This is showing my age, but in the 1970's there were kits to install vacuum gauges in the dash. I never did (which means I'm probably not up to installing a MIMA on my Insight )

The thumbnail of how it works is when you cruise, you attempt to maintain speed with the highest vacuum.

I'm listing the text of the article. Click the links below for illustrations and the entire article....

Vacuum gauge
See Figures 7 and 8

Vacuum gauges are always mechanical types that measure manifold pressure (engine vacuum), which relates directly to fuel consumption. Engine vacuum varies inversely with engine speed, so you should also drive at the highest indicated vacuum. Try to maintain the highest vacuum under all conditions.

The vacuum gauge readings are also a good indication of the condition of your engine. Actually, the readings are not as important as a steady needle. At idle, the vacuum gauge should show a steady reading of anywhere from 8-16 in. Hg (27-54 kPa) on an engine in good tune and operating condition. A needle that twitches at idle indicates fouled plugs, stuck or worn valves. A low reading at idle that stays low usually means a leaking vacuum hose, incorrect ignition timing or worn valves or valve guides. As engine speed increases, erratic readings may mean a blown head gasket or worn valves.

After the fuel crises of the 70's, the public's interest in fuel economy has given birth to a variation of the vacuum gauge, called a "motor minder". This gauge is a vacuum gauge with words ("Poor", "Fair," "Good" and "Excellent") and color bands (red/yellow/green) replacing the numbers on the face of the vacuum gauge. Since there is a direct correlation between in./Hg (vacuum) and fuel economy, gauge manufacturers have already interpreted the numbers for the driver.

The latest variant to the vacuum gauge, or the "motor minder" mentioned above is the upshift light. The operating principle is basically the same, there is a sensor monitoring the intake manifold vacuum which then triggers the light telling the driver when to shift to obtain better fuel economy

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

That used to be a factory option on some cars in the 60's too. I've seen some old Impala SS's with them in the console.

'00 Insight "Wazabi" -75,000+ miles
'03 Toyota Matrix - 81,000+ miles
'03 HCH-CVT-OSBM-41,000+ miles (retired 04-10-06)
"I'm very secure with my little Insight, no Prius envy here."

WOW i want that gauge for my 04 civic. WHere can I get one? how much!?!?!?

if i can't afford a hybrid now i'll just get the most out of my current car.

Showing my age too, but my Dad installed one of those on the car I learned to drive in - a '46 Ford convertible. And he paid attention to it. He may have been one of the earliest hypermilers.

Hi Delta Flyer
I am working to get the MIMA install to a point where it is similar to a high end stereo install, and hope that any good car accessory installer could handle it, several of the people signed up will go that route.
Just determined that two joysticks can be installed on the system, with no issues. I have one on the shifter, and the other will be on the E-brake.No switchover needed.

Mike
MIMA equipped Honda Insight # 007
PHEV booster drop down E-Wheel
www.99mpg.com

I'll keep that in consideration.

Don't know if there will ever be an "Insight II", but an Insight 1.5 is possibile.



Is this your intended sig?

Mike
MIMA equipped Honda Insight # 007

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

I'm a little confused (easily done) from the above linked article. The article says to maintain the highest vacuum under all conditions, but the 'motor minder' gauge shows 'GOOD' to be somewhere in the middle (not the highest value on the gauge):



I just reconfigured my scangauge to monitor manifold absolute pressure. What value (in PSI) should I have use as the bogey on my scangauge?

*edited to add I have yet to drive it since reconfiguring just a few moments ago - just curious if anyone else is tracking MAP with their scangauge, and what #'s they're seeing.

A vacuum gauge is an incredibly crude way to calculate fuel economy since it doesn't take gearing into account at all. You'll generate more vacuum on the freeway at a steady speed in 4th gear than 5th gear, but your fuel economy will be better in 5th. I just use the MAP feature of my scangauge as a sort of general reference so I know what percentage of maximum power I'm using. Since the ScanGauge can calculate your realtime fuel economy, that's really going to be the most useful to you. At 65mph in 5th gear, my Civic shows around 9.5psi or so. At 45mph on surface streets it's more like 7psi. Any sort of hill or incline on the freeway and it takes 11-12psi to hold 65mph.

Good is as high as you are going to be able to get with the engine powering the car above idle.

I called this tool ancient for a reason - the technology is so much better now!

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated