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Well okay I didn't get a chance to use the mobil 1 0-20 oil, but that's all right I plan to save that for my next oil change which hopefully I'll do myself. I had to go to Honda again because my clutch was squeaking like crazy and since i have warrenty I wanted to take advantage of it. Also I took the liberty of ordering a block heater (which they laughed real hard because they found out I just wanted it for a FE increase) and that temps around here don't get cold enough to justify for one.

Also managed to ask the mechanic to not touch the tires (besides rotate them), and to fill the oil level between max and min. He's like, "all right so you want to reduce weight and friction too? How about I empty out all your fluids for maximum weight reduction!" Yeah he was pulling all sorts of jokes on me because I was taking this FE thing way too seriously.

"Hey look he even has a gauge! It tells me how much fuel I'm using haha."

"Well I'm aiming for a 1000 km tank, so mods like these are very important."

"Bull****, that guy over there in the old civic SI he always shifts around 2000 rpms and he only gets 700 per tank (same tank size 50L) there's no way you can get 1000km. If you do I'll start taking you seriously."

"well its very possible, I know a guy in a Del Sol that gets 60 mpg US + on his daily commute."

"No that's impossible, where does he live?"

"The states."

"That's why!" ( I really didn't understand so I just dropped it)


He changed my oil, fixed my squeaky clutch (he just needed to lube it, he said it was very dry or something.) but wow shifting feels so much better now! And with the reduced oil I felt I can cruise better in lower rpms, since that's important (if i barely touch the accel i can peg my IFCD at 40, 70, 90 mpg + at 30 mph) although press a little more and it will always hover around the 30 mpg area (explains why I keep getting 35 mpg tanks.) ITs a very hard habit to break but hopefully with these new mods I can break that magical number.

Oh yes my block heater should be coming in a couple of days, although pricey to boot (115 cad + 100 to install it). Lol even though temperatures are starting to show in the 15 degrees C, I don't care. The numbers will be worth it..

Oh yeah one more thing, I told the mechanic that I bump started a lot and he's like. "your going to ruin your motor that way, always dumping raw fuel into the engine."

"but i know a guy who does it all the times and he has over 100km on his engine."

"no way man, raw fuel is bad for the engine, i'm a mechanic for 15 years now you think I know my stuff?"

"well maybe your saying that so you can keep yourself of a job."

"hahahah your funny." (drives off with my car to perform maintainence)

As I was waiting another mechanic was just waiting for something so I asked him.

"what does raw fuel into the engine mean?"

"It means fuel that gets dumped but not burned."

"So it won't ruin the engine?"

"No it just a waste of fuel, raw unburnt fuel is just a waste."

"haha ok well that guy over there said raw fuel will waste your engine."

"No its just a waste of fuel that's all."

OH mechanics... time to break that magical number ;)

edit: forgot to add, I think the block heater will make a difference since

1) my trips are very short (max distance is 8 miles tops)

2) by the time my engine reaches operating temperature (90 degrees C) I'm almost at my destination

3) better engine life and oil?

4) anyone recommend me some good timers?

5) rofl for those times i go to my friend's house and the car is left out cold maybe I can get an extension so I can plug it in his house lol.

Current tank is 41 mpg on the scangauge, keep it up!!!!!

Random question: Was the squeak coming from the pedal assembly or the clutch itself? I have a persistent sqeak/rattle that I need to take care of but it seems to be coming from the bellhousing. When I ask about it I am either told dry clutch release mechanism or bad throwout bearing. I figure I woud ask since your Civic ought to be somewhat similar to my Accord.

that block heater will do you wonders, until your morning temps are around 50F / 10C. That's about the temp the block heater is able to maintain.

From folks I've talked to, about 2 hours in the morning before you start up is enough to get it up to about that temp, even if the outside is around 0F / -18C. A plain old lamp timer should be good enough.

Random question: Was the squeak coming from the pedal assembly or the clutch itself? I have a persistent sqeak/rattle that I need to take care of but it seems to be coming from the bellhousing. When I ask about it I am either told dry clutch release mechanism or bad throwout bearing. I figure I woud ask since your Civic ought to be somewhat similar to my Accord.

It was the pedal assembly, since they fixed my master cylinder before. He just lubed it very well and it even shifts better too (feels easier to disengage the clutch)! Get it fixed asap! It seems all Hondas have this problem but it doesn't hurt it either not to do it. Just the squeak gets really annoying and paranoid.

that block heater will do you wonders, until your morning temps are around 50F / 10C. That's about the temp the block heater is able to maintain.

