, I missed out on the one on ebay too! Got an almost identical one with 30k miles that was listed in Autotrader (very briefly!)
I see there's a 100k mile one on ebay right now. Wonder what it'll go for.

 

[Rick]

I'd be interested if you could get a LPG conversion working. My dad recently bought a Ford truck with a technocarb dual fuel conversion kit on it and I'm liking it. I would think it would take quite the level of electrical engineering though because of all the controls for the engine. The technocarb kits I know interface with the vehicles electronics and determine how much propane to spray in to the intake and cuts power to the fuel pump and injectors when running propane. The kits look pretty complicated and they tend to make them for large trucks (where fuel $$$ savings would be even higher). Too bad they don't make an Insight kit.

Let me know what you find.