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Well, I've been trying to employ the advanced techniques as discussed in Wayne's "Beating the EPA" discussion and need some help (FAS, driving without brakes, P&G, and DWL, etc. is easily defined) but I have one question/problem...

How to accelerate?

Using the Integra automatic as the test vehicle, I've found in some instances that heavy throttle input (approx. 60%), followed by immediate lift to shift below 2500-3000 RPM until top gear (4th gear with torque converter lockup) is engaged, then by using the techniques such as DWL, drafting, FAS and so on are able to take place earlier, resulting in a higher average FE. Have others found gradual acceleration more economical, or get to the target speed without delay?

I've moved from home-based to office-based employment, and now I'm driving in Corporate Hell to the office more often and everyone is in a big hurry to ride my bumper, and mostly pass quickly and stop at the next light where we meet up anyways. I'm attempting to find a compromise between economy and diplomacy. The aging automatic transmission poses a challenge, especially when it hasn't warmed up -- it cannot be coaxed into a higher gear with throttle lift until 2500 RPM, and the TC doesn't want to lock-up until it's sufficiently warmed.

Now, out on the highway, I've been getting up to 55-60 mph as quickly as possible to merge effectively (under 3000 RPM and not at WOT ) -- then use the advanced hypermiling techniques once I've blended into the traffic pattern.

I'm basically soliciting responses as to how gasser-automatic drivers accelerate in stop-and-go and in highway applications (I may be the minority here with the many hybrid drivers)...but I know of one with an Accord auto who might know :rolleyes:. With the cold weather, it has been a challenge and I need all the help I can get to squeeze the FE out of this car.

On a side note, the car may be in the shop for a while as a sheet of ice flew off of a vehicle, struck the car, and dented the roof to the point of buckling the A-pillar and twisting the windshield to the point of fracture. Insurance has agreed to evaluating an estimate, but I'll tell ya, it sounded like a brick hit the car. It looks like someone took a hammer to the roof and door :(. It'll be a tough job getting everything lined back up again. I wish I could've identified the culprit vehicle.

Anyways, thanks to anyone for the input -- it can be used on the TSX and rentals if not the 'Teg. If they can't fix the car then I'll entertain the possibility of a used HCH-I manual if I can find one that's been maintained well (the 'Teg won't pass inspection with the windshield, and it could take over $2000 to repair). Sigh.

RH77

Hi Rick:

___That is a tough question but I never see anything near 3,000 RPM even in the Accord w/ load showing up near 75 - 85%? I bring her up like this as she is shifting away to highway speed but once up to 48 w/ TC lockup, I pull way back on the pedal and bring her up any faster in a crawl traffic depending. If I see something I can take advantage of, I will slow or speed up appropriately but even at its worst, I don’t think I have punched her past 2,700 RPM ever in fact?

___When it starts to warm up around here, I have some accel testing from a stop to 50 mph over a 1 mile distance just as Tarabell did with her HCH-II. I will be using different loads and show the RPM ranges as I climb but when coming to highways speeds from a dead stop, I cannot answer directly. I do think a 3,000 + RPM solution is far too tough on the drivetrain long term myself but that is just me? In a stop and crawl or heavy City environment, it is a quick punch and FAS, quick punch and FAS at the crawl but moving ahead speeds of lets say 10 - 25 mph. With even higher speeds, a std. P&G suffices until things pick up to highway like speeds again.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Good stuff Wayne-

This is more along the lines of how I handle the TSX as it has a ManuMatic -- I basically keep asking for the highest gear whenever possible (the ECU has a speed requirement for each gear, so 5th is 40 mph+, 4th is 30, etc) and keep it around 2000.

On a cold day, the Integra will not shift on lift, even with 12-14% throttle until the coolant temps have been at normal for quite some time - that is until you reach that 3000 rpm mark (in 1st and second). I can force it into 2nd, but 3rd is tricky since it goes into fully auto. What also stinks is the hill-logic control "Nanny" where I want it to shift going uphill and it prevents it -- resulting in engine-braking. The older design is definitely a challenge.

So instead of TPS, then you look at LOD to gauge your accel? I'll have to try that in conjunction with the MPG reading. I look forward to the experimentation when the weather warms. I've reviewed the hybrid accel and a separate manual-gasser test, but the slush-box test hasn't been located yet. Let me know if you need a "beater automatic" test run :rolleyes:

Welp, on a side note, the ice damage estimate is $1700 for repair and the insurance looks to cover it. I can't give up on her just yet! Surgery is scheduled for the 29th. What a dumb way to wreck a car, I'll tell ya.

Have a good one...

-Rick/RH77