From folks I've talked to, about 2 hours in the morning before you start up is enough to get it up to about that temp, even if the outside is around 0F / -18C. A plain old lamp timer should be good enough.

Lol **** I was hoping the block heater would be able to do better than 10 C... like maybe 30 at least. Hmm... my scangauge says Watercoolant temp is at 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C for my airintake temperature. Since its sunny outside and my car is kept in the garage I wonder if its hotter outside? Hm my lowest temp I will face this week is around 5 degrees C but boy I can't wait to improve upon some numbers.

But in the summer I guess plugging it in is a waste... or is it? How much power does a block heater consume again?

I think I choosed a bad time to buy one but that's all right! :rolleyes: At least i have one now!

Hi Phil; I have to somewhat disagree with GoNavy; I installed a block heater in Cindy's 2005 Honda Insight. It works fantastic! The warmer the air temperature, the warmer the block heater can maintain. She uses the heater every day (3 hours on a timer in early a.m.) and it keeps the back of the engine block (water jackets, cooling lines) FAR warmer than 50 F. In fact, warm air blows from the car's heating system after only driving about 30 seconds. The coolant in the radiator is not all that warm, because it's mainly the engine block that's being heated. Anyway, it works very well, and she will keep on using it nearly year around (July-August is the exception) billy......

Why would folks not fill there oil level up to the high mark? Does anybody have info proveing that at the high mark on the dipstick the crank is beating or running in the oil. One eating abit of gas and two foaming the oil?

Oil is not only a lub. It is a cooling component. I for one wish sumps for crank cases where larger.

I cant see where running a pint to a 1/2 quart low on oil is going to help FE at all. It seems like a risk to a engine to me. Thats not needed or warrented.

I dont get that one at all.

Hi Phil; I have to somewhat disagree with GoNavy; I installed a block heater in Cindy's 2005 Honda Insight. It works fantastic! The warmer the air temperature, the warmer the block heater can maintain. She uses the heater every day (3 hours on a timer in early a.m.) and it keeps the back of the engine block (water jackets, cooling lines) FAR warmer than 50 F. In fact, warm air blows from the car's heating system after only driving about 30 seconds. The coolant in the radiator is not all that warm, because it's mainly the engine block that's being heated. Anyway, it works very well, and she will keep on using it nearly year around (July-August is the exception) billy......

...I didn't mean to imply it wasn't a good idea. I think block heaters should be standard everwhere. I've got one waiting to install when I get around to draining the coolant. The 50F number is hearsay from some others, based on some folks starting at around 20F air temp. So I do not know from experience- I defer to you and anyone with one installed.

Of course the warmer ambient, the warmer the block will be able to get, in general. Remember, though- your Insight engine is a lot smaller than any other block out there too- easier to heat up!

Phil- IIRC the heater is ~500W? Could be up to 1KW?

Well,

Phil, it sounds like that things are looking up around there for you. Quite clutch and smooth. Block-Heater on the way. Your set. :)

I'll run tests and backup when I get the block heater. I ordered it from Honda myself and they will install it in a couple of days when it arrives. I plan to buy a long extension so if I chill at my friend's house I can plug it in as well since at night temps can fall to 0 degrees C sometimes. At least I'm confident that with one now, temps will get hotter faster. And I yet have to cover my radiator too with the grille blocking technique.


Psy I just took those words out of exel's mouth pretty much. He told people to fill the oil between the MIN and MAX lines so that you can reduce friction within the engine as well. The mechanic jokingly said, "How about half a litre? haha) although when suggesting that amount he said, "allright I can do that and at least you'll have reduced friction." I never rip it up anyways, only 2800 rpms max when I have to climb hills (and I climb quite a bit, but payback is worth it ;).

I have to get rid of the habit of pressing extra accel when rpms are really low (1500), if you press hard enough it would save more gas if i were at 2000 rpms instead.

**** low torque engines.

I have a question about the lower radiator hose heaters. The instructions say to mount it into the lower hose with the element facing toward the block. In my car, the thermostat is in the lower hose. My question is this: will the block heater work in the lower hose, or should I install it in the upper hose since it will have a direct link to the cylinder head? Thanks.

Block heater stuff.
Honda Part # 08T44-SV4-100 Engine Block Heater Kit.
Same for both the Civic and the Insight I believe.

How much power does a block heater consume again?

Rated 400 Watts at 115v.

Randall