HAI Experiment

[GasSavers_NovaResource]

Originally Posted by R.I.D.E.

LOL, lets see if your mileage improves in the summer months, but I would venture a guess that you need AC, unless the AC robs you of all that power that is so essential. Of course if you have been logging mileage for any significant amount of time then you would already know if your summer mileage was better.

Yes, mileage goes up in the summer time. But not because the engine is getting warm air it's because the engine gets up to operating temps quicker and because the engine runs hotter. The engine runs more efficiently when the coolant and oil are warm. Warm engine = better fuel economy. Since the engine gets warmer faster and the overall engine temps are higher you get better fuel economy. It has nothing to do with warm intake air. It also has a little to do with summer blend fuel vs winter blend fuel.

WAI does not improve fuel economy. It just robs power.

As for A/C, yes, it robs some power but it will also shut off under harder acceleration to bring back that power. Then, when the throttle position is smaller under cruise conditions, the compressor kicks back on. Do I NEED the A/C? Nope. Many times I won't use it at all. I park in the shade during work, use a sun shield in the windshield and have tinted windows. All that helps keep the interior cooler so I don't NEED the A/C.

Originally Posted by R.I.D.E.

With the 4 simultaneous methods of measuring fuel consumption on the Insight, it's easy to determine the effectiveness on any modification. In the last few days the temps here were approaching 75 degrees, so I took the grille block out and noticed an immediate drop in mileage.

And you think that was because it was getting cooler air? Did you ever consider the decrease in MPG was due to making the car less aerodynamic? The air flowing into the grille area was creating drag.