Video interview with 2005 Honda Insight owner Bill Kinney on the secrets of achieving remarkably high fuel efficiency.
Open Access Article Originally Published: December 19, 2006
Bill Kinney has owned three Honda Insights. Every one of them has gotten an average lifetime fuel economy of more than 80 mpg. How does he manage it?
EV World's Bill Moore asked him recently during the AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, California. The video of that interview is available below to our Premium Subscribers. But off-camera he shared some additional advice on how to achieve such remarkably consistent numbers; the car on display is a 2005 model.
Besides learning how to drive the car to maximize its fuel economy -- and most of Kinney's trips are on Interstate and country roads -- he recommends doing seemingly little things like removing the front license plate holder. He also removed his outside mirrors, replacing them with a video camera mounted in the left rear turn signal. It's connected to a small color LCD video display mounted on the dash that enables him to see a wide-angle view of what's behind him. He figures it adds another one mile per gallon.
Kinney also recommends using Mobile One synthetic motor oil, stressing that it's important that if you don't change you're own oil, you have the Honda mechanic use only 2.6 quarts of oil, which is the capacity of the crankcase.
Kinney explained the importance of getting the car into its lean burn mode as quickly as possible, which it enters once the mpg display goes over 100. He does this by getting car up to the desired speed and then slightly letting off the accelerator -- he often does this by driving in his stocking feet because it allows him to better "feel" the car. He also avoids using the brakes as much as possible, letting the car roll to a stop through a combination of engine regeneration and natural drag. This means taking a bit more time and avoiding jackrabbit starts and stops.
His most important piece of advice is to inflat the car's low rolling resistance tires to their maximum rated pressure of 44 psi -- he personally exceeds this and runs his at 50 psi. It makes the ride a bit stiffer, but dramatically improves the car's performance.
To verify his claim, Kinney turned on the ignition of his display car and showed me its odometer readout at about 21.500 and then its average fuel economy number of exactly 88.8 mpg. It was 30 miles per gallon better than the 58 mpg on my 2000 Honda Insight.
Time to check my tire pressure.
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Reader Comments
8 comments so far...
27-Jul-2008
62999
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I've gotten 53mpg over 80K miles. Mostly highway and in the midwest. When conditions are right (strong tail wind and flat even highway) I've gotten 70mpg. Am just switching to Mobile One because my Honda dealer, though pretty conscientious in my estimation, doesn't keep the hours that fit my availability to buy 0W-20 oil from him. Any input on how often to change oil when using Mobile One?
Posted by: Kevin Ramplin
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19-Dec-2006
41148
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Driving SMART is the best option on any car. Bil is pushing the limits just like we all should. I have had 70 mpg many times with my 03 Honda civic hybrid with CVT. The driver is the most important option the car.
One of the best things about hybrids is the gagues to let you know what works and how you are doing. Don't forget to check the air in your tires and use low rolling resistance tires. Those low profile big rim tires are very bad on safety and mpg.
Posted by: jim stack
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20-Dec-2006
41248
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Wow. My average lifetime MPG is barely above 50. But its almost entirely city driving. When I do venture onto the interstate, the only way I could get 80+ mpg would be to travel around 50 MPH which is dangerous when everyone else is going 70-80. Not to mention all the gas people would waste slowing down behind me and slamming the pedal to the floor to get around me.
Posted by: Paul D
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29-Dec-2006
42554
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Darin, are you citing US Gallons or Imperial Gallons? 88.8 mpg is 106.6 miles per imperial gallon.
Posted by: Steve Erlsten
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21-Dec-2006
41362
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I usually got 66 to 68mpg for the first 300000km on my 1993 civic VX. I cannot believe they have not come much farther in 13yrs.
Posted by: darin b
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01-Nov-2008
64724
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I have a 2000 with 195k miles on it. I can get 70+ mpg when focused on economy driving (twice drove 710 mile round trip on 10 US gallons). This requires letting speed bleed off going up hills; not going over 65 mph on the flats; staying behind larger vehicles while maintaining safe following distance; using the battery when possible - up hills, on starts in 1st & 2nd, then into 5th; tires only at 34 psi). Lifetime average is a mere 61 because that hyper-economy driving requires more concentration to technique than I usually want to devote; I'm usually willing to squander along at 60 to 65 mpg at 70 mph.
Posted by: Kort Nygard
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21-Mar-2008
60877
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75mpg@57mph 88CRX HF 177Kmiles, K&N filter, 5-30 Valvoline Full Synthetic, Sumitomo HTR T4's on back @ 46psi, Old Roadhandler Voyagers on front @ 40psi, restrictor tube is missing on filter box, only 1 rearview mirror drivers side, antenna 1/2 up, stock, shiny paint, 220lb driver, i'm thinking maybe i should get it aligned, toss out the spare, get some new tires for the front, put a throttle stick on it and maybe 80mpg? Or will I have to lower the antenna?
Posted by: Dan Pritchard
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04-Jun-2008
62083
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i saw his car on e-bay... it's was 88.8 mpg US gallons. i hit a high of 74.6mpg on my 2000 insight after 3 years (once the engine broke in). i was using amsoil oil & made certain the tire pressure was 45psi minimum. never thought of taking the front tag off (in NJ, i don't think the cops would have appreciated it...) the car was perfect for my long, mostly highway commutes. was a shame i changed jobs after 3 years, or i probably could have pushed the mileage up further...
Posted by: john med
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